Hobie Dealers Only is Restrictive

Umm, Amazon is a retailer (dealer), not a manufacturer. You're talking about two totally different things. Online ordering vs. ordering direct from a manufacturer with no dealer involvement.

There are thousands of businesses out there that offer online ordering of merchandise. That doesn't mean that said merchandise is coming direct from the manufacturer or that the manufacturer is involved in the sale to the end user. I can't think of any time that I've ever ordered something online directly through the manufacturer. It always comes through a retailer. Your Murrays order comes from a......retailer!

I agree that it might be nicer if more Hobie dealers offered online ordering (there are certainly some around that already do). But to suggest that Hobie does away with dealers, well that would pretty much just kill the whole thing. You can't sell boats without a dealer.

sm

My local Hobie dealer has an online area on his web site. He also will order what ever you want and sometimes has it dropshipped to your door. Jeremy at Surf City Catamarans will work with you.

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Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

I've posted on a few questions about Murray's I am a huge fan, They also have the best customer service I've run into for any type of store.

I will say I understand the original point of this post, If there was a hobie dealer on every corner no one would be having this talk. But that's not the case and that being said That is why I like murray's so much, First order I was online adding stuff to my cart and had a question so I called and the guy spent easily 45 minutes on the phone with me getting me everything I needed and even added pictures of a couple of the items to the site store. and for that reason I think it's awesome that hobie doesn't allow just anyone to sell their stuff

Rich,
Thank you always for being a staunch supporter of my shop and the Hobie Way of Life. It truly takes customers like you to keep shoestring businesses like small boat dealers in business.

Speaking for myself, and not bragging, just saying, I can repair anything on a Hobie Cat. I have repaired everything on a Hobie Cat. I can walk a normal guy through how to fix anything on a Hobie Cat over the phone. What's that worth this day and age, I mean with the internet and all?

Having said that... I just closed down my online store, because it just wasn't worth the hassle. To sell a couple grand worth of stuff while maintaining the 5000 skus, pictures, and information, ate up so much time, it made it not worth it. I'd rather downscale, get my life back, and talk to my customers in person. That's just me.

Then there's the wintertime. I can venture a guess that most small boat dealers spend the winter in the red. That doesn't leave much $$ for development.

And to people that think that we don't stock much gear...think about how many different Hobie products there are. There are 9 common boats with multiple variations here in NA, think about how many parts that is! I would say that the average Hobie Dealer has anywhere from $50,000 up to probably around $500,000 worth of parts in stock at all times. Those stainless bits aren't cheap.

I'm not devaluing what has been said here. I'm just saying it ain't easy. I've been selling boats in CA since 1998, and from first hand experience, it's a tough racket.

Then there's the current state of financial affairs...Gone are the days of the dot com era, where people would walk in and say, "I want the fastest thing you got. I don't care how much it costs."

You're right though, the person that gets the online ordering and logistics down is going to win... to the detriment of every other dealer.

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Sail Revolution
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You know there is a real easy solution to this problem. Do it the same way my head office in Conway AR. does. Put the whole parts cataloge on line at Hobie USA, they know where they are shipping the parts, they just need to credit that area dealer with a small margin of prophit, they take that credit and just apply it to thier current account. Parts go direct to the end user, dealers do not need to stock so much, dealers still make some coin from the sale and the customer gets the parts faster. Has worked for my company for the past 25 years.

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06 getaway -- always remember, man with both feet in mouth have no leg to stand on.

Jeremy, I want the fastest thing you got. When can you deliver it ?
Along with a skipper to help me go fast ?

It is hard to find accurate and extensive information online about any boats, not just Hobies. Small sailboats dealers seem to be very small operation.
I believe in supporting your local store, and I did my share of it, but it is time consuming to visit or call dealer, just to browse for stuff and educate yourself.

I certainly would like to see all the catalog online, with links to chat with a live dealer, and then order directly online, with the local dealer (or the one I talked too) get his margin.

Crobie you need a part number just send me a e mail . I have figured out about every part number and where the drawings are hidden. I'd be more than happy to help a fellow Division 3 sailor find the part number for what they need.

And I'll go with you on the Ditch if you order the fastest thing Jeremy can order.

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Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

My dealer is 35 miles away. Andy at Tackle Shack in Pinellas Park Fl. has dropped shipped me the proper Hobie part on several ocassions. For no more then it would have cost any one else to ship. The phone actually works faster than the internet. Jim Graves.

