Adirondack Marine in Lake George

zone 5 wrote: I'd suggest you get it in writing, and force a depost on them

I think this is good advice any time you buy a boat, period. Anything short of that leaves the door open for someone else to step in and snatch it out from under you... which can suck- been there, done that.

Of course, Ive been on the other side too... its pretty common for someone to say "I want to buy your boat" and then simply not buy it for any myriad of reasons. When dealing with anyone but a very close friend or family member, the deal simply isnt done until cash is in hand. Thats just business!

It sounds like you had a verbal agreement with contingencies (water test). Thats not a very strong position to be in, especially when it comes to a hot commodity- like used boat at a "killer price".

Keep in mind that when dealing with a dealership, there are multiple salesmen, who may not all talk to each other about potential deals in the works- so even if your word was gold, it may not have been understood that the boat had been spoken for to everyone who was trying to sell it. Just another reason to get it in writing and put a deposit down.

Tom Roach and company are good people- Im sure they didnt cause you frustration on purpose. Considering their reputation around here (they have donated a lot of time, money and effort into several Northeast Reunions) I suspect that your story wont carry a ton of weight. Im not sure what youre trying to accomplish anyways- airing dirty laundry is poor form.

zone 5 wrote: Dirty Laundry? not hardly.

Actually, I think your post fits the definition perfectly. This "discussion" serves no purpose but to drag someone else's name through the mud. Adirondack is not likely to do anything for you based on this thread (its unlikely they'll comment or even see it), and you certainly dont seem interested in hearing other points of view. Youre just looking for a soap box.

All of my dealings with Adirondack have been extremely positive. Theyre about as low key and easy going as it gets- if anyone is going to do business with a handshake, its them. Thats certainly not the norm in business these days though. If, for whatever reason, they sensed you were a tire kicker, they would have been foolish to turn away another ready, willing and able buyer.

FWIW, Ive purchased many boats without a test drive... not that I would necessarily recommend doing so, but sometimes the deal is good enough to take the chance.

If I had a dollar for every customer order that was called in to me that I ended up having to put back on the shelf or sending back to the vendor and incurring restock I'd be rich. Like Tim said, the deal's not done until the money's exchanged. Sorry you had to go through this but if I was the dealer I would have probably taken the chance to sell the boat too. I will agree that it was probably in poor form to not at least blow a phone call in to you real quick, but I am just an outsider looking in and don't have both sides of the story.
I will also agree that it is in poor taste to air out stuff like this on a public forum. It doesn't do much to support your cause or build your reputation on here.

bhectus wrote: but I am just an outsider looking in and don't have both sides of the story. I will also agree that it is in poor taste to air out stuff like this on a public forum. It doesn't do much to support your cause or build your reputation on here.

I realize you have to vent but the fact you have never participated on here before makes it seem you have a axe to now grind. It's just a boat, maybe it just wasn't ment to be.

bhectus wrote:    I will also agree that it is in poor taste to air out stuff like this on a public forum. It doesn't do much to support your cause or build your reputation on here.

So you don't think its right to call out a dealer that does this? You don't think people should know about questionable ways of doing deals and backing out of them for what ever reason?

zone 5 wrote: bhectus wrote:    I will also agree that it is in poor taste to air out stuff like this on a public forum. It doesn't do much to support your cause or build your reputation on here. So you don't think its right to call out a dealer that does this? You don't think people should know about questionable ways of doing deals and backing out of them for what ever reason?

No, I don't. It makes you sound like my 3 month old when she doesn't get her bottle right away. WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!
Life's full of bad deals. Move on and find another deal.

bhectus wrote: No, I don't. It makes you sound like my 3 month old when she doesn't get her bottle right away. WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!! Life's full of bad deals. Move on and find another deal.

You are hysterical. I'm whining because a dealer went back on his word, and I try and put that out, and then the best you can do is the quoted post above?

I can't believe that you people actually think its okay that a dealer would do this. Good thing the Meloons are selling MC's now. They dealt on handshakes and stood by their word.

Nothing is ever my fault, I want things for free, I am entitled. That boat was owed to me! I'm suing.

I agree that it sounds funny. I bought my boat from White Lake Marine over the phone, and they told me they'd hold for me without a deposit (or even a handshake in this case) and they did. I would have been upset as well if they didn't.

It's hard to blame the dealer though really. These are tough times, and they've been tough for a while. If the cash is in front of you... right here, right now, today, well the mortgage aint gonna wait till Wednesday.

If you want a good deal, on a nice Ski Nautique in the Northeast, I'd keep my eye on this:
http://www.maccallumsboathouse.com/Preowned_Detail.cfm?ID=1037
from another dealer I track. If history serves as a solid predictor, it will be nice, and it will be spoken for within a week after the pictures get published.

