HORRIBLE! DEALERSHIPS IN NC

[crun]

it seems people have been venting a lot here lately about thier boats and whats been going wrong. and here's some more.

some advice for anyone thinking about buying a tige here. DONT. its miserable.


everyone has heard about SPENCER and TIGE BOATS OF THE TRIAD. i had the pleasure of buying my boat from him. (won't go into that but awful)

TIGE reassured me that there's a better dealer in charlotte. or @#$%@#$% NOT. same crappy service. WHER-RENA is the name of the dealer.

i ordered some parts from them two weeks ago. they charged me right away (of course) and assured me they would be at my house by last friday. i specificly told the woman there that if they were going to be delayed for any reason call because i could get something else arranged faster. friday rolls around and no parts, i gave them a couple extra days and come to find out today, that the person at WHER-RENA messed up the fax and that they hadnt been shipped

so i of course was like, they will be here tomorrow, right, but no, a week for standard shipping. i tried to explain (wtf as if i should have to) and she is like that will cost me too much money. what about my time on the lake? what about the money their costing me..... and of course she insisted i was the unreasonable one.

anyhow i cancelled my order. and am going to have to order from another tige dealer. and wait even longer.

LONG STORY SHORT I WOULD RATHER TAKE A GUN TO THE HEAD THEN OWN A TIGE IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE MANUFACTURER ISNT A PLEASURE TO DEAL WITH EITHER. I GUESS DECENT OR MEDIOCRE SERVICE IS TOO MUCH TO AS FOR THESE DAYS

@#$% WHER-RENA

[Tip]

Is Spencer still selling Tiges? I heard he gave it up to concentrate on 4 wheelers.

It's a darn shame that we don't have a decent dealer, I think Tiges could really compete in this area if we did.

There is Tige dealer at Lake Anna, I have not had any work done there but the service has got to be better than NC.

[crun]

spencer, from what i understand was booted. i think they even gave him a second chance, but he botched that up.

i agree the market is wide open around here. last time i was on the horn with tige the service manager told me i should open up a dealership because i was complaining how tige wasn't owning the fact that they cant get a decent dealer to save their life. they need help in this area

WHAT GOOD IS A BOAT WITHOUT A PLACE TO SERVICE IT??? GETTING PARTS IS LIKE PULLING TEETH.

in a list of top five priorities for my next boat..... number one would be service. I CANT COUNT HOW MANY HEADACHES I HAVE HAD COURTESY OF TIGE

o' shoot, excuse the wordage. according to tige courtesy of my dealer. but what the difference, i mean really. i wouldnt complain if there was a disclaimer on their website saying "dealership experience varies, especially in NC...." but they talk them up like gold in the websites and at the boat shows. a cut above the rest......

??????

[poohpotta]

That is too bad that Tige doesn't have a good dealer in N.C., the dealer really can make or break the ownership experience, regardless of the quality of the product.

[whitlock87]

I am glad I live in southern California.
We have one of the best tige service centers in the nation (Tige Water Sports of Corona)

I had a small issue with my new boat, call Tige in Texas at there factory (thought it would be easer if I just fixed it my self) and I was told flat out, that tige will not deal with the customer on warranty issues, you have to take it to a dealer and let them decide if they will cover it or not (I just wanted the black cover that goes over the hinge on the glove box, as my boat was missing one)

When I finally got a chances to take the boat in for some other things, not only did they fix every thing very well, but when I pick my boat up they had so clean that it looked better then the day I bought it.

Location counts
:D

[DWilletstoo]

We have what I'd call average dealerships in the MIDWEST - I get my Tige serviced at a newer dealership in Blue Springs, MO and they really try hard. The biggest gripe I have with Skier's Wharf Extreme is that most of the employees have a 'Surfer Attitude' excuse the stereo typing - when servicing a $50K boat. This isn't a waverunner or a motorcycle - it's a $50K Vehicle and I'd rather it be treated more like that. I take my boat out at a minimum of (3) times a week, and I only have maybe (4) months to boat - so is it asking to much to take it in and get it back the next day or two? Instead I can call day after day - is it fixed yet, is it fixed yet. So far, with all my complaining in the last three years they have only fallen short once or twice where I didn't get to boat on a day I wanted to boat - but I feel like if I had a Corvette and took it to a dealership - my service would be top notch - that's the price range we are talking about here. When they realize how much investment people have, and treat it as their own - the service levels might increase. I decided to trade in my 2003 22V for a 2006 22V, and all I asked for was some digital pictures of it being built - seems like a simple request - some friends of mine had that done when their COBALT was built. Of course now I pick the boat up in less then (5) days and I never recieved one picture of the building process when they told me they could probably have that done. The next question - will I really have my new 2006 22V next Wednesday - they keep saying I will????

