Bass Pro Shops
- Outdoor World
Tahoe
Boats - Tracker Marine
I purchased
a new 2005 Tahoe 195 I/O Deck Boat by Tracker Marine from Bass Pro Shops
Outdoor World 7/8/05. To say the least, I'm so disappointed!
My
sad story and review of the 2005 Tahoe 195 I/O Deck Boat:
I'm posting
the details of my experience with Bass Pro Shops and Outdoor World
in the hopes of getting them to Please Fix my Tahoe boat
and also as a warning to other people doing business with them.
I was enthused
at first. The Tahoe 195 Deck Boat I bought from Bass Pro Shops
is a beautiful and versatile boat. It's a combination ski boat, fishing
boat and family party boat. The layout is great with plenty of coolers,
storage, ladders, fishing platforms with removable fishing seats, live
well and much more.
I searched
all of Houston for a new boat. My final choice was between VIP and Tahoe.
While visiting the VIP dealership, I mentioned Tahoe boats and the salesman
told me he sold Tahoe boats for 6 years and I should check out the JD
Powers report on Tahoe. I should have listened but figured it was
just a sales pitch. I made the big mistake of buying a Tahoe boat!
I took my brand
new Tahoe boat out to Lake Somerville Texas, an hour
away. The boat ran and handled well but when I tried to shut it down the
MerCruiser 4.3L 190 HP V-6 engine would diesel and keep running! I hoped
that could be fixed with a minor adjustment?
I ran my new
Tahoe boat for about 4 hours and noticed all
the stainless steel screws falling out! The stainless hardware
and accessories, walk through and storage doors were about to fall off!
Apparently they used a power driver when assembling the boat and stripped
the fiberglass. Oh no!
I brought the
boat home and found the trailer bunk board lag bolts were falling out
too! Looks like they over torque the lag bolts and stripped the wood.
Oh gee!
I brought my
new Tahoe 195 deckboat back to Bass Pro Shops
Outdoor World for repair.
Two weeks went
by and not hearing anything from Bass Pro Outdoor World,
I drove to their Katy Mills store. The service department was out to lunch.
My new boat (temporary paper tags still on the trailer) was outside in
their fenced lock up. If I sold someone a brand new boat and they brought
it back for minor repairs, I sure would fix it before I went to lunch!
That hasn't been the Outdoor World attitude with me. It's been sitting
outside for 2 weeks and hasn't even been looked at! That's not customer
service? Anyway, the service department finally returned and I was told
they'd "get right on it".
Another week,
I called and was told "we were about to call you, your boat's ready".
Oh great!
Well, not really.
Although they had my boat for 3 weeks they didn't do much to repair it.
I had asked that they check all the screws and replace the screws that
had fallen out. Inspecting the boat, I found one of the seat brackets
hanging on by one loose screw. I had taken the seat cushions out so they
could see it plain as day. I pointed it out to the mechanic, he attempted
to fix it but said he couldn't. The boat would have to go to the fiberglass
repair shop. They have no idea how long it will take!
On further
inspection I found damage to the outside of my brand new Tahoe
boat! When repairing the trailer bunk boards they pulled the
boat off the trailer. There's scrapes and scratches from the straps they
used. I pointed this out to both the mechanic and manager but just
got a grunting noise from them. I called the business manager
and got the same sounds. I wonder if they plan on fixing it?
I'm an easy
going person, not one to complain. But, I ended up paying over $26,000.00
for this boat and trailer. All I have are the payments! Well... summer
is almost over. I don't have a boat although my second payment is due
soon. BooHoo!
I'm
very disappointed with Bass Pro Shops, the Tahoe boat and Outdoor World.
You might think about my experience before you buy a Tahoe boat
from Tracker Marine - Bass Pro Outdoor World. Other's have had
problems with Tracker Marine. Take a look: consumeraffairs.
