Tohatsu/Merc

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Tohatsu/Merc

There are dealers in the following locations in Wisconsin:

Beaver Dam
Clear Lake
Crivitz
Edgerton
Green Lake
Manitowoc
Monroe
Portage
Prairie Du Chien
Racine
Shawano
Waunakee

I'm not sure why this important Roscoe since you don't own a Tohatsu, but there they are. I have no idea where they are located in relation to you or "where the lakes are". As I have stated previously, YOU shouldn't buy one. The closest dealer from your town is 92 miles away and I think it would be a huge mistake for anyone to buy a product that can't be serviced within 30 miles. That also leaves out two other brands of engines that aren't close to you either. I think that what is being overlooked here is that people that own a Tohatsu probably have a dealer within reasonable travel time...Or else they wouldn't have bought it to begin with. As an example: The local Ferrari dealer is 2 miles from my home. I also have a weekend retreat where the closest Ferrari dealer is 127 miles away. There is a road all the way from home to the getaway(like where your lakes are). It isn't a drawback that there isn't a Ferrari dealer in the boondocks. It might be an inconvience if it were to breakdown 127 miles away and have to be towed, but....That's the breaks.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Tohatsu/Merc

Dovekie,

There are three dealers in Newfoundland located in the following areas:

Baie Verte
Hillgrade
Mt. Pearl

I don't have a clue as to what that means as far as geographic proximity, but three is more than zero.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Tohatsu/Merc

Don't forget the dealer in Hudson WI.
I've been to that one.

You are right, can't get a Suzuki or Nissan around here either.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Tohatsu/Merc

Wait. I'm missing something. Are you buying an engine expecting it to break down periodically, so you need a dealer on the next block? If I thought that, I wouldn't buy it. Simple

From what I hear, Tohatsu has a good reputation so the chances of needing parts or a dealer are slim. Any brand can break down but I think the odds are against it. I truly think the distance to a dealer is a moot point. But-- maybe I'm wrong-- wouldn't be the first time.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Tohatsu/Merc

Frank, the concern is maintenance, and routine service parts.

The point is, that GURU wants everyone to believe that parts or service are not a problem with a Tohatsu.

I, and others on the board, beg to differ.

When I was looking to repower my boat last fall, I considered all options.
Since I already own a Tohatsu made Merc 4hp (and like it), I decided to take a closer look at their larger motors.

But, the DI or 4 stroke motors require maintenance that I am likely not qualified mechanically to perform, making a conveniently located servicing dealer an important consideration.

Another consideration, is that I hope to relocate in a year, so would there be a servicing dealer in my new location? BTDT when I moved here.

So, I bought a 50hp Merc instead.

There, now you know the rest of the story.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Tohatsu/Merc

Roscoe,

This is starting to not be funny. Parts and service are not an issue on any product unless you do not have a dealer in your area. In that case people shouldn't buy that product. Why are you beating this to death? Would everyone on iboats like me to comment on the lack of a dealer for any brand on every new topic. I will be happy to post that there are fewer Suzuki and Honda dealers than any other brands in the U.S. Just imagine...Someone posts that they are thinking about buying a Suzuki and I immediately post that they have the fewest number of dealers in the U.S. and that service and parts would be an issue..I wouldn't really do that of course because even though they don't have as many dealers as another brand that does NOT mean that there is an issue about service and parts. People tend to buy what they see. If they see brand X that's because there is a brand X dealer in their area. The fact that there is not a dealer in Podunk USA does not matter to the guy who is considering buying an engine in Backwoods USA because there is a dealer in Backwoods USA.

For the record, we receive phone calls everyday from people around the U.S. who are looking for a part for their Tohatsu. At least 98% of the time these people have a dealer in their area, they just do not want to deal with them. Another 1% are people who do not know how to open a phone book and find a local dealer. The last 1% do not have a dealer within 30 miles of them and they would rather mailorder than drive.

The only people on iboats who seem to think there is an issue with this are people who DO NOT own one. When you buy one Roscoe feel free to complain. Until then...Give it a rest..Please

 

[roscoe]

Re: Tohatsu/Merc

I don't know why you are beating this to death.
We both agreed that I won't and shouldn't buy one.
But your tune has changed a bit from your earlier posts.

Frank asked what the issue was, I explained it to him.

Don't worry, I won't buy one.
But I will complain that there is not an adequate dealer/service network in WI all I want.
My situation is the perfect example.
If they won't create a better network, then they can expect to continue to lose sales in WI.

How come you can't even attempt to answer any of the points I have made?
All you can say is "there is no issue", and "don't buy one."

Ah never mind, who cares anyway. I can't have a discussion with some that just wants to argue.

 

[tommays]

Re: Tohatsu/Merc

"For the record, we receive phone calls everyday from people around the U.S. who are looking for a part for their Tohatsu. At least 98% of the time these people have a dealer in their area, they just do not want to deal with them."


Thats a bit strange to put on the record ?


Tommays

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Tohatsu/Merc

Tommays,

It might seem strange, but it is true. We also get calls for other brands from all over the U.S. that we do not sell parts for. The point I am making is that people are always looking for parts outside of their local area. This might lead some people to believe that those people do not have a local source, but they do.

