How to deal with boat dealers?

[Reiner]

I know how to get a good fair price on a car but dealing with boat dealers I'm at a loss. Probably while buying more cars over the years than boats...will be my first. Tracker has everything published and it is what it is. Looked at the local Harris dealer but you cant get a real answer out of them. Everything is kinda vague.
Is there a formula you can use to get an approximately discount off retail. With cars you can research a lot on line but haven't found this for pontoons yet. I don't mind paying a fair price but retail ?? Some mfg. offer to build your boat on line but what is the real average going price?
Not sure if there is an answer to my question but thought I try.

Thanks, Reiner

[smoker62]

For what its worth my boat and trailer combo was 22% off list price . This was a list in the mid 70,000 dollar range so I am sure there is more room to move than on a 30,000 dollar boat. My first pontoon as you see in my signature was only about 12% off list in the 25,000 dollar range . Not a very accurate assesment but it gives you an idea from my location.

[Gonefishing]

When I purchased mine. I started at 20% of the sticker price. My reasoning wast the take about 20% off sticker when they have a sale. I ended up getting it for abou 17 % off. Then there were also some rebates on the motors.

I would start low and just see where they go. There is as much room on boats as on cars depending on the dealer.

[Cowracer]

Rule of thumb. (works with car dealers too)

NEVER accept the first offer. Never accept the second one either. 90% of the time, there will be a third, and if there ain't, leave and go to another.

Look at it this way. If his "take-it-or-leave-it" price is $35k, do you really think he is gonna open with that? No. He will say $42 to see if you will bite. He'll act like he is doing you a big favor by dropping to $38K and the vast majority of the people take that deal, and he just made an extra $3k. More than once, have I walked out on a dealer after we could not meet on price, only to get a call later, or the next day letting me know that they could do it.

Dealers have all kinds of shady and sometimes underhanded tricks and gimmicks to get you to buy their boat, car, condo, etc. You, on the other hand only have one weapon to defend yourself. But its a thermonuclear bomb. You can get up and walk away, and their ain't a damn thing he can do to stop you. Don't be afraid to use it.

So let me back up... Rule #1 is never ever ever fall so in love with a particular unit that you aren't willing to walk away from it if you cant get your price. and Rule #2 is never accept till you get their 3rd offer.

Tim

P.S. Don't fall for that "fixed price, no haggle" crap. I negotiated a deal with a Saturn dealer back in 2000 when all their advertising was touting their "No Haggle" pricing. They will negotiate.

[Bamaman]

The boat business is totally different from the car business in that a good size marine dealer will see 50 boats a year. A medium size car dealer will sell 50 cars a month. Both have comparable expenses, however. Parts and Service and Used should be important departments of both if they want to be in business very long.

In other words, boat dealers cannot sell new boats at $100 over cost--when it sometimes costs them $1K just to get the boats ready to go to the water.

Boat manufacturers often offer boat dealers volume discounts if they straggle their orders throughout the year or if they reserve production spots--in order to keep their factory going 24/7. They also will offer free or discounted options at Fall order writing meetings. And outboard motors are cheaper if bought through boat manufacturers (than directly from outboard manufacturers) because volume discounts given to boat builders.

And MSRP's on boats means absolutely nothing--and buying them based on MSRP is complete bull.

To get the best deal, you've got to compare prices between dealers. And the internet helps a lot. In every region, there will be a dealer that is willing "to deal" and compete with fair prices in relation to other high profit dealers. (I don't care for Tracker's 1 price marketing as it takes price competition out of the equation.)

Don't get stuck on one brand. Try to buy locally. But don't hesitate to drive 50 or 100 miles if your local dealers won't deal. I'd be looking at Boattrader.com and EBayMotors.com for new boats. Craigsllist.com is where a bunch of used boats are sold. It's rather easy to figure out who the really good boat dealers are.

[Reiner]

Thanks, that will give me some insides to work with.

[ssc]

This is helpful. I am looking to buy a tritoon and it seems like the prices are alot higher here in the west then in the midwest and east. Seems like I can get the same boat with trailer for upwards of $6,000 to $17,000 cheaper depending on which boat. Might be time for a road trip unless a local dealer comes close to matching a price.

Cheers, SSC

[bassn386]

If you can secure your financing (or have the cash) from somewhere other than the boat dealer and go in with a "all cash" deal, especially for a custom order, the dealer won't have to pay the cost for floor planning the boat and can deal a bit better.
I know that there was approximately $10 k difference between a big dealer here at Lake of the Ozarks and the dealer where I bought my boat about 2 hours from here.

[JohnO]

Don't be afraid to go a considerable distance to buy teh boat you want.

When I bought mine I ended up 4 hours away from home. In the shopping process I sent a Request for quotes to every dealer within 500 miles. Casey's Cove Marina in Angola In was the low bid. They more than made up for it (I'm sure) with all the extras I put on the boat.

After picking up the boat and one trip back for an add on that wasn't ready at delivery (plus I changed my mind of something) I've never been back there.

Pontoons are very easy boats to work on and very seldom will you have a warranty issue on the boat itself. And the motor manufacturers seem to have warrnaty certified shops by every lake.

I saved about 10K on my boat. In fact, the final cost including all the add ons was still 4K less than the local big city dealer quoted (and wouldn't budge from)

[smoker62]

yep, Im haulin mine about 4 hrs from the dealer . Closest dealer to me with the same brand said nope , cant even get close.