[akdoc]

Dwilletstoo,

Who are you dealing with? My family bought a boat from Skier's Wharf in Osage Beach and had horrific service till just this May. They started to turn it around when they got a new service tech. I hope they keep it up.
Ryan in the Kansas City Skier's Wharf seems like a great guy. He talked me through dewinterizing my boat when the whole staff at Osage Beach let me down. We were on the phone for like an hour as he told me what to do so I could get on the water. Hope you have better luck, and congrats on the new boat.

Post pics when you get the new boat!!!

[DWilletstoo]

I'll post pics as soon as I get them.

I've dealt with Ryan mostly the last year, and he really tries his best, and like I mentioned so far they've only had my boat one day that I planned to boat, and they couldn't have it back to me.

I originally purchase the 2003 from Osage Beach, and I think I just got lucky and had a boat with few problems. They did help me out with a few issues fairly quickly - I had a rock go through my passenger boat window on the highway and shattered the entire thing - I was able to take it to Osage beach and have it fixed within the same day so I could come right back to KC. I really only had to deal with Osage beach the summer of 2003.

I think (if I remember correctly) I've dealt with Ryan @ Blue Springs for the last two summers. He kind of has a 2nd hand man now, Eric - which I deal with most of the times on phone calls. I was recently most frustrated by a water line hose that popped off while on the lake. When we realized it, the engine had started to rise in temperature. I had the boat towed into the ramp and took to them for repair. They fixed in like a day and gave it back and said they rain it and it didn't seem to have any engine damage. I doubt Ryan listened to it - because the first time I ran it I had a ticking sound coming from the engine. We took it back and ran diagnostics on it and it flew all kinds of red flags - sensors overheated, etc.... etc... So why wasn't that caught after hooking the hose back up - they should've run diagnostics then. Anyway, after that they decided to order new heat risor gaskets and a manifold gasket - which should take 3 days or so... It did, but then they ordered the wrong one's for my engine. So then I had to wait another 3 days - which was frustrating during the summer months. I did get it all fixed - and like I said - I don't have horror stories quite like some folks posting here.

Shoot - I read one thread here about tires blowing up all the time - shoot mine came with a Dorsey trailor with Good Years that I always run at about 35 lbs PSI - and I've never had a tire fail. I keep reading about all these folks running their tires at 50 PSI - seems like I'm doing it wrong - but my tires never blow!

Ryan's Dealership is definitely better in Service then OSAGE beach, at least when I dealt with OSAGE beach. I just wish everyone at Ryan's place cared as much as he does!!!

[Original Wing Nut]

Tige' should have some control or say on Dealers. I know they want to sell boats, but we need them serviced and if their dealers can't get the concept of quality service, they should have a penalty clause in their dealership rights or something. I warned a friend about the dealer here when he was looking at another brand boat. He went ahead and purchase because they assured him that customer service was there top priority. He stopped by the other day to cry on my shoulder about issues he was having with his new boat. Customer support is everything.

[crun]

wtf is going on out there. i agree, i would love to feel like i bought a 50k vechile. it just doesnt add up. i dont know about anyone else out there but my boat is a HUGE EXPENSE. taking care of my boat is becoming a full time job. i'm looking into trading down to a boat i like less than my tige, just so i can spend less time hassling around with the dealers and tige.

EARTH TO TIGE!! HELP OUT YOUR PEOPLES IN NORTH CAROLINA!


by the way...anyone want to buy my boat???

[DWillets]

Crun,

You mentioned earlier that TIGE' told you that you should open your own shop.

I got a question for everybody. Do you really think that any manager of a Tige Dealership or service manager of a Tige Dealership makes enough money to own their own Tige's. Maybe that's part of the problem - I don't know?

