AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! Mercury "Bastards"

[KEY-LIME-PIE]

Thats right I said Bastards! Most of you know that the Mercury Verado 250's that I bought are being replaced "under warranty" or so I was told! They both failed completely on the same trip. The boat was taken to Rohde River Marina in OCMD. They received permission to do the service work ie. replace both motors. I just got a call from Rohde River Marina and after 5 weeks they are finished. The total bill.......$20,486.18. OK Mercury is covering it, right? Well almost all of it!....WHAT! my question is...just how much are they not covering? Well they covered $18,489.04 that leaves you with a bill of $1,997.14. "Bullshit"

I have already been on the phone with Mercury and they are looking into it! It appears that it took Rohde River to long to replace the motors, and it was'nt in the time frame that Mercury allows. So who is at fault here? Certanily not me!!!!! I feel that this is between Mercury and Rohde River! But then I was told that Rohde River will not release the boat untill the dispute is settled completely....Looks like my fishing season has ended early!


Any thoughts?

Capt Tom

[Gringo]

sounds like you need an itemized bill on it. What was over, parts or labor. etc. I bet you got some negotiating room..maybe if the dealer and merc split it, etc. I can see Merc's view...if they left it open ended a lot of mechanics would screw em on labor.

[gradywhite273]

did you sign any repair estimates, or informed about the price before work was started, if not, think they are going to have a hard time collecting it. jmho.

[Cardinal Joe]

Rule # 1 - A dealer NEVER makes money on a Warranty Job! It doesn’t matter who the manufacturing company is Mercury, Yamaha, E-Tec or Honda – they paid between 40 to 45 % of my Labor Rate and set an hourly time frame! So, if I’m a first class shop with the right tools and equipment and have a Certified Tech. that knows his product line. I may break even on a Warranty Claim, but that is part of doing business as a Service Marina, it is then up to my Service Writer to Obtain additional work on that boat, to paid the Overhead & Salaries of my staff! Cardinal Joe

[Fast Forward]

That is an issue between the two companies not you. Fisrt of all it should take closer to five hours to replace those motors than five weeks, unless it was powerheads, but still not five weeks. You should have your boat and let them fight it out.

[seapower]

Capt. Tom, I get caught in this kinda stuff from time to time. Cardnal Joe is right, no one makes money on warrantee work.I cringe when it comes in my lap, most of the time from a dealer who sold the product and already made "the profit". I got a job today that involves a transmission coming out of a yacht. I know because of the lack of access and white carpet surrounding the engine room that I'll never be able to get the job done "Right" in the time alotted by Company XYZ. I had to get the customer to request me to do the work personally, so that I don't end up having eat the job. It ussually works out, but most engine companie's base their warrantee repair times as if the engine is out in the middle of the shop floor, where you can walk around it and under it at will. Makes me wonder all the time why I even do warrantee work in the first place. Good luck.Frank

[thomas70]

Post this on the ull truth everyone over there swears Merc, and Vrods are the best.

[Questsportfishing]

If someone like Card . has a dealership / warrantee - service department , parts were less expensive Merc took care of them on a set of engines or demos so the boss makes 20k plus parts discount a year and special priceing. warrantee only pays so much in 2008 and things have changed in the long run with no motors cost of biz. etc... . BUT merc should have your back on this! get an attny if they do not want to give you your boat. If you signed a work order of some sorts people have the right to bend ya over the rail sometimes... this started a cpl years ago and not many stood up to it due to 2" of attny's in the phone book and the fear of a mechanic screwing with your boat. hope the best for ya...

[Cardinal Joe]

Thats right I said Bastards! ! But then I was told that Rohde River will not release the boat untill the dispute is settled completely....
Any thoughts?Capt Tom

Capt. Tom – I can only speak for the State of New Jersey Law – as follows; Marinas in this fine state NJ, can NOT hold a boat, for payment, contract or no contract, if a customer goes to the Sheriff Dept. show ownership of that vessel, the Sheriff will accompany that customer/ owner to that marina and demanded you release that boat, and settle the payment in NJ court system! I have even blocked a boat with my forklift unit, so a dead beat customer, could not come in the middle of the night, and hook-up his boat trailer to his truck! The every next today that Sheriff made me move my forklift! Cardinal Joe

[Capt. Lyndon]

I don't understand why it took them 5 weeks to do the work. 2weeks ago, I helped one of the mechanics at the marina rig a fountain with triple 300 verado's. Same engines came off the boat that went back on, just newer models. With the verado's, it's all pretty much plug and play. 4 wire harness's, one fuel line and 2 battery cables. Total time on the 3 engine's, including clean up and test run, 9.5 hours. The old engine's were already off the boat, but we still could've had it done in less than 12 hours. If you figure 24 man hours 3 engines, that would leave your boat being done in 16 man hours. ONE day's work. On the money issue, I'm not sure how many hours merc will pay for a warranty rigging, but with what they are trying to get you to pay, it sounds like the dealer is trying to hose you.