Totally dissed by broker

So in 2006 i was dismissed as a boat buyer. Finally went elsewhere and did not buy from that broker but found what we were looking for and bought our boat. Seems like women are not supposed to buy boats. I kinda passed it off as the times. But here i am now. ... Ready to buy a trawler... Looking to be a looper. I have done my research, know what i want... For the most part... But when i contact brokers.... I get totally dissed and passed over like i know nothing! So I'm a pilot, i know systems and engines and have owned and lived on boats most of my life,... But the freaking broker hears that a woman wants to buy a trawler.... And here ya go... You get total bs and that...tone... Like they don't want to even waste their time talking to me! Drives me crazy! I'm in Florida. Anyone know who i can turn to that will assist me in byung my "loop mobile" and treat me like a human being?

Can't help you with Florida broker, but what exactly are you looking for?

I'm sure your analysis is right, but that's not about you as much as them.
F... umm, move on and I'm sure your will find a good professional broker.

Betsy said:

So in 2006 i was dismissed as a boat buyer. Finally went elsewhere and did not buy from that broker but found what we were looking for and bought our boat. Seems like women are not supposed to buy boats. I kinda passed it off as the times. But here i am now. ... Ready to buy a trawler... Looking to be a looper. I have done my research, know what i want... For the most part... But when i contact brokers.... I get totally dissed and passed over like i know nothing! So I'm a pilot, i know systems and engines and have owned and lived on boats most of my life,... But the freaking broker hears that a woman wants to buy a trawler.... And here ya go... You get total bs and that...tone... Like they don't want to even waste their time talking to me! Drives me crazy! I'm in Florida. Anyone know who i can turn to that will assist me in byung my "loop mobile" and treat me like a human being?

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Male brokers are pigs.. find a good female broker and find your boat!
Happy boat hunting!
HOLLYWOOD

I hate that you have to deal with that. I don't know any Florida brokers personally, but there are some brokers floating around on this site. Daddyo is one, and yachtbrokerguy. Pretty sure there are others as well. Maybe they can help.

Some people cannot get rid of preconceived ideas and judgement and just still live in a revolved era... Wish you the best for your boat quest, I am pretty sure your next boat is waiting for you out there.

L

I remember meeting a couple of Lady boat Brokers. I can't remember the names now at least one was a member of MTOA and I am quite sure lived in Florida.
Maybe check with MTOA.
Good luck!

I know the perfect broker for you. Call Cookie White at Allied Marine in Stuart FL.
Cell is (704) 574-6019. Tell her Howard Mason referred you.

Betsy said:

So in 2006 i was dismissed as a boat buyer. Finally went elsewhere and did not buy from that broker but found what we were looking for and bought our boat. Seems like women are not supposed to buy boats. I kinda passed it off as the times. But here i am now. ... Ready to buy a trawler... Looking to be a looper. I have done my research, know what i want... For the most part... But when i contact brokers.... I get totally dissed and passed over like i know nothing! So I'm a pilot, i know systems and engines and have owned and lived on boats most of my life,... But the freaking broker hears that a woman wants to buy a trawler.... And here ya go... You get total bs and that...tone... Like they don't want to even waste their time talking to me! Drives me crazy! I'm in Florida. Anyone know who i can turn to that will assist me in byung my "loop mobile" and treat me like a human being?

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That's total nonsense. I cant help you with a particular broker, but there are a lot of women that knows a ton more than a large percentage of people in the sales end of boats. One of the most seasoned brokers many moons ago was a woman that wore a hat all the time as her trademark at Bradfords, IIRC. But its been years ago and she probably has aged out of the industry.


If my wife was looking for a boat to buy, in most all cases she qualifies as one of the most knowledgeable persons unlike a ton of brokers in the business.


One of things that would take place, and maybe its the case on your end, she is pretty mild mannered and even keel, or maybe what is known as unpretentious when you meet her.

So I would probably say that you may have run into some of the least experienced one that probably expects to do little to no work to earn your business. So its probably good that you weed them out from the start when you get no respect as a potential customer.

It used to be a saying that " boat brokers are nothing more than car salesmen in topsiders". A long time ago Florida did improve the industry by placing some regulations on obtaining a license too.


So at least you know when you end up getting the attention of one, you will probably get good service. Good luck on your future loop trip. And just wanted to give you some encouragement..

We bought our last two boats from female brokers and I want to say they were both excellent experiences. Most brokers belong to a professional organization (don't recall the name right now) but you could get a referral from them for a good female broker.

Greetings,

I think there is a TF member (Judy Waldman sp?) who is a broker. I've only heard good things about her...I think she's in Miami or there-abouts.

RT Firefly said:

Greetings,

I think there is a TF member (Judy Waldman sp?) who is a broker. I've only heard good things about her...I think she's in Miami or there-abouts.