Maybe I'm old school (I'm not that old), but I think you hit the nail on the head early in this thread when you said something about asking for mediocracy is almost asking too much, and I don't think that just relates to Tige.

I can go to a Subway store and ask for a sandwhich to be made into a salad and the kids generally working snarl at me like I'm asking them to go out of there way. Hey, its on your menu, make it, like it, and smile while your doing it. I think service just about anywhere is much less then it used to be 10 to 15 years ago.

Most of the kids in my area probably make more in allowance money then they do working a part time job.

Anyway (without rambling much more) I feel I could probably run a Tige dealership better then the folks I've dealt with, because I'd treat everybodies boat just like it was mine, everytime!!!!! They cost too much to sit in a shop somewhere.

I've been lucky with my 2003 22V - as I mentioned before; the longest its ever been in the shop was for just over a week. If I have the same luck with the 2006 22V, I guess I shouldn't complain too much. I worry though we I see so many negative threads.

[Tige M.D.]

someone said in this post that they boat only 4 months a year and during that 4 months you ride 3 days a week. you insist that the dealership have your boat repaired in time for your every-other-day riding session. and assuming everyone else in your area has the same requirments, WOW! so, what do you do with the boat for the other 8 months. wait till it is sunny to get it serviced?
i just ordered an $80k 06" zo6 corvette, they will NOT take pictures of it being built, but, i can pick it my self from the factory for $500.
i would say a "surfer dude" attitude is better than a "*** hole" attitude any day.

remember, these guys have lifes outside of work also, and to expect them to live there lives to suit your demanding schedule is rediculous. that is why i quite the industry. i have never slept better now that i don't have to stress about your next riding session. cut them some slack, remember, if if you wrecked your boat then it's just that YOU wrecked it. if you can't get the oil changed in a timely manner then do it yourself. 4 months is a very small window if there are hundreds of other poeple wanting the same thing at the same time.

that's my 2 cents.

[SummerObsession]

Originally posted by Tige M.D.



you insist that the dealership have your boat repaired in time for your every-other-day riding session.

-->*That's called SERVICE

so, what do you do with the boat for the other 8 months. wait till it is sunny to get it serviced?

-->*Boats, especially Tige's, the way it appears, need service at times OTHER than the off-season.

i would say a "surfer dude" attitude is better than a "*** hole" attitude any day.

-->*Nice.

to expect them to live there lives to suit your demanding schedule is rediculous.

-->*I have yet to ANY post on this site where someone is expecting any thing unreasonable from the service guys. If someone doesn't like to be a service tech- they should look for another job.

that is why i quite the industry.

-->*Just in time, judging from your response.

MY .02 cents

[DWillets]

TIGE M.D.

I hope you come back and read this - as I said, they've done what I call mediocre work. As of yet, my TIGE has never been in the shop due to me wrecking my boat!!!! I have not put a single scratch on it; everything, and I mean everything has been followed up with a note from my Tige dealership telling me "Oh, that shouldn't have happen, we haven't had that happen on any other boats, we'll get it fixed."

Also, if you want to move to Kansas and ride year round, be my guest. I come pick your ice cube but off the lake when you are done.

You know nothing about me, and name calling is for childish individuals! To call me a ***hole, you know nothing about me, and I seriously dougbt if you own a corvette, or know anything about them. If you have an extra $50k laying around, why don't you send me a check, because I don't think its too much to ask to have a boat run all summer, and never have to go in the shop!!!

Guess what - when my Tige sits in the garage, nothing get broke. I just want it to run an entire season without visiting the Tige' dealership. I don't believe that is too much to ask.

Obviously you took offense to the surfer dude attitude, so if you surf I apologize. I just don't think that attitude gets you very far.

Guess what - life outside of work - I don't ask for them to fix anything on a weekend. I work too, but last time I checked - the service hours at the Tige' dealership I go too are from about 10am - 5pm; I wish I could work those hours and make a living. I just ask for them to work (8) hours a day, (5) days a week just like the rest of the world. I expect to have it fixed when they say, not (3) days later. Don't tell me a time when you know you can't have it fixed that fast. I'd rather here the truth and have a real turn around time, then sitting at work wondering if its being fixed.

