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03-16-2016, 02:59 PM
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#41
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Guru
City: Fort Pierce
Vessel Name: Florita Ann
Vessel Model: 1982 Present
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,935
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Yeah, a phone call before breaking the 2nd promised comittment is a REAL inconvience isn't it?
Do you you support the guy that took a $13.00 pill and priced it $750 after buying the firm that was the only supplier? How much is too much for a head gasket if $200 is not unreasonable? $500? $1000? $5000? I need to get in some kind of business and find the right, very understanding tolerant customers.
I agree with you about extremely busy..I was naive. I should have did as I did then kept looking for a better deal. I was not perceptive enough to read between the lines that my little CS job was good enough for them. He, would have, I would have been, far better off had he just said so outright. I would have thanked him and moved on, but he wanted to keep his options open. In the process he made a very resentful non customer, all really because he was not organized enough to have someone make a call, or guts enough to say no.. Any business gets enough of them....wellll they go the way of the wind.
This was all needless, but I got educated.
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03-16-2016, 04:18 PM
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#42
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Senior Member
City: Brisbane
Vessel Name: Malagari
Vessel Model: Island Gypsy 36 Europa
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 422
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Well Mule, time to build a bridge - get over it and get on.
__________________
George
Brisbane
IG 36 Europa
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03-16-2016, 04:21 PM
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#43
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Guru
City: Fort Pierce
Vessel Name: Florita Ann
Vessel Model: 1982 Present
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,935
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Done!
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03-16-2016, 04:46 PM
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#44
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Guru
City: Signal Mtn., TN
Vessel Name: Stella Maris
Vessel Model: Defever 44
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,741
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Personally, I don't put up with dawdling service either. Legitimate mistakes and unavoidable delays are understandable; being treated as if I don't matter has consequences.
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03-16-2016, 05:39 PM
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#45
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Guru
City: Fort Pierce
Vessel Name: Florita Ann
Vessel Model: 1982 Present
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,935
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Surley bartenders either, huh.
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03-16-2016, 07:43 PM
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#46
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Guru
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brisyboy
Well Mule, time to build a bridge - get over it and get on.
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I think you mean "burn".
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03-16-2016, 07:59 PM
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#47
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Guru
City: Cape May, NJ
Vessel Name: Irish Lady
Vessel Model: Monk 36
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,947
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A couple months ago I needed 2 parts from WB. I tried the SW FL shop where I bought the same parts last year. After 2 weeks, the call came in "discontinued" and refunded my CC charge. I tried to order online. The site said ordered and even "shipped". Two more weeks later, no parts showup. Came back discontinued again. Visited a local shop who called the distributer. 2 days later, the distributer said the parts were "No Longer Available". Can't order them.
So i do a little more research and find the exact same parts are used on the gen sets rolling down the assembly line TODAY on CURRENT models.
I call the factory who immediately tries to divert me back to the FL distributer. NO, NO, NO!!! Wait! Ive gone that route several times. Please can I speak to someone in charge of parts there. I get forwarded to some manager voicemail at WB and beg for them to sell me these parts made of "unobtainium". Someone else calls me back and says, "We're sorry, can't sell them to you".
Somewhere along this quest, someone recommended calling Broward Armature in Ft Lauderdale. They had them in stock!!! My heros! I order two the day before I have to leave the country for two weeks. Two weeks later I just gotten through customs in the US and my phone rings. My local shop says the 2 parts just showed up there without being ordered and do I still want them. YES!!! Now I have 4.
Who runs a business like this?
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03-16-2016, 08:39 PM
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#48
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Guru
City: Maine Coast
Vessel Name: Tortuga
Vessel Model: Nunes Brothers Raised Deck Cruiser
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 889
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Next time tell them you are the captain and you need the boat fixed because the owner is coming.
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03-16-2016, 09:14 PM
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#49
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Guru
City: Here
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,940
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In 35 years of self employment I have missed one commitment (I was rear ended by a cop car) and was an hour late for another (rear ended by a drunk). I frequently arrive an hour early and read the paper in the truck as I have an unnatural fear of being late.
The price ? it is what it is for whatever reason but a commitment should be written in stone, no written contract required.
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03-16-2016, 11:06 PM
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#50
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Guru
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TDunn
Next time tell them you are the captain and you need the boat fixed because the owner is coming.
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LOL, they hear that everyday.
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03-17-2016, 05:31 AM
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#51
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,119
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Archie...ever try Canyon Club?
They are a Westerberg dealer and have done well by me with parts....the one guy was there (maybe still) forever and knew the part switchover.
I also have seen a few websites where parts labeled discontinued had "replacement part" listed. Not all but a few. What parts were you looking for so the rest of us can be prepared? Thanks.
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03-17-2016, 08:24 AM
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#52
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Guru
City: Fort Pierce
Vessel Name: Florita Ann
Vessel Model: 1982 Present
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Capt.Bill11
I think you mean "burn".
