As much as I shop at Bass Pro I can't believe how they allowed a used boat to leave their facility…read more Yes I looked at it before I left, but it wasn't until I actually got home I realized all the lazy "work" that was done to it. Yes it's a used boat.. I knew I'd have to put some TLC into it. Let me just explain the absolute frustrations..
I called about the boat to make sure it was still at the location before I made my commute.
I asked the SALES guy some general information over the boat. He went on to tell me how well taken care of it was, and how the boat was ready to hit the water.
I arrived, the boat was stationed outside in the front. I did a decent walk around. Seen that I'd personally would rather do mortifications to my wants. That wasn't the issue. As I'm looking at the ad on its site and going through the boat. I start to realize, it was missing almost every it was advertising.
Stated it had a working trolling motor, it had navigation lights, extinguisher, paddles, a depth finder, and new batteries.
I made my was to the boat section where I met with the sales guy. I will say it was towards the end of his shift, and he was willing to help me. I made clear that I could come back the following day or talk with another rep. if I needed to. He insisted on helping me stating if I was interested in the boat it shouldn't take long, it's "either you want it or you don't."
I started to express that based off the details online, the advertised items were not on the boat. I asked if the price was negotiable due to the advertising. He said, absolutely not. He said just because its advertised doesn't mean it's included...
WHAT???? I showed him it says, INCLUDED....
Tasks a glance, oh that's just all AI generated, so like I said that doesn't mean it's included. "we can definitely add whatever you want," just pay the difference.
Of course right, I'll pay an additional cost for something y'all are advertising that's included.. Absolutely not.
Against my better judgement, I still felt like the overall boat was at a reasonable price.
I went through with the purchase, paid cash.
They asked me to come back in the morning to pick it up after they did one last service and cleaning. Staff tells me it will be ready to hit the water tomorrow when you come pick it up.
Tomorrow comes, I'm loaded up with all my fishing gear along with my wife.
Get to the pick-up area, and they start showing us the boat. He hands me the keys, tells me to have fun. I ask if he can crank the motor so I can see that everything is in working condition. He states oh it is, we had it running this morning. But definitely would turn it on if I wanted him too. I said yes, I'd like to see it and hear it running.
He cranks the motor, silent!!!! No nothing.
So my wife says, so do we need new batteries? He explained that it just needed a jump. He said it was just sitting for a long time. We told him, if we need new batteries just tell us so we can buy them now. No, no, no they are newer batteries.. That was a lie!
He jumps it, boom.. turns on.. great..
he said just go run it so the batteries can charge. I had a jump box and cables so I thought I'd be ok. I connected the batteries to charge before we had left with my battery box. I backed up my truck, went to connect the trailer. Hooked the lights up, went to do the chains.. Way too short.. didn't even reach the bumper. So I looked at him, he looked at me. He ask me, so what you going to do? I said have you go get chains that are appropriate to connect the trailer. He said, this is your boat, you paid for it!
I said, so I pick up a boat that's ready to hit the water right? But I'm having to charge the NEWER BATTERIES, and can't connect the trailer chains??
He said I don't know what y'all discussed in the office.
I just laughed and said, "You know what, you are right."
Get to the creek about 40 minutes from the location after I went to academy to get chain. I was not buying from them.
Get the boat to the launch. I tie the boat off to the side. Pull my truck out the way. Get to the boat, crank it... dead!!! Of course it's still dead. i look at my box that was connected, it was now dead. (Yes it was charged)
I pull the truck up, connect the cables, fires up after about 30 minute. I'm letting the motor idle for a few minute.
I tell my wife, let me run it down the creek and do a U-turn just to make sure it runs fine.
I pull away from the dock, I start turning giving it some throttle, then I head a loud click... the boat just started going in circles... I had to kill the motor before I had no control of the boat. The having to the steering cable was in pieces. Good thing I had rope to toss to the dock. Because the trolling motor that ran, barely worked. Then went to crank the motor, dead of course. Swapped the batteries. Since the trolling motor worked that battery should be good. A few cranks, and that battery was gone.
As of yesterday, I gutted the boat, the steering cable wasn't even