LuvBoating
Senior Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2009
- Messages
- 718
Since buying our 1992 Celebrity 200 Cuddy in April 2009, we've had three different marine service centers work on it. All three service centers have given us some type of problem.
One didn't install a gas gauge right and had to take the boat back. Like a vehicle, boaters don't like taking their boat back to the shop for a re-do on a repair. Then, the same mechanic put a tear in a new prop while checking new manifolds and risers we had installed. The owner was going to repair the prop until I told him that it was a new prop and I really wanted a new prop to replace it.
Another shop, a "backyard marine mechanic" type had us paid for all parts before he ordered them. His repair shop looked pretty disgusting and he had no problem lighting up a cigarette in front of a customer while he was working. His hourly labor was cheap, but his shop and office looked terrible. Had him do work on our boat engine, but only once.
The marine service that we go to now, and have been going to off-and-on since we bought the boat in '09, doesn't inform the customer about their boat. Basically, the customer has to call to see what the status of their boat repair is. The hourly labor fee is higher than the other two we've gone to, but they are a Mercruiser dealer and have done an "above average" job on our boat repairs. The office person and lead mechanic are very nice, but their Customer Service skills pretty much aren't there. Our boat is being serviced there right now. And, btw, this marine service is right next to the Dry Storage where we keep our boat. Very convenient, but the "informing customers about their boat" thing is what gets me.
So, what make a good-to-excellent marine service? I'd give the Mercruiser shop a 5-Star rating, but with their Customer Service, there's no way.
What do you think? .
One didn't install a gas gauge right and had to take the boat back. Like a vehicle, boaters don't like taking their boat back to the shop for a re-do on a repair. Then, the same mechanic put a tear in a new prop while checking new manifolds and risers we had installed. The owner was going to repair the prop until I told him that it was a new prop and I really wanted a new prop to replace it.
Another shop, a "backyard marine mechanic" type had us paid for all parts before he ordered them. His repair shop looked pretty disgusting and he had no problem lighting up a cigarette in front of a customer while he was working. His hourly labor was cheap, but his shop and office looked terrible. Had him do work on our boat engine, but only once.
The marine service that we go to now, and have been going to off-and-on since we bought the boat in '09, doesn't inform the customer about their boat. Basically, the customer has to call to see what the status of their boat repair is. The hourly labor fee is higher than the other two we've gone to, but they are a Mercruiser dealer and have done an "above average" job on our boat repairs. The office person and lead mechanic are very nice, but their Customer Service skills pretty much aren't there. Our boat is being serviced there right now. And, btw, this marine service is right next to the Dry Storage where we keep our boat. Very convenient, but the "informing customers about their boat" thing is what gets me.
So, what make a good-to-excellent marine service? I'd give the Mercruiser shop a 5-Star rating, but with their Customer Service, there's no way.
What do you think? .