What makes a good MacGregor dealer?

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

For the 2006 model year, BOATS 4 SAIL was the fifth highest sellind MacGregor dealer in the country, with only one dealer east of California selling more than me. I've sold Mac's to customers from 25 states, and 3 Canadian Provinces (so far).
When a customer picks up his boat they often show me the info they received from other dealers, which helped them make a decision where to buy a Mac.
At 7:30 on a Monday morning, the best I can come up with is that some other dealers are factually challenged.
Maybe that's not as important as I think it is.
So, I'd like to know, what was important to those of you bought a new MacGregor, to help you decide on where to buy it.
I'm hoping it will help me become a better dealer.

[Paul S]

From my perspective dealing with the new havencraft..was the lack of an actual 'dealership'. Meaning a staff, parts, service, physical address, etc. not just buying a boat mail order, like the way we bought our boat. Otho at Havencraft bent over for us, but the total experience lacked a lot. I would recommend them, but with a notation that it can be a bit frustrating doing everything by phone and mail. Delivering the boat in the condition we got it in is totally unacceptable. He made up for it in the end..but the first impression was not good (bad gelcoat condition, installed accessories NOT installed, etc).

Price is important, but service is more important.

From my experience (read MANY past threads), I actually want to open my own Mac dealership in MA! I don't have the time, funding, or experience..but after being frustrated for long..makes me want to do it 'right'.

I would say being able to provide the right about of service depending on customer, is best. Being available for questions, have replacement parts in stock, etc. From what I have seen you do all that.

One thing I would suggest is make an option to put a channel in the 26M mast for an antenna/anchor lite/etc. It was totally frustrating not having it, especially after I made a huge point of it before the sale that I wanted it because I was going to mount a mast top antenna and anchor lite. Otho sent his rigger down to my house to install it in my yard, which is good...but it should have been addressed before it was delivered.

I can't believe that the wording is still on the macgregor website that a channel IS in the mast. But Bill at the factory says a channel cant be put in for safety reasons. It is 4-5 model years now..they REALLY should update their specs!!


Paul

[aya16]

The very best thing for a buyer like me is the fact there is a dealer that not only shares his skills about the boat but likes the product he sells
like it seems you do.

Being a few miles away from the Mac plant gives you a disadvantage for the west coast buyers as far as shipping, Now if you were to do will calls
so that you have a contact here near the plant to pick the boat up for you and ready it for the customer you could overcome this a little. The problem would be some one you could trust. I recomend an outboard dealer around here that has the space to do two boats a month or so.

There is a big market around here for the boats I think and as gas prices
climb The mac looks even better in the boat buyers mind.
You already seem to be a good dealer and you want to become better so


What can you do to be a better dealer?

Have some get togethers around you for your customers.

How too's workshop

be available

offer a lot of after market stuff, you see what we do to these boats after we get them.

Keep posting here

make a or have one made, a Mac website that is killer and keep it up to date with a lot of how too's and special deals lots of pix and girls in bikinis
dont hurt.

make contacts where you sell more boats like west coast, florida.
someone that could be available to help your far away customer
and give test drives.

Keep useing the Mac so that you know what people feel and will feel once they buy to relate. Unlike Bill at Mac showed a new customer.

One of the best mags. about sail boats is lat and att. The owner doesnt
do much but rake in the money and write a few articals. Why is the mag so popular? because he lives the very life his mag is all about.

ask people what they think a good dealer is,,,like you did.

[Mac Ziggy]

TRUST!!! I dont care if a dealer sells 50 boats a month, I am only buying one (maybe for a lifetime). I need more than a Trust me, we do this all the time to justify the money I spend. Especially, when the dealer wants me to buy what he has to sell instead of what I want.

I would hope a dealer with a good bit of experience would offer advise on what works and what does not work. If I dont ask for certain things, let me know how that will affect my use of the boat. If I insist on some things, take the time to understand why I want them, then offer an opinion or option. I think most people put their money in a McGregor because they think it is a good value. Help me keep that feeling of value.

