Frustration getting a straight answer on pricing

[owenrms]

Not sure if anyone can help or could point me in a better direction. We have decided that we like the new Lagoon 450 Sport Top and are looking to buy new for delivery next year. Being a logical type I asked for a price list, all the available options to chose from and thought it would be relatively simple to get to a final price. Appears not. I have a dealer on the East Coast and the West Coast I have put the same questions to. I also have a full Euro denominated price list (one year old) that I found on the web from a dealer in Europe.

First of all the dealer on the East coast is using 1.33 for some items as the conversion rate and then 1.25 for other items to get to $$ so that is bumping up the price nicely and no amount of explaining that the rate is closer to 1.10 seems to help their math. The West coast dealer is using 1.15 which is better. Then we run into some crazy math. The Code 0 in Euro is 9680. East coast says $12,100 and West coast says $15682. No logic I can come up with explains this and all I get is very vague answers from both dealers.

Yesterday was the funniest interaction - East coast is trying to get me to lock a contract. I explained yet again the exchange rate problem - their answer, "make an offer you are willing to pay and we will go to Lagoon with it"!!!

I thought buying cars in this country was crazy (I am not from US originally) but I think boat buying has just beaten the used car salesperson.

Does anyone have any advice please

[scarlet]

Hi Owen,
I don't have an answer for you.. but I was hoping you'd allow a little "thread jack". Can you tell me what the "sport top" is? We also love that boat, but I haven't heard about the "sport top"...

[estarzinger]

Best advice . . . . Make an offer . . . . There is a ton of room for negotiation. (On sail just for instance there is an easy +20% normal negotiating margin).

[paxfish]

Consider negotiating for the boat and then getting a quote on your cat sails from Mack Sails or some other multihull sail maker.

I'm sure the boat manufacturer would love to sell you their high margin items!

[Sand crab]

Originally Posted by scarlet

Hi Owen,
I don't have an answer for you.. but I was hoping you'd allow a little "thread jack". Can you tell me what the "sport top" is? We also love that boat, but I haven't heard about the "sport top"...

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...op-142761.html

[owenrms]

Hi Scarlet, here is a video rendering of the new design

Lagoon Katamaran Deutschland: Top Infos

[Cheechako]

Ask for prices in US $. Ask for itemized price on options. Ask questions, Make offers, negotiate.

[owenrms]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Ask for prices in US $. Ask for itemized price on options. Ask questions, Make offers, negotiate.

Trust me - tried that....I am an accountant by training, pretty logical guy, the dealers don't seem to get it

[Cheechako]

They wont price it in US $? Weird. If I were you I would want that, then do my own conversion. Of course the problem is , when do you pay? Is the Euro price locked in ? etc. Tough one in reality, one doesn't want to pay too much up front, but if you wait ..... the conversion could change a lot...

[donradcliffe]

I'd buy it with Euro.

[scarlet]

Owen,
I have a US price sheet that my broker just sent me. If you PM me with an email address, I'll forward it to you.

[Cottontop]

If you make an offer, make it in writing, in excrutiating detail of every option you are including, commisioning and delivery expectations, delivery date, how long the offer is valid, and anything else you can think of that the manufacturer or the dealer could use to change the price or how the boat is equipped. Remember that an offer can be legally binding.

[Grateful]

Owen,

May I recommend you contact Ziad at Harel Yachts in St Martin. They are one of the top Lagoon dealers worldwide. These guys are straight shooters and very easy to work with.

My brother purchased a new L400 through them year before last and I just purchased a used FP L40 from them and they did a very good job on both transactions. PM me if you want any more details.

[Stumble]

You may also want to look into taking delivery in Europe. It sounds like the U.S. brokers are playing fast and loose with the exchange rate, the euro broker will deal explicitly in euro, and you should be able to get it priced that way.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Cottontop

If you make an offer, make it in writing, in excrutiating detail of every option you are including, commisioning and delivery expectations, delivery date, how long the offer is valid, and anything else you can think of that the manufacturer or the dealer could use to change the price or how the boat is equipped. Remember that an offer can be legally binding.

Be sure to put an expiry date on the offer.


I think the problem here is that the boat is not built yet. The Euro can fluctuate compared with the dollar.
What happens if the build is late and the fluctuation is big?
Can you lock in a Euro price regardless of delivery date without paying up front?
Are you a gambler?
I imagine the OP has thought about all this.
I bought one "built to order" boat, never would again. But the bigger the company maybe the better off you are.