Buying a car is familiar with me. There are websites to show you the invoice
price, dealer holdback incentives etc. I know how much I can get them down
and can get the vehicle that I want at the best reasonable price yet still
allow a long term relationship with the dealer.

How about buying a new boat from a dealer?
Are prices negociable?
Any rules of thumb?
Thanks for any advice
David

"David Ditch" wrote in message
...
Buying a car is familiar with me. There are websites to show you the
invoice
price, dealer holdback incentives etc. I know how much I can get them down
and can get the vehicle that I want at the best reasonable price yet still
allow a long term relationship with the dealer.

How about buying a new boat from a dealer?
Are prices negociable?
Any rules of thumb?
Thanks for any advice
David


Everything is negotiable. Especially this time of year - dealers want to
get rid of current stock to make room for next year's models.

Sandy K.

How about buying a new boat from a dealer?
Are prices negociable?
Any rules of thumb?
Thanks for any advice
David

Prices are negotiable.

Unlike buying a new Buick or Toyota, there will probably only be one dealer in
your region for the boat brand you settle on.

Unlike buying a new car, the prices posted on a new boat *might* be MSRP, or
they might be substantially higher. "Invoice" is more problematic on a boat
than on a car, and since boats are not a high-volume business like automobiles-
you won't be usually be buying a boat for a $200 gross markup.

Another challenge is that someof the boats you see for sale will have equipment
added by the local dealer, so it is more difficult to compare apples vs.
apples.

You will want to buy from your local guy, if at all possible, but don't be
afraid to check prices from dealers well out of town. Shop backwards.
Get a few prices from out of the area *before* you see your local guy. It will
help you know whether you're getting a competitive deal or not.

On Thu, 25 Sep 2003 09:32:48 +0000, Sandy K. wrote:


"David Ditch" wrote in message
...
Buying a car is familiar with me. There are websites to show you the
invoice
price, dealer holdback incentives etc. I know how much I can get them down
and can get the vehicle that I want at the best reasonable price yet still
allow a long term relationship with the dealer.

How about buying a new boat from a dealer?
Are prices negociable?
Any rules of thumb?
Thanks for any advice
David


Everything is negotiable. Especially this time of year - dealers want to
get rid of current stock to make room for next year's models.

Sandy K.

Whatever you do, DON'T let the dealer make any kind of profit on the
deal! If he's making any money, he could obviously sell it for less. Get
the best deal possible, hopefully UNDER dealer cost. Of course, he makes a
few deals like that and he's out of business and isn't around when you
need him, but you have the satisfaction of getting a Great Deal on the
boat.

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36

"Lloyd Sumpter" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 25 Sep 2003 09:32:48 +0000, Sandy K. wrote:


"David Ditch" wrote in message
...
Buying a car is familiar with me. There are websites to show you
the
invoice
price, dealer holdback incentives etc. I know how much I can get
them down
and can get the vehicle that I want at the best reasonable price
yet still
allow a long term relationship with the dealer.

How about buying a new boat from a dealer?
Are prices negociable?
Any rules of thumb?
Thanks for any advice
David


Everything is negotiable. Especially this time of year - dealers
want to
get rid of current stock to make room for next year's models.

Sandy K.

Whatever you do, DON'T let the dealer make any kind of profit on
the
deal! If he's making any money, he could obviously sell it for less.
Get
the best deal possible, hopefully UNDER dealer cost. Of course, he
makes a
few deals like that and he's out of business and isn't around when you
need him, but you have the satisfaction of getting a Great Deal on the
boat.

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36

So he makes a few thousand off me, and goes broke anyway. After all, if
he is stupid enough to sell boats at a loss he will soon go out of
business and I'll be stuck anyway. Might as well have the comfort of a
low price. :-)

del cecchi

There is about a 10% markup on new boats. This is kind of a general rule of
thumb.
Having said that. If you buy a new truck for say $25000 at dealer invoice.
The dealer has actually made about $2500 on the deal. Invoice is not what
the dealer pays. It is the "dealer cost" before any incentives or
discounts. This does not count rebates. Bottom line - you should always be
able to buy a car at invoice and still recieve any rebates off of that
invoice price. You will have to pay taxes on top of that though.

So, having said that - boat dealers and car dealers are making about the
same on the sale (10%). However, boat dealers are selling about 50 boats a
year (big dealer maybe 100). Car dealers are selling 300 cars a year (bid
dealer maybe 500 or more).
This is why car dealers stay around and boat dealers don't.

Of course - just my opinion and what I have seen thru the years.

--
Tony
My boats and autos - http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com



"del cecchi" wrote in message
...

"Lloyd Sumpter" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 25 Sep 2003 09:32:48 +0000, Sandy K. wrote:


"David Ditch" wrote in message
...
Buying a car is familiar with me. There are websites to show you
the
invoice
price, dealer holdback incentives etc. I know how much I can get
them down
and can get the vehicle that I want at the best reasonable price
yet still
allow a long term relationship with the dealer.

How about buying a new boat from a dealer?
Are prices negociable?
Any rules of thumb?
Thanks for any advice
David


Everything is negotiable. Especially this time of year - dealers
want to
get rid of current stock to make room for next year's models.

Sandy K.

Whatever you do, DON'T let the dealer make any kind of profit on
the
deal! If he's making any money, he could obviously sell it for less.
Get
the best deal possible, hopefully UNDER dealer cost. Of course, he
makes a
few deals like that and he's out of business and isn't around when you
need him, but you have the satisfaction of getting a Great Deal on the
boat.

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36

So he makes a few thousand off me, and goes broke anyway. After all, if
he is stupid enough to sell boats at a loss he will soon go out of
business and I'll be stuck anyway. Might as well have the comfort of a
low price. :-)

del cecchi