Any thoughts on how to obtain a couple of free passes to the Miami Strictly Sail Boat show in February? Have sent several e-mails to Hunter, but they don't seem to be home. Rgds, Howard
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They probably aren't
Most years, Hunter closes for a couple weeks around the holidays. The boat show passes were usually part of Jim Bohart's realm - not sure who to direct those requests to now...
Most years, Hunter closes for a couple weeks around the holidays. The boat show passes were usually part of Jim Bohart's realm - not sure who to direct those requests to now...
Ask you dealer
Hopefully you've developed a strong relationship with your dealer by now. Since he wants to sell you your next boat also, I'd be willing to bet he'd be glad to comp you a few tickets. Just remember what goes around comes around... so stop by the booth to say thanks and hi, and keep them in mind when you do move up. Happy shopping and holidays Bob Knott H380 S/V Serenity
Hopefully you've developed a strong relationship with your dealer by now. Since he wants to sell you your next boat also, I'd be willing to bet he'd be glad to comp you a few tickets. Just remember what goes around comes around... so stop by the booth to say thanks and hi, and keep them in mind when you do move up. Happy shopping and holidays Bob Knott H380 S/V Serenity
Tickets
There is almost always a person at the boatshow that sells tickets. Last year I thought Phil shopuld have changed the name of "Ask the Hunter rep" to "Ask the Hunter rep for tickets" If you can aford the boat you can aford the ticket
There is almost always a person at the boatshow that sells tickets. Last year I thought Phil shopuld have changed the name of "Ask the Hunter rep" to "Ask the Hunter rep for tickets" If you can aford the boat you can aford the ticket
Dear Anonymous
By the same token - Hunter made big bucks on the sale of my boat and they should willingly offer free tickets "for life" to any purchaser. You really don't need to hide after making such assinine remarks. Merry Christmas to all! rgds. Howard
By the same token - Hunter made big bucks on the sale of my boat and they should willingly offer free tickets "for life" to any purchaser. You really don't need to hide after making such assinine remarks. Merry Christmas to all! rgds. Howard
passes
Sorry Howard not trying to hide just did my post from work and not my home. Just go visit your Hunter dealer. Ours on the west coast has all the models on display and its not as crowded as a boat show I think Hunter will give you passes but you should be willing to only visit the Hunter display out of loyalty to our favarite boat manafacturer This is a great site for all boat owners Phil, and everyone have a happy holiday Andy Hansom Hunter 380 Vanishing point
Sorry Howard not trying to hide just did my post from work and not my home. Just go visit your Hunter dealer. Ours on the west coast has all the models on display and its not as crowded as a boat show I think Hunter will give you passes but you should be willing to only visit the Hunter display out of loyalty to our favarite boat manafacturer This is a great site for all boat owners Phil, and everyone have a happy holiday Andy Hansom Hunter 380 Vanishing point
I'm on Andy's side
It costs the average boat dealer upwards of $100k to come to a show--and he spends it to SELL boats, not to shake hands with existing customers. Furthermore, boat show exhbitors do not get free tickets to give away to our customers and prospects--we have to pay for them...at a discount price, but still not free. You want to come to the show to see what's new and different from Hunter, but only out of curiosity...if you plan to buy anything, it will be something electronic...or maybe a dinghy.... West Marine is most likely to see some return on an investment in you...so call THEM and ask for free tickets!
It costs the average boat dealer upwards of $100k to come to a show--and he spends it to SELL boats, not to shake hands with existing customers. Furthermore, boat show exhbitors do not get free tickets to give away to our customers and prospects--we have to pay for them...at a discount price, but still not free. You want to come to the show to see what's new and different from Hunter, but only out of curiosity...if you plan to buy anything, it will be something electronic...or maybe a dinghy.... West Marine is most likely to see some return on an investment in you...so call THEM and ask for free tickets!
Boat show pass
Peggy,I thought this was an owner's forum. It's starting to sound like a dealer's forum. I hope you understand that every freepass is a busness expense which is deducted from the corporate income tax of the dealer. Some how this comes out of my pocket in the long run. I'm sure your business philosophy is going to promote more repeat business. It won't work for me.
Peggy,I thought this was an owner's forum. It's starting to sound like a dealer's forum. I hope you understand that every freepass is a busness expense which is deducted from the corporate income tax of the dealer. Some how this comes out of my pocket in the long run. I'm sure your business philosophy is going to promote more repeat business. It won't work for me.