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ADDICTION
1989 HOBIE 18 SE/sx wings
HOBIE ALTER SIGNATURE MODEL

Back to the original topic of ordering sails. I bought a new set of Hobie factory H20 sails a year ago through Mariner Sails and it was a snap. I emailed Aris, the owner, and asked what colors were available and he emailed me the current selections. My wife and daughter and I put together every color combination imaginable and finally chose a pattern. I emailed it to Aris and he send my order to Hobie. This was in January. I was emphatic that I wanted the new sails in time to take them to Mid-Winters East in March. Hobie subcontracts H20 sail production to Whirlwind. The order was dragging. Fortunately, I was working through a dealer who called Hobie and/or Whirlwind (he'd worked with them for years and had more influence with them than I) and got my order shipped so that the sails arrived the day prior to leaving for MWE. I don't know when I would have gotten those sails had my dealer not intervened on my behalf. I deal almost exclusively through Mariner Sails not only because they are my "local" dealer (3 1/2 hours away) and I believe that a healthy dealer network is essential to keeping this sport alive, but also because their customer service and Hobie knowledge takes a back seat to no one, not even Murray's. They have a huge selection of parts and accessories in stock. If I order by noon or a little later they ship via UPS the same day, and that's next day delivery to NW Louisiana. Because I'm in the military, shipping is on the house! I'll miss that deal when I retire next summer. Here's Mariner's address: http://www.mariner-sails.com . Their number is 1-800-536-9463. If you're curious, here's a photo of the new sail luffing. She's a lot prettier with a little wind in her:

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Mark Van Doren
H16 Seabreeze #112205 (Richard Petty Signature Edition)
H14T Fantasia #47787
San Juan 28

Guy walks into the shop circa 1999 and says, "I want the fastest thing you've got." Money was growing on trees during the dot com boom, and I certainly took my share of it. I go into my standard spiel about how the guy is going to use it, racing, sail with kids, blah, blah. He looked at me and said something to the affect that, " It doesn't matter, I want the fastest effin thing you've got." Cool, copy! He needs gear, too. Wetsuits, drysuits, PFDs, booties, bags, and a box to put it all in. Cool.

His new 20 shows up, and we build it and get it set up and take him for his maiden voyage. Cool, we had fun.

By this time the Santa Cruz wind machine has fired up and he wants to go out with his buddy. Cool, he's gotta learn sometime.

He's on the sand with the wind at about 45 degrees off the stbd bow. He sheets in, turns down, and takes off like a rocket. Cool.

He was out for maybe 15 minutes, and on his way back in, he times a giant swell wrong. A huge wave rears up and catches the sterns and spins him up. BLAM! Full blast into the jetty. Luckly, no one was hurt. The boat was.

After the boat was repaired, he was a bit gun shy. Every time he would bring his whole extended family down to the beach, and it was an all day affair. They'd forget their suits, so they bought more. Oh, the kids need a new PFD, better get extra. Oh, yeah, we need a couple of radios. We sold a ton of "Santa Cruz" clothes then, so the girls in the group would go big! Then it came, "And, hey, could you close the shop and take us sailing? We'll make it worth your while." They did.

They wouldn't leave the shop without dropping 5 large every weekend for the entire summer. The tip was often a bottle of Don Julio 1942, which I would promptly blend into margaritas for the employees...that is until someone got irate that I was blending a $150 bottle of fine tequila with what was basically sugar and lime juice. Whatever.

One of the Div 3 H20 sailors races that very boat to this day.

Anyway...umm yeah, online retail.

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Sail Revolution
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All in all, I like things the way they are now. Dealers might do a better job of order tracking though, but that's all. Many of the online mailing services keep tracking information. (That is one I use.)

MVD, that is one funky sail!

Design by Committee.

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Mark Van Doren
H16 Seabreeze #112205 (Richard Petty Signature Edition)
H14T Fantasia #47787
San Juan 28

No question the current distribution strategy is limiting and reduces customer satisfaction. I have a weak dealer here and it's amazingly frustrating when any other (more complex) item I can get via amazon or other (they stock if demand is enough). I look at Hobie Cat company in general as a lower quality company because of that (not because of the physical product). The world is changed. Its not like my dealer is "growing the sport" .

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H18, H17 & Various motor boats

If you aren't getting what you need from your dealer, try mine: Mariner Sails, http://www.mariner-sails.com , 1-800-536-9463. Read my post above, the one that has a picture of an H20 with a funky sail.

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Mark Van Doren
H16 Seabreeze #112205 (Richard Petty Signature Edition)
H14T Fantasia #47787
San Juan 28

Mariner Sails is my local Hobie dealer at a little less than 2 hours away, but I don'c care. Aris and gang at Mariner Sails rock. Great shop with lots of stuff and you can order online with them as well.

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'88 Nationals Blue
Hobie Alter Signature Model
Sail #11

Hobie Mirage Classic