I took an Alumaweld boat to Stevens as they are the local Alumaweld dealer for repair.
I look back on that decision with regret and frustration.
They took pictures of the damage to made up an estimate on June 25th. The employee doing the estimate gave me estimates for parts for an anchor nest that has a connector for my anchor and my electric motor. On the day I received the estimate I called him back and told him that it was NOT a "Lee Lock" and I got it with the boat from the dealer. I told him that if they gave me incompatible parts then they need to give me an anchor holder too that IS compatible. He said it was the exact same part.
So Stevens proceeded to order parts that took months to get. Covid, I get it. But then I get a call to pick up my boat at 5:00 pm on friday Aug 20. I told him I could not make there before they closed with traffic so I would be in first thing on Sat.
I showed up to a dark building. Covid outbreak, not their fault. But someone there let me into the yard so I went to inspect my boat.
Clearly not the correct anchor mount, no wiring, and other parts are not there. And I brought my anchor nest which has two holes to mount which will not fit in this one pin connector. See attached picture with the 'EXACT SAME PART'. My boat was not ready for 'PICKUP'. Covid had NOTHING to do with this mistake, this a BAD BUSINESS PROCESS. Calling for me to pickup with it not being complete or even CLOSE to complete.
I left message with Stevens Marine Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. I finally spoke to the service manager on Weds and he acknowledge that they messed up. They ordered the wrong part (obviously, I had shown others and sent him a picture of the new anchor nest with the OLD one sitting beside it in my boat in their yard). He ordered the parts from the other dealer. This was two and 1/2 months late though, any they knew it because I had told them it was the wrong part.
After two more weeks I call back and they say they have the part and will assemble, but the employee I dealt with told me they were still waiting on the Lee Lock mounting bracket for my electric bow mount. Wow, epic failure there.
I immediately drove in to get the boat however it was. The service manager was very helpful, but parts were still missing and they were just putting everything on including wiring (two weeks after I was told it was ready and to pick it up).
They did offer to get the missing parts (Pins for mount and a roller) and mail them to me. I paid them and took my boat and frustrations home.
1 month after I have the boat at home I still do not have the PINS. I called in to check, and the employee told me it was mailed to me already. So when I asked "when and where" it was mailed he would not answer. So I asked for the service manager again.
A bit of a mix-up, but frankly the ENTIRE process was a bit of a mix-up. He told the employee to get 1 pin and mail it. It was NOT in the mail, it was in their shop still and he was able to open and inspect this package that was supposedly already mailed to me. Clearly it had not been mailed to me as they said.
And now as I write this, once again I have been told that it is taken care of. The service manager told me they have had them shipped from the other dealer directly to me. I trust but will have to verify that this is true.
My experience with Stevens Marine was frustrating and quite a lesson. And to top it off, the ALUMAWELD dealer who fixed my ALUMAWELD boat hull told me there is no warranty on the hull work they were paid for. If it leaks, the service manager says I am supposed to call the company that did the work.... But I didn't pay anyone except Stevens Marine. I don't know who this third party is and didn't have ANYTHING to do with any 3rd party contractor THEY hired to do the work. How could I contact them?
Covid is a big problem for everyone, and it seriously impacts the supply chain. But ordering the wrong parts even after being told they are wrong and not looking into getting the work done that you say you have done is absolutely not covid related.
If I need help again, I will drive to Woodland WA to the other Alumaweld boat dealership. This is DEFINITELY the last Alumaweld I will own. And the last time I will choose to deal with Stevens Marine.
Todd read more