Peggy, I respectfully disagree
Peggy, I wrote in my post to this question that I thought you should ask your dealer for tickets, because they'll want your future business. I believe your post is twisted logic from clients point of view. Now, admittedly your a vendor, but consider this: When I bought my Hunter 280 in 1996 I still attended the Newport show every year thereafter, always on comped tickets from my dealer. No I didn't go there to buy a boat, I had just done so, but, I assumed they wanted my future business and in the scheme of things the tickets are cheap. Let's see the dealer gave me 4 tickets in 2 years at maybe $10.00 a piece, and in 1999 I bought a Hunter 380 from him. Hmmmmmmm.... maybe giving away tickets was the best marketing money he ever spent! Could I afford to buy the tickets myself.. of course I could, but do you think the dealer is worried about his $40.00 investment now? I don't think so. Client loyalty in this business is not great. Hunter's customer service and my dealers kindnesses are part of the reason I came back a 2nd time. Don't discourage what works. I will probably be back a 3rd time too! Happy Holidays everyone. Bob Knott H380 S/V Serenity
Peggy, I wrote in my post to this question that I thought you should ask your dealer for tickets, because they'll want your future business. I believe your post is twisted logic from clients point of view. Now, admittedly your a vendor, but consider this: When I bought my Hunter 280 in 1996 I still attended the Newport show every year thereafter, always on comped tickets from my dealer. No I didn't go there to buy a boat, I had just done so, but, I assumed they wanted my future business and in the scheme of things the tickets are cheap. Let's see the dealer gave me 4 tickets in 2 years at maybe $10.00 a piece, and in 1999 I bought a Hunter 380 from him. Hmmmmmmm.... maybe giving away tickets was the best marketing money he ever spent! Could I afford to buy the tickets myself.. of course I could, but do you think the dealer is worried about his $40.00 investment now? I don't think so. Client loyalty in this business is not great. Hunter's customer service and my dealers kindnesses are part of the reason I came back a 2nd time. Don't discourage what works. I will probably be back a 3rd time too! Happy Holidays everyone. Bob Knott H380 S/V Serenity
My point...
Did you ask your dealer to give you a Christmas gift? A birthday gift? After all, those would be good deductable P.R. expenses too. When you ask for boat show tickets, you're asking for a gift....If your dealer offers them--and many do--that's one thing...it's another to ask for them.
Did you ask your dealer to give you a Christmas gift? A birthday gift? After all, those would be good deductable P.R. expenses too. When you ask for boat show tickets, you're asking for a gift....If your dealer offers them--and many do--that's one thing...it's another to ask for them.
Donating Time at a boat show
Merry Christmas to all. This is an interesting thread--without taking sides, may I offer a different view. For a number of years, my wife and I would offer to help our local dealer at the Seattle boat show. We'd arranged to "work" at two of the ten days that the Seattle show is running. Most of the time we sat on a boat and showed it to visitors and potential buyers. It gave the regular staff some time off during the day (10 hour days) and we could take some time to visit the rest of the show. I enjoyed talking to customers and telling them how we used our boats and in a few cases, those people actually bought a boat later on. Our job was to sit on the boat (or booth) and answer questions. Just a different way of going to a boat show. Les Blackwell
Merry Christmas to all. This is an interesting thread--without taking sides, may I offer a different view. For a number of years, my wife and I would offer to help our local dealer at the Seattle boat show. We'd arranged to "work" at two of the ten days that the Seattle show is running. Most of the time we sat on a boat and showed it to visitors and potential buyers. It gave the regular staff some time off during the day (10 hour days) and we could take some time to visit the rest of the show. I enjoyed talking to customers and telling them how we used our boats and in a few cases, those people actually bought a boat later on. Our job was to sit on the boat (or booth) and answer questions. Just a different way of going to a boat show. Les Blackwell
passes
If you are going to the boat show as a seriuos buyer ask you dealer about tickes, if you want to go for entertainment only you should be willing to pay
If you are going to the boat show as a seriuos buyer ask you dealer about tickes, if you want to go for entertainment only you should be willing to pay
The REALLY Unscrupulous Thing To Do is...
...find out who your Hunter dealer's largest competition is and where they are located. Call them up and tell them you are a Hunter XX owner but are considering moving up. Unfortunately, you do not care for the bigger Hunter and would like to look at what they have to offer. Would it be possible to view the vessels at the boat show and if so, when can you send me a ticket? "...the opinions and information expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the author. No foul play, unsrupulous activity, or morally challenging statements or acts should be initiated based on the information in the article. If, however, the reader initiates activity based on said information, the author, the distributing media group, nor any subsidiaries of either may be considered associated nor held liable for any results obtained by using said information..." etc. etc. etc.
