Deposits?

[Deep C]

Not gonna say right or wrong... Want your input on this one...

Crew said they would like to possibly get a slip at Sunset instead of HI by the scales... So I called and they said they had slips available. Last year we stayed there with Mirage and had all the whistles and bells that go with a good fancy slip. Touch expensive but not over the top at least in OCWMO terms.
I explaind that we had a smaller boat less shore power and asked that they hold a basic one one til I can contact the owner of the boat to verify. Our money man sent them a grand deposit in the mean time... I was never quoted: my mistake... Invoice shows up for more than we paid for the big boat and basically twice the price of HI... Owner said no, stopped the check and we cancelled before we even locked in and reserved.
Even though they filled the slip with another boat they strong armed us for half the grand while we were over there spending money and fixing our boat... To me thats a book keeping sound strategy but a lousy way to earn any more business from that owner, me, the crew and all the different boats we run through there from time to time... A quick nickle and lose a few grand from us each year for the forseeable future... Hell we spend a few grand on our haul outs going north and south each year just on the one boat...

What do you guys think? If you reserved and cancelled at the same time when you got a high quote would you expect to be charged $500?... Would you do further business with a place like that?

[homewrecker]

Sucks but it is what it is,I have to agree with you.But then again,can you imagine how many times a day someone calls their office wanting to reserve a slip only to back out later.They have the market sewed up and thus set the price structure.You know that old saying you gotta pay to play.

[Deep C]

I could see having it locked up for a long time then last minute back out but this was weeks ago book/unbook and they did rent that slip... I dunno... Great facility but the principal of it all just rubs me the wrong way...

[clt_capt]

I could see them keeping a deposit if they hadn't rented the slip, but keeping the deposit AND renting the slip too seems a bit overboard...

[seapower]

Sound's like you did commit (if I understand you right), your "money man sent them a grand. I can see both side's of this arguement, I tend to agree with you though (that's why I'll never make it big in the biz world). I will say with the down turn of late, just about all facility's are scrambling to make a go of it. They seem more set on "today's" money, than the promise of "tomorrow's" money. I can only speak for myself, but I try to do work that will keep customer's coming back (price and workmanship). I will say that alot of boat's hat I cut a break on over the year's, now have different owner's. Most of the new owner's aren't transient, or the boat's simply moved away to different State's. So from a strictly business point(my weakness), I can see them keeping part of the deposit. Most places keep ALL of any deposit. Seem's that the old way of treating other's like you would want to be treated is on the back burner for now. Although there are many (including myself) that do it the "old fashioned" way, but we aren't exactly rolling in the dough either. Frank

[Deep C]

Like I said... Its wishy washy... Sorta committed until we were told the price which they jacked through the roof.

Hell, they lost more than they would have made right then. Instead of them selling a trim tab replacement job and a full haul and blocking. They got a short haul and we did the fabricate and install our selves. We took our bait and tackle business back to all tackle and thats another $300...The last three fuel fills add to it so their precious nickle and then some is already spent and that was "today money"...

[captainviv]

[QUOTE=Deep C;1597862] I was never quoted: my mistake... Invoice shows up for more than we paid for the big boat and basically twice the price of HI...

you said it deep, guess you just have to move on . not right, but hey , life goes on .......

[seapower]

Not sayin it's right, just what I'm seeing. I've alway's said "I'd rather make a little money off a lot of boat's, instead of alot of money off a few". I've worked for other's in this business that simply could not or would not see that reasoning. Guess that's why I'm driving my own cart. Shooting yourself in the foot is easy when you screw the other guy. Karma is tough, but fair. Frank

[Big Fish Billy]

I could see them keeping a deposit if they hadn't rented the slip, but keeping the deposit AND renting the slip too seems a bit overboard...

Yup and ("Owner said no, stopped the check and we canceled before we even locked in and reserved") since you didn't even reserve, I'd say you shouldn't have paid...well wouldn't go back there again, or recommend them to anyone.....

[hubris 1]

You would never be able to double dip as a landlord. But in the marina business, its legal because you need a place to park right now.
Forget about that though. I would be alot more interested in why the pay out in the MA500 is only based on the first 125 boats? If 187 boats get in the tournament, 187 boats minus 125 boats equals 62 boats X 6,000 dollars or 372,000 dollars goes right into weber world. Why does he get away with that? Why isnt that prize money? Boat for Boat....its the richest marlin tournament. Do that math, get back to me.
DUH! Ill bet most dont even know this little fact.