Buyers Guide To Choosing The Right Boat Dealer
Finding the right boat dealer can be a headache for something that seems like such an easy task. Think about it: you walk into the dealership, you walk out, you tow the boat to the water.
It should be simple, but it’s not. In fact, sometimes it can be more of a headache than even purchasing a car.
The process is intimidating enough to put some would-be boaters off of purchasing one at all, but owning your own boat can be a liberating experience. Don’t let the process and research involved in finding the right boat dealer put you off of buying one! We’re here to help you.
How to find the right boat dealer
Finding the right boat dealer can be a ton of work, even if it doesn’t seem like it. There are a number of steps you need to take prior to even walking into a dealership.
Remember: you’re spending money here. A lot of money, even if you’re interested in a used boat. This isn’t something to take lightly. The right dealer for you may not be the right dealer for somebody else, and that’s okay.
After you’ve taken all the necessary precautions and made the right preparations, only then should you walk into a boat dealer to make a purchase – hopefully.
Curious what you need to do prior to purchasing a boat? We’ve got you covered!
Do your homework
As with any major purchase, one of the key things to do when selecting your boat dealer is to do your homework. Put on your detective hat, get your magnifying glass, and become a proper sleuth in your own right!
This goes for both your boat and your boat dealer.
Before you walk into the dealer, you need to know what type of boat you want. What materials do you want your boat to be made out of? What features do you want? Any accessories?
Finally, what’s your final budget?
There are tools available to match you with the boat that will best suit your needs, but you need to do research on everything you’re considering in the process.
Additionally, you need to do some research on the boat dealers in your area. A quick Google search should be enough to display local results, along with feedback ratings and reviews.
This will help you pick a reputable dealer that can load you up with the best boat for your money.
Know where you’ll be boating
One of the key things to do prior to choosing your boat dealer – or even your boat – is to know where you’ll be using that boat. You also need to know where you’ll be keeping it.
While it’s natural to look for local results to purchase your boat (otherwise, we wouldn’t recommend it!), it may be better to purchase your boat closer to where you intend to use and store it.
If you pick somewhere far away to purchase from, you’ll wind up having to haul your boat long distances. On highways and some other heavily-traveled roads, this can be impractical at best and dangerous at worst.
If you do choose a boat dealer that’s located far from your prime location, make sure you have a handle on how they approach long-distance jobs. If they don’t deliver, you’ll need to find other arrangements to make sure your boat actually makes it onto the water.
One good thing is lots of reputable dealers offer great pick up and delivery services if you are a distance away.
Check references
Before making any huge purchase, it’s a great idea to collect references and ask others what their experiences have been with that dealer.
Whether the experience was good or bad, former customers are often eager to share their opinions regarding a location, especially if their impression swings highly one way or the other.
However, if you don’t know anyone else who’s purchased a boat recently, or from the dealer you’re eyeing, there are online resources to get the trusted opinions you need.
Google offers a review service. When you search a business and ask for more details regarding it, a menu will pop up showing their hours of operation, when their busiest, and a list of reviews, both good and bad.
And, of course, there’s Yelp. Yelp is a collection of reviews of local businesses.
It’s a good idea to check all of these sites prior to making your decision. They can help you get a realistic view of the dealer you’re thinking of working with, which can save you a lot of grief in the long run.
Survey the dealer
You finally made it! You’ve done your research, you know the boat you want, and you know the dealer you’re going to go to to get it. Could anything be any better?
Don’t get too lazy here. You’re not in safe waters just yet.
The interview and research process isn’t done. While you’re at the boat dealer, you need to be scoping them out at every step of the process.
Be brutal here. Is the staff friendly? Do they seem inclined to help you? Or are they treating you like another number on their list? Are they offering you financing options or trying to get you out the door as quickly as possible?
If they don’t seem happy to see you, or if nobody even asks what they can do for you, count that as a red flag. In most dealership situations, you can expect someone to approach you within 5 minutes. Any confused or annoyed looks can also be ticked off.
Additionally, if the showroom and the yard aren’t clean and organized, you may find that they’re actually a safety hazard.
A showroom should be, like its name implies, show ready. They shouldn’t have to move things out of the way to find your boat, and the property shouldn’t be cluttered and littered with old parts.
Now, once you’re at the dealer, you can expect to wait for things. If you’re negotiating price, there may be some back and forth. Your salesperson may have to leave you to investigate a question you have.
However, if they leave you waiting longer than a couple of minutes, it could mean that they don’t regard your time or you with respect.
At the end of the day, are those people you want to do business with?
If any boat dealer waves up any red flags, don’t be afraid to walk. There are other solutions and other dealers out there.
Ask for credentials
Another way to gauge whether or not the boat dealer you choose is the right one for you is to ask for credentials.
This is actually something you can take care of prior to your visit. The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is open to search. This means that you can see whether or not your chosen boat dealer is certified with the manufacture.
What does a certification mean? A certification from the NMMA ensures that your boat has been built and manufactured in compliance with safety regulations and that it’s up to industry standard.
If it has 5 stars, their facilities are industry-approved, along with their employee training and sales technique. Additionally, you can be sure that they have great reviews and rate highly in customer satisfaction.
While you can search for the certification on your own, you’re also able to ask your salesperson whether or not they can provide you with that information. You may also want to check and make sure the service technicians have specific training as well.
Test-drive
The final tip to selecting the right boat dealer for you is to take a test drive!
Before you hop into the boat of your dreams, stop right there. Make sure you ask your dealership how test drives are handled.
If your dealership doesn’t insist on having you try the boat in open water, don’t buy. You’re deep in the process now, but you still have the chance to walk if money hasn’t been exchanged – and at this point, you should still have a tight hold on it.
Regardless, you don’t want to buy any boat, used or new, without trying it out first.
You may think you have the boat of your dreams, but there may be issues in the way it drives or the way it handles itself in the water. You may not know about this until you actually take it for a test drive.
If you dislike the boat and the dealership still continues to push for a sale rather than helping you find something more appropriate, they’re probably not the dealership you’re looking for.
Conclusion
There’s a lot that goes into buying a boat that many don’t even think about. However, each and every step in this process is important and can affect your satisfaction.
Remember: don’t stop looking until you find a boat and a dealer that you’re happy with. A good Manitoba boat dealer will be more than happy to meet your needs and should provide outstanding customer service, especially if you’re new.
If you have questions regarding purchasing boats, we’re more than happy to take your questions.