Bennington Speedometer Problems

[Jake]

TeI am getting pissed just reading about this. Bennington says right in there ad that they handle all warranty claims no handing of to suppliers. We paid top dollar for benningtons on a promise of top quality and the best warranty. These guys are pissing away there Rep for small dollars. Idiots...

That's what I keep telling them but they don't care. I have been very accomodating up until the end of last season (and my 7th service call). I have made them aware of my expenses returning this boat to the dealer repeatedly but they don't care. They act like I'm returning an Ipod or something. I think now there just writing me off as a lost cause because I put them on notice that I will not let them repair the system anymore unless I'm compensated for time and expense.........we'll see.

[Jake]

When you are not happy, escalate. Start calling and sending letters up the corporate ladder. Make them sign for everything you send (certified return receipt requested). I know a guy who stayed in Evinrude's ass all through the bankruptcy on a warranty claim. He was getting boxes of documents there towards the end and ended up being nose to nose with BoA before it was over. He didn't blink and they still sent him a check now and then.
Finally he got a buy out offer he couldn't refuse and he signed the hold harmless document ... a year after he sold the boat.

I sent all the contacts at Bennington that I have been dealing with an email with a link to this board. I also included the CEO but I'm not sure if it went thru to him.

[Jake]

Does the paddle wheel come in contact with the trailer bunk when the boat is on the trailer?

No, it does not.

[Jake]

Does the paddle wheel come in contact with the trailer bunk when the boat is on the trailer?

No, it does not.

Just to clarify, I rarely trailer the boat. The dealer is located on my lake and I have to drive the boat down to him every time and/or the dealer will come and pick it up but I prefer not to do this. However, it takes my time, gas money for transport, gas money for testing, gas money to and from dealer by car, etc. It's just a pain to keep having to deal with this. This is complicated by the fact that the boat is at my cottage two hours away from my main residence. So I often have to take it in and don't know the status for days. I trust my dealer but it still makes me uncomfortable leaving my boat with someone for days at a time over and over again for a problem like this.

[GregF]

Email is OK but there is still something to be said for a hard copy letter they have to sign for.
If they ignore your Email you have no way of proving you ever contacted them.
Also do not underestimate the value of a complaint to the state consumer protection agency. Send in copies of all of your correspondence with the vendor.

[stickman]

Will a GPS fit in the hole in the dash. That seemed to be a concern.

I'm going to go this route soon at a cost of about $300-$500. It seems like the gauge will fill the hole no problem and then I just have to mount the antenna somewhere.

I know my suggestion was not popular with some on here - and with one person in particular who used all caps to add emphasis - but if you are almost to the point of spending $300-$500 of your own money to eliminate your frustration, why not approach the mfr. about splitting that cost with you - - or maybe even your dealer would be willing to eat that cost to make you happy?

With a 50/50 split, you would have what would satisfy you (not necessarily make you happy, but you would at least be satisfied with a working piece of equipment), they would not have an irate customer, you would have a more accurate instrument (even if you don't want/need it), and you would only spend half of what you are considering spending already.

I'm not in your boat shoes, so I'm not sure how I would react if I wasn't getting satisfaction, but I sure would try to get them to absorb some of the cost if you are about ready to pull the trigger on absorbing all of the cost. It wouldn't necessarily be a "win/win" nor a "win/lose" but would still be an outcome that removes stress from all parties involved. And, more importantly, you could start enjoying your boat.

Happy boating!

[Jake]

Will a GPS fit in the hole in the dash. That seemed to be a concern.

I'm going to go this route soon at a cost of about $300-$500. It seems like the gauge will fill the hole no problem and then I just have to mount the antenna somewhere.

I know my suggestion was not popular with some on here - and with one person in particular who used all caps to add emphasis - but if you are almost to the point of spending $300-$500 of your own money to eliminate your frustration, why not approach the mfr. about splitting that cost with you - - or maybe even your dealer would be willing to eat that cost to make you happy?

With a 50/50 split, you would have what would satisfy you (not necessarily make you happy, but you would at least be satisfied with a working piece of equipment), they would not have an irate customer, you would have a more accurate instrument (even if you don't want/need it), and you would only spend half of what you are considering spending already.

I'm not in your boat shoes, so I'm not sure how I would react if I wasn't getting satisfaction, but I sure would try to get them to absorb some of the cost if you are about ready to pull the trigger on absorbing all of the cost. It wouldn't necessarily be a "win/win" nor a "win/lose" but would still be an outcome that removes stress from all parties involved. And, more importantly, you could start enjoying your boat.

Happy boating!

Rick -

It's one thing to help finance a problem that might be due to the way I use the boat and/or after a significant amount time in which the equipment operates properly. However, It has not worked from day 1 and I have jumped thru hoops making the boat available for them so they can fix the problem. Their indifference towards my concerns is fueling my anger and is why I won't split the cost with them. If they don't install a GPS system I would rather fix it myself and sell the boat. It's not like I haven't given them them enough chances to make it right. I had to deal with this all summer last year.