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That's right Judy Waldman is one of the brokers I was thinking of, we met her at an MTOA conference. You can find her at JW Yachts, google it.

Go with Cookie, NOT JW Yachts. Had a bad experience.

Thanks everyone! I will look into your suggestions!

Call Barbara Burke. She’s a personal friend and is well respected in the industry. Tell her Hobo says hello.

(904) 310-5110 or by e-mail: barbara@curtisstokes.net.

Yacht Broker Barbara Burke - Curtis Stokes Yacht Brokerage

Betsy said:

So in 2006 i was dismissed as a boat buyer. Finally went elsewhere and did not buy from that broker but found what we were looking for and bought our boat. Seems like women are not supposed to buy boats. I kinda passed it off as the times. But here i am now. ... Ready to buy a trawler... Looking to be a looper. I have done my research, know what i want... For the most part... But when i contact brokers.... I get totally dissed and passed over like i know nothing! So I'm a pilot, i know systems and engines and have owned and lived on boats most of my life,... But the freaking broker hears that a woman wants to buy a trawler.... And here ya go... You get total bs and that...tone... Like they don't want to even waste their time talking to me! Drives me crazy! I'm in Florida. Anyone know who i can turn to that will assist me in byung my "loop mobile" and treat me like a human being?

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Wifey B: If you're contacting listing brokers, what you're experiencing is normal, not just for women. Call, schedule an appointment to sit down and talk to potential buyer brokers. Perhaps even a female broker as there are many of them. I'll message you the name of one I know but there are many others.

I bought 2 boats through women brokers who did not do my species proud. Now looking to go back to trawler from sail, I think I might go with Melanie Neale (Tom's daughter, wrote the book Boat Girl) Profile Of Melanie Neale

Or Scott Schramm of Bayport Profile Of Scott Schramm

I've known him for about 15 years. He's passionate and energetic (is that the nice word for aggressive?) When it comes to boat sales. And a great buyer's advocate.

Hi Betsy. When I was shopping I would email questions, signing the letters

Janice (and Frank)
Frank is a statue of a pelican the kidlets bought me and "frankly" I was tired of being ignored for being a single woman boat shopping, Especially with 15k of miles as captain of our 40'er. (all coastal, so no oceans crossed mind you)

This is Frank:


As for Judy, although she was not involved in the eventual purchase of Seaweed, she was helpful in guiding me as far as how to go about the process. I liked her. And she was nice prior to me adding the (and Frank) to queries.

On the other hand, honestly there are a lot of tire-kickers out there shopping for boats. Females are not the norm. Just as when a fellow goes into a quilting or cross-stitch shop and is ignored, I go into a marine hardware store and have the same invisibility issues.

Of course I've got grey hair, am wearing a skirt, and carrying a dog in my purse... well, I suppose I'm not looking much like the typical boater. That's okay too.

I'm too old to be offended because I don't meet preconceived notions.

Betsy, if there are any boats your are interested in in central or NE Florida let me know. I have a male broker for you who will treat you right, or he knows I will kick his ass around the harbor!

Also I would point out that many brokers treat everyone like that - so in some cases it might not be that you are a woman, you are just sensitive to that angle, just that there are plenty of a-hole brokers generally!

I'll give you an example. When we were last looking for a boat we had our list of needs-to-have. My wife had an additional few - one of which was a washer and dryer, or space to install one. If the boat did not meet that criteria we were not buying. So our buyer broker, on each boat we looked at, challenged the selling broker to make it a priority to show us the washer and dryer or the capability to have them. We have a couple of brokers actually make fun of our broker for even worrying about that. Needless to say we were not happy with the way our broker was treated about OUR requirements.

I wonder if any guys have been "dissed' by a female broker?
That one gender would "diss" another, in boat broking/buying/selling seems odd. Surely a brokers desire to turn a $ is paramount,getting involved in some gender war/dispute/bias seems self defeating bizarre,and contrary to the main aim of doing a deal to make a $. Why would a broker, or a number of them, depart from that? It makes no sense.

BruceK said:

I wonder if any guys have been "dissed' by a female broker?
That one gender would "diss" another, in boat broking/buying/selling seems odd. Surely a brokers desire to turn a $ is paramount,getting involved in some gender war/dispute/bias seems self defeating bizarre,and contrary to the main aim of doing a deal to make a $. Why would a broker, or a number of them, depart from that? It makes no sense.

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Wifey B: It's all hard to tell. So many guys talk about being dissed by brokers, no one can say whether females have more issues with brokers or not. It's like a local business that someone was claiming ignored him because he was black. I gold him I was afraid they just ignored everyone.

That said, I do believe there are some brokers who are less inclined to be helpful to female customers.