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Done...good observation.
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03-17-2016, 08:37 AM
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#53
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Guru
City: Fort Pierce
Vessel Name: Florita Ann
Vessel Model: 1982 Present
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by High Wire
A couple months ago I needed 2 parts from WB. I tried the SW FL shop where I bought the same parts last year. After 2 weeks, the call came in "discontinued" and refunded my CC charge. I tried to order online. The site said ordered and even "shipped". Two more weeks later, no parts showup. Came back discontinued again. Visited a local shop who called the distributer. 2 days later, the distributer said the parts were "No Longer Available". Can't order them.
So i do a little more research and find the exact same parts are used on the gen sets rolling down the assembly line TODAY on CURRENT models.
I call the factory who immediately tries to divert me back to the FL distributer. NO, NO, NO!!! Wait! Ive gone that route several times. Please can I speak to someone in charge of parts there. I get forwarded to some manager voicemail at WB and beg for them to sell me these parts made of "unobtainium". Someone else calls me back and says, "We're sorry, can't sell them to you".
Somewhere along this quest, someone recommended calling Broward Armature in Ft Lauderdale. They had them in stock!!! My heros! I order two the day before I have to leave the country for two weeks. Two weeks later I just gotten through customs in the US and my phone rings. My local shop says the 2 parts just showed up there without being ordered and do I still want them. YES!!! Now I have 4.
Who runs a business like this?
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==========================================
Westerbeke and ACA Marine.
Thank you, I have been made the goat for disparaging these "ethical hard working business people". I am gratified to hear someone else has verbalized the same kind of crap a I put up with by the Westerbeke Mafia.
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03-17-2016, 10:10 AM
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#54
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Moderator Emeritus
City: SEWARD ALASKA
Vessel Name: DOS PECES
Vessel Model: BAYLINER 4788
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,263
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Mule
My comments are going to echo others here so you might plug your ears.
As far as parts prices, well parts are part of how a business makes a profit. With a competitive market pulling down the initial sales price of equipment to a point where it is barely profitable, parts sales are an important high profit source of revenue for a company. If you do not like parts prices, then buy a different brand of generator, but I warn you that the grass is not always greener on the other side.
As far as Westerbeke corporation... your complaint will fall into the 5% of customers that every business gets that are frankly not worth their time. Yes, they would rather loose your $200 per year in revenue rather than listen to you. Sorry, but anybody that owns a business knows this.
Regarding the performance of the local repair dealership... The problem is you. You as a customer bring in zero revenue to their company. You have no real relationship with them, and are only calling them because you are in over your head with this one repair. Even if they did a great job you would probably micro analyze their invoice, take up allot of their time, and still never become a regular customer.
They have regular customers that they derive 90% of their bread and butter revenue from. Why would they, especially during their busy season break loose and come take care of your old tired generator.
If you are talking about a head gasket, you're looking at the strong potential that the generator is economically at end of life anyway. They know from experience that customers like you are not going to make them any money, and that they will have to "marry" you over this generator issue.
I know you do not want to hear this, but you are the kind of customer that service organizations do not want to do business with. So they choose not to.
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03-17-2016, 12:18 PM
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#55
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 264
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All valid points Kevin, but in my opinion it seems the problem is that the dealer promised to send someone out then never followed up. If they had said they were too busy or just didn't want to do that job maybe it would have had a different outcome. But they chose to keep this one potential customer hanging on hoping that they would work on his genny. I would have been equally upset. And I have had truck repair shops tell me that they could work on my motorhome but if a truck comes in they would stop mine and get the commercial customer back on the road. I understood that and thanked them and took my business elsewhere. I wasn't upset and they weren't either.
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03-17-2016, 02:10 PM
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#56
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Guru
City: Fort Pierce
Vessel Name: Florita Ann
Vessel Model: 1982 Present
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ksanders
Mule
My comments are going to echo others here so you might plug your ears.
As far as parts prices, well parts are part of how a business makes a profit. With a competitive market pulling down the initial sales price of equipment to a point where it is barely profitable, parts sales are an important high profit source of revenue for a company. If you do not like parts prices, then buy a different brand of generator, but I warn you that the grass is not always greener on the other side.
As far as Westerbeke corporation... your complaint will fall into the 5% of customers that every business gets that are frankly not worth their time. Yes, they would rather loose your $200 per year in revenue rather than listen to you. Sorry, but anybody that owns a business knows this.
Regarding the performance of the local repair dealership... The problem is you. You as a customer bring in zero revenue to their company. You have no real relationship with them, and are only calling them because you are in over your head with this one repair. Even if they did a great job you would probably micro analyze their invoice, take up allot of their time, and still never become a regular customer.
They have regular customers that they derive 90% of their bread and butter revenue from. Why would they, especially during their busy season break loose and come take care of your old tired generator.
