Boat US / Boat value
Jhill
No claims, no accident records, no car accidents and when I purchased a
Scarab I was told the same thing by BOAT/US. No high performance
experience? I like the store, still spend a ton there, but I think what
they really mean is that they dont insure boats with over 700 hp from what I
can tell.
John
MrOffshore wrote in message <19990122224000...@ng40.aol.com>...
>BOAT/US completely sucks....if you're a member and need insurance...look
>elsewhere....I was insured with them with no claims and paid my premiums on
>time all the time....I upgraded from a Scarab with s single engine to a
>Fountain with twins and they told me I had no hi-performance boating
experience
>and they would not even quote the policy....this was my second Scarab both
of
>which traveled in excess of 65MPH and I owned a bass boat that ran over
>75mph...go figure....thye might have felt I didn't have any
experience....but I
>can tell you one thing they don't have...and that's my money anymore....I
tell
>as many people as I can about this poor experience...and others that I have
>heard in the past about BOAT/US....I can get my towing insurance from
someone
>else and the pricing on their boating merchandise if way too high....there
are
>no benefits to belonging to this "PROFIT" organization....it blows like a
>sailboat! BEWARE and don't join!
RGrew176
boat a friend of mine was interested in and got a reply back 46 minutes later
even though the site stated that it would take up to 2 days. I really did not
expect anything until at least next Monday. go figure.
MrOffshore
Larry
I did the same about 6 months ago. I was smilin' from ear to ear when
they put the value of my Sea Rayder at $14,800. I only paid $11,700
for it...(c;
Of course, you'll never get any money out of it, you know....IT'S A
BOAT!....WORTHLESS....ask any dealer at trade-in.
Larry
JDavis1277
the retail stores to non-members. The "free" tow insurance is essentially
worthless, IMHO.
It's too bad, really. I used to live near the HQ of BOAT/US and was thrilled
when they opened the first store at the HQ. I loved it and spent countless
hours, and dollars, there. When stationed out of the area or overseas I spent
a lot doing business by mail.
I guess the bottom line is that they have evolved into just another marine
store chain with high prices to match. By shopping around it is possible to
buy almost any product for less money elsewhere.
Have you checked out the West Marine stores near you? They are, at a minimum,
equal to the BOAT/US stores, IMHO again.
Thanks,
Butch Davis-
Stephen J Pavlidis
.and the pricing on their boating merchandise if way too high....there are
>no benefits to belonging to this "PROFIT" organization....it blows like a
>sailboat! BEWARE and don't join!
The prices at Boat US are competitive. They'll match anybody else's prices.
As for benefits for membership, just whose lobby was so instrumental in
repealing the VHF license fees? It sure wasn't West Marine's!
J. Davis wrote:
>The "free" tow insurance is essentially
>worthless, IMHO.
I too am a member of Boat US. There is no "free tow insurance." New
members receive $50 of free towing from Towboat US or from anybody else such
as Seatow, but you have to pay Seatow or whomever first and then Boat US
will reimburse you. With Towboat US you don't have to cough up that fifty
bucks, just show them your membership card. For $85 a year, you can upgrade
to unlimited towing coverage, and if you've ever been towed, you know how
soon you can ring up a $500-$1,000 bill. Not a bad deal really!
J. Davis then wrote:
>I guess the bottom line is that they have evolved into just another marine
>store chain with high prices to match. By shopping around it is possible
to
>buy almost any product for less money elsewhere.
All you gotta do is go to a Boat US store, show them the ad, or have
them call the other dealer, and they'll match the other guy's price right on
the spot, it is their policy. How much more simple do you need it. Why
shop around? Get your prices right and go see those guys!
Steve Pavlidis
S/V IV Play
Jax Beach, Fla.
JDavis1277
ad, or have them call the other dealer, and they'll match the other guy's price
right on the spot, it is their policy. How much more simple do you need it.
Why shop around? Get your prices right and go see those guys!
Steve Pavlidis<
Steve,
The guy at our local store told me they would meet any ad price I bring in.
Didn't mention they would call the other guys to verify a non-advertised price.
My question is, if they will meet anyone's price (for a customer lucky or
smart enough to know of the price at another location), why not mark down to
the competing price for the benefit of any other customer who comes in the
store? Because they want to sell at the higher prices on their products, IMHO.
I agree, why not shop there when you see a great price at a store that is
inconvenient to access? But my point was not that you should never shop
there, it was that there is no appreciable advantage to membership any longer.
