Not going back again - EVER.
I brought my boat into Boat's Etc after reading the reviews posted here. I brought my boat in thinking there was a problem with my motor's lower unit. Brock was very professional and polite talking with me about the issue and after showing him my video of the issue (noise in lower unit) he told me I probably don't have an issue with the lower unit, it just was prop chatter. After reading the reviews on line and hearing that their mechanic has X years' experience and was really good I asked him go ahead and check out the lower unit and also check on another issue I had when I ran the unit at high RPMs. Why not, everyone has been happy with their service, right?
The phone call came back that the lower unit was indeed fine, however the VST filter on the motor was clogged and needed to be changed out. Also was the recommendation to do the "100 HR" service all would cost $X,XXX. Keeping the mindset that I wouldn't be screwed over, I said go ahead and do it. But after thinking about it and the fact that my company is laying off people right and left (google GE layoffs), I called back and said I didn't want to do ALL of the service items they suggested as some have already been done a month ago (by me). Brock worked with me on cutting certain items out that weren't related to the VST issue (replacing anodes, lower unit oil change, spark plugs, etc) and revised the price. Happy with the price and removing things I didn't want to do I said ok, go ahead do the work.
I received a call back 15 minutes later and was told, "The mechanic doesn't want to half-ass the job. EITHER YOU DO EVERYTHING HE SUGGESTS OR HE WON'T WORK ON THE MOTOR." Dumbfounded, I told him things that he wanted to do were already done a month ago. The mechanic didn't care, if he was going to work on it, whatever he suggested needed to be done to the motor HAD to be done. I told them I'd call them back with my answer and hung up. The next day Brock called and left a voicemail saying he'd thought about it and had another offer but it was "the best he can do".
I picked up the boat as fast as I could, paid the diagnostic fee and will never come back. My motor is 14 years old and I (not the mechanic) own it. If I can't decide what work is done on it, than I will not do business with that company. This is the first time in I've ever been told by a mechanic or any service company that if I didn't do what they said they wouldn't work for me.
I'll likely get a reply with an argument that what the mechanic suggested was all related to the VST/fuel issue and he was just trying to do things "not half-ass". Problem is, changing anodes and oil in the lower unit HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FUEL! read more