Show Price and MSRP on Boats

Thomas Gilg · 04-28-2007, 10:48 PM

Wife and I are looking at some 20'+ boats - Alumaweld, NR, Boulton, Hewes, the usual suspects. We're starting to get a handle on the brands and options, but we're just getting started on pricing and understanding what a reasonable offer might be.

Several dealers are quoting me "Show Price" for boats on the lot, but knowledgable friends tell me Show Prices are often not the best deal going. Often good, but not the best. I've seen one boat so far that is priced at 5% below the Show Price I saw 2 months ago.

MSRP seems to be another starting point, and posts in other forums lead me to believe that MSRP is typically 20-30% over dealer invoice, and that paying 12-15% over invoice (if we could ever see those numbers) would make for a good deal to both the buyer and dealer.

Any thoughts on how to react to Show Price and MSRP figures?

Next, I'm trying to understand how prices change over the course of a season. Dealers usually claim prices will rise as the year progresses, but my limited recollection from last year is that end-of-year specials are common. One friend advised that the boat market will likely be soft in 2007 (state of economy wrt luxury items; gas prices) and if anything prices should drop. In another forum was a comment about a soft 2002 season and discounts up to 20% by years end.

Any thoughts on when to buy during a given season?

Now let me confess some discomfort with this post. I hate the car buying and boat buying game, but clearly there are customers that best the dealer, and dealers that best the customer. All said I'm looking for a fair deal, the ability to have a very good long term relationship with the dealer, and getting my wife and I into an awesome fish-catching machine!

Thomas Gilg

Snowwolfe · 04-29-2007, 10:08 PM

The worst time to buy any new boat is during a boat show. The best time is always at the end of season.
Not to sure how much of a mark up there is on different brands of boats. No dealer wants to hold on to a boat during a long winter.

coffee-n-rolls · 05-02-2007, 01:41 PM

Check out North River, formerly Portland Performance Marine. Ask for Scott. He's a standup guy and a real pleasure to work with. I bought a 21' Scout from him this year and was treated very fairly.

Tim

Scout20 · 05-02-2007, 01:59 PM

I'll chime in here too with another thumbs up for Scott at PPM Northriver. Although I bought a "show boat" I had worked with Scott for months on what was right for me. I would say I got a fair deal only because the boat is perfect, he showed a discount in writing and it was just a great experience...

Mark

Snowwolfe · 05-02-2007, 02:12 PM

Two common mistakes seen by beginners buying a boat show package are as follows:

1. The boat is on a trailer that is to small for it. Add all the gear, gas, motor, batteries, etc together and then figure in a 10 % cushion to insure the rig is not over loaded.

2. The motor on the boat is not the best choice. Dealers will often put on to small of a motor just to keep the package price down (see #1).

This being said I think if you stood your ground 5-10% should be easy to get off the "Sale" price the dealer has posted IF you are prepared to write a check for deposit with your offer right then and there. No sales person wants to hear "Will you accept x amount of dollars for this"?, and then they say yes and the customer walks away saying he will think about it.
Make an offer with what you will pay and honor your word if they accept it. If they will not agree to it leave then with your phone number. If they can make money off you they will call you back.
Good luck!

8salmon · 05-02-2007, 08:02 PM

Thomas,

For what it worth there's some very good advice on IFish boat forum. To settle on the boat you want, river test a couple of boats, ask questions on this site about your choice of boat, look to other web forums. For me it was River Jet Magazine, especially those boats made in Idaho. Alot of questions can be answered. I spoke with representaives of two boat builders in Idaho to understand the build structure and options available. It's as much about build quality, service after sale, as it is price, so keep that in mind as well. One manufacturer offered a 3 year pump warranty whereas another 2 years on the same model of pump.

I bought a new boat during the 07 boat show but not from a dealer at the show. I made 3 trips to the show and couldn't get the price I wanted to pay on a custom ordered boat. My wife and I wanted a boat built with the options we selected and started our reasearch in November by visiting the Portland dealers and comparing model options and prices. We found some dealers wanted to get rid of 06 inventory and really pushed the boat on the lot rather then ordering a boat to build with our options. I will also add that some dealers went out their way to say what's wrong with the boat being sold up the street. You know the Ford Vs.Chevy game. Hate it, heard the same bashing at the boat show.

Since the dealer at the show wouldn't budge off their bottom price we went to another dealer selling the same model but out of town and ordered a boat with everything we originally asked for from the boat show dealer and saved 12%.

Good luck in your search! Don't make it stressful, just do your home work before you write that down payment check.

willametteriveroutlaw · 05-02-2007, 09:28 PM

Talk to willie, I have heard nothing but good things from people that have bought boats from them.

garyk · 05-02-2007, 09:34 PM

Thomas,

Good advice here and Snowolfe is exactly right about dealers cutting corners on the trailer to lower the price.

The other thing...and this is my mantra on these type threads -- the enjoyment you get out of your boat is directly related to how well the dealer does the rigging. There is a lot involved in properly rigging the boat.

There are dealers whose rigging is so bad that I honestly don't know how they stay in business?

Folks get fixated on the price - especially firsttime buyers.

The other thing is there are a lot of nice very lightly used boats out there that will allow you to get even more boat for your money.

Thomas Gilg · 05-03-2007, 07:53 PM

Thanks for all the feedback!

With "purchase" on our mind vs. just looking, its amazing all the details we're starting to notice and care about, and how much more we're holding out for the right boat for a fair price.

Thanks,

--tg

foxer · 05-04-2007, 01:40 AM

Do your homework. Find a brand/model you like then find it at other dealers, in state and out of state. It made a big difference when I was shopping for a Hewescraft.

Snowwolfe · 05-04-2007, 09:14 AM

Don't be afraid to use email to arrange the best deal. I bought my last two boats and RV's using email alone.
Just tell the dealer what you want at the price you want and if they agree you will give them the required deposit via a credit card.

Thomas Gilg · 05-04-2007, 07:59 PM

My wife and I set the hook on a boat with one dealer, and the dealer set the hook on us, its a good two-way hookup, but other factors are in play that make the two-way hookup unsure. Wife and I will hit the road tomorrow in search of backup holes. We want to stay with the hole we're fishing now, but knowing other spots is always wise.

I notice no one is exactly telling all about their best boat fishing holes, and likewise I've concluded I won't either, but the general gist of this thread is proving true. Try a few holes, some are better than others.

So how's that for a fishing report :-)

--tg

Thomas Gilg · 05-05-2007, 10:32 PM

The deed is done:

--tg

pugetplunker · 05-06-2007, 04:34 AM

nice deed

Jedcraft · 05-07-2007, 02:10 PM

oooouuuu, that's nice!

garyk · 05-09-2007, 09:19 PM

Holy Smokes!!!!

Did you make the jump from a drift boat to THAT

Way to go

Thomas Gilg · 05-09-2007, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garyk

Did you make the jump from a drift boat to THAT

We "expanded the fleet". 2 float tubes, 1 pontoon, 1 DB, now THAT. At this point however, we'll go back to the cheaper routine of collecting too many rods and reels.

--tg