Would you do buisness with?....

Ed L.

Ed L.

Well-known member
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After hunting season I spent a significant amount of time researching what parts I'd need to make my 15hp Evinrude into an electric start. Last week after compiling my list I headed down to a local boat shop and started my search in their salvage bins. I took my motor along if there was any doubt as to what I'd be looking at. Anyway I managed to find most the parts I needed minus a few I didn't care about since I don't care if the motor has a charging circuit and I had access to a starter, push button and a kill switch. I did find a flywheel, starter mounting plate, neutral lock out switch and a switch harness. Total cost of parts $125. Now of course the shop wants to install these for me. I wanted something to do in the garage over the winter but since I had my motor with me I said sure give me a quote. Well I get a call yesterday morning from the shop and the total for parts jumped from $125 to $450 plus 1 1/2 hours of labor. I told them thanks but I'd rather do it myself so I'll just buy the parts for the $125. A few minutes later I get a call from the shop owner who tells me I'm getting a deal on having them install and make sure all is well. I told him I just wanted to buy the parts I had found and that I didn't want to purchase a new starter since I had access to a tested used one. he got snippy and told me he has no intentions of selling me the parts. He tells me the harness alone lists for $198 and is discontinued. He's going to list it on ebay as a "starter kit". So after I spend several hours searching for salvaged parts he decides a local customer isn't good enough and he's going to sell on ebay. The next time I here a retailer complain about people going on ebay to buy stuff I'm going to blow a gasket. After buying a 24' pontoon, 3 outboards, a boat trailer and who know how parts through the years I'll be damned if I set foor in his shop again!
Sorry for the rant but I need this. Thanks!
 
After hunting season I spent a significant amount of time researching what parts I'd need to make my 15hp Evinrude into an electric start. Last week after compiling my list I headed down to a local boat shop and started my search in their salvage bins. I took my motor along if there was any doubt as to what I'd be looking at. Anyway I managed to find most the parts I needed minus a few I didn't care about since I don't care if the motor has a charging circuit and I had access to a starter, push button and a kill switch. I did find a flywheel, starter mounting plate, neutral lock out switch and a switch harness. Total cost of parts $125. Now of course the shop wants to install these for me. I wanted something to do in the garage over the winter but since I had my motor with me I said sure give me a quote. Well I get a call yesterday morning from the shop and the total for parts jumped from $125 to $450 plus 1 1/2 hours of labor. I told them thanks but I'd rather do it myself so I'll just buy the parts for the $125. A few minutes later I get a call from the shop owner who tells me I'm getting a deal on having them install and make sure all is well. I told him I just wanted to buy the parts I had found and that I didn't want to purchase a new starter since I had access to a tested used one. he got snippy and told me he has no intentions of selling me the parts. He tells me the harness alone lists for $198 and is discontinued. He's going to list it on ebay as a "starter kit". So after I spend several hours searching for salvaged parts he decides a local customer isn't good enough and he's going to sell on ebay. The next time I here a retailer complain about people going on ebay to buy stuff I'm going to blow a gasket. After buying a 24' pontoon, 3 outboards, a boat trailer and who know how parts through the years I'll be damned if I set foor in his shop again!
Sorry for the rant but I need this. Thanks!
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Just think... he is telling someone about the cheap bastard that is trying to take food off his plate and put his guys out of work. You should go apologize :).
 
Good for you Ed that is the only way to get them to sit up and take notice. I have had similar experiences in my small town,i'll spend more by driving out of town but i get the satisfaction of knowing they aren't getting my business.
I have a '70's model 15 evinrude that i was thinking about converting to electric start,got any suggestions on where to buy parts over the web?
Bill.
 
Bill,


I suggest Ebay....Purhaps we'll end up bidding on the same "Starter Kit"...;-)
Really, I don't know at this point. There's several salvage places noted though out this forum but they may all be the same and prefer ebay too. I'll let you know if I find anything.
 