P.s -

How do you like your Premier ? This is one of the brands I'm considering.

Jake

[LSVLance]

I wouldn't trade boats just because of this problem, as long as I was happy with the rest of the boat. I'd be more inclined to just fix it myself and let everyone I talk to about pontoons know that I HAD to fix it myself because Bennington wouldn't.

I understand completely about not liking it not working or having to explain to everyone on the boat why it doesn't work, that would drive me crazy as well. But I'm more of a do it yourselfer anyway, so I probably would have already fixed it my way by now if I was in your shoes.

I have a truck with an engine that uses an extreme amount of oil, has since it was new. I chased and chased and chased the manufacturer to get the problem resolved and ran into the same type of roadblocks with them that you are with Bennington. 9 years later, I still have the truck, still love it..and still put a quart of oil in it every 1200 miles or so. I LOVE everything else about the truck and you can't get one like it anymore...so I keep it and deal with it's warts because I like the rest of it so much.

[Jake]

I wouldn't trade boats just because of this problem, as long as I was happy with the rest of the boat. I'd be more inclined to just fix it myself and let everyone I talk to about pontoons know that I HAD to fix it myself because Bennington wouldn't.

I understand completely about not liking it not working or having to explain to everyone on the boat why it doesn't work, that would drive me crazy as well. But I'm more of a do it yourselfer anyway, so I probably would have already fixed it my way by now if I was in your shoes.

I have a truck with an engine that uses an extreme amount of oil, has since it was new. I chased and chased and chased the manufacturer to get the problem resolved and ran into the same type of roadblocks with them that you are with Bennington. 9 years later, I still have the truck, still love it..and still put a quart of oil in it every 1200 miles or so. I LOVE everything else about the truck and you can't get one like it anymore...so I keep it and deal with it's warts because I like the rest of it so much.

I understand your point of view and if some of the circumstances were different I would be more understanding. This problem has become a matter of principle. I am not the type of person to let this go when I have spent a large sum of money on a product and it doesn't work from the day it's delivered. If this were a less expensive product I wouldn't even be talking about it at this point.

[LSVLance]

Yeah, but just $300-500 on a $50,000 + boat ???

Hell, I spent $300 just to upgrade the stereo speakers in my boat because I couldn't hear them when underway. Technically, that would mean they didn't work as they were supposed too either...in some ways...right?

Hey, I'm as hard headed as anyone and I know exactly where you are coming from. I'm just trying to play devil's advocate here.

Boating season can't get here fast enough for me...it seems to fix all ills...

[stickman]

How do you like your Premier ? This is one of the brands I'm considering.

I love it! That said, we have had a couple of issues with it, but our dealer has really worked with us to make it right.

I don't add a lot to these forums - I'd rather just read and enjoy most of the time. Maybe the reason I've been adding to this conversation is because we were trying to decide on a South Bay (with GPS in the middle of the helm), and the Premier (with a speedo, but the PTX center tube). Both had the identical engine and the South Bay was actually closer to home by about an hour. I really did want a GPS instead of a speedo.

The two biggest selling points on the Premier were the performance I got (was trading a V8 bowrider for it and wanted to keep the performance handling), and the folks at the dealership. We haggled on price, I talked to their maintenance folks, I added options I wanted, and they put together a plan for a boat that would make me happy. A few months later, and here it was. Other than the fact that they are several hours from my house, I couldn't ask for better folks to deal with.

The issues I mentioned were things outside their control (oil leak near the rear of the engine - remember, this is an I/O), and one of the most frustrating parts was with trailering struts for the front bimini that wouldn't stay connected at trailering speeds. The dealership has been great to work with to fix them. That said, if there had been a problem that they tried to fix and couldn't - either because of it being a manufacturing problem, or outside their control - I would rather keep my boat that I love, than be frustrated with it every time I took it out. I'd be inclined to ask them to help cover the cost of something that Premier wouldn't if it meant I could keep the boat I had manufactured for me!

That said, everyone has their breaking point or their "last straw" if you will. I fully understand you may have reached the end of your rope with Bennington and I hate to hear that. They were my third choice of manufacturer. If you decide to go with a Premier, my experiece is that you won't be disappointed. Best of luck in whatever you decide to do.

[goldnrod24]

I have it from a good source that the most recent generation of speedometer solves the issue. Hopefully, the most recent replacement you received is that version.

[Jake]

I have it from a good source that the most recent generation of speedometer solves the issue. Hopefully, the most recent replacement you received is that version.

That's what they said on the second one I recieved. Funny thing is they are looking at the paddle wheel now.

[Bill1031]

Jake, Got an email from my dealer and said they had already heard from Bennington and the new gps version is a different size and will not fit properly in the hole. Told me will replace my other one that is not working right. Bill

[Jake]

Jake, Got an email from my dealer and said they had already heard from Bennington and the new gps version is a different size and will not fit properly in the hole. Told me will replace my other one that is not working right. Bill

Hopefully you have better luck with your replacement. I'm on my third one.