Triumph's Warranty....

[albaris]

I am in the process of buying a 2005 150CC with 5 hours on it. It is being advertised for sale by a non-triumph dealer. Apparently the former owner thought the boat was too small for his needs, so he traded it in for a different boat. After deliberating with the non-dealer, I made the decision to purchase, but before I made the final payment, I called Triumph direct. Here's what I found.

I explained to Bryant in Customer service my purchasing the boat. I gave him the HID# and asked if the warranty was transferable. Thay had no record of the original sale of the boat. So, I guess he called the Triumph dealer that sold the boat to Mr. X. Then Triumph called Mr. X, and Mr. X told them he traded it in for a different boat. He originally purchased the boat new in April 2005 and traded it in in July of 2005.
Bryant tells me that the warranty is null and void because he did not sell the boat directly to me, or trade it in at a Triumph dealer. I explained that the title is still in Mr. X's name, and therefore legally the sale is going to be from him to me. Apparently that is not good enough. So, Bryant gives me to his superior, who goes on to tell me that "that is our policy".
However, if I can get a NOTARIZED Bill of Sale from Mr. X, then the superior will make an exception, and transfer the warranty.
I checked the brochures, I checked their website, and I see no where, where this is listed. All it says on everything is "Limited Lifetime TRANSFERRABLE Warranty".

My whole point to this matter is: If you are in the market for another boat, either make sure you are buying it directly from the origianl purchaser or from a Triumph dealer. Otherwise, you will be SOL if you need warranty work.
It absolutely makes no sense to me, but it is their policy....and a very unfair one at that in my eyes. This boat is like brand-new, less than 5 hours of use, and it means nothing to them. I may think this out, and forget about Triumph all together. I don't know if I want to be part of their "family".

I currently own a 1981 34 Silverton, and when I bought it in March of 2002, I called Silverton, and the first thing they did was send me a brand-new water heater via overnight Fed Ex, because there was a recall in 1984 on theirs, and they had no record of mine ever being replaced. They even sent a voucher good for $100.00 toward the installation of the water heater. And, until this day, if I call Silverton with a problem, they handle it like I just purchased their 50' convertible for a million bucks....thats my idea of customer service.

Al Baris
M/V Lucky Find II
Sodus Bay, NY

[Cincinnati]

Nice first post. So why does Triumph all the sudden have a bad name when a dealer took a boat on trade and then resold it along with the assertion that there was a warranty to transfer? Why aren't you yelling at the dealer? Or does the dealer just not have a forum for you to introduce yourself. What do you want from us? We're owners, not the company. From an owner's view, I would sue the dealer for misrepresenting the product sale and make him take the boat back. Just my view.

[MolarBoater]

Sounds like Triumph is willing to allow the warranty if the sale is legitamate. If the dealer or first owner didn't registar the initial sale correctly, that's not Triumph's fault. You have 2 weeks to notify Triumph and send in your $400 or so to activate a "transferred" warranty. That's common knowledge around here. They have also been so kind as to allow "exceptions" to this rule.

Something sounds "fishey" so you are right in asking alot of questions especially of the seller and non authorized dealer. Triumph has always gone out of their way for me. They picked up my boat at my house, trucked it over 1200miles 2 ways and back to my doorstep for a warranty repair, not a penny out of my pocket. Of course I tend to be nice to folks when I am asking for help. Can't get that from my car dealer and paid double for my Avalanche.

Is your 1981, 34 Silverton still under warranty? Do they have a lifetime transferrable warranty too? Did you pay alot more for the 34 Silverton? Is the boat so "suspect" that they will not back their product for a LIFETIME? Only five years?

You should give credit where credit is due and maybe not come off so abraisive.

Oh, they sent you a new heater because the heater company (who supplied faulty heaters) and Silverton could be sued for millions by you if the old one caught fire, that's another way to keep down their prices. There are numerous recalls with Silvertons, just go to their website. Guess that's why they only have a 5 year warranty.

