Cobaltchat.com

What if customers insisted at delivery of a $1k covid discount or suffer some good ole internet retribution!!!

Big Block Power wrote: Tue Nov 02, 2021 7:16 pm I agree. But when you msrp a boat at 200k and you have 30k of fluff in it do you really need to add a surcharge? Just asking for a friend?

When you are a publicly traded company with shareholder value to keep in mind I think the answer is unfortunately yes. Boards and Shareholders want to see continuous sales and profit growth.

Table Rockin wrote: Thu Nov 04, 2021 12:27 pm

Big Block Power wrote: Tue Nov 02, 2021 7:16 pm I agree. But when you msrp a boat at 200k and you have 30k of fluff in it do you really need to add a surcharge? Just asking for a friend?

When you are a publicly traded company with shareholder value to keep in mind I think the answer is unfortunately yes. Boards and Shareholders want to see continuous sales and profit growth.

I think the point has been a little side tracked. We have people stating 20-25% discounts and now this particular dealer charging a Cobalt factory surcharge. I cant see Cobalt singling out 1 or a handful of dealers to charge this to, its either all or none.

It is a fact short term purchased parts are increasing in price. will these increases stay? If you know this I would bet you would be too rich to be buying a Cobalt unless its the tender

I just noticed this on their “build your dream” page… Stuff like this sort erodes my faith in humanity. It’s one thing to raise the price, I get that. But to come back after a deal in good faith has been hammered out and say “oh by the way where gonna need an extra 5K because better you than us!?!?” Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should, the attitude make as much money as you can as fast as you can rubs me the wrong way. Shady way to do business. Just saying.

dsthomas wrote: Thu Nov 04, 2021 9:19 pm I just noticed this on their “build your dream” page… Stuff like this sort erodes my faith in humanity. It’s one thing to raise the price, I get that. But to come back after a deal in good faith has been hammered out and say “oh by the way where gonna need an extra 5K because better you than us!?!?” Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should, the attitude make as much money as you can as fast as you can rubs me the wrong way. Shady way to do business. Just saying.

That statement tells me its the dealers discretion.

I'm in constant contact with my sales guy. I would imagine that if they were going to add a surcharge he would have told me by now. That way I can decide if I want to go forward and if I don't they still have time to change the order on that allocation.

To me it appears that it might be a surcharge by Cobalt and the dealer has to make the decision to eat it or pass it on to the purchaser. I would think that the bigger discount initially one received might influence whether all or part of the surcharge is passed on.

As a small business owner I have been the bag holder in surcharges across many items that I had signed agreements for from vehicles, bodies, trailers, parts, etc... They tell me I'm not bound by the contract and I can choose to not accept the surcharges and go get my products elsewhere. The problem is that if I choose to go elsewhere I missed my waiting in line and may have to wait another 3-6 months to get the items that I need to operate my business. I'm at the end of the supply chain as my customers won't accept me increasing my prices on contract bids that are in process so I end up with the reduced profits or losses.

I get what your are saying soonerfan, by the way I graduated from OU 2005 , I just think it really sucks. If you are getting ready to pull the trigger on a 200K plus boat, an extra couple grand isn't gonna make or break ya, but it's just the principle that you all ready had a deal worked out. They want to surcharge on all the boats they sale from here out, great that's their prerogative, they can raise the price all they want. But to come back after a deal has been worked out isn't right. Due to the market and the way things are I'd probably pay it just so I wouldn't be without a boat for a summer and because I like their product, but I can tell ya, I'd find another dealer to do business with when the pendulum swings back to favor the consumer.

Dealer in the Northeast I am dealing with tells me there is an 8% surcharge (passing through to customer from Cobalt) and a $10k dealer prep and handling charge that is from him. For a 2022 R30.

MBSOB wrote: Fri Nov 12, 2021 9:19 am Dealer in the Northeast I am dealing with tells me there is an 8% surcharge (passing through to customer from Cobalt) and a $10k dealer prep and handling charge that is from him. For a 2022 R30.

10K dealer prep? fork that, this is a Cobalt with little to no gel coat rework once they show up, unlike other makes.

dustinm wrote: Fri Nov 12, 2021 12:56 pm

MBSOB wrote: Fri Nov 12, 2021 9:19 am Dealer in the Northeast I am dealing with tells me there is an 8% surcharge (passing through to customer from Cobalt) and a $10k dealer prep and handling charge that is from him. For a 2022 R30.

10K dealer prep? fork that, this is a Cobalt with little to no gel coat rework once they show up, unlike other makes.

Agreed that's crazy. They will spend 4 hrs on it maybe so max 600 to a grand maybe?

MBSOB wrote: Fri Nov 12, 2021 9:19 am Dealer in the Northeast I am dealing with tells me there is an 8% surcharge (passing through to customer from Cobalt) and a $10k dealer prep and handling charge that is from him. For a 2022 R30.

Dealer prep or dealer profit?

MBSOB wrote: Fri Nov 12, 2021 9:19 am Dealer in the Northeast I am dealing with tells me there is an 8% surcharge (passing through to customer from Cobalt) and a $10k dealer prep and handling charge that is from him. For a 2022 R30.

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Hey MBSOB. So glad you found us!

Did you order?

These things are inevitable with the amount of paper the Federal government has printed and injected into the economy. When you have too much money chasing too few goods inflation will run rampant. And this is the largest Narco injection to jump start the economy I’ve ever seen. These markups are just the beginning. Don’t expect prices to come down as this is the new reset….especially when you couple this with the mandatory minimum “living” wage increase. For now it will be called a surcharge until businesses can figure out where prices will stabilize and get their cost and MSRP data updated

If you ordered, be sure to post pics and options you chose.

And welcome aboard mate!
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Thanks, AsLan7. Appreciate the warm welcome. I have not ordered yet. I am about to though. The dealer is basically giving me a 15%ish discount off MSRP, but adding the 8% surcharge on top of that (straight pass through from Cobalt - no discount on the surcharge). So when you mix it all together (reduced MSRP, plus the surcharge, plus the dealer prep fee) it all ends up being pretty close to MSRP. Were in not for the surcharge, the discount off MSRP would be decent. Anyway, crazy world.

A bit off topic, but just cancelled my R8 Outboard order for a few reasons. Main reason was there was not even a hint as to when it would be delivered. Next was the fact I was nervous the R8 was a bit too small and light for the sea conditions encountered on the Long Island Sound. There is no inventory around to test the boat and I was not making a $250k bet that I would like how she rode.
We found a 2013 Cobalt 296 that needed a bit of work. I will be all in, with all work done, fully serviced and in the water for 1/3 the price of the new boat. And I will have a boat for April. The 296 is 2,000 lbs heavier and foot wider than the R8, so the ride should be better. If she doesn't work out, the big money is out of it and a resale should not be that difficult. Here she is this past week right before the sea trial.
And- if my dealer tried to add a surcharge, I would have cancelled anyway.