Dealership Support

[Jake]

Any recommendations regarding how the factory could improve on dealership support? (I know this will go nowhere).

 

[Hydraulicjump]

I'll start. Great thread.

Right now, the Bay Area doesn't have a functional dealer, so the question is moot in my neighborhood, but it does help illuminate the problem/opportunity.

Ranger Tug/Cutwater is growing fast. They have built a brand based on well made boats that are well-supported, but are straining to maintain the latter as they grow real fast. I suggest the factory consider developing regional service "teams" (for lack of a better word) who are cloned from the PNW folks. They can even give them junior names, like Andrew Jr., Ivan Jr., Ronnie Jr., Tim, Jr., Kenny Jr., etc. Extract that DNA from the amazing PNW team and then build it in a group that can do all-things-Ranger Tug/Cutwater and are willing to travel to do it (yes, more expensive). I would tentatively make Pacific Southwest, Atlantic Northeast, Atlantic Southeast, Upper Midwest and Gulf Coast teams, but that might not work. It depends on the density of the brand. Make them financially self-supporting (after start ups) and let them work on other boats until there are enough RT-C's around.

Just an idea. Of course, it will drive some dealerships nuts to hear this, but it is an approach.

Jeff

 

[Jake]

Jeff,

I love your idea, thinking outside of the box.

Reminds me of a question I haven't asked. Are RT dealers required to have "certified" RT techs before becoming RT dealers? Just using the term certified loosely. Are they required to have a week of factory training or something similar with continuing education?

 

[knotflying]

I broached this subject a bit on the last thread. Ranger should put time into a strategy of where they want to be geographically and develop a criteria of expectations from their dealer. The purchaser should have an understanding how warranty issues will be handled versus maintenance and repairs. Once a boat is sold issues are usually a hands on situation. Intimate knowledge of the systems, their operation and location of important elements are critical to the one working on the issue. Ability to respond within a specified time is quite important. If an owner purchasing a boat is out of, let's say, a two hour radius of the dealer than the owner should be able to handle getting the boat to the repair site or be prepared to compensate travel and sleeping accommodations for the technician. I have seen many a time issues that were caused by the owner due to their lack of knowledge on how things work. Everything I purchase has a detailed manual. I think everyone gets two bags filled with every document related to the boat in a haphazard pile with a Ranger manual that is far from perfect. locations of fuses and wiring details are vague. As I said earlier, it is a time consuming and an upfront expense to implement these things, but if you want to separate yourself from the rest of the pack, have happy customers and save money and aggravation down the line it needs to be done. Don't get me wrong, I commend the entire Ranger team, but being responsive to putting out a fire is not as good as avoiding the fire in the first place.