A little rant about the 200 HPDIs...

[seabob4]

So here's what happened, and it DEFINITELY pi$$ed me off!

The owner called me, said he wanted to repower the Cape Horn with Zuke 175s, but the dealer only wanted to give him $5500 for the motors and all the rigging.  Asked if I would list them for him, we agreed to the $9K number, giving any potential buyer and him some wiggle room, hoping to get $7500-$8K.  He would give me 10% of the selling price, plus another $600 to de-rig the motors, pull all the Yam rigging out, and yank the motors off and put them on pallets.  Since I re-rigged his entire boat, would be an easy job...

So we get a couple of feelers, nothing serious, until a couple days ago.  They want the engine diagnostic reports, I get them and email them to the buyers, they like what they see.  The first wants engines only, no rigging, asks me to see what the owner would sell motors only for...so I email the owner with that info.

Couple hours later, I get a reply.  Seems that he went ahead and decided to go with the dealer, eff the extra cash we COULD have gotten, and, to top it all off, when the boat got to the dealer, neither engine would start, the dealer said there was evidence of fuel varnishing.  Probably $500 to clear that up.  Now, when I worked on his boat, I changed out the VST filters, the medium pressure filters, the 10 Micron primaries, all new gaskets and O-rings, even changed out all the on-powerhead fuel lines on the port motor (nasty black crap on the inner walls).  Those motors ran perfect!  Fired off instantly, idled smooth, just excellent condition.  But here's the kicker.  He picked the boat up sometime in April...AND NEVER USED IT AGAIN!!!  And there he was asking me when his boat was gonna be ready!  Never even started the motors after he got her home!!!

So now I'm SOL about getting anything for selling the motors (I had them listed all OVER the place!), not getting the de-rig job, and now not only is he back to getting what the dealer offered for the motors/rigging in the 1st place, he's probably going to get $55-$750 less due to them having to clean the fuel system.  And I have no clue as to the age of the fuel in the tank, whether it had stabilizer...

So yesterday, I was a LITTLE PO'd!!!

[gran398]

People. I see it all the time in business. Make a deal....then they walk away. And they don't think twice about it.

Had a woman about six years ago....a college prof here...had me order a bunch of stuff to do a rush job. The stuff came in next day fedex, I called her, she said she decided against it. I said what do you want to do about the stuff I ordered....it is non-returnable...

You know what that bitch said?

"That's the cost of doing business".

You ought to send him an invoice for three hours of labor in marketing his product.

Eff him.

[wingtime]

Dude that's a major bummer!  I saw the video of the motors running in the pee pee on the hose thread...  sounded sweet.  I was considering those babies for the 245 but it just wasn't in the budget at the moment. (maybe they would have been at the price the stealer gave him)   The dealer is going to turn around and make some big $$$$ on those motors...    Sounds like he was in a big hurry again this time for the repower... and the boat will probably sit some more.   It's amazing to me the amount of $$$$ some people have to just throw away!

[seabob4]

Another one, this past Monday as well.  A long time THT member, lives in Cocoa.  PM'd me about a month ago to get his Pursuit 26 re-wired.  Really needs it done, will get his boat to me end of August, so I schedule him in.  End of August, no hear.  So I email him, when are we gonna do this?  Emails back, he doesn't have the vehicle up to snuff to pull the Pursuit.  I tell him, well, I have a couple buddies that have F-250s, how about I come over and get her?  A little while later, a reply...he's short on funds...SO WTF DID YOU CONTACT ME EARLIER FOR, D-HEAD!!!

[seabob4]

To top it off Bruce, I installed a BRAND NEW twin 704 binnacle, brand new dual key/kill switch panel, and brand new fuel management gauge.  That alone from Yam is N of $1300...

[seabob4]

Plus the brand new stainless oil tank mounting brackets...X2!!

[Georgie]

Can't say I've ever been double crossed quite to that degree gents   , but it's frustrating how handshake agreements seem to no longer be a viable option in this country.  Now everything needs to be written so the attorneys can haggle over the specific meanings of the provisional language because nobody accepts responsibility or is sufficiently held accountable anymore.