However, when a store that offers superior pricing is located nearby, why
reward BOAT/US with your dollars rather than the store that gives you a better
price up front? If BOAT/US had a policy like Home Depot where they will reward
you for allowing them to compete by beating the price by 10%, I would go there
all the time.
Thanks,
Butch Davis-
Stephen J Pavlidis
>The guy at our local store told me they would meet any ad price I bring in.
>Didn't mention they would call the other guys to verify a non-advertised
price.
>My question is, if they will meet anyone's price (for a customer lucky or
>smart enough to know of the price at another location), why not mark down
to
>the competing price for the benefit of any other customer who comes in the
>store? Because they want to sell at the higher prices on their products,
IMHO.
Like any retail store, Boat US is concerned about margin. Why should
Boat US hurt their margin just because joe blow wants to destroy his? And
this has some merit. If WalMart sells a depth sounder for X% above cost,
and Boat US has to match it, well, WalMart, even if they don't sell the
unit, is hurting Boat US's margin by making them price down. Doesn't mean
that WalMart gets the unit any cheaper, just that they have thousands more
items to make up the margin on than Boat US does. It's all left up to the
corporate bean counters. By the way, you're the customer, if they don't
mention that they can call and check the price, suggest it. You have the
right to pursue the best price for an item and I've always found that Boat
US is willing to accomodate.
>I agree, why not shop there when you see a great price at a store that is
>inconvenient to access? But my point was not that you should never shop
>there, it was that there is no appreciable advantage to membership any
longer.
>However, when a store that offers superior pricing is located nearby, why
>reward BOAT/US with your dollars rather than the store that gives you a
better
>price up front? If BOAT/US had a policy like Home Depot where they will
reward
>you for allowing them to compete by beating the price by 10%, I would go
there
>all the time.
Ahh, there's the rub. But there still is an appreciable advantage to
membership!
Members receive a $10 gift certificate every time they reach $250 in
purchases. That is a 4% rebate my friend. West won't do that, neither will
Boaters World, or E&B (also West owned). I've had Boat US match a price
from Defender, that was already $100 lower than West Marine's price on the
same 12 volt freezer, and Boat US ordered the freezer and they didn't even
carry the item in stock. Plus, I got a 4% rebate for a $700 purchase. I am
sure that store manager took a hit on his margin on that deal. And I've
seen several items, not many though, that Boat US sells cheaper than West
Marine.
You're gonna shop where you want, but if you sit down and look at the
numbers, Boat US has the rest of them beat. They'll match the price and you
get a 4% rebate. Who else does that in today's marine market?
Lee Bell
>Ahh, there's the rub. But there still is an appreciable advantage to
>membership! Members receive a $10 gift certificate every time they reach
$250 in
>purchases. I've had Boat US match a price . . .
Other advantages not mentioned are:
1. Boat US lobbies for boaters issues.
2. Boat US intervened when Renken told me I had to pay the cost of shipping
my boat from Florida to S. Carolina for warranty work.
3. Boat US voluntarily returns my Standard radios for service at no cost to
me.
While I don't think it's necessarily the best, I also use Boat US towing
insurance because I started when it was the best around and comparable
service is not as easy to obtain as it is to continue my Boat US insurance.
On the other hand, I often find Boat US selection to be poor. The did not
carry the compass I wanted (Boat Owner's Warehouse did), did not have
antennas or extensions when I needed them (E&B/West Marine did) and did not
have the computer interface for my new Garmin GPSMap 215 (E&B marine did).
Lee
Ed
<PA...@prodigy.net> wrote:
<SNIP>
>
> All you gotta do is go to a Boat US store, show them the ad, or have
>them call the other dealer, and they'll match the other guy's price right on
>the spot, it is their policy. How much more simple do you need it. Why
>shop around? Get your prices right and go see those guys!
>
And don't forget the rebate coupons....I've got $80 in rebates from
last year.
Living in the Atlanta area, I'm hard pressed to find a marine store
that has significantly lower (defined as worth the drive) prices on
marine stuff.
Anybody know of better place to shop around Atlanta?
-Ed
Giles Morris
mostly the same, but I often take the Defender catalog with me to get lower
prices. Both of them have been very helpful, and (somewhat unfortunately)
significantly better than the two locally owned places nearby. Advice seems
to be dependent on who is available at the time -- I'd give West the edge
here on getting employees who are boaters, but BOAT/US has plenty of
excellent people too.