...find out who your Hunter dealer's largest competition is and where they are located. Call them up and tell them you are a Hunter XX owner but are considering moving up. Unfortunately, you do not care for the bigger Hunter and would like to look at what they have to offer. Would it be possible to view the vessels at the boat show and if so, when can you send me a ticket? "...the opinions and information expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the author. No foul play, unsrupulous activity, or morally challenging statements or acts should be initiated based on the information in the article. If, however, the reader initiates activity based on said information, the author, the distributing media group, nor any subsidiaries of either may be considered associated nor held liable for any results obtained by using said information..." etc. etc. etc.
Boat Show Pass Follies
This thread contains some of the most puzzling reactions I have seen on HOW. For instance: Jason says you should only ask your dealer for free passes if you want to buy a boat from him. My approach is to NEVER ask a dealer for a free pass in that situation. Instead, ask for a free generator, autopilot or radar system. Don't weaken your bargaining position by accepting, let alone asking for, a 10 dollar gift..... Peggy says that a dealer has little incentive to give free passes to people who are already his clients and probably don't want to buy another boat. I am not much of a businessman but would be ready to make a bet that the typical Hunter boat owner is 10 times more likely to buy a new Hunter when he visits a boat show than the average boat show visitor. Every time my wife and I climb aboard one of these new Hunters we try to control the urge to buy one and sell Rivendel II. If only Hunter dealers were to operate like sports car dealers (with prices to match) and would offer you on the spot to let you trade your old Hunter in for a new one I bet that one out of every three Hunter owners visiting the show would be sorely tempted to buy a new Hunter right there and then.... Just my 2 stuivers, Flying Dutchman
This thread contains some of the most puzzling reactions I have seen on HOW. For instance: Jason says you should only ask your dealer for free passes if you want to buy a boat from him. My approach is to NEVER ask a dealer for a free pass in that situation. Instead, ask for a free generator, autopilot or radar system. Don't weaken your bargaining position by accepting, let alone asking for, a 10 dollar gift..... Peggy says that a dealer has little incentive to give free passes to people who are already his clients and probably don't want to buy another boat. I am not much of a businessman but would be ready to make a bet that the typical Hunter boat owner is 10 times more likely to buy a new Hunter when he visits a boat show than the average boat show visitor. Every time my wife and I climb aboard one of these new Hunters we try to control the urge to buy one and sell Rivendel II. If only Hunter dealers were to operate like sports car dealers (with prices to match) and would offer you on the spot to let you trade your old Hunter in for a new one I bet that one out of every three Hunter owners visiting the show would be sorely tempted to buy a new Hunter right there and then.... Just my 2 stuivers, Flying Dutchman
Peggy,Peggy,Peggy
I'm glag to see your marketing strategy and marketing budget is used soley for finding new customers. I support Bob Knott's response wherein it is much cheaper to keep your existing customer base happy and "in your crosshairs". This means repeat business and referrals. I have absolutley no problem in asking my dealer for free passes -aka "gifts". I plan on moving up to a new 410 in a year or so and if he wants my repeat business, he had better keep me happy. These passes are an advertising expense which become a tax write-off to him. rgds, Howard
I'm glag to see your marketing strategy and marketing budget is used soley for finding new customers. I support Bob Knott's response wherein it is much cheaper to keep your existing customer base happy and "in your crosshairs". This means repeat business and referrals. I have absolutley no problem in asking my dealer for free passes -aka "gifts". I plan on moving up to a new 410 in a year or so and if he wants my repeat business, he had better keep me happy. These passes are an advertising expense which become a tax write-off to him. rgds, Howard
Howard, Howard, Howard...
All businesses have budgets...and any dealer who's on top of his marketing will have a customer list to whom he wants to offer tickets...he'll either just mail tickets (some shows only charge for tickets that are actually used), or sends a letter offering them. But if your dealer "wants your repeat business, he'd better keep you happy"... Howard, there are some customers that dealers wish WOULD take their business elsewhere! IMHO, it's just bad manners to ask anyone--in any circumstances--for any gift that has monetary value...and I don't see the difference between asking a dealer for show tickets and asking him to give you dock lines or throwable cushions...or why stop at tickets...why not a cockpit table...a new spinnaker? How 'bout a new dinghy--with motor? That would be one hell of an advertising tax write off! (I just love the way people bandy about "deductable expenses" as if that makes 'em freebees.) You're "planning to move up in a year or so"...but you want free tickets now? Fine...drop all the hints you want to...and if the dealer wants to pick up on 'em, he will. But IMHO, it's rude to put him on the spot by asking directly. And besides...asking directly for a couple of $10 boat show tickets says a lot about whether you're the kind of customer who's gonna nickel and dime him to death if/when you ever do buy anything from him again. Just MHO...I'm entitled to it, and you're entitled to disagree with it.