[Putershark]

Originally Posted by Cincinnati

Nice first post. So why does Triumph all the sudden have a bad name when a dealer took a boat on trade and then resold it along with the assertion that there was a warranty to transfer? Why aren't you yelling at the dealer? Or does the dealer just not have a forum for you to introduce yourself. What do you want from us? We're owners, not the company. From an owner's view, I would sue the dealer for misrepresenting the product sale and make him take the boat back. Just my view.

Amen Cincy and I agree with my Brothers here, we are a group of owners not the factory warranty department. And if it bothers you that much, then go buy another boat (like we did) from a real Triumph dealer for you stated in your first posting that you are "in the process" of buying that boat well... then stop that process and your problem is solved

Now I "might" go through that much effort if somebody was "giving" me a boat, but I would sure would not deal with that much grief if I was having to stroke a check for it that is for sure....

Our purpose here though is to support and to be a information knowledge base for "Triumph Boat Owners" (hence the web address) and we (most of us and not just site management staff alone) work very hard in trying to reach that goal... So go find another dealer and boat and then feel free to come back and join the Brotherhood.

Dave

[AstroDiver]

Molar
The 5 year warranty is prorated too:


Less than two (2) years from date of delivery – 100%
Two (2) to three (3) years from date of delivery – 75%
Three (3) to four (4) years from date of delivery – 50%
Four (4) to five (5) years from date of delivery – 25%

Got this directly from their website.
I'd hate to hit something!

[fridaysoff]

(However, if I can get a NOTARIZED Bill of Sale from Mr. X, then the superior will make an exception, and transfer the warranty.)


There you go Al,
Get a NOTARIZED Bill of Sale from Mr. X. Problem solved!!!!!!!! Then enjoy the best boat you'll ever own with a Lifetime Warranty like the rest of us.....
Fridays Off.

[albaris]

I apologize if you think I came off to harsh, that was not my intention.
First and foremost I don't have a problem with Triumph boats as far as quality is concerned. The more I read on this board, the more I understand "how nice the boat is". That is the benfit of an owner's club, and it is why I am one of the webmasters of the Silverton Owners Club. One of the purposes of any owner's club is to vent, the others are to share information, learn and make friends.
As I said, my point was to make future buyers be aware of Triumph's policy. Also, I pointed out that "it was a poor policy in my eyes", which does not mean that anyone has to agree.
When I read the words "transferrable warranty", I don't read mention of which dealer or which number of owner has to do the transfer. In my mind, I see a fairly new boat, less than a year old, being singled out as a boat not to warranty because it was not bought from one of "their" dealers. If it was bought from a Triump dealer, then there would not be a question. I see no relationship as to what it has to do with a warranty. If Mr. X never traded in the boat, then it would still be under warranty to him, so whats the difference whose name appears on the papers?
I failed to mention that the boat comes with a Yamaha engine, with still another year left on their warranty....however, Yamaha told me that they would have no problem in transferring that warranty over to me. Their product is warranteed regardless of who owns it.
And as far as Silverton is concerned, please don't compare the two as similar boats. Silverton makes boats starting at $250,000, and Triumph begins at under 10K. The point was, that even after 20 years, they stood behind their product, regardless of ownership or regardless of their liability.
Making an exception to "policy" is not good customer service. Had I not asked for a superior, that exception would never have been offered. Either you stand behind your product or you do not. You don't single out individual cases based on who "yells the loudest".
As far as a notarized bill of sale is concerned, not even the state in which you register a boat requires a bill of sale to be notarized, and you know as a previous owner of a boat, who wants to be bothered with getting it done when the sale is not pending upon you to get it done. It sounds to me like they are trying to make it as difficult as possible to do this transfer. All I should need to produce is a transfer of title as required by the Department of Motor Vehicles to prove ownership. Nothing more, nothing less.

BTW- There was never a mention of sending in any money to transfer the warranty....is that another requirement?
Sounds like you are buying an insurance policy aganist future problems. I don't think I have stumbled across that while reading any posts here or was it ever mentioned to me by Triumph in our conversations.
If I do purchase this boat, it will be based on what I read on these forums, and not on Triumph's customer service policy. Hopefully, I will never need to have the boat returned for service.

Just my .02 cents worth.

[NCangler]

As the creator and administrator of this website let me interject something here.