If you are talking about a head gasket, you're looking at the strong potential that the generator is economically at end of life anyway. They know from experience that customers like you are not going to make them any money, and that they will have to "marry" you over this generator issue.
I know you do not want to hear this, but you are the kind of customer that service organizations do not want to do business with. So they choose not to.
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From another post:
Do you you support the guy that took a $13.00 pill and priced it $750 after buying the firm that was the only supplier? How much is too much for a head gasket if $200 is not unreasonable? $500? $1000? $5000? I need to get in some kind of business and find the right, very understanding tolerant customers.
===============================
I pulled my boat for a hull inspection. Found I needed a cutlass bearing and associated work. Had ACE measured up I would have called them first. That is 2 jobs they missed out on. There will be more they will miss. I live mostly in Fort Pierce, the wife and I have an extensive network. I will NEVER reccomended them.
All they had to do was call and not ignore, or be upfront from the beginning, rather than leaving me hanging.
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03-17-2016, 02:34 PM
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#57
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Guru
City: Carefree, Arizona
Vessel Name: sunchaser V
Vessel Model: DeFever 48 (sold)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,179
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This thread reminds me, I am overdue on taking two dozen doughnuts into my favorite yard. And their lead mechanic is ready for a gratis bottle of Bushmills.
Took one of my cars in for an oil change today at the dealer. No charge at all with 100% full synthetic added and a free car wash to boot.
Life is good with so many nice people around. Easy to forget the 2% bad apples, but they do add a little humor to the he day. Much easier to try a
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03-17-2016, 02:48 PM
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#58
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Veteran Member
City: Toledo
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 86
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ksanders
Mule
My comments are going to echo others here so you might plug your ears.
As far as parts prices, well parts are part of how a business makes a profit. With a competitive market pulling down the initial sales price of equipment to a point where it is barely profitable, parts sales are an important high profit source of revenue for a company. If you do not like parts prices, then buy a different brand of generator, but I warn you that the grass is not always greener on the other side.
As far as Westerbeke corporation... your complaint will fall into the 5% of customers that every business gets that are frankly not worth their time. Yes, they would rather loose your $200 per year in revenue rather than listen to you. Sorry, but anybody that owns a business knows this.
Regarding the performance of the local repair dealership... The problem is you. You as a customer bring in zero revenue to their company. You have no real relationship with them, and are only calling them because you are in over your head with this one repair. Even if they did a great job you would probably micro analyze their invoice, take up allot of their time, and still never become a regular customer.
They have regular customers that they derive 90% of their bread and butter revenue from. Why would they, especially during their busy season break loose and come take care of your old tired generator.
If you are talking about a head gasket, you're looking at the strong potential that the generator is economically at end of life anyway. They know from experience that customers like you are not going to make them any money, and that they will have to "marry" you over this generator issue.
I know you do not want to hear this, but you are the kind of customer that service organizations do not want to do business with. So they choose not to.
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I think your comment on parts prices is fair - god knows the automobile folks have perfected it. However, it seems to me what he was really upset about was that they blew him off and I think that is more than a fair point. If someone tells me they will be out to look at my genset/cable box/water meter/ car whatever I expect them to be out at least reasonably close to when they said they will be. I'm willing to give lots of leeway (jobs take longer than expected etc. it happens) but we are both busy people and I have to take time off work or whatever to be available etc. If they didn't want the job or couldn't take the job or weren't sure they would be able to do it the onus is on them to communicate that so other arrangements can be made. If my mechanic is too busy to get me in for an oil change (and it happens, and I know he isn't making much money on it) then he will just tell me and I'll run up to the dealership and have it done and save five bucks to boot.
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03-17-2016, 07:48 PM
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#59
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Guru
City: Gooding ID/Wrangell AK
Vessel Name: Silver Bay
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 42-002
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,040
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Sunchaser,
I do that in Wrangell for the people that work on my boat, it's a combination of beer or a case of iced tea for the ones that don't drink and a couple dozen donuts. What that got me last summer was being at the dock the morning after I got in to pull the transmission, replace a seal (I'd ordered the previous week), and install it before the close of business. I give them a punch list to do over the winter when they can fit it in with the only goal of being done by April. Seems to work well.
Tom
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03-17-2016, 08:40 PM
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#60
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Guru
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mule
I pulled my boat for a hull inspection. Found I needed a cutlass bearing and associated work. Had ACE measured up I would have called them first. That is 2 jobs they missed out on. There will be more they will miss. I live mostly in Fort Pierce, the wife and I have an extensive network. I will NEVER reccomended them.
All they had to do was call and not ignore, or be upfront from the beginning, rather than leaving me hanging.
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So to be clear, they gave you a start work date 21 days away, said they would call, they never call and you never called them either before the 21 days were up to reconfirmed?
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