hole-in-da-water
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2007
- Messages
- 46
I am going to try to be as unbiased as possible here, but I felt my experience with Simmons Marine near Portage Lakes, OH should be shared. I will try to tell the story as completely as possible, while trying to convey Mr. Simmons' views as well. I called Simmons last week because I haven't been able to get my boat started. I have been working on it on my own, but couldn't figure it out, so after spending $300 dollars, I decided to have someone figure out what was wrong with it. Anyways, I called Simmons and asked how much to figure out what was wrong. He said $50-80 just to figure it out, bring it in on Monday. I wasn't able to get it in until Monday night, so I called Tuesday to let them know, and to find out how long. Understandably they were swamped, and didn't know when they could get it in. I called again on Thursday and on Friday, as I am a bit impatient and ancy (I have plans to take the boat to Salt Fork next week, and I still have a lot of work to do on it, I just wanted to know why it wasn't starting) Anyways, I get a call Friday afternoon, boat is running, $273 please. I was at first glad that they were able to get to it so fast, then upset as to why it was so much. Called back, $173 for parts and labor to replace the ignition an set the dwell. $100 for rush order. Ok, I definitely understand their reasoning behind all of the charges, and I tried to explain this to Mr. Simmons on the phone. However, I was never told that by rushing my boat I would be charged an additional $100. Never, not once. So, here I am, origianally planning on paying somewhere in the neck of the woods of $80, and I am charged $273. I tried talking to Mr. Simmons, trying to explain that my only hope was to just figure out what was wrong with it. We proceeded to have a very intense argument, and I will try to explain both sides.
When I was calling to get the boat in, I explained to Mr. Simmons that I had purchasd points, condensor and rotor from him, and had purchased parts from other marinas as well. Somewhere in the translation, Mr. Simmons was under the impression I told him all the parts I had purchased from him. This was NEVER the case, but he continued to berate me over the phone. His argument was that here I come, just dropping off the boat, expecting to be pushed in front of a 4-week back-log of boats. He was also upset that I kept calling, asking about the boat. Yes, I understand what a backlog is, what I am upset about is how I was NEVER told by ANYONE that my boat would be pushed to the front and I would be charged an additional $100 just for that. Had I been told this, because all of my decisions focus on money, I would have declined and said get to it when you can. While trying to convey this discontent to Mr. Simmons, that is when he went on a tirade on the phone. I am very thankful my boat is fixed, but I had to borrow money from my fiance, and let me tell you, that did not make me feel any better, at all.
The entire time on the phone, I tried to explain I was upset about not being told (a) I would be rushed to the front and (b) that it would cost me $100 more. I understand the $173, as they couldn't figure out what was wrong unless they changed the ignition, etc. The $100 is also understandable, but don't you think I should be made aware of the charge and be given the choice to say go ahead or not? And then to be yelled at on the phone by some hothead? I tried to keep my cool as much as possible, but Mr. Simmons, I was apalled at how you treated me. I know that my little letter here won't affect business for you, but I feel some people should know how you treat some of your customers.
Mods, if this belongs in a better place, feel free to move.
When I was calling to get the boat in, I explained to Mr. Simmons that I had purchasd points, condensor and rotor from him, and had purchased parts from other marinas as well. Somewhere in the translation, Mr. Simmons was under the impression I told him all the parts I had purchased from him. This was NEVER the case, but he continued to berate me over the phone. His argument was that here I come, just dropping off the boat, expecting to be pushed in front of a 4-week back-log of boats. He was also upset that I kept calling, asking about the boat. Yes, I understand what a backlog is, what I am upset about is how I was NEVER told by ANYONE that my boat would be pushed to the front and I would be charged an additional $100 just for that. Had I been told this, because all of my decisions focus on money, I would have declined and said get to it when you can. While trying to convey this discontent to Mr. Simmons, that is when he went on a tirade on the phone. I am very thankful my boat is fixed, but I had to borrow money from my fiance, and let me tell you, that did not make me feel any better, at all.
The entire time on the phone, I tried to explain I was upset about not being told (a) I would be rushed to the front and (b) that it would cost me $100 more. I understand the $173, as they couldn't figure out what was wrong unless they changed the ignition, etc. The $100 is also understandable, but don't you think I should be made aware of the charge and be given the choice to say go ahead or not? And then to be yelled at on the phone by some hothead? I tried to keep my cool as much as possible, but Mr. Simmons, I was apalled at how you treated me. I know that my little letter here won't affect business for you, but I feel some people should know how you treat some of your customers.
Mods, if this belongs in a better place, feel free to move.