"You didn't pull the parts did you? That would really suck if you had."
They didn't need to be pulled they were already in bins. I did have to have someone take them to the counter and right them up.
:-\....your right I should just give them my motor and buy a brand new one already with a starter!
 
"You didn't pull the parts did you? That would really suck if you had."
They didn't need to be pulled they were already in bins. I did have to have someone take them to the counter and right them up.
:-\....your right I should just give them my motor and buy a brand new one already with a starter!
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Either way the situation stinks. To answer your question, I wouldn't do business with them unless I really needed something they had :).

As an aside, I've always wanted to get a starter for my F40, but thus far my back has held out and I haven't needed one. I should start looking for parts and just do it.
 
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I have not purchased a Nissan vehcile because of the way I was treated 28 years ago. Told all my family to not purchase a Nissan as well and no one has. Won't buy Sony anything again either as the $$$ TV I bought from them years ago failed one day after warranty and the issue I had was a known fault. Does this answer your question Ed?

Mark W
 
Ed, Since I live across the river from you and unfortunetly have to buy parts for my boat motors. Could you let me know who it was? I have a good idea, had a bad experience or two with one in IL not to far up river from 280 bridge.

Lance
 
Ed,


Maybe you could earn a commission from them by putting together "kits" of out the stock they have gathering dust in their bins. Lower unit kits, upper end kits, electrical system kits, the list is endless. Having kits already made up may help them move their stock of parts.


(just a thought-- :>) :>)
 
Dave,


That's a thought. But to think I was going to my local shop to buy salvaged items, spending local money to help the local economy, paying state taxes on items that have already been taxed only to find out my money's no good!


I hope they have to scrape the whole place!
 
Ed, With business sense like that they will close their doors soon enough. Then buy the shop and live the good life HEEHHEEEE. What they don't realize is how fragile a reputation is. You just take your business elsewhere.
 
I had the opposite happen to me. Water pump quit and called my local marina if they had parts. Had them ready for me when I arrived. Was freezing out and they offered to install it for me. Back on the water the next day. Above and beyond service. Runs like a top.
 
Never would I walk into that shop again... and I would tell everyone online, and offline... including the name
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I agree Phil no reason to protect their name or reputation online or offline.

I own my own business and have no worries about my customers slandering me. I treat them great and they in kind do the same.
 
Ed,

I always though you were supposed to get better service when shopping local. You would pay for that but it wa worth it. I haven't found that to be the case, in general, anymore. I will support local businesses when they provide the service I expect. But, I find that harder and harder to find. We do have a local hardware store that provides service and often has the same prices as the box stores. In fact, they have a lot better product selection in a smaller store. It was the only place I could find sash cord recently.

I would not set foot in the place unless I was in a desperate bind myself.

Tom
 
Brandon,


I too have had my own business and would have never thought of having the attitude towards a customer as I received from this owner. Since a couple of local forum members seem to know of or have had the same experience it would seem a public service to mention the name of Ted's Boatarama on 31 Ave. in Rock Island, IL. I would like to think this is an isolated experience but as they say, buyer beware.
 
Sorry to hear it Ed! That is down-right dirty the way you were treated. I carry a grudge when it comes to companies treating me or my family poorly and WILL NOT return. I have a list of stores and restaurants that will NEVER see my business again. I am convinced that Customer Service is just a term that is loosely thrown around. I recently bought a product from Lowes and it was missing some pieces. I called the manufacture (as the instructions tell you to do) and was told they dont have the parts I need and that i need to go back to Lowes and "rob" them from another box. The guy working there acts like a jerk so I ask for the manager, the manager gives me a hard time because I didn't have my receipt (but I did have a photo of my receipt, the instruction book and the parts I needed on my phone). He wanted a receipt. I told him "how about I buy another one, then tear open the box, take what I need, and then take it to customer service for a refund with my NEW receipt?" He opened a box and got me the parts. All of this was their fault but quickly becomes the customers problem. Again, sorry for your ordeal.


dc
 
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