3A Marine- Hingham

[Breakwater]

I was hoping for everyone's input on 3a marine. Hopefully from some previous customer's perspective.

Sales, service, personality. Good, bad, in-between. What do you all think about them? Thanks

[Gadabout Guinea]

I have used them for parts and also information about my boat which I did not buy from them. They have generally been pretty helpful but that was only over the phone. You could post your question with the Seaswirl owner's group:

http://seastriper.com/forums/index.php

I know a number of regulars on that forum have purchased new and used boats from them.

Good luck.

Chris

[T-Bro]

I bought a 2003 Parker 1801 from Ed Lofgren at 3A Marine a few years back and it was a very good experience. It could easily have been a nightmare (flew in from Colorado, took boat to Martha's Vineyard) with a different dealership.

Ed was a straight shooter. Not a lot of wiggle on the price, but they did knock of the MA sales tax (saved me around a grand) and also threw in the Coast Guard package. They detailed the boat nicely, and then included the shrink wrapping and winter storage for free. (Bought in December and picked up in May.) They had an experienced mechanic take me down to the nearby ramp and go over all the mechanical systems with me (moved up from 13' whaler) and was very patient with all my questions.

I had them install a wash down pump and GPS and wire the radio for MMSI action. This was all done professionally, as was the detailing on the boat. The only thing that was not done well was the MA numbers they put on the hull were not high quality and were done too soon after waxing and they fell off right away. Luckily, I also had a set made by the guys who did the name and hail port for me. The chowder head who installed the washdown hose put a female coupler facing forward from one of the stern boxes, so I had to get a short piece of threaded PVC to allw me to attach a washdown house to the coupler.

All in all, a good experience.

T-Bro

[CaptWayne]

The folks at 3Amarine in Hingham are great to do business. The Service and Parts Depts. have been very helpful,professional, and responsive. When Pat (service dept) says he'll call you back, he calls you back.
Highly recommend them.

[flynny]

I typically get my parts and supplies from them because they have always been helpful and I've been happy with the service. I have a friend who uses them for hauling, winterizing etc and he is pleased with the service, and he did not buy his boat from them.

[SamRiley]

3A rocks. They have handled all of the service on my Parker and trailer, but for what I have been able to learn and take over gradually. Both Pat and John are great for service and Melanie runs a good parts department. I can't speak of the sales end since it was an owner sale. The only thing that I can complain about is they are 45 minutes from my house in Boston. I've been going there for the last five years.

[gerryg]

I hate to be the thornin this mix but......... My experience was not as nice or uneventful. It started right off the bat, I bought the seaswirl at the boat show and was guarenteed I wouold have the boat in plenty of time for Memorial Day weekend, well two weeks after Memorial Day it was still not ready I did pick it up in time for the fourth but....... a kinked wiring harness and being told it would be ready in three weeks did not sit well either. Now it is the third week of july and it has only been in the water twice and one of those times was the demo ride.
Brought it in to be winterized, then brought it back to be opened. I didn't want to take any chances with the new boat. Well they must have not fully drained the washdown pump because the hose brust and the pump was gone, it was a good thing I had them take care of it for me! Wait it gets better, exactly one month after I bought it I was told that the oil pump was gone and that was to the tune of $1000 and this is only with about 75 hours if I was lucky. As I was told sorry it is out of warrantiy and not even the suggestion of a labor discount.
So between waiting for service, unfortunate mistakes by service, and a very bad taste left in my mouth I have not been back since 2001, 2 years after I purchased my first brand new boat. To think I did not want to buy another used boat and take a chance with a bad deal I decided to buy brand new and do I feel foolish. Just to mention I had been on or around boats for over 20 years between my dad's and my used boat buys.
Just the other side of the fence with this story.

[Breakwater]

Thanks everyone.

Now I get to tell you all my hidden agenda :brow

I'm most likely taking a position with them, putting in several customer-facing systems, as well as taking advantage of a new 100gt near-coastal licence ;) for customer deliveries.
It seems from everyone i've talked to, and this (very short, not quantitiative) survey from R-T is that they're doing things right for the mostpart, just missing the boat in regards to serious efficiency and volume. They have the potential for major growth, even in this market.

"If you know what potential customers want from you, and how they want to buy it from you, you can increase your sales." (Credit due for quote Kristin Zhivago, http://www.zhivago.com/)
Reel-timer's are one demographic that KNOW what they want. I was curous to see if 3A understood that.


Gerryg, The other side of the fence can be even more important sometimes. Obviously, and ideally you want to take a "good" sale/service and reverse-engineer it to replicate it, but a bad one can teach you where the jumpoff point is for customers, and avoid it.

Thanks my Guinea pigs Mwahahhaha!

[Gadabout Guinea]

If you're going to be involved with a dealer selling SeaSwirl boats, you should definitely check out the owner's club site. You will get a lot of information there. We're also lucky enough to have a few west coast dealers, and factory reps that monitor and contribute to the site. The site administrator also has direct contacts with the factory. It's been a real positive asset for me (as is this site).


Chris

[gf2020]

Thanks everyone.

I'm most likely taking a position with them, putting in several customer-facing systems, as well as taking advantage of a new 100gt near-coastal licence ;) for customer deliveries.




What happened to working for Freedom Boat Club? :cool:

[DaleH]

What happened to working for Freedom Boat Club? :cool:

Maybe not enough 'freedom' :confused: ?

[Breakwater]

A mutual seperation on good terms. The "freedom" was great.
Besides, I see the opportunity of 3a really charging hard. They've been through soft markets before, and know where to re-invest.

[Uncle Matt]

I went to Boston's in the water boat show in 2003 with the intention to buy a new Parker. I had never been to 3A but because Parker has territorial sales I figured 3A was my local dealer. I went to the show and found their salesman "Jack" to be rather arrogant. I don't know if he didn't take me seriously because I'm a young kid or the fact that my attire that day did not fit his image for a person who could afford a new boat. So I left and he missed a sale. I had a followup with the couple that owns 3A and they were great. Matter of fact they were fantastic. They stayed open late and we sat there drinking coffee and playing with their dog. If the owners were at that show that day I would of purchased from them without a doubt.

In the wend, I went to the Providence boat show a few months later and explained my experieince with Jack. The people at Don's Marine cleared my sale with Parker and I left the proud new owner of a 23 foot Parker.

[SAGE9]

I have dealt with him several times. My experience was very different and very professional. When I go in for service or whatever, I always shoot the breeze with him. Definately a good guy.

[Breakwater]

Well I though I should atleast follow-up that I unfortunatly can't take the job with 3a- personal reasons.
Too bad too, because I felt that they were the "Italian custom-made leather shoe" for me. Instead I've taken a position doing similar things with Baert Marine, who are equally as professional.
I should also make note that I thought 3a's professionalisim, "recognition of reality" and customer care, from a potential new-hire's P.O.V. left virtually nothing to be desired.

[JoeA]

I've had very good luck with them over the years. Always got what I neded on my way down to scituate.