Rant on Shields Marina UPDATED

[dombern34]

it must just be a hit or miss kind of thing. I live 2.5 hours away so it's not like I can just drop in after work and check on the boat. this is another reason I have hesitated to go down and get it. I would just have to pick up my boat and take it somewhere else with a possible wait that would be probably be all I had left to wait in the first place, therefore making my drive pointless. I will definitely make a better choice on what time of the year I bring my boat in next time. lesson learned!

[MudDucker]

it must just be a hit or miss kind of thing. I live 2.5 hours away so it's not like I can just drop in after work and check on the boat. this is another reason I have hesitated to go down and get it. I would just have to pick up my boat and take it somewhere else with a possible wait that would be probably be all I had left to wait in the first place, therefore making my drive pointless. I will definitely make a better choice on what time of the year I bring my boat in next time. lesson learned!

You do have a proper bone to pick. We are all sometimes optimistic about how things will go in the future and we sometimes over promise. However, if we do, we need to pick up the phone. I've had to do it and then sometimes like Shields, I didn't pick up the phone because I didn't want to hear the chewing. I try to get my boats worked on in February-March when I have a choice.

[dombern34]

it must just be a hit or miss kind of thing. I live 2.5 hours away so it's not like I can just drop in after work and check on the boat. this is another reason I have hesitated to go down and get it. I would just have to pick up my boat and take it somewhere else with a possible wait that would be probably be all I had left to wait in the first place, therefore making my drive pointless. I will definitely make a better choice on what time of the year I bring my boat in next time. lesson learned!

You do have a proper bone to pick. We are all sometimes optimistic about how things will go in the future and we sometimes over promise. However, if we do, we need to pick up the phone. I've had to do it and then sometimes like Shields, I didn't pick up the phone because I didn't want to hear the chewing. I try to get my boats worked on in February-March when I have a choice.

yeah this time I didn't really have a choice. I bought the boat in April and immediately took it to mikes marine ways to get that process started. dropped it off April 17th, I got the boat back July 1st and then towed it down to shields the very next weekend. (the 9th) they know I'm not happy about it but, I haven't yelled at anyone about it. I don't think it would help the situation. I kind of feel like it would be like yelling at my parents when I was younger, "want another week? say it again!" hopefully soon!

[onefishtwofish]

I kind of feel like it would be like yelling at my parents when I was younger, "want another week? say it again!"

Are you my brother?

[MudDucker]

it must just be a hit or miss kind of thing. I live 2.5 hours away so it's not like I can just drop in after work and check on the boat. this is another reason I have hesitated to go down and get it. I would just have to pick up my boat and take it somewhere else with a possible wait that would be probably be all I had left to wait in the first place, therefore making my drive pointless. I will definitely make a better choice on what time of the year I bring my boat in next time. lesson learned!

You do have a proper bone to pick. We are all sometimes optimistic about how things will go in the future and we sometimes over promise. However, if we do, we need to pick up the phone. I've had to do it and then sometimes like Shields, I didn't pick up the phone because I didn't want to hear the chewing. I try to get my boats worked on in February-March when I have a choice.

yeah this time I didn't really have a choice. I bought the boat in April and immediately took it to mikes marine ways to get that process started. dropped it off April 17th, I got the boat back July 1st and then towed it down to shields the very next weekend. (the 9th) they know I'm not happy about it but, I haven't yelled at anyone about it. I don't think it would help the situation. I kind of feel like it would be like yelling at my parents when I was younger, "want another week? say it again!" hopefully soon!

I have been known to call folks like that twice a week just to let them know I haven't forgotten. Remember, it is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. Don't call on the weekend though, that place has more squeaky wheels on the weekend than they could possibly have grease for!

[dombern34]

it must just be a hit or miss kind of thing. I live 2.5 hours away so it's not like I can just drop in after work and check on the boat. this is another reason I have hesitated to go down and get it. I would just have to pick up my boat and take it somewhere else with a possible wait that would be probably be all I had left to wait in the first place, therefore making my drive pointless. I will definitely make a better choice on what time of the year I bring my boat in next time. lesson learned!

You do have a proper bone to pick. We are all sometimes optimistic about how things will go in the future and we sometimes over promise. However, if we do, we need to pick up the phone. I've had to do it and then sometimes like Shields, I didn't pick up the phone because I didn't want to hear the chewing. I try to get my boats worked on in February-March when I have a choice.

yeah this time I didn't really have a choice. I bought the boat in April and immediately took it to mikes marine ways to get that process started. dropped it off April 17th, I got the boat back July 1st and then towed it down to shields the very next weekend. (the 9th) they know I'm not happy about it but, I haven't yelled at anyone about it. I don't think it would help the situation. I kind of feel like it would be like yelling at my parents when I was younger, "want another week? say it again!" hopefully soon!