All I'm saying is that service in general, is less then it used to be, and I just wish it could be a little better. Simple things - like when my throttle cable broke (at the connection between the perfect pass and the cable coming from the throttle) - the next time I get it back, first time on the lake, the throttle falls off in my hand. Now, 200 miles from a service dealer, I have to fix it before I can go anywhere. I obviuosly don't hate the dealer I go to, or I wouldn't have purchased another Tige. I just want the service stepped up a little bit, and I don't think that's asking too much.

[dcauthen]

Hey Crun....I live just south of Charlotte in SC, and I have found the same thing you have. I did find a great dealer down in Greenwood SC that's been carrying Tige since they came out. Very reputable, and NICE folks to boot.

They will be doing all my work this winter.

Gunnells' Marine Unlimited Incorporated
(864) 223-2275

Address:

102 Se Rock Church Rd
Greenwood, SC 29649


DC

[Tige M.D.]

i'm thinking you miss understood the ******* comment. what i meant was "they" could have an ******* attitude. get it? :D :D
as for problems with the boat, if you expect it to be trouble free, keep dreaming, nothing is trouble free. i spent 10 days on a $4,000,000 72' viking a few years ago, spent half the trip working on it. so, get used to it, boats break. i spent 10 years dealing with your issues as boat owners, believe me i know you better than you think and i also know this industry better than you. those service guy's are the industries whipping posts, it's always their fault no matter what right, wrong. if want to know a little more about me read some of my 500+ posts here and you will see who i am. it just chaps my *** reading about people complaing that their service departments don't jump high enough for you. remember the old saying, if you want it done right, do it yourself, well that option is always on the table.
all i am saying is cut these guys some slack. it's a tuff job having to trouble shoot, and repair a problem that doesn't exist as far as the manufacture is concerned.
and by the way my z06 is velocity yellow, polished wheels, 505hp 7.0L and will be 1 of 125 built for 06'. she will be in my driveway at the end of october beginning of november. i'll send you my production # when it arrives :D :D so there..
sure am glad the so cal customers are more understanding, it takes 3-4 weeks to get a appointment out here.

[DWilletstoo]

I was frustrated by some of the comments, and maybe I did read them the wrong way. I do cut them a lot of slack, I just think service could be better. I think if I lived in Southern California, I wouldn't feel so bad if it took awhile to get the boat back, but waiting 3 to 4 weeks here is 1/4 of your boating season.

I don't expect trouble free, and I have fixed some of my smaller problems, and I definitely don't expect them to jump through hoops if I'm the one that wrecked the boat. I'm surprised at some of the issues I did have with my 2003 - such as the throttle cable breaking, and a water hose falling off one side of my engine, which caused the motor to start to overheat, which caused heat riser gaskets to be replaced...

I've been reading these threads for years, and just recently decided to start posting. I find lots of helpful/useful information hear.

I never said I know the industry better then you, but I do work in an industry that requires top notch customer service, and that's all I'm asking for. If I personally treated every telecom customer the way I've been treated on occassion with my boat - our company would be out of business.

By the way - post a pic of the car once you have it - I'm sure it will look great!

I'm sure SO CAL customers are more understanding - they can probably boat year round - just guessing?:D

[joe8395]

Wow! Drama on the owners portal...my god...chill out everyone and go have a beer and get laid.

[SummerObsession]

Originally posted by joe8395
Wow! ...my god...chill out everyone and go have a beer and get laid.

Already done that today. Twice. :D :D -Even without a ZO6 vette.;) :D :D


TigeMD, I red your post the wrong way also.
I never bash the service guys themselves. They just do as they are told and try to work with what they have.

Someone needs to appoint a GREAT service manager in some of these cases.

Anyway, have a great day!!

[DWillets]

TIGE M.D.

So, if you were in the business 10 years, why did you get out.

Lack of support from Tige?

Stress from dealing with boat owners?

Just to do something new?

Just curious...

[TeamAllen]

He got another job. Too bad for us, because he was excellent at what he did. The new place is lucky! Here is the link, to his post, when he announced his departure. Sorry to hear about your dealer problems in NC.

10 days and a wake up (http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1298)

[Zacky]

I don't think it's necessarily about "jumping high enough." It's about doing the job right the first time the boat is in the shop. That is what people are paying for. That is why you pay to have things serviced. Returning with the same problem time and time again until it is finally fixed right is a bunch of garbage.

