Hi Guys,
This may seem like a strange question (but you come to expect that from me :D). Is Catalina America booming? Is Catalina leading a recovery in the USA? Why you ask?
Well, 5 weeks ago I asked the Australian Catalina dealer to give me a price on some new boats and given that I have 3 already, I thought he would understand that I was not just tire kicking. But even after several emails asking for the info, I have not received any info or prices. Now, I know if I had asked the Bavaria/Bennie/Jeneatue/etc dealers, they would have been falling over themselves to help. The Fountain Cat guy flew interstate just to show me his boat.
So I can only assume that either the Australian dealer is so busy on other things that he cannot be bothered, or that Catalina US has told him to not sell any boats, because they are unable to make them quickly enough to satisfy the local market, let alone the Australian market.
Maybe I should look at a Euro Boat?
Cat375 - Rock The Boat - Hull 54
Lake Macquarie - NSW - Australia
So what does your dealer say? Anything?
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Word got back to him very quickly, so he rang and will get me a quote soon.
It's just that the Catalina brand is so good, and there are quite a few people that did not buy a Catalina only because the got sick of waiting on the Australian distributor to call them.
Time will tell.
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Cat375 - Rock The Boat - Hull 54
Lake Macquarie - NSW - Australia
Sounds like a pretty lousy dealer. Some of them have been in business a long time and just take things, like customers, for granted. Where there's only one dealer it's a captive market and that's not good. We have a similar situation here, tried twice to buy a boat from them but the attitude drove us off. With such a strong buyer's market for used boats up here it's easy to not need a dealer, but if you want to buy new, you're screwed.
Sounds like a good opportunity for someone to take that market over. My business sucks right now and ausland sounds better everyday!
Mark Middleton
S/V Lunacy
SW Michigan
2002 C36 MK II TR WK M35B
Yes, sometimes a change is good.
Cat375 - Rock The Boat - Hull 54
Lake Macquarie - NSW - Australia
Why not contact Frank Butler & Gerry Douglas & Sharon?
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
I believe they have been told in the past, but did not want to change anything..
Anyway, finally got some quotes today. So I will now think about my options..
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Cat375 - Rock The Boat - Hull 54
Lake Macquarie - NSW - Australia
Simon
For what its worth....
If its the person I think it is (and I'm pretty sure I know who it is) - 4 years ago I had a similar experience. I had decided after a lot of research that a new C34 was the boat in my price range and I walked into our local Melbourne Agent, who was aligned with the current Australian Distributor/Importer with (literally) cash for a brand new C34. Well after a very frustrating process of excuses, phone calls and eventually heated emails (Correspondence which I have kept), I gave up. I visited the Sydney office and was treated with such indifference that I took a flight to LA and viewed a number of boats at Catalina Anchrorage at Marina Del Ray. They were exceptionally helpful and
through a local Australian broker I subsequently bought and imported an as-new 2005 C36 Mk11 Anniversary Model with every conceivable extra for less than the basic C34.
From many people I have spoken to - it appears my experience is not unique.
For our US colleagues - generally speaking - the Australian standard of customer service in business is inferior to that in the US - mainly due to the small market size and lack of competition.
Peter Taylor Melbourne Australia. Altair #2227 2005 C36 Mk11
Hi Peter,
When I mentioned to the Bavaria team that I was looking for a 36' boat. They could not do enough. They rang when they said they would. When I said it was hard to organise a trip down to see them, they offered to sail the boat up to me!
After buying 3 Catalina's in 3 years, I could write a book on how not to be a broker, all based on the standard practices of the Australian distributor.
The thought of going through all the hassles of dealing with him again, makes me want to keep my 375.
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Cat375 - Rock The Boat - Hull 54
Lake Macquarie - NSW - Australia
What is really funny?
I read an article on an Australian sailing site yesturday, where they interviewed the distributor. He talked about professionalism of marine brokers, and all the things they should doing. He was also very proud of his recent award as Catalina Dealer of the year (again). Either everybody I have spoken too is wrong, or the judging panel did a really poor job. I suppose if Catalina head office are happy with what he is doing, then they will not make any changes. But with the Australian economy the envy of the free world, the general opinion is that they could be selling a lot more boats here if they had a better distrubutor.
Cheers
Cat375 - Rock The Boat - Hull 54
Lake Macquarie - NSW - Australia