ComplaintsforChampion Marine and Motors LLC

• Initial Complaint

  12/23/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  In March of 2021 I signed to purchase a boat putting $500 down. At this time I was told via email & text we were looking at 10-12 weeks. In April 2021 I was told the boat was in production and as it would be delivered within 30 days they needed the down payment so I signed and wrote a check for $4000 (the dealer also lied to the finance company and fraudulently manipulated financial documents to help get the loan by stating I had put down more to help secure the loan). Covid delays happened understandably so it was delayed. However I was strung along and lied to time after time, even changing my order to help expedite at the dealers request. After 8 months of being strung along I asked for my deposit back. The dealer is refusing saying they will not until the boat is sold or has a new deposit down. Now 9 months in they claim I am breaching contract as the boat is there, or so they claim. However, the only boat on the lot isn't rigged, doesn't even have an engine which i assume is delayed and doesn't have a ttop. How long can this dealer lie to me and hold my money after they manipulated me for it by saying 30 days out in April 2021 in the first place (obviously a lie to get my money). Looking like a ponzu scheme at this point and worried my only recourse is to front thousands taking them to court.

  Business response

  01/13/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 9, 2022/01/13) */ This customer purchased a custom ordered boat. The customer was pre-approved through financing for the purchase but was told by the finance company that he could not make any changes or he may not be re-approved when the vessel arrived. There were delays due to Covid 19 at the manufacturer; however, the customer's boat is currently on our lot, as we are required to purchase the vessels that are ordered from the manufacturer, hence requiring a deposit for the order. Once the vessel was here, it became clear the customer had significant changes to his credit so he was concerned about getting re-approved, and he was not willing to re-submit to financing to find out. In this situation, per the purchase agreement he signed, the dealer will keep a portion or all of the deposit until we are able to recoup our losses. Considering we had already paid for his boat and motor from the manufacturers, our losses were significant. This customer was offered his refund back when that custom ordered vessel was sold; however, it remains on our lot. Furthermore, we will not rig a boat unless we have a confirmed approval through financing. I have all the necessary documents including invoices from the manufacturers, his signed and initialed purchase agreement contract which outlines the deposit and refund stipulations very clearly, as well as the email from the finance company that I was cc'd on that states he was aware he could not make any changes to credit, but chose to move forward with the purchase anyway. At this time, this customer is not eligible for a refund of his deposit on a custom ordered boat. Consumer Response /* (2000, 16, 2022/04/14) */ Champion Marine reached out and made this right. I sincerely wish I had given them the benefit of the doubt initially and not jumped to conclusions so quickly. Ended up being a great experience in the end.

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