Roscoe,

With all due respect...You haven't made any point except that there is no Tohatsu dealer near you. My response to you has been you shouldn't buy one for that reason. That's not being argumentative. My point from the begining has been that people should not single out Tohatsu because they do not have the number of dealers that Mercury or Yamaha does. Since Suzuki and Honda have fewer dealers than Tohatsu why is it that they are never singled out with that wonderful phrase "try to find a Suzuki or Honda service center or to buy parts locally"? I fully agree that there are geograhic holes in the Tohatsu dealer network. So what? I think that making an issue out of that or causing people to believe that it is a drawback is wrong unless it is said about Suzuki and Honda. And for that matter Evinrude too. It's not like there are a bunch of dealers for them anymore.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Tohatsu/Merc

My God give it a break Elvin, if as a dealer you can't realize that they lack a dealer network. Its to bad but don't destroy your own creditabilty by argueing a point that most people, in the majority of northern states know is wrong, we simply lack any real dealers up here--Bob

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Tohatsu/Merc

Bob,

I think you have just illustrated one of the two problems.

That problem is that the world does not revolve around the northern states or any particular state for that matter. You and others look around and know that there are few Tohatsu dealers near you. Somehow you(the collective you) then make the leap that there isn't a full dealer network because you have no evidence of it. I understand that. But you(again the collective you) are wrong. There are states in which Tohatsu has a weak network. There are states in which they have a strong network. The criteria by which I judge(and this is why I'm correct) is based on the number of authorized dealers available nationally.

The second problem and this is the one that none of you have responded to, is why Tohatsu is singled out on iboats for having a smaller dealer network than Mercury or Yamaha? It is a fact that there are fewer Suzuki and Honda dealers than there are Tohatsu dealers. That's not an opinion, that's from the NNMA. So why is it that Honda and Suzuki are not painted with the big red flag? If you guys want to point out to every single person that asks about Suzuki and Honda that they have a limited dealer network than I will be happy to point out the same about Tohatsu. Just stop singling out Tohatsu.

Now normally I would not add the following but the credibility thing torques me off. I deal on a national level. I look at things from a much broader perspective than any of you by necessity. It doesn't make me smarter, but I do have a perspective unique to a handful of dealers and to manufacturers. Twenty years ago we were locally oriented and maybe, just maybe, I might have agreed with some of you about the lack of a huge dealer base being an issue. But now, knowing what is and is not important, you guys remind me of the crowd around the emperor complementing him on his new clothes

 

[Laddies]

Re: Tohatsu/Merc

Elvin, I am not attacking you or your product and certainly not so naive as to think the world revolves around N Mich. are you about FL. your posts sound like it
I didn't be little you about anything as I feel you have tryed to me with your remark about "the collective you" I have tried to buy part locally and the are no dealers with in 50 to 60 miles or more. After all what better evidence, than fact is there?
As long as we are being testy, I was not compareing Tohatsu with Honda or Yamaha who both have dealers within 5 to 7 mile of here. There are no Suzuki dealer around here either so you couldn't give one of them away either. I think that with a handle like TOHATSU GURU I could possibly feel your pain and try to make things look as well as possable for the product I am selling. You couldn't give me anyone of the above mention brands as I have family still owed money for their time in POW camps when they were used as slave labor by the Empire of Japan, the money was awarded to American veterans at the end of WW II. I see that you deal on a "national level" guess that makes you a BIG DEAL and much smarter than the rest of us collective thinkers. One last parting remark I did not know that we had EMPERORS in the states but then you know what is important and what is not---- SAYONARA

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Tohatsu/Merc

Bob,

For the record I chose the "collective you" so as to not single out one person. And you keep making my point for me. National is different than local. Expand your mind out past what you see. This entire thread is a result of an unjustified statement based, on what I am sure, is a perception based on local expierence. But, we are not talking local when we make remarks based on a brand at a national level. Right after this thread started another thread was started about which small engine should one person buy...Between Yamaha and Tohatsu. One of the first remarks made was about making sure that Tohatsu had a local dealer. The guy who started the thread is less than 2 miles from a Tohatsu dealer! My point is that the "local dealer" remark shouldn't have come up at all. And that's where the damage is done, when people make make remarks based on a false idea others pick it up and it goes on and on. I'm sorry if I have offended you Bob. I was really just trying to get you to see the issue from a different perspective. But frankly, you are the one who has made personal remarks about this. I don't expect you or anyone else who disagrees with me to suddenly see the light of day and change their mind. But it would be nice if you could step back and see that my perspective as merit whether you agree with me 100% or not. I certainly see your side even though you are clearly wrong And yes, that is me just trying to be friendly because I feel badly that I hurt your feelings.

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Tohatsu/Merc

The second problem and this is the one that none of you have responded to, is why Tohatsu is singled out on iboats for having a smaller dealer network than Mercury or Yamaha? It is a fact that there are fewer Suzuki and Honda dealers than there are Tohatsu dealers. That's not an opinion, that's from the NNMA. So why is it that Honda and Suzuki are not painted with the big red flag?

Because Suzuki and Honda are better motors!

 

[tommays]

Re: Tohatsu/Merc

I can see why people will not deal with there local dealer as the one i can walk to is and AZZ so i drive to the one 14 miles away who treats me good and is a pro in every way



Tommays