We're still uploading pics to our Flickr site. If there are any boats you would particularly like us to take photos of and post, let me know on stewart_campbell@ipcmedia.com, or just reply below. I can't guarantee we'll get everything, but we'll do our best.
The Marlow is being mentioned in a lot of posts.
Can you get a few shots please so I can see what everyone is raving about [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
OK, Claire has just come back from the Marlow. Unfortunataly they are not happy letting any more people on the boat to take photos. We will get some exterior shots up shortly, and go looking for the Faroe. We'll have another go tomorrow.
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In my opinion, not the opinion of Yachting Monthly or IPC media
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Photographing for Yachting Monthly since 1999 My yachting photography
We rang Explorer in Wales before the show. We explained our interest and asked for an invite to view the Marlow and received one through the post. We weren't told to turn up at a certain time, or told anything about a queuing system.
Anticipating a delight, we left the Marlow to last. We spent the day looking at every boat we were interested in, being welcomed onto each one immediately and given a generous amount of sales time, including being invited a) to see boats being built and view every single model in the range at an event at the factory b) to go to Poole and take a day out on a demo boat to see whether SWMBO was happy with the close quarters handling.
Manufacturers and dealers can only show a limited number of models, we appreciate that. So often we look at say, the 43 when we are interested in a 48, or at a 435 when we can afford a 385, that is just the way it is at Shows. You get a really good intuitive feel for the nature of the organisation, its people and the products.
Turning up to be told "Let me see, I can fit you in eventually, just as if you didn't have an invitation" was disappointing, but to be honest, no more than that. I wouldn't buy a Marlow this year, but we will buy that level of boat in 2 years time. Will I walk away and ignore Marlow in future? No, I guess not, but Van Der Valk is much higher on my list of people to do business with as we speak because of our experience at the show. Isn't boat buying a surprisingly emotional thing!
Outside of our situation, I agree with a few others, if you don't want the public to look at the boat, don't take it to a show where the public have to pay to get in. If the owner says "No public on board" say "Ah, sadly then we can't take it to a public show". Simple matter of principle.
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Isn't boat buying a surprisingly emotional thing!
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It sure is, here's a small example.
We had a really good day yesterday and were welcomed onto every boat we wanted to see. However I did have two encounters with salespeople I have bought boats from in the past that just reminded me what a mixed industry this is.
Firstly we went to the Fairline stand and met up with the salesman from Fairline North Mallorca. as we speak regularly he is aware that I am unlikely to be changing my boat in the near future. Nevertheless he gave us a lot of time and also spent a lot of time discussing various issus with us. Great service.
Later on we were on the Sealine stand and "bumped into" the Salesmen who sold me my boat before last, not naming names but we were based on a large lake in the north of England at the time. He could barely bring himself to speak and mid conversation he decided to find someone else to talk to, not even saying bye as we slinked off. What an ignorant [--word removed--]. He knows I have a Sealine and I was looking at bigger Sealines, how did he know I wasn't a potential buyer.
The end result a diminished opinion of the Sealine brand and an enhanced view of Fairline service. A purely emotional verdict I admit but I know who I would talk to first if I was changing boats
Stewart
Make an appointment to go on the marlow at 9 am before the show is open to the public that is when they shows the mags. During the day they are giving priority to clients. You will get a fantastic tour.
Thanks Paul. That sounds like the best way of going about it. One of the roving MBM team will get to the boat before the gates open and get the full tour. From what I've seen, it looks like an incredible boat. Congratulations.
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