A letter from the president to yacht buyers
It is always my pleasure to share my perception of what sets us apart from most other yacht brokerages and boat builders:
While it seems obvious to suggest that boat ownership should be the gold ticket to a series of pleasurable experiences, my years as a boater and broker are littered with evidence that this is not always the case.
At AAA Yacht Finders International, our desire to partner with you is based on a bedrock policy of truly putting the customer first, rather than focusing on profit margin or commission. I would like to share just a few measures we take to help you guard against your dream becoming a nightmare:
New Boat Building Blues
Before I became a broker, my experiences included a gut-wrenching season of battle with the yard that was building my dream boat. I recall many sleepless nights during the building process, and I also suffered painful lessons as I was ignored by the builder following the launching of my boat. Too many months of struggle passed before I finally “got things right” and was free to pursue my dreams as a boat owner.
On another level, I have had the experience of being the sales person for a builder, being instructed by the person who wrote my commission check to ignore problems in the build process.
As an independent broker, I pledge that this will never be the case in my relationship with our clients. I will be your strong advocate should you decide to make me your new build representative, doing all that is possible on the path to your taking ownership of the quality yacht you deserve for your investment. I will also advocate to ensure that the factory completes your warranty work in a timely manner.
Used Yacht Yellows
My personal boating journal also includes tales of purchasing used yachts that I thought were a “10” – only to discover they were more like a “5.” Instead of a peach, several of my boats turned out to be lemons.
It is our policy simply not to list a bad boat. If we become aware of any problems subsequent to listing a boat, we immediately ask the seller to repair the problem or reduce the price. We disclose any such problem to a potential buyer or we cancel the listing.
We also make it our policy to recommend only the very best surveyors, as opposed to “blind” surveyors that some brokers recommend when selling a boat with deficiencies.
Wrong Boat Regrets
One of the most tragic experiences in boat buying is investment in a vessel that simply does not match the buyer’s dream. I have seen people pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for a yacht that simple does not work for them. As a former family counselor, I have honed my listening skills. I guarantee I will not sell you a boat that does not meet your needs at the present time. If you are a first-time big boat buyer and are unsure as you endeavor to determine the best boat for you, I recommend an inexpensive boat that will be easy to resell. You may not know how many state rooms you need, or how fast you need to go, until you first experience boat ownership. As resale is always an important factor in the shopping process, we ask our clients to carefully consider resale value when purchasing a custom (one-off) vessel or unfamiliar brand name.
After Purchase Training and Service
One of the most common complaints I hear from boat buyers is that their sales person had little or no time for them after the sale was closed. At AAA Yacht Finders International, our policy is to remain in relationship with our customers until they have a clear understanding of all systems on their new yacht. If necessary, we will hire a skipper at our expense until the new skipper (that’s you!) is comfortable in maneuvering his or her new vessel.
And our service does not stop there. Our clients are invited to call us any time – 24/7 – regarding any problems they are experiencing with their boat.
We want your boating experience to rank among the happiest times of your life, not a nightmare you want to forget. The bottom line is that we truly want your boat dreams to become a reality. We are so adamant about this that even if you are not using AAA Yacht Finders as your buying broker, we invite you consult us at no cost. Please contact us so we can partner with you in pursuit of your dream.
Frank Durksen, Sr.
President
AAA Yacht Finders International
