I am beside myself; frustrated and sick over a recent transaction with a local St Petersburg Marina.
My husband and I have been looking for a new used boat for over a month now. We have been checking classified ads as well as the Boat Trader on line. We came across an ad for a 1988 Cruisers 31 footer. The price on it was over $17,00 the first time we saw it. Out of our price range. As time went on we saw it drop to $15,900, then $14,900. The boat looked BEAUTIFUL and I begged my husband to go look at it. On October 5th, I sent an email to the seller via http://www.boattrader.com / and waited for a reply as to whether the boat was still available or not.
We never received a reply, so I called the marina. Voice mail. I left a message. The next day, I called again. I was greeted by Al Fontina, a sales man for Suncoast Marine in St Pete. He told me that yes, he got my message and yes, the boat is still available. I said great!
I asked for more photos and he directed me to their website, he said there are lots of photos there.
Http://www.boattrader.com/listing/-1988-Cruisers-3170 REDONE!!! Price reduced!!! -96096960#contactseller
I asked Al if the boat really was in this great of shape, he said Oh yea, its beautiful. I also asked him if the refrigerator was full size or regular since I could only see the corner of it in one of the pictures. His reply was, you know, I dont recall, and I was JUST on that boat today. I let it go thinking it was just a minor detail and it didnt really make a difference to me if it was big or small, as long as it had one! I was in love! We said, this is it! This is the perfect boat for us! We made an offer, this is the email I sent to Al Fontina on October 6th.
To: [email protected]
Subject: 88 Cruisers
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 20:59: 58 0000
Al,
Yes, we would like to see it and we are ready to make an offer if all is as it looks on line.
Please offer the customer $12,500 of which we would pay cash this Saturday. We would want to be able to take it back to Fort Lauderdale by water so I would like to feel fairly comfortable that this is do-able!
Please let me know that you have received this email.
Thanks for your help!
Al called me back the next day to tell me that the owner countered with $13,500. I explained to him that we would have to ship the boat to Fort Lauderdale where we live and if he could counter again with $13,000. He agreed to present the offer. This was the email correspondence after that.
From: [email protected]
To:
Subject: RE: 88 Cruisers
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 21:14: 37 0000
Hi Liz,
I received the email, and I left a VM with the owner and your offer, I will try to get back to you later this evening or first thing in the morning.
Regards,
Al Fontina
Suncoast-Marine Sales, Inc.
8290 Bay Pines Blvd.
St. Petersburg, FL 33709
Office: 727-384-BOAT (2628)
Fax: 727- 384-KNOT (5668)
Www.Suncoast-Marine.com
Just Add Water...
Good morning Liz,
Good news the owner will accept the offer, call me today and let me know when you can arrive Sat.
Regards,
Al Fontina
Bay Pines Marine Sales Inc,
8290 Bay Pines Blvd.
St. Petersburg, FL 33709
Office: 727-384-BOAT (2628)
Fax: 727- 384-KNOT (5668)
www.Suncoast-Marine.com
Just Add Water...
%To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: 88 Cruisers
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 15:49: 16 0000
Have I told you, lately, that I LOVE YOU!?
Great news! You really have no idea what a blessing that is! Really! Thank you!
Can we set up a sea trial for Saturday? Let me know if you want me to wire a deposit today and how much.
Thanks again.
Liz
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: 88 Cruisers
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 16:00: 01 0000
Liz, if your coming is SAT, I don't need a deposit, are you paying with cash? Or Certified check.
I look forward to meeting you Liz,
Regards,
Al Fontina
Bay Pines Marine Sales Inc,
8290 Bay Pines Blvd.
St. Petersburg, FL 33709
Office: 727-384-BOAT (2628)
Fax: 727- 384-KNOT (5668)
Www.Suncoast-Marine.com
Just Add Water...
Hi Liz,
Please use the attached wire instructions, and if you could wire $1300, that would be great.
Call me anytime.
Regards,
Al Fontina
Bay Pines Marine Sales Inc,
8290 Bay Pines Blvd.
St. Petersburg, FL 33709
Office: 727-384-BOAT (2628)
Fax: 727- 384-KNOT (5668)
Www.Suncoast-Marine.com
Just Add Water...
Hi Liz,
Call me if you decide to wire the funds, so I can check online.
