The boating business must be good.

[AsLan7]

Mods, can you please delete the post prior the one above? I don't know how I cloned it.

Fixed.

[TruckerTim]

I wasn't given or forced to sign a service agreement on my purchase... If I were, I prob would have walked. I agree with Sailor- To me this appears to be more dealer specific issues than a directive with Cobalt.

[LuckyDog2]

We did not sign a service agreement either. The only thing mentioned was to use an "authorized" VP/Cobalt location for any/all warranty work.

[Tuscany]

I'll dig my paperwork out and post it. I have no problem signing a service agreement that states my warranty work is performed by my dealership, it benefits me more than the dealership. My next closest Cobalt dealer is north west of Cleveland, OH, and I'm not driving four and a half hours one way for service that can be done 20 minutes away. I place a high value on loyalty, and it's a two way street. They get me in fast, and I do all of my boat related business with them.

Competing Cobalt dealers can't deny warranty work, but if there is a conflict between two dealers in the same territory, they can however schedule you a month or two out.

[TruckerTim]

I’m in the transportation/ logistics business and handle sales. We provide a service the can be replicated by numerous other providers so I appreciate loyalty from my customers and I’m loyal, (sometimes to a fault) to those who provide me with great service and, to a lesser degree, price. Your right; it’s a two way street.

The dealer I bought from has been great, from the first showing to the follow up issues that have come up since delivery. My issue is I split my time between Birmingham and Florida. If I have a warrantee issue I really don’t want to have to drag my boat 280 miles north to get it fixed. But I know if I do take it to the dealer in FL I will take a back seat to others who purchased from them when it comes time to get something fixed. Only thing working in my favor is both dealers are part of One Water Marine, so maybe that will help if I have an issue.

[Tuscany]

More than anything, I think that contract is about as binding and worthless to the customer as a car sales contract, but it does bind the dealer. What actual recourse would a dealer have if I serviced somewhere else, to sue me? That’ll never happen.
And any Cobalt dealer can perform warranty work throughout the network if you are out of town.

We did have one bump in the road that needed to be sorted out with complete and utter clarity.. When my boat was brand new and just dropped off at my dealer, and when removing the shipping cover, the inside person never took off their muddy shoes..in our factory fresh, brand new boat. Mud foot prints on our swim platform and new sea grass.
Ohh, my wife was pissed....

They got vocalized personal memo, loud and clear that this is not how we roll, and if they ever enter that boat again, they are wearing only socks or they will never see it or me again.. I’ll take the drive.. I think we left that day with a clear understanding of what we, and I’m sure all Cobalt owners expect from their techs... which is returning a little freaking respect.
Since then, there hasn’t been an issue, and it comes back perfectly clean and our relationship is great, complete with some good natured ribbing about that day. The techs know me, I know them, and they get a free lunch when they visit our store..

In the end, if they service us with quality, we look no further.