One of the purposes of any owner's club is to vent, the others are to share information, learn and make friends.

It is not the purpose of this site to provide a place for folks to "vent". Go to a health club, roll down the window or get a punching bag to vent, but please don't do it here. We are not therapists nor are we factory reps. (I'm serious but in a joking way. )

I would agree with you on the later part of your statement though that the purpose of this site is to share information, modifications, and to learn and make friends in a positive and productive environment. It has been my desire that this website provide a collaborative environment for Triumph owners, dealers and folks from the Triumph factory. This is an owners site but as owners we benefit from a collaborative and amiable relationship with our dealers and with the factory. Working together we all win. Singling out dealers and Triumph to vent on does not benefit anyone. It is okay to point out issues that need a dealer or factory solution, but not to slam or point fingers at anyone or any company. I think the responses that you received from our membership reflect the collaborative environment that we have here.

I am in the process of buying my second Triumph, a 2006 215 Chaos. When I sold my 2003 210 I provided the buyer with the "Limited Lifetime Warranty" agreement located in the Triumph manual. I also informed him of the $300 lifetime warranty transfer fee. I checked with the factory and on boats prior to 2006 the warranty transfer fees are as follows:

17' and smaller boats transfer fee $200
19' and larger boats transfer fee $300

Here is a portion of what is written in the written warranty:

The remaining warranty term may be transferred once to a second owner if the transfer occurs within the first five years of the warranty. A written request for warranty transfer must be made within 15 days of resale and accompanied by proof of purchase and applicable payment to TRIUMPH BOATS.

If you had been purchasing from a Triumph dealer they could have told you that. If you were purchasing directly from Mr. X he should have told you that. And if that non-Triumph dealer was going to tout a transferrable warranty I believe they should have researched the details of it for you.

On a personal note I agree with Fridaysoff, Triumph gave you a solution. Get it notarized and send it in with your warranty transfer fee. And if you do purchase the Triumph I hope you'll join us here often. This is a great bunch of folks that are more than willing to share information and I think many friends have been made here. I hope all go smoothly for you on the boat purchase from this point on.

[albaris]

Apparently folks are reading more into this than I wrote. I never said the non-triumph dealer was touting a warranty. I said I read it on their (Triumph's) website and in their brochures.
And, as NCangler pointed out, a written request within 15 days along with proof of purchase...., etc" I didn't see the part about a notarized proof of purchase. This is what I mean by singling out one particular boat or purchaser. A proof of purchase should be satisfactory. I would think a legal document, such as a Transfer of Title would meet that criteria.
I also need to point out, no where in our phone conversations with the customer service rep or his superior was there any mention of money to go along with the notarized proof of purchase. I guess they hold that in the bag as the last resort.
I am not aware if there are other companies that charge that amount of money to transfer some paperwork. Mercury Marine charges $25.00, Yamaha charges nothing. But money is not the issue here. Policy is the issue.
Lastly, I was not aware that venting is not accecptable. The only experience I have had with an owners club is with the Silverton Owners Club. We, pride ourselves on the fact that a member can say what he wishes, weather it be pro or con toward Silverton, a particular dealer, or a marine based partner. We indeed welcome hearing the problems other owners are facing, and we work together to solve those problems.
We are not under the thumb of Silverton or any of it's dealers, and because of what has been said on that board, you will see the Silverton Company advertise our owner's club in just about everyone of their advertisements. They want prospective buyers to be fully aware of how other owners feel about them, and what we have to say about them. But that is one of the differences of an employee-owned company, as compared to one that is a part of a privately held corporate empire, such as Genmar Holdings.

I will, in all probability, purchase this boat. I gave my word to the dealer a few days ago, and usually I don't go back on what I say. However, I will keep my fingers crossed that I will never need Triumph to stand behind this product. I just really like the boat.

And, NCangler, Thank you for inviting me back to participate. I will look forward to it.

[NCangler]

Thanks for your input and good luck with the purchase. Personally I think $200-300 for a LIFETIME-warranty on a used boat hull is a pretty good deal. If I were buying used I'd pay it in a minute. I don't know of any other boat manufacturer that offers that.