It's funny, I have two dealers both within about 30-40 minutes of me (which is oddly lucky because I live in a cold-weather state). They are so different. One is meticulous with details and knows his stuff. The other one is sort of like a stereotype of a used-car salesman: always hustling for a sale, sloppy on detail and organization.
When I went to buy an Adeventure Island years ago, I went to the first one for obvious reasons. But he was impossible to buy from. He wanted me to pay full price for an AI that was three model years old. He actually got angry, complaining there weren't any significant differences. When I started to list them (the seat change was my main point), he got even more livid. I offered to pay the freight cost in full to have Hobie send a new one, but he actually refused. I ended-up walking out, which was kind of shocking, because I *REALLY* wanted the boat.
Called the second dealer. He told me he had the boat I wanted in stock. When I got there, he didn't. But in the end, he gave me a good deal on something close. When I got the boat home, it was missing parts because his inventory was scattered all over the warehouse. After waiting over a week to hear back if he found them, I walked back in the store, and we ended-up taking them off another boat in the showroom (felt bad for the next customer).
I think Hobie's policies with dealers is pretty good from what I've seen, and both dealers said they liked working with Hobie. But people are people, and Hobie can't control that...
I sometimes wish we could deal directly with Hobie, but I also realize that would change their business significantly, and I like that they're focused on making great products.
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