BandB said:

Wifey B: It's all hard to tell. So many guys talk about being dissed by brokers, no one can say whether females have more issues with brokers or not. It's like a local business that someone was claiming ignored him because he was black. I gold him I was afraid they just ignored everyone.
That said, I do believe there are some brokers who are less inclined to be helpful to female customers.

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I remember a car dealer here who, accused of discrimination against one class of persons said "No, I discriminate against everyone". Obviously BS, that would not be discriminating at all but just being a prick the whole time.
People interpret what is said or done by others. That interpretation is governed one`s own views,attitudes, and even presentation to those others. I`d have thought at least one male broker out of many might have behaved appropriately.

The guy I bought my boat from treated me like an idiot. Note I was an officer in the Canadian Navy watch keeping certificate, took many courses, some power, some sail. Took radio and radar courses. But the guy I bought from knew I didn't know much.

Betsy said:

So in 2006 i was dismissed as a boat buyer. Finally went elsewhere and did not buy from that broker but found what we were looking for and bought our boat. Seems like women are not supposed to buy boats. I kinda passed it off as the times. But here i am now. ... Ready to buy a trawler... Looking to be a looper. I have done my research, know what i want... For the most part... But when i contact brokers.... I get totally dissed and passed over like i know nothing! So I'm a pilot, i know systems and engines and have owned and lived on boats most of my life,... But the freaking broker hears that a woman wants to buy a trawler.... And here ya go... You get total bs and that...tone... Like they don't want to even waste their time talking to me! Drives me crazy! I'm in Florida. Anyone know who i can turn to that will assist me in byung my "loop mobile" and treat me like a human being?

Click to expand...

Maybe find a female broker? I bought and sold two sailboats using a friend of mine as the broker. She is very knowledgeable and professional. However, she has to deal with that type of crap all the time from other brokers as well as buyers. Never mind that she is an extremely accomplished and knowledgeable sailor with more experience than most any broker she will run across.

So, if you can find a good female broker in your area to work as a buyers broker, it may make the process go more smoothly. She can deal with the crap so you don’t have to.

It’s not just you. I can barely get a broker to give a reply past... “just come on down”.... pardon me sir but before I jump on a plane perhaps we could converse a bit, thanks.... sales is about building relationship. Buying a cruising boat has become more like buying a car rather than a home at sea.... sorry you have had such a miserable experience.

Pud’n and Jerry Waller - Gulf South Yacht Sales. They are based in Louisiana but will work with you to search boats all over.

Bill Warner - World Wide Yacht Sales in Cape Coral Florida. Pud’n and Jerry helped us negotiate with him on our boat and I flew there to see the boat and meet him personally. No nonsense sort of guy but if you are serious buyer and know your stuff he’s a great guy. Professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. But also very busy and will push back on “tire kickers”.

Agree with the above comments: Call Judy:

https://www.denisonyachtsales.com/2018/10/judy-waldman-florida-yacht-broker/

Having just recently sold our Birchwood 33 motor cruiser I can verify that 'tyre kickers' are not restricted to the states.
They breed over here too.
We spent hours online answering questions, cost of moorings, feasible cruising routes, showing folks around which you know are only curious but you have to go through the hoop in case 'the one' turns up and to be honest it does try your patience.
In our case we collected a guy from the local airport, taxied him around for 3 days buying meals etc and returned him to the airport, this happened twice, then he came again with his wife and daughter and we went through it all again.
On the fourth visit he came by car, on the second day I asked him straight out that if he wanted the boat to make an offer as I had another person interested and didn't want to mess him around.
He said yes that OK, reached into his car a gave me small satchel stuffed with paper money and didn't even argue the price.
It sure can be stressful.

Some salespeople do a better job at others when it comes to qualifying the sale. There's a balance to be struck on how much time is spent making the sale happen. Some have a particular way of approaching it that's worked for them. Sure, they're potentially missing a lot of sales, but they're also making sales that fit within their desired approach.

This is nothing new and it's not limited to boat brokers.

The savvy customer learns to do the same, qualify whether the broker is someone you can tolerate and are willing to allow to make the sale. Or know the product well enough to hold your nose to get the price you want.

Being a guy. I have not had this particular issue however when I was looking to buy my first trawler I was having trouble with what I wanted and what I could afford. I went through probably four brokers before one who would not give up on me. Finally found the right boat at the right price. Now my recent purchase was driven by my wife. I love telling it. We looked at a Californian 48 and a 55. She says “I like the big one”. So we bought it.

FWIW In my opinion brokers = used car sales people. About the same respect.
Most, but not all, have no investment in the sale. Boat sells, fine. Boat doesn't sell, O well, wait for the next person to show up..... It's just a job.

Ask what kind of boat do they own. Surprising how many don't even own a boat.


When you do find a good broker treasure them.. Work with them, and buy a boat thru them. They have earned and deserve your business.