[C320-list] Good News / Bad News Ammended to - Use a Broker?

[Ted Harrison]

Brian, I am very happy to hear my experience was a one off. I am sure it  was just my expectation, excitement to owning my first boat, not establishing ground rules up front and not doing my own research. I just loved the boat and wanted her. As well new to this industry. 

My boat also came from the US. The problem with the deal was the cradle. It was part of the listed items. I liked your approach and that would have been the solution and I would have raved about the broker. 2 k  or x amount should have been taken from the hold back and a new (better) cradle made. The cradle did find its way to Whitby two weeks before haul out a year latter! Had to rent a cradle for the first winter. He did agree to pay the rental fee, but saying he is doing it as good will and a favour. The price was not the issue it was the principle. 

That said I know I got value from using the broker and I would not have her without his help. So I will agree there is x value to the service they provide. 

Ted Harrison

> On Sep 23, 2016, at 11:11 AM, Amiraults Family <amiraults at sympatico.ca> wrote:
> 
> Ted:
> 
> 
> 
> I too live in Ontario, and in 2007 I used the services of a Canadian broker
> for assistance in the purchase of my C320 out of Boyne City Michigan. At the
> time I was fully employed and doing overtime for my employer while
> maintaining a home and a family. I was busy man. I met this broker at the
> Toronto Boat Show in January of 2000 when I was first considering a used
> boat. Dropping by the Catalina display in subsequent years he surprisingly
> always remembered my name even though I had until '07 never sent any
> business his way.
> 
> 
> 
> So what did he do for me? I did the internet search for my boat, doing a lot
> of looking over months until finding what I wanted. I discussed each find
> with him by 'phone (he's in TO while I'm in Ottawa) until we agreed on
> specific examples. We then discussed asking prices and he would respond
> within a day on whether they appeared reasonable, or the bottom line offer I
> should walk away if not met. Once a boat was found and purchased following a
> successful survey (I found the surveyor and dealt directly with him -
> actually never seeing the boat until its arrival in Ottawa) my broker took
> over. I passed all funds to him and he arranged for and disbursed funds to
> satisfy the seller's broker, disposal of the original fixed cradle, shipping
> of the boat to Ottawa including the actual trucking and the necessary
> paperwork both sides of the US/Canada border, and Canadian Federal taxes (I
> did the provincial gouge). Post delivery he handled the negotiations and
> compensation for the only item not as described in the listing.
> 
> 
> 
> In the entire process from "I want it" to "sitting in the yard" did anything
> go wrong? Sure; but nothing at his end. I arranged with The Cradle Shop for
> a new cradle to be delivered to the club prior to the arrival of the boat so
> that the commercial crane I rented would have something to move the boat to
> from the transport. The cradle was delivered not as ordered and the boat
> would only fit with additional wooden blocking of the pads. This was
> corrected by returning the cradle to the vendor after launch.
> 
> 
> 
> Was there a point in using a broker? I have since done the simpler
> self-importation of a used car from the southern US. With time, patience,
> and research I discovered that I could do this without using a broker or the
> services of a dealer. Thus I am certain that there was nothing involved in
> the importation of a boat that I could not have done myself. However, I am
> retired now and every hour (well, I'm married - so nearly every hour) of my
> day is my own. But ten years ago it was a task I did not have the time to
> focus upon. I was able to use my broker's knowledge to satisfy me that I was
> offering a fair price for the boat I got. His experience and contacts left
> me feeling assured that every other stranger involved in getting my boat to
> my location was an experienced professional with a track record of doing it
> right. So using a broker bought me piece of mind, fair pricing, and by the
> finish a flawless delivery. I am convinced that hidden in all that effort
> was some value.
> 
> 
> 
> But this is only my experience. I'm just sayin'..
> 
> 
> 
> Brian Amirault
> 
> 797 Waltzing Bear, too  
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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