Regards,
Al Fontina
Bay Pines Marine Sales Inc,
8290 Bay Pines Blvd.
St. Petersburg, FL 33709
Office: 727-384-BOAT (2628)
Fax: 727- 384-KNOT (5668)
Www.Suncoast-Marine.com
Just Add Water...
From:
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: 88 Cruisers
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 17:10: 18 0000
I will let you know. I would like my dad to come with us, and I dont know if he can make it for Saturday. If this is the case, I will wire a deposit to hold our interest in the boat. Will that be ok?
We knew we wouldnt make it Saturday, so I decided to send my husband to the bank to wire the deposit to Sun Coast Marine. The wire instructions clearly stated to send $1,300 to their OPERATING account. Al stressed to me that he had to have the money wired FRIDAY before 5pm. We RUSHED to get this done in time as we did not want to risk ANY issues with the purchase of our new boat. I was SO sure this was the boat for us that I (Stupidly) instructed my husband to wire $5,000. We did.
At this point we made arrangements to drive to Treasure Island to finally see the boat and bring her home! We were so excited we couldnt sleep! We had to rush Saturday to get the rest of the cash together, taking out a loan even against one of our cars to get the last $2,000.00. We were so sure this was the boat! We had even made arrangements to have it transported.
We finally get to the marina owners house, where the boat was stored behind. What a disappointment. We drove 4 Hours and walked up to something that looked NOTHING like the boat described on line.
The rear bench seat was laying on the floor, broken
The antennas on the side for the radios and equipment were snapped off with wires hanging
One of the small lights on the radar arch was snapped off, broken
The wood trim was plywood, badly painted
The sign on the back was plywood, rotting and the bolts were all rusted out
The Rebuilt Engines had NO receipts or warranty, no proof that they were EVER rebuilt
The New Berber Carpet looked about 5 years old, soiled, torn and worn
The Refrigerator!? A gaping hole where there ONCE was one. Mark Connor, the marina owners answer to that? Just bring coolers, thats what we used to do, you will never use that anyway!
The A/C thermostat was hanging off the wall
The Coordinating Bedding not there, only soiled black sheets that someone had recently fornicated on
The flat screen TV, thrown face down in a corner disconnected and torn off the wall
The Dinette table, on the floor, they couldnt find the pole that holds it up!
The matching black counter top in the galley, BLACK ELECTRICAL TAPE!
Mold and Mildew all around the cabins carpeted walls and ceilings
The bottom of the boat he said was painted a year ago (we couldnt verify as it was in the water) but this is NOT what the pictures showed AT ALL
The generator, he said, didnt have enough fuel to run it. So we had no idea if the air worked or for that matter if the generator worked. (We were supposed to be there for a sea trial, how did he plan on doing this with no fuel!?)
All in all I was so disappointed that I cried in the cabin. My husband and father told me to not worry, there are other boats. My father, who has been in the marine business his whole life explained to Mark Connor that this was not what was represented, this boat is not what we expected. I asked him to refund my deposit. He said he couldnt do anything as it was a Sunday. We agreed. He said he would reverse the wire transfer first thing Tuesday morning as Monday was a holiday.
When I got home, I sent this email.
To: [email protected]
Subject: Refund of Deposit on 88 Cruisers
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 02:08: 24 0000
Al,
Thank you for taking the time to show us the 88 Cruisers today. Unfortunately, the boat was not what we expected. Please reverse our wire of $5,000.00 that we sent Friday as a Good Faith Deposit pending our approval on the boat. As discussed earlier today, we expect Mark will be able to do this no later than Tuesday, October 12th, since tomorrow is a bank holiday.
Again, we appreciate your help and time out to show us the boat.
Sincerely,
E
I got no reply. I sent another email.
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Refund of Deposit on 88 Cruisers
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 16:41: 00 0000
Good morning Al,
Just following up on the email I sent you last night. Can you please confirm you have received it and that we are all in agreement.
Thank you.
This was his reply:
HI Liz,
Yes I received the email, he said he will go to the bank in the morning.
I was tempted to ask yesterday, your dads in this business, and he can't find his daughter a good buy? In Ft Lauderdale there are thousands of boats for sale.
Regards,
Al Fontina
Bay Pines Marine Sales Inc,
8290 Bay Pines Blvd.
St. Petersburg, FL 33709
Office: 727-384-BOAT (2628)
Fax: 727- 384-KNOT (5668)
Www.Suncoast-Marine.com
Just Add Water...