I have been known to call folks like that twice a week just to let them know I haven't forgotten. Remember, it is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. Don't call on the weekend though, that place has more squeaky wheels on the weekend than they could possibly have grease for!

oh trust me, they know my number by heart. I normally just call a few times a week to get a "status" but here lately they've been calling me. I did get stern with them last time I had to call, didn't get ugly with anyone but, they knew my thoughts and opinions on it all. they called yesterday and said it would be first of next week before they would get to it

[onefishtwofish]

Interesting add on to this thread. I am a veterinarian. We always try to be upfront with people that walk in with no appointment about when we will be able to see them (if at all). It is only fair, especially if it is an emergency. We can't be in two places at once. Had a non-client show up last Saturday (one doctor, half day) with an "emergency" (the dog was stable, it needed to be seen that day, but not that second) and told her we would work the dog in, but it would be a while. Told her we had an agreement with an ER that would see her immediately (she did not call ahead, drove to our clinic from 40 miles away with no phone call and we had never seen her or her pet before-we would have recommended going there).

The point to this story is that we were honest up front, made no promise we thought we could not keep and little Miss Thang went on Facebook and gave us a 1 star review because we did not drop all our other appointments and see her immediately. Sometimes, you are darned if you do and darned if you don't.

[Rainman]

Call Weyman at Jacks Boats in Perry. He does all my Suzuki work and has done honest and fair work. I know several forum members use him. Not knocking Shields at all as I have never used them for service. But, I have used Jacks and it has been great service. Pick your boat up and drop it off in Perry, tell him I sent ya. Or, let me know and I'll send him a text with your number to call you.

[dombern34]

Interesting add on to this thread. I am a veterinarian. We always try to be upfront with people that walk in with no appointment about when we will be able to see them (if at all). It is only fair, especially if it is an emergency. We can't be in two places at once. Had a non-client show up last Saturday (one doctor, half day) with an "emergency" (the dog was stable, it needed to be seen that day, but not that second) and told her we would work the dog in, but it would be a while. Told her we had an agreement with an ER that would see her immediately (she did not call ahead, drove to our clinic from 40 miles away with no phone call and we had never seen her or her pet before-we would have recommended going there).

The point to this story is that we were honest up front, made no promise we thought we could not keep and little Miss Thang went on Facebook and gave us a 1 star review because we did not drop all our other appointments and see her immediately. Sometimes, you are darned if you do and darned if you don't.

that's all you can do! just be upfront and do what you can. I'm not blaming the sickness and the vacation on them. the only thing I'm not happy with is the promised time frames. I called ahead before I even picked my boat up from mikes marine ways to check their status because Mike said they would be backed up. I called a few weeks prior to dropping it off and I was told 3 weeks. alright no problem. two weeks later I bring the boat, same story. 3 weeks at the MOST is what I was told. cool sounds good.

negative.

today makes the 8th week. still no boat.... it is what it is.

Call Weyman at Jacks Boats in Perry. He does all my Suzuki work and has done honest and fair work. I know several forum members use him. Not knocking Shields at all as I have never used them for service. But, I have used Jacks and it has been great service. Pick your boat up and drop it off in Perry, tell him I sent ya. Or, let me know and I'll send him a text with your number to call you.

yes sir! I appreciate it!

[DWilliams]

I use Wefings. Always have had good service with them for Suzuki, but you will have to get in the queue. Herm is going to set you back even more.

[dombern34]

alright, so I picked up my boat Friday. due to hunting and football season I didn't run it Saturday. Sunday morning I get up early to go splash the boat in the water. get in and the boat won't turn over.......... it'll turn over for a few seconds and then die. I had to put it WOT to crank it, bring it down and then shoot it into gear to get it go. once it got going, it ran like a champ. but what I don't understand is if they test drove this boat like they claimed, then why didn't they see this issue? all new fuel filters, oil filters, boat had hardly any fuel in it to begin with for it to be bad. I don't understand. this boat fired up perfect the day I dropped it off. after 10 weeks of no boat and a bill of 3k.. I expect a running boat. period.

I wish I had the luck everyone else had with this place, I've tried giving them the benefit of the doubt but, my hands are In the air...

I ran the boats for about 30 minutes nonstop before shutting her down for what I thought might have been bad fuel but the second I shut it down, it went right back to the same issue.

maybe it's something simple maybe not, I just find it hard to believe from a water test on Friday, to Sunday, something broke without touching it.

[MudDucker]

Man, I would not be happy either. Years ago I had something similar happen and the mechanic said that trash from the tank stopped something up. When I reminded him that part of what I paid him for was to clean the tank, he started looking for another excuse. I made him fix it for free and never went back. He was one that everyone raved about too and still do. Sometimes there are folks that we just aren't meant to do business with.

[onefishtwofish]

Well that sucks. And I understand your reluctance to take it back - and wait even longer for it. I would probably do that, but would be equally frustrated.

I have had some terrible experiences with one place that a lot of folks on here recommend as well. They won't get my money and others say they like the place. Odd.

[THOMAS CITY CURVE]

I don't see anything they could do to make me happy in that situation other than refund 100 % of my money so I could go and spend it somewhere else.

[bbb]

I would think you are entitled to a refund, even if partial, if they did not fix the original issue.

Similar thing happened to me at a shop in Panacea years ago. Motor idled and rev'ed like a champ but would not plane out without spitting and sputtering. Because most shops won't water test a boat they called me to come pick up my boat they fixed for $350. Dropped it off in Lake Jackson and it spit and sputtered still. Went home and cleaned and soaked the carbs real good and fixed it myself.

Not sure they even touched my boat. Never went back to them for anything.