Hi Tom,

Your take on honest brokers is certainly a refreshing one. Glad to see
your experience was so positive.

You're quite right about the local thing. Even the used boat price
guides, with all their much decried enexactitude, say that one must
adjust prices for several regions, lower prices being in Florida and on
the East Coast. I noticed higher advertised prices yet in Canada, I
wonder why (yes, they were converted to US dollars)...

I have a hard time believing that brokers are selling boats using
averaged real prices, even if the higher ones, that is unless they
average the 2 highest prices of the past 5 years? When a boat is listed
at $32k by ALL the different used boat price guides, including the
Regional NADA you recommend, and you see the overwhelming majority of
listings at double that or more, what gives? An extra forty thousand
dollars on a thirty thousand dollar boat sure sounds like some pretty
hefty "price padding". Maybe buyers in this price range and boat
category (sedan cruisers) don't look into their purchases in depth? Do
they just listen to a broker telling them the monthly payment and
getting them to dream of fishing on a lazy sunny afternoon? Hmmm...
this is one market phenomenon which definitely isn't clear. Either
there is a micro-category of folks with too few brain cells, too much
cash, or both all wanting the same boat, or these boats aren't selling
for nearly the amount at which they are advertised.

Thanks for suggesting that I steer clear of hiring a Buyer's Broker. I
guess that it is no solution, and that I'd only get the same problems
in double if not supersized! You're right on the money when you say
"Knowledge is the best defense" so thanks for the knowledge shared, on
my behalf and for others in the same situation checking out the
newsgroups. cool

Cheers,

Rich