In April of this year (08), I decided to buy a boat. I wanted something I could pay cash for (under 10k), but that was big enough to stay out on the lake all weekend on. After looking at a only couple of boats (that was my first mistake being a first time boat buyer), I met the salesman at Lakeshore Marina. He showed the wife and myself a couple of boats, then showed us a "1988" Thompson Daytona with a rebuilt engine. This boat was also supposed to have a boat cover which was not on the boat at the time, but I was assured that a boat cover was included with the purchase.
(These two main items... The 1988 year model and inclusion of a boat cover for the boat ARE written on a sales contract/bill of sale from the marina, by the way, so proof is easily at hand.)
Not knowing what to look for (problem wise), he showed us the boat and assured us it was a "great boat!" and that for the price we were negotiating, we could easily turn around and sale it for more (that should have been my first clue that something was wrong). It turns out I should have listend to my instinct and walked away, because the entire boat buying ordeal was terrible and six months later, still unresolved.
To make the rest of this long story short, it was discovered on Memorial Day, after receiving a ticket for not having the boat registration application on board (which I didn't have because Lakeshore told me that until the registration was received, all I had to provide was the Bill of Sale in the event I was inspected), that the boat was NOT a 1988 Thompson Daytona, but was in fact a 1986.
The year model difference was brought to my attention by one of the marina staff as she was FINALLY filling out the paperwork for my registration (they had NEVER sent in for my registration in the first place!). When I was told that my boat was two years older than what I had paid for/bought, I was very upset and asked the salesman about the issue and was given a reply to the effect of "You bought a used boat. What do you want?" When the issue was raised with the Vice-President of Operations, I heard "You still got a good deal on the boat, and it was just a mistake. Live with it."
I left the office very upset, but not wanting to make my stay at this marina unacceptable and HOPING that they would live up to their "We're here to mak you happy." pitches, I would address the issues once I had calmed down.
Over the next several encounters with both the salesman and the Vice-President of Operations, I began to realize that they were not going to address the core issues of the difference in year model (1988 to 1986) or the absence of the promised boat cover. This, coupled with the marina's inaction in resolving another issue, I left the marina after finding someone to assume my slip and decided to pursue action.
I contacted the family attorney, and was given advice on how to proceed. I asked if the BBB could help, and he suggested I try that route before taking the marina to court in the hope of resolving the issue without having to go thru the hassel of filing a lawsuit. So, I contacted the Better Business Bureau here in Chattanooga.
The BBB contacted the marina, and the marina responded by saying that they had a boat cover for me, and also stated in their response that I was aware of the boat being a 1986 (which is untrue... It's one example of many of the lies they told the BBB, which luckily for me, the BBB discovered on their own and had made note of in their closing report.). I picked up the boat cover, and after finding that it would not fit, called the maker of the cover and was informed by them that the cover was in fact for a 19-21 foot center console boat (the maker of the cover provided me with the company's catalog which shows this is NOT the correct cover)... And would not even come close to fitting a 28 foot cruiser (duh).
When the BBB responded to the marina's reply to my complaint, in which they addressed the year model issue, the incorrect boat cover, and other issues they found to be at odds with the provided contract/bill of sale (which was sent to them via certified mail), THE MARINA REFUSED TO RESPOND! As a result, the BBB closed the case out as unresolved just this last week, on 24 Oct.
I am considering, at this point, contacting the Tennessee Consumer Protection Agency and the local District Attorney's Office before I have to take the final step of filing a lawsuit.
A word to the wise: do not under any circumstances buy anything or deal with the staff at lakeshore marina in chattanooga, tn!!!
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