I would really rather keep my dealer longer than I keep my boat!! I would also pay more from a local dealer (within 200 miles). The lowest price is not always the best deal. A good dealer that you can trust goes a long way in making your boat both safe and enjoyable. Sometimes theyre just good people to talk to - like Bill.

I visited my local dealer (200 miles) last week. Thats the third time this summer and I still dont want to buy a boat from him. When Im able to make the trip, Ill go see Bill.

[Terry]

Being a price point boat, competetive pricing is the key to getting a customers first attention. Here in Canada it becomes more important due to the fluxuating exchange rates. Boats 4 Sail is not the only company usurping Canadian business, BWY is also doing agood job of it, mainly because we can purchase U.S.$$ at a good exchange then go down to BWY and cut a deal saving in excess of $4000.00, too much to ignore. But more importantly, post sale service and aftermarket goodies become paramount. There are those of us who have to make trips to Seattle BWY to get the extras we need that are not available locally. It is a bit of a drive plus a bit of hassle getting stuff back home across the border. BWY offers an extensive line of aftermarket goodies to make any new owner drool. They also do a good job of demonstrating the potential of the Mac through upgrades with the Perla Noir they cruise around in, it is highly customized, (Looks Like Leon - Delevi is going to be a close second). There is plenty of profit to be had in aftermarket sales not to mention the customer satisfaction to be gained through modification improvements. I know of some who towed their boat all the way down to BWY to have everything installed because they were not all that handy. Service is everything as is access to aftermarket add-ons and spare parts. I personally feel that I should not have to go to West Marine and other retailers for extra stuff, dealers should carry an inventory of all fittings that are sized for the Mac and all those other things we buy at Marine stores. I would much prefer to get all my extras from my dealer knowing that what he sells has already been tested on the Mac. It may be an extra inventory carrying cost to start out but once your customers realize they can count on you for every litttle extra they will shop at your place first before going to WestMarine. Dealers really need to take a look at providing the full circle of service which includes all the extra fittings, upgrades, recommended sail lofts etc. They may even wish to carry the IDA rudders, weighted daggerboards and other obscure upgrades, never know who's in the market for them and if a dealer makes them readily available an impulse purchase is more likely. One last point, take a look at the owners age poll and you will see that we are all baby boomer age, there are many of us and we are all acheiving financial freedom with extra money to spend, wouldn't you rather we spent it at your dealership as opposed to somewhere else. Big boys toys are a growing market right now and I would be looking at ways to get boomers to buy a boat instead of a motorhome or motorcycle.

[DLT]

Quite franky, I've always thought I screwed up in not buying from you...

I chose my dealer based on $. He was willing a match a deal I got from an East Coast dealer. Actually, he was cheaper, since I didn't have to pay to have the boat shipped back to me.

But, he gave me absolutely ZERO dealer support. All the rigging was in boxes inside the boat, when I got it. He hadn't even taken the plastic off the table, cabinet, or mirror. I had a couple of MINOR issues with the boat (so minor in fact that while I have replacement parts, I haven't replaced them yet - going on 2 yrs), he told me to contact the factory. He refused to even call them on my behalf.

Of course, this was before I learned about your dealership. Come to find out, your prices would have been right there, or even lower than the deal I got.

To top that off, all the little extras, your 'package' deal, and just the knowledge you share with your customers makes me wish I had bought from you...

Oh well...

The best advice I can give you is to keep up the customer service...

[KEVIN'S OWN]

Kevin had been interested in the Mac for a couple of years after having seen one at a Chicago Boat Show, so I started looking for information about the boat and where I could physically see one. From the main MacGregor factory site we found a dealer on Long Island (NY) so I contacted them and eventually got to check it out in person. We purchased our Mac from this dealer ONLY because they were relatively close to us, in hindsight we should have bought our boat from another dealer eventhough it might have been a bit more for shipping. We would never use this dealer again nor would we recommend them. They were not helpful when we picked up the boat - no one went over the rigging with us or any of the additional items we asked them to install, eventhough they were aware this was our first sailboat. I am still sending them emails to try to get things working.