If all chains were as good as West or B/US the world would be a better
place.
FWIW: I've found the M&E store in NJ to be very good, too. Never tried the
Defender store.
Giles Morris
Arlington VA
Bob Hesse
vandalism and couldn't have been happier with the handling of the claim. Your
experience sounds .... well, er ??????
MrOffshore wrote:
> BOAT/US completely sucks....if you're a member and need insurance...look
> elsewhere....I was insured with them with no claims and paid my premiums on
> time all the time....I upgraded from a Scarab with s single engine to a
> Fountain with twins and they told me I had no hi-performance boating experience
> and they would not even quote the policy....this was my second Scarab both of
> which traveled in excess of 65MPH and I owned a bass boat that ran over
> 75mph...go figure....thye might have felt I didn't have any experience....but I
> can tell you one thing they don't have...and that's my money anymore....I tell
> as many people as I can about this poor experience...and others that I have
> heard in the past about BOAT/US....I can get my towing insurance from someone
> else and the pricing on their boating merchandise if way too high....there are
Pursuit210
I e-mailed Boat US last night at 9:30 pm for a quote on the worth of my boat
and an insurance quote. I got a response back today as to what they think its
worth. Was pretty happy with what they estimated it at, although I don't know
how accurate they are. The only thing was that they didn't ask for special
equipment or things like that. T-tops, radar archs, bimini tops, bottom paint,
etc . All would add to the value of the boat I would think.
Hope this helps
Todd
Todd Sturm
98' Chevy 2500HD 88' Pursuit 21 W/A cuddy
33" Wranger MT's 98' Johnson 225 Ocean Runner
JDavis1277
store and they have zero handicap parking spaces. Are you reading this Dick?
All in all they have nice stores with generally acceptable prices.
Thanks,
Butch Davis-
MrOffshore
>experience sounds .... well, er ??????
I'll tell you what my reply sounds....well, er...like...it sounds like BOAT/US
isn't in the serious insurance business. I was glad that they turned me
down...I eventually found a company that gaveme excellent coverage, great
customer service and all at an unbelievable annual premium...and they were a
nationally recoginzed company. I will stand to tell you and anyone that there
are much better organizations to join to get the towing coverage at better
prices with better and easier service. The truth of the matter is that if you
are looking to build a relationship with an insurance company over the long
haul...you don't want to do business with BOAT/US, unless of course you plan on
staying in a dingy!
This is however, only my opinion based on experience.
MrOffshore
there...they also own E&B Marine that I have done business with...I bought a
GPS unit and later the price went from $1500 to $1000...I called and inquired
what they might be able to do about it...they refunded me the difference...I
would have been satisfied with anything they offered....afterall I got what I
paid for...but customer service is important to them...since then I have always
raved to people I know of the service I have received. But as far as BOAT/US
is concerned, I wish they would quit sending me their bullshit propoganda...I
keep telling them they're killing trees for no reason...because if they were
they last towing service available, I still wouldn't use them...and that's the
dead nuts truth.
MrOffshore
>repealing the VHF license fees? It sure wasn't West Marine's!
Who said I agree with repealing the license fees? That certainly isn't the
biggest water issue that needs tackled...they're not my hero's
>There is no "free tow insurance." New
>members receive $50 of free towing from Towboat US or from anybody else such
>as Seatow,
He was referring to the basic membership discounting the towing...which is
useless...because you are right...towing is expensive...I don't think you can
get hooked up for $50, let alone towed anywhere. If you take the time to look
into the towing companies in your local area and join their groups you will
find out that thye are far more competitive that BOAT/US and give better
service to THEIR members!
>ll you gotta do is go to a Boat US store, show them the ad, or have
>them call the other dealer, and they'll match the other guy's price right on
>the spot, it is their policy. How much more simple do you need it. Why
>shop around? Get your prices right and go see those guys!
>
The whole idea behind advertising is to support the guy who spends the money to
allow the great pricing, not simply take his advertising dollars and allow some
lame operation to gain revenues because, they'll match the price", why don't
they have the great prices to begin with? Besides...I don't have time to shop
around fro the best price with all the other companies to simply turn around
and give the business to someone who would have happily overcharged me for the
same product had I not shopped him to death. And if you really want to support
your club...you should pay them their asking price...I sure can't remember the
last time I went into my pro shop and asked them to drop the price on a set of
golf clubs...you have to support your club...I choose not to belong to BOAT/US
they've proven their worthlessness to me already!
