TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE, HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE and DISHONEST MANAGERS. SHORT STORY: We rented a jet ski for the whole day, got 45 working minutes out of it while paying $400 including a QUESTIONABLE REPAIR. STAY AWAY if you want to rent anything with a motor.
LONG STORY: 9:30 on 8/11/2017 we walk into Big Boy's office to rent a jet ski which we had reserved a while in advance. The office is packed with other customers waiting in no particular order and no staff insight. After finally being helped, we were sent outside to the jet-ski, which was dirty and looked heavily used. I already thought, I hope this thing works better than it looks.
Jeb, the "Front-End Manager" gave us a fairly rushed introduction while almost forgetting the most important thing of having the drain plug screwed in. Glad we asked, because we probably would have been charged for sinking the jet ski and the recovery despite the lack of proper introduction for novice users.
Anyway, after this 30-minute below average experience, which mainly consisted of waiting, we were excited to get to the 1.5 hour away Canyon Ferry Lake. As beginners, we carefully put the the jet-ski into the water at a boat ramp. We also followed the instructions of Jeb to swim the jet ski out into neck-deep water without starting it. Not a "technique" we saw from other jet ski owners at the lake, but we wanted to be safe.
Finally at 1pm we took the first round on the jet ski. After we got back from our first 15-minute ride on the lake we parked the jet ski at least 80ft from the shore and swam back to shore, making sure to follow the instructions of Jeb. After a brief break, we swam out to take another round on the jet-ski. We took a longer 30-minute cruise around the lake, but suddenly the jet-ski lost power and started stuttering. Mind you, we were in very deep water when the ski malfunctioned and did not run over anything. We were about 400ft away from shore, but to not take any chances we swam the jet ski back to shore. A great workout included for free in the rental!
Back ashore, I called their office immediately to inform them that something was not quite working right. Joe the "Service Manager" diagnoses the problem as a broken wear ring and adds that those break for half of the customers that rent jet-skis from them. A little bit confused that this part would break that easily and that he could pinpoint the problem exactly from afar, we swam the jet-ski another 500ft to the nearest boat ramp to avoid further damage and loaded it back onto the trailer.
Well, after almost swimming the jet-ski more than riding it we are on the way back to Bozeman to Big Boy Toy's office (1,5 hour car ride), in full hope that we would be reimbursed for our lost rental time.
Back at the office, we talk to Jeb, who blamed us for breaking their jet ski by running over a stone, telling us we now have to pay for parts and repair. After pressing him and elaborating that we did not mishandle the jet ski and that we followed his instructions, he said quote: "He is nice because he will not charge us for the loss of rental income in the coming days, since he had to order the wear ring which he does not have in stock". It is clearly our fault as well, that he does not have this part in his shop which breaks 50% of the time.
After basically getting pushed out of the door while being referred to Joe the "Service Manager" who conveniently was not there at that point, but would give us a call later tonight, we left the Big Boy Toy's location quite frustrated.
After not getting a call the same day, I finally received a voicemail on my phone from Joe the next day, in which he informed me that the jet-ski is back in working order and that we owe them another $160 for the repair. Interesting, since Jeb said the day before that they did not have the part in stock.
Not understanding to be liable for what seems to be a wear & tear part and paying a full day of rental for 45 minutes of riding, I call Joe back. A 30-minute phone conversation follows in which Joe constantly tells me that I rode over a stone and broke his jet ski. Additionally, I screwed up his dinner plans with his girlfriend, since he had to stay longer and fix the jet-ski. Remember, this is coming from a "manager". Furthermore, he schools me on personal responsibility and how other customers were totally fine paying for repairs like these, which I find hard to believe. The fact that his jet skis break down 50% of the time and are maybe not properly maintained is obviously out of the question.
Over a week after the "rental" I am still waiting for the repair bill, which Joe said he will email me, although I already have been charged on my credit card for it. A call from the owner which I requested has not happened either. If I misused the machine I would own up to my mistake. I used the machine carefully and how I was instructed.The fact that it broke so early into the rental, I was looking for a more reasonable compromise. read more