Fishrite Boats

Sea Nymph · 09-14-2005, 08:18 AM

At the Fishrite web site, I fill out the online form listing everything I would like in order to receive a quote. A few hours later I receive a reply from some girl saying that they couldn't start building any boats until January and did I really want a quote? Uh... Yeah! That's why I filled out the form and hit the submit button.

Man, if this is a taste of the type of service I would get after buying one of their boats, thanks but no thanks. Business must be so good that they don't want to generate future sales. Or, maybe they have the wrong person answering quote requests.

This just puts me even closer to that North River.

SN

uhmw · 09-14-2005, 12:46 PM

seems to me a heads up on there part- most people want things yesterday. Maybe the rep comes accross alot of people who will demand this type of service and laugh in her face when they say they have a 6 month wait for a custom rig. I belive fishrite is servicing the customers who have commited and want to help you with your quote too, I supply them with some raw materials for years and am glad to give them my time free of charge to bid a job cause I know they are for real- just like the boat dealers that sell their boats for them, Im sure a dealer might jump to help ya. Maybe you should go with the walmart style builders they have alot more funds to chase after your business. ps type in boat builders rants and see what ya find- they all have their problems.

Codfish · 09-14-2005, 01:38 PM

It seems to me that if they are not serious about giving a quote that someone submitted online then they should not have a "get a quote online" option on their website. Instead they should just have a number for customer service and deal with their quotes that way.

Just my 1/2 cent.

Codfish

Sea Nymph · 09-14-2005, 03:11 PM

Yes, that's right. If they don't want me filling out a quote form why is it there? I didn't see anything saying "Do Not Fill Out If Unable To Wait Until January For Boat Building To Begin".

Also, If I wanted a wal mart boat, I wouldn't be asking a custom built boat company for a quote.

They might be a fantastic boat company, I wouldn't know. All I know is that they don't want to help me by trying to sell me a boat so why would they help me after I bought one? When you give a potential customer a bad 1st impression, that's bad business. Because of the rude reply from my quote request, I am no longer interested in their boats. Who knows, that may have cost them a 25 - 30K sale!

That's a good idea about checking out the boat rant & rave thread... I'm heavily influenced by good / bad opinions of average joes who has been down the path I'm about to take.

SN

uhmw · 09-15-2005, 08:01 AM

I feel your pain 20,000 to 40000 is a lot of money any way ya slice it. yes it hurts to even loose the chance to bid because of a few careless moments on the phone. I have also learned that some of the most highly skilled and sought after machine shops can be some of the hardest people to work with too. Conversly the cheapest guy is always busy and knows that -Where else ya gona go? so his attitude some times stinks too. I have learned some times you have to poke and prod a little- get mad and demand the service you deserve. I much prefer a nasty receptionist to a careless mecanic installing your pump.

PapaHog · 09-18-2005, 10:42 PM

I would think that you should have the information up front that they could not start your boat til January. If that was not acceptable to you then no use wasting your and thier time.

My friend's boat is on the production line as we speak and he is very happy with the customer service he has received. He spent a little over 40 thousand and they keep him updated all the time. Customer service seems good to him.

papa

Sea Nymph · 09-19-2005, 07:24 AM

If I were in charge, the reply would be something similar to:

Thank you for your interest in Floating Boats Co. Due to the popularity of our competatively priced and high quality boats, January is the soonest we would be able to start your boat.

See the attached quote specific to your needs. Please call us at 123xxx to answer anymore questions you may have or to arrange the placing of your order.

Whether Joe/Jane Customer can or can't wait until January doesn't matter. My time wasn't wasted by giving him quick, friendly and informative information. His/Her impression of Floating Boats Co. is that so far, we provide the above mentioned. Now he/she knows where he/she stands without having to chase down more info.

Maybe I expect too much when it comes to service. But, I have to have that warm fuzzy about a company before I'll give them 30,000 of my $s.

sn

PapaHog · 09-19-2005, 10:05 AM

I agree with your approach. The company could have done a better job with this quote than they did. However my thought that just tying a price list to the website possibilities of options may not be that easy.

A good competitive quote may take a couple days to make as they will have to check with all the suppliers to see what they think the prices will be come January or to lock in a price for January so a competitive quote could be made.

I only know that customer service is great where my friend is concerned and I just talked to him and he did not feel that he had any problems getting quote for his boat. He was told up front that it would be a few months for his boat to be started before they started haggling over money.
papa

Thumper · 09-19-2005, 11:21 AM

Quote:

A few hours later I receive a reply from some girl saying that they couldn't start building any boats until January and did I really want a quote?

Uh, maybe time for a new "girl" (as opposed to "boy" I guess).

snit · 09-20-2005, 03:43 PM

I had a 18' Explorer that I was the second owner on. Great boat, and I knew the original owner. I had a few questions and one small concern with that boat, and the company wasn't very helpfull.

My dad liked my boat so much, he bought a 19.5' Explorer (used also) and he had a few questions for the owner of the company. There were a few issues that my dad inherited on the boat that he didn't know about, and he wanted some solutions or advice. Again, the customer service wasn't very positive. They acted like they didn't have much time for either of us...granted we didn't buy new, but IMO they could work on their people skills.

I really think they build a nice boat, and they've been around for 25 years, so they've weathered alot of the issues/problems that can plague small business owners and drive them out of business. But, I went with Alumaweld for my last two boats and I'm very happy that I did.

My name is Kyle Snitily if this is post is viewed as a complaint (not meant to be, just a personal experience).

HntnFsh · 09-21-2005, 05:33 PM

Maybe thats a good reason to walk across the street and talk to Willie!

foxer · 09-22-2005, 05:56 PM

Drove right by both places the other day. Now, this is not a dig on either but what dumpy lookin' places. Amazing that such beautiful machines are created inside such poorly taken care of places (on the outside at least). Since Willie is direct I would think they would spend a little $$ on upkeep.