Buying locally and customer service are two closely related and important aspects of the boat buying experience. For many it is important to "shop for the best deal". But is it the best deal if you save $172.00 or even $1072.00 by driving 300 miles to a "superstore " only to find out that there is an 8-10 week waiting list for service at the local dealership when an unexpected problem arises? A high volume dealer that knows they will probably never see you again is more likely to undercut a local dealer's price for that very reason, leaving the consumer and the local dealer in an awkward position when it comes time for warranty service.
Your dealer should be one that appreciates your business and has made a reasonable profit in order to compensate and train its staff properly and give the kind of attention a customer deserves. There are of course situations where the particular product you are seeking is not available locally and it would only be available at a distance. It would be wise to do some due diligence on the quality of the dealership, the product and their reputations within the industry.
Unfortunately the marine industry lags behind the automotive industry in customer service [referred to as CSI] and a responsible dealer will pay attention to the levels of customer service provided by the successful automotive companies such as Lexus and Honda. Some but not all of the motor manufacturers send CSI surveys to customers that have purchased motors and ask for a detailed evaluation of the product and the dealership where it was purchased. Those results are tabulated and monitored for all the dealerships that sell the product. A wise dealer will pay close attention to those results and send their own surveys to their customers to find out how they are doing and how they might improve in the eyes of their customers.
As most of you know this is the exception not the rule in the marine industry. The Industry is working to educate the manufacturers and retailers, but at this time it is still "buyer beware". Choose your dealer and manufacturer with these thoughts in mind and you will not be left in the "service twilight zone" when a need arises for attention to your boat, motor, or trailer.
Marc Grove