I am new to this board and will be in the market for an M within the next six months.
For those that purchased their M's new, were you able to negotiate a selling price for your boat? Is this experience comprable to buying a new car where you can haggle over the sale price or is it similiar to Carmax where the price on the window is the price of the car?
Everything's negotiable. Just try to keep in mind that boat dealers have overhead and a profit margin to meet which varies from dealer to dealer. One dealers best price may not be as good as another's. Shop around.
While I haven't taken delivery on my yet, I'm happy with what I'm paying for it and I've got nothing but good things to say about Bill at Boats 4 Sail.
Last edited by rfrye94760 on Tue Aug 25, 2009 6:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Everything is negotiable EXCEPT Carmax -- - I couldn't budge them recently!!
On the Mac there isn't MUCH room to haggle on base price - - - the place to haggle is with the 20% markup (approx) on everything over base price - - - everything from furlers to engines to electronics to everything else.
My next boat they are just going to tell me the price and I'm not going to argue nor negotiate - - - just write the check - - -YEAH RIGHT
In my opinion there are lots of factors when negotiating and choosing a dealer.
Dealer's reputation and service should be factors.
You may pay more, but to have a boat outfitted properly might be worth more money. If you have dealer added options, you want to make sure they are done properly. Obviously some options can be done by yourself, but others are easier done up front. It may be worth paying a premium to have some options installed by someone experienced in the Mac.
If you want more than a 60HP you will be pressed to find a dealer authorized to do so. I imagine some reinforcement and experience in over sizing the motor would be good to have in a dealer even if they are not given Roger's blessing.
If you don't know anything about sailboats (and the Mac is in many ways more complicated) a dealer that will take time to train you would be worth money to me.
So when negotiating, sometimes you get what you pay for. If you negotiate the dealer out of a reasonable profit, they may choose to give you the same in service.
If youre around the Wisconsin area then give Bill at Boats for Sale a call, the guys on the forum say he's a pleasure to deal with and he'll give you a good deal. He has a nice low cost deck package that includes all the essential bits you need to get you going without ripping a hole in your pocket
Thank you everyone for the great advice. I have read in many postings that the dealer in Wisc. in very reputable. I would consider him, unfortunately, I live a little too far away to purchase from him.......
There are two dealerships that are both the same distance from my house. One in Wilmington NC and one in Atlanta GA on Lake Lanier. Does anyone have any experience with these dealers? Good or bad??
After doing your do diligence on a dealer, then go and do it on problems which have occurred after a boat has been delivered also. Do a search on problems that others have had after taking delivery on their Macs. It may help you to be aware of problems that you just may not think of, or look for. The Mac dealers are good. The boat is good, but as my nephews bib used to proclaim, SPIT HAPPENS! If a dealer handles a problem well, he/she is worth every penny! If a dealer does not, then you will read about it here. You should be able to look up problems and how they were handled. It may be laborious, but it could be worth it.
What ever you do don't buy the blue hull...It looks great but it shows every little scratch and it will drive you nuts...an extra 500.00 for a lot of extra hard work keeping it in shape. I walked into the Mac factory in Costa Mesa with 30K the boat was naked. Got a much better deal getting a 2005. There is a 2007 for sale thats loaded in the classified section of this site. A much better deal. They also try to sell you stuff you don't need.
yet, I'm happy with what I'm paying for it and I've got nothing but good things to say about Bill at Boats 4 Sail.
