Texas Malibu Owners

[Johnny D]

I'm a new VLX '08 owner. My lake is 120 miles west of the Dallas Fort Worth area (Possum Kingdom Lake). I bought the boat out of state for the only reason that it's hot looking (Cobalt Blue & Yellow)! After having some issues with wedge & stereo intitally, I quickly learned that since I did not buy boat from local dealer, I'm clearly labeled & treated as the "step-child"!

Dealer said they will not service my boat with the Tech that covers Possum Kingdom Lake because I did purchase from them.

My question is does anyone out my way have a relationship with a technician/shop that can handle some of the nuances required with the Malibu's? Thank you!

[mcc]

Welcome to the Crew!!

I'm not expert here, but it would seem to me that any business would want to work to get your business. If they weren't able to provide you with a boat that you wanted then it should be there problem, not yours. If the work is warrenty are they not required to provide the service? I don't know if the guys at Waterski America in Dallas are the ones you are dealing with, but if not you might give them a call. They have been nothing but GREAT to us.

Good luck with everything and congrats on the new 'bu!!!!!!!!

[OTN]

I'm a new VLX '08 owner. My lake is 120 miles west of the Dallas Fort Worth area (Possum Kingdom Lake). I bought the boat out of state for the only reason that it's hot looking (Cobalt Blue & Yellow)! After having some issues with wedge & stereo intitally, I quickly learned that since I did not buy boat from local dealer, I'm clearly labeled & treated as the "step-child"!

Dealer said they will not service my boat with the Tech that covers Possum Kingdom Lake because I did purchase from them.

My question is does anyone out my way have a relationship with a technician/shop that can handle some of the nuances required with the Malibu's? Thank you!

I bought an '09 VTX from Stateamind Watersports in St. Louis, MO. Central Texas Watersports in Round Rock, Tx serviced the boat without any problem whatsoever. I would strongly recommend them.

We should keep a List of Shame on this site of dealers that refuse to honor Malibu warranties. If I were Malibu's CEO I'd strip them of their 'Bu dealer status so damn quick...

[Slurpee]

I'm a new VLX '08 owner. My lake is 120 miles west of the Dallas Fort Worth area (Possum Kingdom Lake). I bought the boat out of state for the only reason that it's hot looking (Cobalt Blue & Yellow)! After having some issues with wedge & stereo intitally, I quickly learned that since I did not buy boat from local dealer, I'm clearly labeled & treated as the "step-child"!

Dealer said they will not service my boat with the Tech that covers Possum Kingdom Lake because I did purchase from them.

My question is does anyone out my way have a relationship with a technician/shop that can handle some of the nuances required with the Malibu's? Thank you!

I bought an '09 VTX from Stateamind Watersports in St. Louis, MO. Central Texas Watersports in Round Rock, Tx serviced the boat without any problem whatsoever. I would strongly recommend them.

We should keep a List of Shame on this site of dealers that refuse to honor Malibu warranties. If I were Malibu's CEO I'd strip them of their 'Bu dealer status so damn quick...

Me to. I bought my boat used out by Lake of the Ozarks and CTWS has been servicing mine quite handily for years now.

That being said it's common knowledge dealers have to partition their resources somehow during the busy months, and the folks who get put at the end of the line are usually those who bought new elsewhere. Those who moved to the area and/or bought used still get second row seating to New customers, but it's usually not the toss under the bus you get if you didn't buy your new boat from them.

Go by WSA, pick up a vest or two, a gallon of Babe's Boat Bright or something, and ask them to put you on their PK maintenance list in person NICELY. Don't mention someone already said no. Like all new relationships, spend some time getting to know them before you ask for something that might be out of their way.

Edited August 14, 2009 by Slurpee

[Cen Tx Dealer]

Thanks for the props, guys. I will be honest that it is a bit un-nerving when a local buys a boat out of turf to save a few bucks. When I get calls from out of my turf, I tell the potiental customer to buy where they are going to use the boat and/or get service. Even if that means a lost sale for us.

With that said, we have taken care of Dallas/WSA and Houston/DMM customers in the last 10 days that were up here on vacation. Both had '08 23's with wedge actuator issues and one trashed prop. We fixed both of them and got them on the water the same day. My Service Manager just couldn't put them at the back of the line when he saw the look on the kids faces that they may not have a boat on their vacation. He's a softy.

I try to take a long-term look at it and although I did not get their business the first time, the goodwill that is created will result in future sales. They'll tell friends about us, post on the Crew like ya'll did and it makes us look good.

So, feel free to pull in if you are in Austin and have an issue. We'll take care of you. But I will come out on the service drive and give you some good-natured abuse first.

Rob

[BuFootin]

Thanks for the props, guys. I will be honest that it is a bit un-nerving when a local buys a boat out of turf to save a few bucks. When I get calls from out of my turf, I tell the potiental customer to buy where they are going to use the boat and/or get service. Even if that means a lost sale for us.