Personally, I can't do business that way b/c I end up wracked with guilt and can't sleep, always dreading the next time I might see or hear from that person.

Sorry SB.  Either he didnt' even realize the implications his "change of mind" had on you, or he just didn't care b/c he figures his merchandise = his decision.  To echo Scott, eff him.

[seabob4]

Ryan,
I get your drift, but it's not quite that easy.  He pays VERY well, plus he has a Triton bay boat that he'll be bringing by next week for some major electrical chit...kinda like the bite the hand deal.  Just the point, and the lack of communication.  And, BTW...he's a very successful lawyer!  Go figure!

Now I have a guy in Anderson, SC that wants me to come up there and do some major work on his 31 Cape Horn.  Talk to him later on today.  So I guess just gonna have to see how things pan out...

And Ryan, see you have a WC 18 Fish...excellent boat!!!

[love2fish]

Bob, did the guy not pay you for the binnacle install or other service you did?

[seabob4]

Bob, did the guy not pay you for the binnacle install or other service you did?

Chris, oh yes he did, paid me very well.  But the engine listing and sale were a completely different deal...

[Georgie]

Understood SB.  That's a completely different type of "business" then...begins to dabble in the "favors" arena where he figures the inconviences you may experience are covered by his repeat business, prompt healthy payments, and probably also the referrals he sends your way.  Sucky ending for you this time though.  Hopefully he'll catch you on the flip side....and good luck with the 31'.

Thanks!  Absolutely LOVE my WC 18 Fish.  Such a do-everything coastal boat with the widest beam imaginable.

[gran398]

Bobby, didn't know he was a repeat customer...maybe you can make it up to him

[wingtime]

Yup I'd say it is make up time!   OH well I'd say he just tossed out some $$$$ by not selling the motors outright...  hopefully he will toss some more your way!

[seabob4]

Maybe I'm incorrect in being PO'd, but, like everything I do, I put my all into it.  Maggie says I should charge for the "help" I provide...dunno.  But, I believe he was counting on my experience with this stuff, plus my "noteriety" out in the boating world ( ) that would get him the $$$ he wanted out of the motors/rigging.  It seemed to me that the original $5500 figure the dealer gave to him was unacceptable, as he knew what they were going for in the real world.  He told me ANYTHING he got over that quote was fine by him, and we both know we could have gotten at least $7500...

So I guess he changed his mind.  And sorry for the rant.  But I know I would have made him more money.  Almost had then sold...

[icemanbryan]

Maybe I'm incorrect in being PO'd, but, like everything I do, I put my all into it.  Maggie says I should charge for the "help" I provide...dunno.  But, I believe he was counting on my experience with this stuff, plus my "noteriety" out in the boating world ( ) that would get him the $$$ he wanted out of the motors/rigging.  It seemed to me that the original $5500 figure the dealer gave to him was unacceptable, as he knew what they were going for in the real world.  He told me ANYTHING he got over that quote was fine by him, and we both know we could have gotten at least $7500...

So I guess he changed his mind.  And sorry for the rant.  But I know I would have made him more money.  Almost had then sold...

Well, I believe you are correct in being PO'ed.
In my business, I get paid PERIOD!!!
I also believe you should be getting paid upfront for whatever you are listing for people.
Say 10% of the listed sale price, you can adjust it later.
You are going through the hassle of posting and answering questions about the item.
You are also staking your reputation on the item being sold.
Your name is a brand and has a great following.
Also, of course for you selling their items they get a higher dollar amount and are not
hassled with all the emails Pm’s etc.
It is a no brainer for the seller, it should be a small profit for you as well.

On a side note, I was watching the pair of 200’s and would have jumped at them for 6000 to 6500
I saw the other night where you said to someone offer 7500 and I thought, well, I will see
If he buys them. Yes, I was on the fence about them but would have offered more than he got for them,
That is for sure

Just my opinion, you know what they say about opinions
Bryan