Dealer Invoice Prices?
 

I have read on several occasions that ``dealer invoice prices,'' the
price the dealer pays a manufacturer for a product, are not available
in the boating world.

This information is extremely helful to consumers, because it allows
you to figure out what the dealer paid and tailor your offer
accordingly. When buying a car, dealer invoice prices are widely
available from a large number of sources -- so many, in fact, that I
have to believe this data is reported to some federal agency or other
publically-available source. (Why else would so many vendors have it
for every make and model?)

Can anybody tell me for certain whether invoice prices are available
for boats. If so, where? If not, wht not? I'm very curious to know
more. Thanks.

Dealer Invoice Prices?
 

Actually, the posted dealer prices are just another hand in a poker game
where you are the only one not allowed to see the cards. I'm sure the
practice is based on "well intentioned" consumer legislation, but it is
easily subverted by dealer volume and other discounts.

Several years ago, I ordered a truck from a dealer and paid listed price
(which seemed to be very competative) for the base vehicle and selected
options. The dealer liked the package and brought in a duplicate to put on
the floor too. Shortly after, an acquaintance bought the duplicate and
proudly pointed out that he had bought it for $3500 below invoice price. I
felt kinda bad until I realized he paid $2000 more than me.

surfnturf


wrote:

I have read on several occasions that ``dealer invoice prices,'' the price
the dealer pays a manufacturer for a product, are not available in the
boating world.
This information is extremely helful to consumers, because it allows you
to figure out what the dealer paid and tailor your offer accordingly. When
buying a car, dealer invoice prices are widely available from a large
number of sources -- so many, in fact, that I have to believe this data is
reported to some federal agency or other publically-available source. (Why
else would so many vendors have it for every make and model?)...

Dealer Invoice Prices?
 

Few, if any, of the laws that apply to new cars also apply to boats.
Things like window stickers with the MSRP are just not seen on new
boats. You also don't see the huge number of companies that make a
living from being "industry watchers" that you see in the auto
industry.

Even today, I suspect most new boat dealers are pretty small
operations, with fairly small profit margins. When I was in the boat
business 20 years ago, we could usually buy a new boat in the $100K
range for maybe 20% off list price. Even if we could sell if for
list--which was rare--that's not much of a profit margin. Out of that
we had to pay all our costs, especially the "flooring" costs--interest
on the money we had to borrow in order to actually buy a boat and bring
it into inventory. Needless to say, if we didn't sell a boat pretty
quickly, we lost money on it! We tended to keep just a few in
inventory, and take orders for most of them.

That model may be different for the really big boat companies and their
dealers, but for the smaller companies I suspect it hasn't changed
much.

Bottom line, I suspect if you can get a new boat for 10% off list, you
are probably doing pretty well.

Dealer Invoice Prices?
 

Dealer Invoice Prices?
 

These are all good points.

I understand that dealer invoice prices are only one indicator, that
there are many mitigating factors such as holdbacks and manufacturer
incentives and that you have to look at it skeptically (no bridges,
thanks -- and no Rolex either). And, of course, you can get far more
for your money in the used market. The gear alone that you get on a
used boat can make it a smart move.

But there are reasons to buy a new boat too, such as warranties and
service and a desire to avoid inherited problems. Plenty of people do
it and they can't all be dummies. It's a good option for some people
under certain conditions and I'm curious whether there is anything out
there that helps these buyers gain any type of edge. Frankly, I haven't
seen anything and I'm wondering why.