Tuesday I went to my bank for personal banking and explained what had happened. My banking representative explained you can not reverse a wire. I started to get nervous. He said the marina would have to have our banking information. I then sent this email.
Al,
I spoke to the bank representative at Sun Trust. She stated that the wire can not be reversed and that you would need my information in order to complete the transfer.
Please see below for all the information needed:
Bank:
Account #: XXXXX (This was included)
Please confirm that you have received this information. Thank you!
I heard nothing more for a while.in the interim I had spoken with Meghann in the office who kept telling me Mark was not available, EVER! She assured me he would go to the bank and handle this.
I then get this yesterday afternoon, 2 days after the time he said he would wire my deposit back.
Hello Liz,
Sorry for the delay, I spoke to Mark, he wants your address so he can send the check.
He mentioned his bank charges him for the transfer, please send me your address and I will place the check out asap.
Regards,
Al Fontina
Bay Pines Marine Sales Inc,
8290 Bay Pines Blvd.
St. Petersburg, FL 33709
Office: 727-384-BOAT (2628)
Fax: 727- 384-KNOT (5668)
Www.Suncoast-Marine.com
Just Add Water...
At this point I am so upset. I call Al and he says there is nothing he can do. I asked him to just deduct the transfer fees and send my money. I also asked him to go deposit the check into my account (there are two branches of my banks within 3 miles) They refused.
I then asked a good friend of mine, a local business owner, to call him to arrange to pick up the check. He refused to give him a check and said he has every right to keep this money. He then told my friend that this money is in an escrow account (Lie, it clearly stated operating account on the transfer instructions) an that he would have to transfer it and that would take DAYS! They left it that my friend can get a check Friday AFTER 4pm at HIS (Marks) convenience. He said slanderous things about me and my family on this call that I was listening to and was obscene and rude. My friend does not think he will follow through and thinks he is trying to waste time to hold on to my money longer.
Thursday my friend called the office and talked to Meghann asking to confirm that the check will be ready at 4pm tomorrow. She said again that Mark was not in the office and that she would call him back. She never did. Shocker.
Friday we called again. No one would answer any phone. We left messages. Finally at about 3PM I couldnt take it anymore. I called every line I knew the number to over and over and over all at the same time until finally Al answered his cell phone. I said "Al?" and he said "Wrong number" and hung up on me. At this point I was livid! I continued to call and call and call. He finally answered the office phone like nothing ever happened. I said, "My friend is coming to get the check at 4pm right?" He said "Yep, check is here, come get it". I said, "I will have no problems right Al?" "Nope, no problems" he said.
My friend called him again with me on the line to confirm again that he will have a check ready as he had to drive over an hour to get there. Al again confirmed the check was ready and waiting. Moments later I receive this email: Hello Liz,
The courier is coming to pick up the check shortly, we have an issue however, we took the boat off the market for you and we are entitiled to a 10% deposit, the owner was sent that amount, and is keeping the 10%.
We had this boat sold to another buyer who ended up buying elswere because we took the boat off themarket.
You can check with any dealer, they will agree that we can keep 10% deposits, if the deal didn't go through
I will have a check ready for the courier for 3700.00. The only reason being we took the boat off the market, and you backed out.
Really? He is JUST mentioning this? He didnt send any owner ANYTHING, he knew within 24 hours of our wire that we were NOT going to buy this boat and it was a weekend. They never pulled anything off the market, it has been continuously listed for MONTHS now. Bottom line here? My friend drove all the way there to find a completely locked up building with NO ONE THERE! He called Marks Cell phone, no answer. He left a message stating he was going to his house to get the check. Moments later Mark calls back and said the check was at the office and he wasnt DROPPING WHAT HE WAS DOING TO GET IT! (He lives 10 minutes away AND he knew my friend was coming for this supposed check!)
Needless to say this is not the end of this battle. Mark Conner, Al Fontina, Meghann Stoddard and all at Suncoast Marine Center have created a criminal ring of fraud, theft and misrepresentation. They hide behind their phones that they never answer, their sales people that they have email when convenient and the security cameras he apparently HAS to have at the front door so he can know which innocent person he has robbed is knocking looking for their money!
I lost a lot of time from work and traveling back and forth to settle this, not to mention friends and family that have gotten involved to help. This scam artist has taken advantage of my trust and faith in others to do the right thing.
Dont give this guy a dime!!! You will be sorry! I wish we would have read these postings first~!
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