What is a fair deposit???

[frdvschvy]

I am taking a buyer out for a "test drive" on our Laveycraft this Sunday. There is no way I will even pull the boat to the lake without a non-refundable deposit. By the time I get the boat pulled out there (1 hour tow each way), spend some time on the water with the buyer, tow it back, and wash the boat the better part of my day is pretty much shot.
What would be a fair amount of $$$ to ask for a deposit (non-refundable)before taking the guy out?

[Jetdriver]

I would say a $500.00 deposit if he is truly interested is a good place to start. But dont expect the deposit before you hit the water. He is out to test drive the boat, so make the test somewhat short. Let him see how it runs and so forth. At the end of the test let him know that you will need a 500 deposit to hold the boat for him and give him a time line to get you the rest of the money. Just my .02

[Froggystyle]

If anyone ever asked me for one I wouldn't even go look at the boat.
Just plan on a day on the water. Have him meet you there, take them for a ride and have fun. It is a more powerful tool anyway. "Look how much we go boating... you are going to love this thing!"
Then, they can pay in full, wipe the boat down, hook it up and leave with it.
Deposits are for contracts... not test drives.

[boatnam2]

i with froggy,if i was interested and needed a test ride and you asked for a deposit i would move on to the next 5000 boats for sale.market is rough and just to have a potential buyer is worth the hour or so to hit the lake.take him out at 7 in the morning if your worried about him having a good time free it will be cold and not much fun.

[GAME TIME]

i with froggy,if i was interested and needed a test ride and you asked for a deposit i would move on to the next 5000 boats for sale.market is rough and just to have a potential buyer.take him out at 7 in the morning if your worried about him having a good time free it will be cold and not much fun.
I'm with you guys on this one. Way too many boats for sale for someone to put a non refundable deposit to test drive a boat. Has the buyer seen the boat in person? If so then you know he is a serious buyer and wants to see how it handles and not just looking for a free ride.

[Sangerdude]

Ditto....I would NEVER agree to a deposit before test driving anything!!! It is a boat... the last time I checked you can only drive them in that wet stuff,
H-2-O
unless, you want to have them sit in the drivers seat and make vroom vroom sounds and what not...
How bad do you want to sell it? The seller always has to be motivated to sell.
Hell, lift that bad boy into a pool with a hoist and what not, let them fire that bad boy up, and then tie er up to a truck or house and let er rip...balls out man!!!
Seriously, NO WAY NO HOW!!! Dont ask for a deposit... ask for cash after he drives the boat...and likes it, obviously.

[Her454]

The ONLY way I would EVER ask for a deposit, is if it were absolutely, positively TURNKEY! :rollside: :rollside: :rollside:

[RiverDave]

When I was selling my Nordic I had alot of jerk offs calling me non stop. If they weren't a serious buyer I'd tell them it's going to be 500 bucks for me to pull it out of my shop, and elsinore is only 45 minutes away.. I told them 250 if they want to go out on the lake for a day, but they get to wash it when were done. LOL...
When I finally did have someone that was interested, and I was pretty convinced he had the cash no deposit required. We were meeting 3 1/2 hours away from my house, so we had the whole "Your absolutely sure you want this boat" discussion before I drove up there. When I got there though, I filled the boat up with fuel, filled the coolers up with drinks / liquor etc.. and we had a nice fun day out on the lake. Kicked back in a cove for awhile, and let them get a feel for what it would be like to own the boat. As froggy said, they hooked it up and drove away. :) No muss no fuss.
Your better off treating them like a river guest, if you think their genuinely interested in your boat.
RD

[Jordy]

The ONLY way I would EVER ask for a deposit, is if it were absolutely, positively TURNKEY! :rollside: :rollside: :rollside:
But is there really such a thing when it comes to boats??? Others have claimed such... :D :D :D

[Jbb]

The ONLY way I would EVER ask for a deposit, is if it were absolutely, positively TURNKEY! :rollside: :rollside: :rollside:
T scores a knock out! ....however the referee has reviewed the tape...and the knockout blow was landed in the testicle area, therefore disqualifying her from her title......Sorry T.... :p

[frdvschvy]

Thanks for helping me see things from the buyers side. I will not even bring up a deposit. He has seen the boat in person and absolutely loves it. From what I can tell he is a very serious buyer and I am confident a test ride will seal the deal. Thanks again for the input.

[Jordy]

T scores a knock out! ....however the referee has reviewed the tape...and the knockout blow was landed in the testicle area, therefore disqualifying her from her title......Sorry T.... :p
Brian... STOP HATIN'!!!! :D :D :D

[Her454]

T scores a knock out! ....however the referee has reviewed the tape...and the knockout blow was landed in the testicle area, therefore disqualifying her from her title......Sorry T.... :p
Are you implying there are testicles?

