Conference unifix::sailing

I've always assumed that a broker represents the seller when discussing 
a particular boat. After all, the seller pays the broker's commission. I
further assume that ethics and the law prohibit outright mispresentation, 
though I'm sure that happens. 

I would expect that the situation becomes more difficult when a 
potential buyer describes his/her requirements to a broker and asks the 
broker to recommend some boats. Is the broker recommending the boats 
because they are the right boats for the potential buyer, or is he 
recommending the boats because of the commission? I once overheard a 
broker/salesman trying to persuade a couple that the 32' boat they 
were interested in was unsafe for offshore cruising and that they should 
instead buy a 40' boat that the broker also was trying to sell. (The 32' 
boat being discussed was a seaworthy boat quite suitable for offshore 
sailing.) 

    I don't have any problem with the broker's allegiance.  With any
    broker you go in knowing where they get their bread and butter.
    
    I would however, like to bash them.   In my experience at least,
    they need bashing for incompetence!  I have seen complete indifference
    to questions, incorrect answers to questions, promised return calls
    never made.  One broker tried to talk me out of my cruising criteria
    and into a racer.  Another didn't try to talk me out of my criteria
    he just totally ignored it, producing a boat with 9+ sails.  This
    boat had 2 spinnakers, drifters, reachers, a custom modified keel
    and he had the gall to present this as an ideal cruiser.  
    
    At a Marblehead broker the first broker question was "Are you going
    to be paying cash?".  Right! I usually carry 20 or 30 thousand on
    me for those impulse buys.
    
    These people are either making so much money that a child could
    get rich at it or they just don't know the first thing about servicing
    someone who is about to drop a load of dough.   Now I'm sure there
    are some exceptions to this but I sure haven't run into one yet. 

    
    Sound like realtors to me.
    

    
    
    
    
    
    
                          Is your CAPS key BROKEred?
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    I refuse to use a broker, because I frankly do not see where
    I, as the seller am getting value for the charge.
    
    I investigated brokers and found they would advertise my boat
    sometimes (one line among many listings), but felt they could
    not sell it for more than wholesale (anyone could sell it for
    that).  For that they get 10%. 
    
    Walt

    I just sold my house - and feel I got ripped off, but that's for
    another conference.....

    	Broker is just another type of the salesperson. They usualy
    come in two flavors: good or bad. So far in dealings with them I
    have not had an opportunity to find a good broker. In a lot of cases
    their sailing experience (seamanship) plays the big role how you
    perceive their services. Currently I am working with a complete
    rooke which suits my needs fine, because he does exactly what I
    tell him to do. I have found that it is much easier to deal with
    the brokers from the smaller firms than the big ones (multi state
    offices). Perfect example of the bad brokerage house is the Interyach
    office in Annapolis ( full of egotistical people) and if you are
    not looking for a boat 100K+ they tend to put you at the end of
    queue. I have tried to sell my boat through them for over six month
    without results ( they would not even show it because it was located
    35 minutes away, not a dingy boat but 1986 Beneteau 345 but below
    magic mark of 100K), so when the agreement have run out I have sold
    it myself in two weeks. Other brokers I have delt with tried very
    often to show you to many boats types ranging from dockside to offshore
    cruisers as long as they fit the price range, without consideration
    to the buyers interests. And so on ... I can roll out several more
    examples.
    What about bashing BANKERS??
    
    Igor.

I sold our boat (33' Quoddy Pilot gaff ketch) through Bill Page of Camden, 
Maine, and would recommend him without reservation, as would most of his 
clients.  The large majority of his business -- both sellers and buyers -- 
is repeat business for him.

He was honest about value, patient when I held the line, and stood up for 
me in difficult negotiations when PUFFIN broker her mooring and went up on 
the rocks, sustaining several thousands in damage (-- three days after the
P&S had been signed!) 

I'd buy a boat from him without hesitation, too.  But then, he considers 
yacht brokerage a profession, not just a job.  (Or just easy money.)

J.

    PLEASE HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND YOUR PROBLEM WITH MY CAPS KEY...SOMETHING
    DEEP SEATED...NEED HELP?  Is this better? Feel calmer? Mmmmmmmm?
    WOW!  Shhhhhhhh.  I'll speak more quietly in the future.

    MY problem with your caps key is twofold:
    
    1.  Your text is very difficult to read.
    2.	Even your mildest comments look like "flames."
    
    Nothing deep-seated...just feedback from a human factors proponent.
    
    Marj

    I HAVE NEVER MADE A (sorry) mild comment in my life...yet.  thankyou
    marj for your reply.  SILly (shhhh) savage...that's the only compliment
    that i've received (i before e ..forget it) this month.  P/personally,
    I like to use all caps, then i don't have to worry about what words
    to capitalize.  i think slovenly savage is more appropriate...i
    do like the "savage" part...finally recognition!