What's up with Hobie and lack of communication?

So, I was supposed to pick up my TI today.
Hobie confirmed the dealer 60ish boat order and shipment last week. The truck was scheduled to arrive today with my TI and other customer TI's. While unloading the trailer, they were looking for the TI's and other presold boats and guess what, NO STINKING TI ON THE TRUCK, NONE! They immediately stopped what they are doing to call Hobie to see what is going on. They have to check and call back. They called back pretty quick and said they had a problemwith the TI's, backordered parts or something. Not really sure and don't relly care. Where's my boat that was promised to me today? Why would you not tell the dealer that you are not sending these presold boats?

Here's the thing, I took a day off of work today to go get my boat and go play. I'm not upset with the dealer as they were told that they would on the truck. Im VERY angry with Hobie about the whole thing. Not because I didn't get my boat today, but because they didn't tell the dealer that it didn't ship with the other boats. Now, who knows when I'll get it, sometime this summer or maybe fall? They didn't even give my dealer a ship date. They said its ready to be shipped now, but not sure when the next truck is going out. That's it.

I'm just angry. Should Hobie compensate me for my lost time at work today and my 1 1/2 hour, 75 mile round trip? At least, they should throw in a few hundred in freebies pfd's, carts, assessories or discount the boat a few hundred bucks, something.

I really feel like calling them directly or writing a strong worded letter the Hobie mgt.

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Chris


2015 Tandem Island-ivory dune

Well Chris, you well know mine is the other boat that wasn't on the truck. I now have a trailer built and waiting for a TI that both of us were promised would be on the April truck. We were even told it would ship on the 18th of April. Not a word form Hobie on this and it's not like we haven't already waited a long time. As of right now I still haven't been notified. They have my money paid in full, so I guess i'm not important.

Angry Sam

At least you didn't loose a day of work.

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Chris


2015 Tandem Island-ivory dune

thats true, but I starting the clock to see how long before someone notifies me.

Are we taking bets?

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Chris


2015 Tandem Island-ivory dune

That is a total bummer.

Hobie Cat sends shipping documents (typically within a day or two) to dealers when the trucks leave here. These include all of the boats that made it onto a truck. Sounds like they may not have reviewed the list to inform you or some other misstep in the system happened. There has been periodic materials shortages still and this would prohibit the assembly line from completing a boat. I understand that some boats intended to ship... miss their trucks.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Why can't they give a ship date?
I still think bling is in order.

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Chris


2015 Tandem Island-ivory dune

We have to depend on hundreds of different parts making it here to build boats. Every day there are lists of short items. Crazy times here for sure. We are air freighting parts in and sometimes vendors are not making their commitments or freight delays happen.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

I called Hobie on Monday and talked to a very nice person. They were aware of the issue and even my specific situation. They apologized about making the mistake of telling my dealer that my boat was on the trailer and explained how it happened. I was certainly not expecting that. I was assured that they were already on top of it and would be in touch with my dealer by the end of the day with some kind of news. I inquired about discounting the boat, only to make up for my lost time at work and travel to pick up the boat, as the dealer said they cannot discount it without Hobie discounting it to them. I was told that she would check on that and let my dealer know.
I received a call from my dealer yesterday and was told that the missing boats were on a truck and we should be the first stop, hopefully be here Friday or Saturday by my calculations. The guy I talked to wasn't the guy (store. Mgr) that I have been dealing with and didn't know about a discount, he just had a note to call me about delivery. I'll be in touch with my dealer again today to find out about that. I feel certain that Hobie will make it right in that manor as they apparently have a reputation wth outstanding customer service in the past.

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Chris


2015 Tandem Island-ivory dune

Sounds like some good news!

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2015 Hobie Tandem Island

I wouldn't push the dealer for a discount. Mistakes sometimes happen and unless there was some obvious attempt to purposely create hardship for you that's all it was - a mistake.

Perhaps the dealer would toss in a Hobie shirt and/or hat or something for your trouble, which would be nice.

I think grand pa deserves a free boat cover.

Would rather them discount the boat. Don't need a cover and already bought several hundred in accessories.

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Chris


2015 Tandem Island-ivory dune

I have to agree with Tom. I would not expect a discount. It sounds like they are making every attempt to get the boat to you quickly. The scheduling and timing of the vacation wasn't Hobies doing. That awesome boat your about to get is designed to relieve life's frustrations and it does a great job of that for me.

Vetgam

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Greg

2016 AI - Spinn & Jib

“Out of sight of land the sailor feels safe. It is the beach that worries him.”
– Charles G. Davis

I'm not sure if it will happen or not, but it would be the right thing to do, imho. The time from work was missed only because Hobie said the boat was on the truck and never told the dealer any different. If they had told the dealer that it missed the truck, even after the fact, that would have been disappointing but at least I wouldn't have been expecting it and certainly not taken a day off of work for no reason. That's the whole point. I think somewhere, some of you missed that.

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Chris


2015 Tandem Island-ivory dune