[Jordy]

Are you implying there are testicles?
T... stop hatin!!!! :D :D :D
That is funny though. :D

[Jbb]

One people at a time.... :)

[Howie Feltersnatch]

Get there early to make sure there are no ramp surprises, pick him up at the dock & rock & roll.
I looked at a boat once & the seller was so flustered while launching trying to make a good impression that he forgot to put the plug in & we almost sank the boat...

[Cole Trickle]

Thanks for helping me see things from the buyers side. I will not even bring up a deposit. He has seen the boat in person and absolutely loves it. From what I can tell he is a very serious buyer and I am confident a test ride will seal the deal. Thanks again for the input.
Nice
I agree with everyone else. If the guy isn't a punk tire kicker I wouldn't bring up a deposit. On the other hand after the ride if he says he wants it but needs a week or two to come up with the cash I would go with the $500 deposit to hold the boat.

[Jetdriver]

Nice
I agree with everyone else. If the guy isn't a punk tire kicker I wouldn't bring up a deposit. On the other hand after the ride if he says he wants it but needs a week or two to come up with the cash I would go with the $500 deposit to hold the boat.
Bingo!

[Throttle]

point here is the seller has to put out if he wants his boat sold (just at what expense)... however I would be extremely cautious of who is serious and not... listed above are several valid pints... ask your buyer how he plans to pay for the deal... and when... good luck!

[Mandelon]

If he wants to show up with his wife, brother and three kids and a bucket of KFC, Ya might get susupicious..... :p

[boatnam2]

i rememeber when i bought my 21ft ultra in 1993,man i was so happy (not like now days where you spend a 100k and it dont mean much).they went to take me to do a lake test and i bought beer and a ice chest,i could tell the guy doing the drive from ultra was like what the fuccck but he held it in and i kept him on the lake for quite a while.

[75MillerJet]

Listen to Jetdriver, he knows what he's talking about! He hooked me! :D

[RitcheyRch]

Ditto
I agree with everyone else. If the guy isn't a punk tire kicker I wouldn't bring up a deposit. On the other hand after the ride if he says he wants it but needs a week or two to come up with the cash I would go with the $500 deposit to hold the boat.

[Throttle]

If he wants to show up with his wife, brother and three kids and a bucket of KFC, Ya might get susupicious..... :p
hey... I was bringin you lunch...

[SummerBreeze]

I can see how you feel about wanting a deposit before taking the time to go to the lake. I am sure you can have the guy fist come over and look then set a date to take the boat out together another time.
Then you should know if you have someone that is a possible buyer. I would tell the guy I am only going to take you out in this boat if you really want it

[Keith E. Sayre]

The entire "deposit" thing can get a little weird if you're not careful. As others have posted, you'll chase off potential "good" buyers with talk of a
deposit before the demo ride. The entire concept of a "demo" ride is to give
you the opportunity to prove to the buyer that everything you have said and
everything that he assumes is either true or not. If you're concerned about
merely busting a ride out for a bunch of wannabees, ask that they bring a
letter of loan approval from their bank. This is a common practice and is not
asking for too much, or even a front page from a fresh TRW report or a copy of a recent bank statement showing enough money to buy the boat. If they
think that any of those requests are unreasonable, they're probably not for
real.
After the ride, I would give them about 3 days to come up with the money
and that's only if they give you at least $500 or $1,000 to show they're real.
If they want more than 3 days to pay for it, take their offer and give them
first right of refusal if someone comes up with a higher offer during that
waiting period. They're asking you to give them time, you're merely informing
them that you'll wait but that it may cost them if they wait too long. If they are asking you to risk something, they should be willing to accept some risk
also.
There is no such thing as a nonrefundable deposit in Arizona, don't know about other states. if they want to buy but can't get approved, give them their money back and save yourself a lawsuit.
Just my thoughts on it.
Keith Sayre
Conquest Boats

[rrrr]

The ONLY way I would EVER ask for a deposit, is if it were absolutely, positively TURNKEY! :rollside: :rollside: :rollside:
LMFAO.....obviously a graduate of the Jordy College of Shit Stirring..... :D :D

[a catered life]

Nice
I agree with everyone else. If the guy isn't a punk tire kicker I wouldn't bring up a deposit. On the other hand after the ride if he says he wants it but needs a week or two to come up with the cash I would go with the $500 deposit to hold the boat.
sounds good to me