[DWilletstoo]

All,

Early on someone asked me to POST pictures of the new boat when I got it. Please go to the following thread to see the PICS - http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1514

I hope you enjoy - also, for the record - Skiers Wharf Extreme: Blue Springs, Missouri has also started reading some of the discussions in these discussion groups; and as a concerned dealership - two individuals called to discuss some of my concerns personally. For that - I say THANK YOU!!!!!! I believe they are truely aiming to be one of the top notch dealerships in the Midwest, and hopefully in the country.

They've also taken the extra time to explain some issues that I had - and maybe I just hadn't received the entire story before. Either way - these guys did work 150% to get me my 2006 boat and I feel confident that they will help with any issues in the future.

Thanks Again!

[Laketrash]

Local marina/boat dealer for sale. Currently carries Calabria but has not been able to break the name thru here.

Wish I could buy it and carry Tiges. What's it take to get a franchise?

[Tequilasun]

Originally posted by Laketrash
Local marina/boat dealer for sale. Currently carries Calabria but has not been able to break the name thru here.

Wish I could buy it and carry Tiges. What's it take to get a franchise?


After all that you still want to own a Dealership...try to make it one without a service department!!!!! J/K :D

[Tip]

Based on Tige's reputation in NC they ought to pay you to open a dealership.

[Laketrash]

It would be totally based on Service. Find the best mechanics, pay them top dollar, and have the Service Manager in a thong. Female of course.

Seriously, it is the only one on the lake. He's biggest problem is lack of good service.

Make the people happy and they will come back again, and again, and again. It can't be that hard to figure that out.

Maybe Andrew can get me some info on being a dealer.
For me it is about time for a change.

Laketrash

[crun]

laketrash,
any word on the dealership cost. i am at the point where i think tige owes us along with all the other NC owners. they have left us hanging for the last 2+ years. they knew SPENCER was dirt for almost a year or so before doing something about it. then i hear they gave him a second go at it and well, you know the rest. WHER-INA or whatever their name is, is no good either.

i was at the boat show this weekend in raleigh and for the second year/time in a row i havent see a tige dealer. one minute we have representation and the next we're out here hanging. whats tige up to?

i have been thinking/dreaming about opening a dealership for the last year or so. if you can give people good service...then the rest will follow. i hear its the same all over the place. i bought a boat from GRANDPA' S only to return it two weeks later. they mounted the tower 10 inches to far forward. the cover didnt fit and it completely messed with the lines on the boat. anyhow they wanted me to live with it....go figure. the dealer was such a jerk and acted like it was no big deal because he was just going to pass it on to some other customer that walked through the door. someone out there has a moomba with the tower mounted in the wrong place. Sucks for him!

laketrash, you hear any word on the dealership idea, let me/us know about it. anyone out there know what a tige dealership franchise or rights to sell "normally costs"????

[Laketrash]

crun,

I'm working on it. I will be speaking again with someone today.

Laketrash

[Laketrash]

I spoke with Tige and got the low down. Seems like a possibility.
All I have to do know is make up my mind to do it.

Watch out North Carolina, Tige may be on its way!!!

Laketrash to banker, "Hey big man, let me hold a dollar!"

[crun]

laketrash,

so you looking for a partener or some investments? i am very interested in what your thoughts are. bottom line we need a dealership here and its an open market. i know it would be alot of work and i love my job but dont think it would compare to starting a dealership. hey man, if your doing a solo mission thats fine but know there is another well motivated tige owner out there that has some of the same thoughts as you. feel free bounce some of you ideas off me. at the least keep us updated. btw, where do you live in the raleigh area.

crun

[Laketrash]

Actually I live on Hyco Lake. If your not familiar with it, its about 40 miles northwest of Durham close to the VA border. From this location I think I'd be able to pull customers from VA and NC. :)

As far as partners, this is all still in the infancy stage. But lets talk.
I'll send you an e-mail.

Rob

[Laketrash]

crun,

I sent you a PM. Can't get to your e-mail.

[Tip]

Let me know if you guys get something going and I'll talk it up over on Lake Gaston.

Tip

[crun]

laketrash,

i have been out on vacation for a week but i was able to read your PM while i was gone. i have no idea how to reply to you via PM, so i will call you tomorrow afternoon if you will be around. talk soon.