Brunswick Boat Group and Seminole Marine Group are among the manufacturers that have said they will not work with a new website that is expected to provide consumers with dealer cost information.
The site - www.seedealercost.com or www.paydealercost.com - said it is similar to sites in the automotive market in that it is not a selling site. It provides information, including features (standards, options), specifications and pricing.
The pricing included in the site is both MSRP and invoice, according to a release from the company. In addition to product and pricing information, site users will have access to articles, a dealer search, a quote request (from participating manufacturers and their dealers) and used-boat values.
The site is expected to launch later this week, a spokesman recently told Soundings Trade Only.
"Brunswick has been approached by [Pay Dealer Cost] and has decided not to participate in or provide information to PDC at this time. We will be monitoring the development of PDC and will actively seek input from our dealers to determine what role, if any, we should play going forward," Brunswick Boat Goup president Andrew Graves said in a letter to dealers.
"We want to make you aware of this website so you can prepare for the possibility of consumers referring to dealer invoice pricing listed on this site," he added. "It is unclear what assumptions consumers will make about the information. Because this is a new point of research for consumers, now may be a good time to discuss with your sales team the response you provide when this issue is raised by a consumer."
In a letter to its dealers, Seminole Marine Group, which makes Sailfish and SouthWind boats, expressed concerns about the site.
"A new website, called paydealercost or seedealercost, which is directed at giving the boating consumer dealer cost information, is scheduled to launch in the upcoming weeks. Seminole Marine Group/Sailfish and SouthWind Boats has taken a direct stand against providing any dealer cost information for this website," company officials said in a letter.
"We will in no way participate in any effort to provide pricing and we ask that our dealer network do the same," they said, adding that they have approached the National Marine Manufacturers Association, Show Management and other boat show organizers, asking them not to allow the website to exhibit at shows.
Read more at http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/home/508334-boatbuilders-wont-cooperate-with-dealer-cost-website