MrOffshore
>Didn't mention they would call the other guys to verify a non-advertised
>price.
> My question is, if they will meet anyone's price (for a customer lucky or
>smart enough to know of the price at another location), why not mark down to
>the competing price for the benefit of any other customer who comes in the
>store? Because they want to sell at the higher prices on their products,
>IMHO.
>
>inconvenient to access? But my point was not that you should never shop
>there, it was that there is no appreciable advantage to membership any
>longer.
>
>However, when a store that offers superior pricing is located nearby, why
>reward BOAT/US with your dollars rather than the store that gives you a
>better
>price up front? If BOAT/US had a policy like Home Depot where they will
>reward
>you for allowing them to compete by beating the price by 10%, I would go
>there
>all the time.
>
>Butch Davis-
>
>
You said it better than I did in my response!!
MrOffshore
>Boat US hurt their margin just because joe blow wants to destroy his? And
>this has some merit. If WalMart sells a depth sounder for X% above cost,
>and Boat US has to match it, well, WalMart, even if they don't sell the
>unit, is hurting Boat US's margin by making them price down. Doesn't mean
>that WalMart gets the unit any cheaper, just that they have thousands more
>items to make up the margin on than Boat US does.
This is what we call captilism...if BOAT/US doesn't like the competition get
out of the business. They could do us all a favor and shut the doors!
Stephen J Pavlidis
Funny, when Mr. Davis complains about high prices at boat stores, you
seem to commiserate. When I explain to you the hows and whys that may be
causing the pricing policies (which as I explain Boat US matches with a 4%
rebate), you say hey, that's capitalism and if Boat US doesn't like it,
close up and go home! DUH! It's two way street pal! It is capitalism and
if you don't like the prices, go elsewhere, spend your 4% more, I sure as
heck could care less. Sounds like you just have a bad attitude from your
unfortunate insurance experience with them. So be it. Read the other posts
on this NG and some other boating NG's and you'll see that the majority of
them are postive concerning Boat US insurance. Personally I don't insure
with Boat US, and don't know if I will, but I'll sure shop there. It's my
way of taking advantage of the wonderful capitalistic system.
Harry Krause
Hmmmmm.
We have our small boat insured with BOAT/US. The policy is inclusive and
more than competitively priced.
The largest marine accessory stores in our area are operated by BOAT/US
and West and E&B Marine. While there is much overlap of merchandise,
there are some differences, so sometimes I shop at one and sometimes at
the other. Their prices are pretty much the same, though one will match
the other if it is brought to their attention.
I found the sales help at the West Marine store on Roosevelt Boulevard
in Jacksonville *very very* knowledgeable and helpful. I also thought a
lot of some of the E&B sales people I've encountered.
I have no real feelings about the BOAT/US store personnel, other than
their friendliness. They seem to have a lot of turnover and a lot of
their people seem unable to answer serious questions.
As for the independents, well...back in the good old days, we had a
marina and a boat store, and the accessories business wasn't that
profitable even back then. There's not a lot of markup on the stuff, you
have to maintain a decent inventory, it may not turn that often and
there's always some discounter who will sell it for a dollar less.
--
Harry Krause
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Better living through alchemy.
Phoenix
competitive prices on products, will always match any sales prices by
anyone, but they do have alot of turn on in their stores.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY: They do watch out for all boaters interest with both
local and national goverments. The small membership fee is money well spent
to protect OUR INTERESTS with professional lobbiest. They worked hard on
eliminating the fee on VHF and the diesel tax which was very hard on anyone
with a diesel engine.
If you enjoy boating you should consider Boat/US for this reason if for no
other.
Harry Krause wrote in message <36AF191F...@erols.com>...
Jralbert
In article <19990126232707...@ng27.aol.com>, mroff...@aol.com
(MrOffshore) writes:
>The truth of the matter is that if you
>are looking to build a relationship with an insurance company over the long
>haul...you don't want to do business with BOAT/US, unless of course you plan
>on
>staying in a dingy!
>
>This is however, only my opinion based on experience.
>
well.. here's another view. I made an insurance claim with Boat US last summer
after suffering simultaneous twin engine blowouts. I won't bore you with the
details. But B/US reviewed the claim, ruled in my favor, and paid promptly.
It could not have been a smoother process. My "truth" is different from the
other writer's.
Joel Albert
Potomac, MD
((jral...@aol.com))