Bri892001 wrote: And, if you're comfortable doing interior work, White Lake has been sitting on the 97 for quite some time. Make an offer! http://www.whitelake.com/detail.asp?id=275

THANKS!!! Great link. One I hadn't seen. I appreciate the help!!!

bhectus wrote: Nothing is ever my fault, I want things for free, I am entitled. That boat was owed to me! I'm suing.

Never wanted it for free. They set the price and I agreed to it
I'm entitled to the deal that the dealer agreed to . I didn't ask for anything more, and certainly not anything less.

zone 5 wrote: quinner wrote: Maybe I am missing something however the situation as described should not have happened dealing with a CC dealer, particularly to a customer of 15 years. If nothing else the salesman owed mystery man of unknown age a phone call and the right to first refusal. He trusted a salesman from a very reputable dealer, does not sound that ridiculous to me?? Same thing I thought. As everyone seems to think its important, I'm 58 years old. Had multiple boats for the last 20 years, including 2 Nautiques. Been to CC's plant (old one) on a private tour with Gary Meloon, had personal skiing lessons with Andy Mapple and met with the Meloons (Walt/Gary, and a owner of at the time NE Correct Craft) because they were happy with some quotes I made that they used in promo material and wanted to meet me when I was in Orlando to ski with Mapple. Bought my 2nd Nautique from a dealer now gone, in NJ, because Tom Roach at Adirondack wouldn't sell me one, because even though I came to Lake George ever year for vacation for 20 years, before I moved here, I lived in NJ, and Nautiques rules at the time were that you bought where you lived. Want any more info? Ask.

Welcome to the site!    I too agree that this is a poor way to do buisness.   While I can understand what you are saying, it is possible that said "buyer" had already been in contact with the salesman?   there may be more to the story here that you don't know.   A good deal on a boat that needs work is not necessarily hard to come buy,   I would take your case to the dealer's sales manager, share your beef with him calmly, and tell him that you are dissapointed with the way it all worked out.   Ask if he will make it right for you.   If you are realistic with how he can make it right, you may win a friend and be able to see that the heart of the dealer is to take care of their customers.   Bad deal in poor judment? Yes probably, but don't throw the dealer out the window because of the salesman's bad judgement. you've dealt with this team for 15 years, I think you owe them the opportunity to make it right.   

On another note, I am getting tired of all the newbies getting their balls busted by a certain GP... Pete, did you get some new pants recently?   They must have come from the cranky pants pile... I love your wealth of knowledge, and appreciate your advice, but could do without the axe it seems you are grinding on...       

Bakchose wrote: I agree with everything Kris (Dreaming) has said and I couldn't have said it better. Thanks Kris. I inquired about the boat in question back in the begining of July. It was originally listed for $7,500.00 with no pictures. It was on the website all summer. If it was such a great deal it would have sold months ago. They sent me a bunch of pictures and you might have dodged a bullet. Boats that end up in that condition mostlikely don't get the basic maintenance (how old is the transmission oil). The 1996 they have listed looks to be in better shape and cheaper. Maybe if you follow Kris's advice they'll drop the price to right a wrong. Good luck. I've been screwed out of a good deal by a dealer. It pissed me off, but, a year later I found a killer deal.

I saw it with no pics as you did and wondered. I didn't start looking hard till Sept, and by then pics were up. It was a camp boat so we both know why it had the interior beat up. engine/trans was why I wanted water test to see what it did. 1000 hrs showing on the replacement gauges so guess was 1500-2000 total.

The only reason I think it sat, was because when you walk up to it and see the interior, its horrible. everything but the seat cusions need redone. The coming pads are really really bad. My wife looked at it for 2 minutes and went back and sat in the truck.

I don't see a 96. I see the 1998 ski. When I looked at the boat the first time, one of their mechanics that worked on it was there, and told me what they had done to the 2000. He told me that the 98 was REALLY rough.

If that really happened the way you say, then you have every right to be pi$$ed off. They should have called you and given you right to first refusal, just as Quinner said. Have you called them? What was their response?

All that aside, even though I empathize with you, it still is bad form to come on here as a new member with the sole purpose of dragging someone through the mud. That's most likely why you've met the resistance (ball busting). Stick around a while. Many here will help you find another good deal.

Just throwing this out there--maybe the issue was the conditional "water test"? I think there's a big difference in saying I'm buying the boat on thursday vs. I'm buying it on thursday if it checks out. Sure, they should have called you, but flip the argument around--what if you drove the boat on thurs and then passed on it? Then they're out a sale on a boat that's been taking up space for awhile because the guy that showed with the money earlier is now down the road. Then they're the ones posting on here throwing you under the bus