Dealer Prep. & Destination

[Jr. Dunn]

I see the nationally advertised prices on Nitro's always say "plus dealer prep & destination". What does this normally amount to?

 

[Staci Matheis]

"Destination Charges" are the cost of shipping the boat to you by truck. It costs considerably more to get a boat to California from Missouri than it does to Illinois, so they add in a cost that is based on the region in which you live. With cars, there is a destination charge on the window sticker; but, with cars, the cost is averaged out on a national basis and is relatively low simply because of the volume and ease of shipping.



"Dealer Prep" is paying the dealer to set up the boat and check it over thoroughly prior to delivery..... Basically, it is just adding a few bucks to the dealer's bottom line. It's the "American Way"! It's not something that I would begrudge the dealer..... Unless he did a poor job of cleaning, checking out the boat and going over it with you on delivery.....



me!

 

[Steven Atwell]

In Orlando, FL I was quoted $1100 if I remember correctly. It's one of the primary reasons that Nitros/Trackers are listed at lower prices...................sa

 

[Jeff Griffeth]

There's usually a small chart in the catalogs with what those charges will normally be depending on where you live.

 

[Ken Neeley]

Scott,

There's a little more to prepping a boat than just cleaning it. None of the boats come with engines, and none of the engines come set-up. We have to hang and mount each engine, sync and link the carbs, set timing, hook up all cables, etc...

We install batteries, electronics, seats, etc.

On average, it takes 1 man 5-7 hours to get a boat rigged and ready for delivery.

 

[Bill McElroy]

it takes a lot longer for a 9 series too.....atleast it seems like it did!!!..LOL!!!

 

[Ken Neeley]

A 9 series takes about 12 hours.

 

[Bill McElroy]

I knew it took longer,....but then again "Goldberg" did the rigging on my boats!!..LOL!!!!

 

[Ken Neeley]

I hear you Bob...if you take into account the PDI and all the after-delivery paperwork, it adds another 5-7 hours.

 

[Staci Matheis]

I knew I'd draw fire from the dealers.....



Sorry, guys! I do believe that it is justified; for most dealers at least. I just wish it weren't stuck out there and waved in front of the buying public. But, that's just me!

 

[Ken Neeley]

No fire here...just justifying, like Bob said.

 

[James D.]

i was "negotiating" with a used boat dealer and he said that they charged $900 for rigging regardless of whether the boat was used or new. for the used boats they checked them out and put in new batteries. i think this is common in the industry unless you get a boat where everything is done at the factory.



jd

 

[Greg Meyer]

I, too, believe that this charge is justified, and has to either be (as TRacker does) set out and charged separately or built into the sales price. But, it is also why I believe that for obvious reasons (obvious to me) dealers therefore bear some increased responsibility for a boat at delivery... if the boat is defective, ie bad huill in an obvious manner I believe that the dealer should take it back , since he charged for getting the boat "ready for delivery". Otherwise what does a "PDI" consist of? Now, I am probably stirring up some controversey, but, if you inspect it...what are you inspecting it for, if not to find obvious defects. ANd, if you find defects. shouldn't the boat be rejected by the dealer and returned to the manufacturer...not delivered to an end user?

 

[Staci Matheis]

About 20 years ago, I managed a terminal for a company that transported cars by truck. If for some reason a thorough inspection was not able to be done at time of delivery, such as snow or delivery after the dealer's check-in person had gone home, the dealer signed "Subject to Further Inspection". That allowed them the right to charge us back for any problems they discovered within a reasonable amount of time.



Isn't there any similar kind fo allowance in the boat business?

 

[Paul Ritter]

I bought a Nitro 882 last year and the batteries were wired incorrectly to produce 12volts instead of the required 24volts. It was done by the dealer during setup and he fixed the problem later upon my discovery. There was no charge and a BIG appology from them. Some dealers do try very hard to provide service and please their customers.

 

[Greg Meyer]

Bob,



I am not inclined to grind on this issue, but... why is the customer even in the equation if it a major "from the factory" defect... I am not talking about the kind like the TV-18 Transoms w/150s... that no one could see/forsee, rather the kind like Smitty's where the boat was shipped to the dealer with a hull defect that prevents the boat from running properly...



My attorney (and sometime fishing buddy... I know that is sick) suggests language that says basically if an on the water test dicloses a major non-cosmetic defect (potentially a big argument about "major" ) the buyer has the right to reject the boat and return for a refund or replacement (dealer's choice). That does seem fair... The buyer expects to buy a boat not a warranty claim... It's like in my business (computers) we have a well recognized concept called DOA (dead on arrival) one that dies in a few days is a "to be fixed" but a DOA is to be replaced...

 

[Staci Matheis]

Bob, you're saying that the Dealer eats the cost?

ouch.

 

[Ken Neeley]

Absolutely...the costs are astounding.