Customer service is something you cannot underestimate - don't just be their "friend" when they are purchasing a boat; be able to answer their questions - be available to take calls and help the buyer. Know your product!

[Richard O'Brien]

I had a good experience with my dealer, largely because of his staff, and especially his rigger, at the time. Being a first time owner, I was full of a lot of stupid questions, which must have tired hime quickly. The one thing I said that he kinda' ignored was"I'm mostly interested in sailing, not motoring". My dealer kept recommending a big motor, and had he listened, when I said I might like a 25 hp instead of a 50, He might have replied "That may be a good idea, why don't you try it, unless you're headed for the coast".

[Tom Root]

I've gotta say, from what I have read over the years, I certainly am impressed with your input Bill! Certainly, if I am in the market in the future some how, I might even have a big 'Road Trip'

I guess if other dealers are on here as well, as there may possibly be just not contributing etc., I would consider them as well.

To have an actual Topic Area just consisting of Dealers would be good as well!

It does the board and the whole community well in serving us boat owners in this way.

Anyway, I appreciate your input, and always look for your posts, it really shows your loyalty and devotion to our small yet wonderful brand!

[Hamin' X]

How about a dealer that takes trade-ins and resells them in top shape(if possible). People like me would be willing to pay a little extra for a good, turn-key 26X, from a reputable dealer. I have looked a a number of boats, but they all seem to need new rigging, or motor work, or any number of repairs. I really don't have the time for all the fix-ups, but really want a good 26x.

Rich

[Mork]

Bill your expertise and help are known throughout the Macgregor world. I only have one thing on my wish list, DEAL WITH US OVER THE POND ASWELL!!!!!!!

regards

leon

[Scott]

I havent dealt with a Mac dealer but in cars and trucks as a comparison I can speak to that.

The primary things I want from a dealer are first and foremost that he stand behind the product he represents. Dont give me the run around about communication protocol in discovering what the factory wants you to do to resolve the issue on warranty or recall issues. Just fix my problem. After all, I bought a Mini from Baron BMW, not Mini Motor Corp. Oh, Wait, did I type that out loud??

Ok a certain auto dealer and a manufacturer who shall remain nameless, (from this point on) The dealer can look to the manufacturer to be made right, I shouldnt have to.

Second and almost as important as the first is honesty. I place a great deal of emphasis on integrity. If I am told something and I cant take it to the bank, my business goes elsewhere.

If somethings good and you tell me so, it had better be good. If somethings bad, just tell me, I can deal with it.

[TonyG]

I looked at the Mac for a number of years.When I made up my mind to buy, I called around to a number of dealers because I wanted a new boat. I spoke to you Bill and I was surprised to hear you say "you really don't need all the stuff you are thinking of buying. Wow ,a dealer that doesn't want to sell me the works.You explained why I didn't need those things.
The price was right ,as always, so I went for it. You held my boat until I was ready to travel almost 2000 mile round trip to pick it up.4 of us took a 5 day vacation and had a great time visiting WIsconson.The only thing that I found Bill was wrong about was that he said "if you visit Wisconson you will not want to go back". Well sorry Bill ,I think Pennsylvania is just as nice. lol Bill you were nice helping me get the boat ready or should I say you did more work than I did. All in all it was a great trip.No problems towing even at 75 mph. Since then there were questions and things I needed and you were there for me.I would say that In my 71 years I have purchased many things but you are the greatest Bill. I recommend you highly. Cap'n Tony

[RandyMoon]

The dealer I used was the closest to me. On his way to deliver a MAC he detoured to Wichita and let me see the M model. He talked me out of un-needed extras, gave me a good price and delivered the boat to the marina at no charge. It was fully set up except for raising the the mast and installing the sailing and lines. I had a few problems and he fixed them with no questions asked. He appears to be serious about good customer service. All lines were run to aft and there were lots of other good enhancements at a nominal upcharge.

[mtc]

TRUST!!!

Succinctly put. Trust that the care before the deal is the same as the care after the deal.