With that said, we have taken care of Dallas/WSA and Houston/DMM customers in the last 10 days that were up here on vacation. Both had '08 23's with wedge actuator issues and one trashed prop. We fixed both of them and got them on the water the same day. My Service Manager just couldn't put them at the back of the line when he saw the look on the kids faces that they may not have a boat on their vacation. He's a softy.

I try to take a long-term look at it and although I did not get their business the first time, the goodwill that is created will result in future sales. They'll tell friends about us, post on the Crew like ya'll did and it makes us look good.

So, feel free to pull in if you are in Austin and have an issue. We'll take care of you. But I will come out on the service drive and give you some good-natured abuse first.

Rob

With that kind of customer service approach....you business is sure to grow & thrive!

[txwakejunkie]

Waterskiamerica should be able to service your boat with no issues. Give them a shout, talk to Tim or Todd in sales or Tony in service, these guys are great!!!

[wakesettergreen]

Thanks for the props, guys. I will be honest that it is a bit un-nerving when a local buys a boat out of turf to save a few bucks. When I get calls from out of my turf, I tell the potiental customer to buy where they are going to use the boat and/or get service. Even if that means a lost sale for us.

be

Can I ask a question about this. In a case where I have 50K to spend on a boat and you can't get me what I want for that price. So I got out of turf for a better deal, because again, all I can afford is 50K, why would that be un-nerving? Wouldn't it make a dealer wonder what the other dealer is doing to have lower prices? Just me two cents.

[auto]

I'm a new VLX '08 owner. My lake is 120 miles west of the Dallas Fort Worth area (Possum Kingdom Lake). I bought the boat out of state for the only reason that it's hot looking (Cobalt Blue & Yellow)! After having some issues with wedge & stereo intitally, I quickly learned that since I did not buy boat from local dealer, I'm clearly labeled & treated as the "step-child"!

Dealer said they will not service my boat with the Tech that covers Possum Kingdom Lake because I did purchase from them.

My question is does anyone out my way have a relationship with a technician/shop that can handle some of the nuances required with the Malibu's? Thank you!

Best of luck, the reason I would buy any major purchase from a local resource, and WSA is a great organization top to bottom. As a CSR organization, we provide the best (fastest) service of those that purchase from us.

You might want to check Dallas Wakeboarding there are some independent traveling guys, I don't know if they provide warranty work though.

[Cen Tx Dealer]

Thanks for the props, guys. I will be honest that it is a bit un-nerving when a local buys a boat out of turf to save a few bucks. When I get calls from out of my turf, I tell the potiental customer to buy where they are going to use the boat and/or get service. Even if that means a lost sale for us.

be

Can I ask a question about this. In a case where I have 50K to spend on a boat and you can't get me what I want for that price. So I got out of turf for a better deal, because again, all I can afford is 50K, why would that be un-nerving? Wouldn't it make a dealer wonder what the other dealer is doing to have lower prices? Just me two cents.

Communication is the key. If we have spoken and we have exhausted all efforts to sell you a boat in our stock, the next step is to approach another dealer on your behalf. In some (not all) cases, dealers will do trades or sell us their unit. It depends on the unit, time of year, etc. but it has been done. If we mutually come to a point that there is nothing I can do for you, then going out of turf would not be an issue at service time. Honesty and communication go a long way here.

Sounds cheesy, but I think the sale is the beginning, not the end of the customer-dealer relationship. If you start it off on the wrong foot by not giving the local dealer the opportunity to sell you a boat, you risk some hard feelings later on. Some dealers more than others.

To answer your question about pricing, if it is a regular stock unit (not repo, warranty buy back, demo, etc.) most dealers are going to be close to the same price. The last 2 yrs have been an aberration with tons of non-current and repo boats making their way all over the country.

[fijidaniel]

My experience from WSA has been great so far. I bought a used boat and have only taken it to them, never had to have a lake call. I took my boat in the beginning of the year becasue the strut had a slight bend to it, check alignment and so on. Instead of doing a ton of work I would have believed needed to be done, Jon explained that the engine was in line and the slight bend in the strut wasn't causing an immediate problem.

Long story short, they were honest and didn't try to sell me on unecesssary work. Not only that, he walked out and explained everything to me. The communication was the best part and the reason I still return for service...and its close!

[auto]

We should keep a List of Shame on this site of dealers that refuse to honor Malibu warranties. If I were Malibu's CEO I'd strip them of their 'Bu dealer status so damn quick...

As a note there no mention of the dealer doing warranty work, the request was for lake service 2.5 hours west of Dallas. That is a shop service, not a Malibu warranty issue.

[rivrat]

I have had a problem with a TX dealer not wanting to do warranty(recall) work for me since i bought the boat out of town. I called the malibu Customer service in CA to get them to talk to the dealer for me. then I got a call back from the dealer saying they would take my boat. after that I really didn't have a problem.

[stroker-ace]

I have had a problem with a TX dealer not wanting to do warranty(recall) work for me since i bought the boat out of town. I called the malibu Customer service in CA to get them to talk to the dealer for me. then I got a call back from the dealer saying they would take my boat. after that I really didn't have a problem.

I dont know about warranty work, but Waterski America in Dallas has serviced my boat fine. (Grapevine, TX)