All businesses have budgets...and any dealer who's on top of his marketing will have a customer list to whom he wants to offer tickets...he'll either just mail tickets (some shows only charge for tickets that are actually used), or sends a letter offering them. But if your dealer "wants your repeat business, he'd better keep you happy"... Howard, there are some customers that dealers wish WOULD take their business elsewhere!
IMHO, it's just bad manners to ask anyone--in any circumstances--for any gift that has monetary value...and I don't see the difference between asking a dealer for show tickets and asking him to give you dock lines or throwable cushions...or why stop at tickets...why not a cockpit table...a new spinnaker? How 'bout a new dinghy--with motor? That would be one hell of an advertising tax write off! (I just love the way people bandy about "deductable expenses" as if that makes 'em freebees.) You're "planning to move up in a year or so"...but you want free tickets now? Fine...drop all the hints you want to...and if the dealer wants to pick up on 'em, he will. But IMHO, it's rude to put him on the spot by asking directly. And besides...asking directly for a couple of $10 boat show tickets says a lot about whether you're the kind of customer who's gonna nickel and dime him to death if/when you ever do buy anything from him again. Just MHO...I'm entitled to it, and you're entitled to disagree with it.
Aw, heck
I've got to jump into this one, too. Pile up enough 'tax writeoffs' and you're in Chapter 11. Almost *all* business expenses, outside of flagrant entertainment and dividends, are tax writeoffs. Even the owner's salary is a deduction in certain circumstances. As Peggie said, that doesn't make them free. However, that technicality aside, if I were a dealer I'd give my customers free tickets and ask them to come by my exhibbit (or the builder's) to see all the new models. And, if I were a customer (which I am) I wouldn't ask.
I've got to jump into this one, too. Pile up enough 'tax writeoffs' and you're in Chapter 11. Almost *all* business expenses, outside of flagrant entertainment and dividends, are tax writeoffs. Even the owner's salary is a deduction in certain circumstances. As Peggie said, that doesn't make them free. However, that technicality aside, if I were a dealer I'd give my customers free tickets and ask them to come by my exhibbit (or the builder's) to see all the new models. And, if I were a customer (which I am) I wouldn't ask.
Last Comment
Phil, Thanks for you comments about giving away free tickets... hey how bout the Newport...just kidding I'd be willing to change my tune, never ask for the tickets again if I thought for 1 minute that boat prices would drop from either the manufacturer or the dealers, but you know that's never gonna happen. The savings wouldn't be passed on to us it would be passed on to them. I think I've given them plenty buying 2 new boats since 96, so I'm taking the tickets, and of course will stop by the booth wish them all well and then play in "Toys R Us for adults ))))))) Happy New Year Everyone Bob Knott H380
Phil, Thanks for you comments about giving away free tickets... hey how bout the Newport...just kidding
I'd be willing to change my tune, never ask for the tickets again if I thought for 1 minute that boat prices would drop from either the manufacturer or the dealers, but you know that's never gonna happen. The savings wouldn't be passed on to us it would be passed on to them. I think I've given them plenty buying 2 new boats since 96, so I'm taking the tickets, and of course will stop by the booth wish them all well and then play in "Toys R Us for adults ))))))) Happy New Year Everyone Bob Knott H380Not to flog a dead horse, but......
Bob, thanks again for your support! Negotiating is what makes this country great and I will negotiate for anything if I can. And yes Peggy, I will continue to ask my dealer for freebies. I got a $3000 windlass on my current 380 by NEGOTIATING, and that was after the boat show special! You should ask until they say no! To all of you who responded, thanks for all your comments. I will glady pay for the passes - just wanted to throw something out there to what took the hook and I think the result was interesting. I wish each and every one, yes you too Peggy, a very happy and healthy 2000. May all of us enjoy fair winds and weather wherever our compass may point! Rgds. Howard
Bob, thanks again for your support! Negotiating is what makes this country great and I will negotiate for anything if I can. And yes Peggy, I will continue to ask my dealer for freebies. I got a $3000 windlass on my current 380 by NEGOTIATING, and that was after the boat show special! You should ask until they say no! To all of you who responded, thanks for all your comments. I will glady pay for the passes - just wanted to throw something out there to what took the hook and I think the result was interesting. I wish each and every one, yes you too Peggy, a very happy and healthy 2000. May all of us enjoy fair winds and weather wherever our compass may point! Rgds. Howard
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