8-27-05
Another
week has passed. That's 4 weeks - still no boat. My new boat
is outside in their lock up, exposed to this extreme weather we're having.
I cleaned out my garage so I could protect my new Tahoe boat. Looks like
I wasted my time. Now I'm concerned about the old gas. When it gums up
the carburetor, will I have to pay to have it rebuilt? I don't think that's
covered in the warranty. It would certainly be unwise for me to deal with
Tracker Marine. Is this customer care or what!
Today I filed
a complaint with the Better Business Bureau against Bass
Pro Shops and Outdoor World. This is a real bummer!
Please realize
that this is not a used Tahoe boat but a brand new boat I bought from
Bass Pro Shops. I can understand if I had a used Tahoe boat I just decided
to have fixed. Under these circumstances, you'd think they would fix it
in a reasonable amount of time!
Real Disappointed...
Bill Lusby / Katy, Texas / 281-855-3833
9-01-05
Received a
call today, "my boat is ready"! They fixed the seat bracket,
looks good. They didn't repair the scratches made by their straps when
they picked the boat up off the trailer. They denied doing it. I give
up! I want my boat for Labor Day weekend.
9-06-05
Back from Lake
Somerville. We had a great time, camping and boating for 3 days. My new
195 Tahoe Deck Boat ran great. Plenty of compliments, she sure
is a beauty! After completing the 20 hour break in period I was
able to find out what this Tahoe deck boat can do. The MerCruiser 4.3L
190 HP V-6 engine has plenty of power for this boat with an easy top speed
of 45 mph. That's about as fast as I want to go on the water. Dry ride.
Pulled a tube with ease.
I did have
some problems. The stainless screws are vibrating loose
again. The transom door latch and one of the seat brackets fell apart.
The challenge is when you find these parts rolling around in the boat,
where do they go? Gee, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World was
supposed to fix that! What did they do for 6 weeks? And... I almost lost
the cowling (engine cover) twice. The flimsy little rubber cowl latch
failed. On the freeway, I could see in my mirror, the wind picked up the
cowling and would have blown the cover completely off if it hadn't been
for the Bimini top was folded down. I pulled over and tied the cover down
with a rope. Same thing happened on the water. Why such a cheap latch?
Until I can replace it, a rope holding the cowling down will be part of
my new boat.
The Better
Business Bureau has contacted Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. We're waiting
their response. Why make a customer go through all this? Why not "just
fix my boat"?
10-28-05
Still going
through the complaint process with the BBB. Instead of fixing my boat
Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World is dragging this out with a series of writing
letters and responding through the BBB. Who knew that buying a Tahoe boat
would be the biggest mistake I've ever made?
11-01-05
Received a
letter today from the BBB. Bass Pro Shops response was that they have
been unable to contact me. What? They have both my home and business phone
numbers. They had no problem calling when they sold me the Tahoe boat!
Just a bunch of excuses! I'll contact them again. Maybe they're ready
to fix my boat after nearly 4 months?
11-04-05
Met with the
Bass Pro service manager and he has finally agreed to fix my boat! Even offered to winterize
my boat for free! Gee thanks.
Guess this has been all my fault. I should have checked out the service department before I purchased the boat. I figured with a brand new boat, I wouldn't need service at least for the first year. Wrong!
9-30-06
Not much time to update. The Tahoe boat ran great this summer. We had a blast swimming and tubing. The
MerCruiser 4.3L 190 HP V-6 engine has all the power we needed.
Not another boat! Yes, I did. Decided not to put the Tahoe in salt water. An I/O with sea water cooling is not the way to go. The life expectancy is short. I needed a boat I could use to fish the Galveston Bay, so... Bought a used 24' center console VIP Bay Stealth. See her at: http://www.specktaker.com.
4-15-07
Just pulled the Tahoe out of winter storage. Checked all the fluids, poured in a gallon of gas and she cranked right up. I can tell she's tired of sitting and want's to party. Hold on girl, summer is almost here!
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