I have been a customer of Riverside Marine From the day they opened up shop and have never had a problem with their work. They have service and repaired three different boats during that time ( 23 cabin cruiser, 16 boat with Mercury outboard and an 18 Searay with Mercruiser drive). Having a boat serviced IS more expensive than having your car serviced because marine grade parts cost more and the knowledge is more specialized.
My experience with Riverside Marine was
not good and it's partly my fault this time because I should have
known better than to go back to them. First of all let me explain
that I have a bit of experience working on my own stuff so I know
when someone is jerking my chain.
I took my honda outboard to have it tuned up and the water pump impeller replaced (just over $300). I got it back, put it on my boat and went fishing. It wouldn't run at all.
I took it back and left it again. This time I was told I needed the
carb rebuilt. The cost came to around $300. When I protested that I
could have bought a new carb for that I was told that they are over
$600 new. I paid and left.
The motor wouldn't run right after a short
time. This time I looked at it myself. There was fuel shooting out of
the bowl vent at the top...stuck float. To satisfy my curiosity I
looked the cost of new carb ($95). The screws holding the bowl on
were frozen so it was pretty obvious that they had never been taken
out when they "rebuilt' my carb.
I went down there with the outboard to
voice my displeasure at being bent over. I spoke with Walt who told
me he had no problem with charging me 3 times the cost of a new
carburetor and not informing me prior that it would be to my
advantage to just get a new carb. He asked where I could get a carb
for that price and I told him online. He said he didn't know anything
about what they do online and that he wasn't a Honda dealer so he
couldn't get that price. I informed him that the MSRP was $115 and
that I was getting a retail price whereas he would get it for
wholesale. He said he could look at it for me but since it wasn't his
fault he would charge me more money. I declined.
Apparently he has a long list of regular clients who like being taken advantage of. That, or he gets
enough new clients moving into the area where he doesn't have to
worry about customer service, satisfaction or return business.
Now the sad part is that I have no problem taking the carb apart and doing what needed to be done but I thought that this time I would just make it easier on myself and
support a local business. Had I known that I could have replaced the
whole carburetor with a new one for $95 in about 15 min. with two bolts
and a fuel hose to mess with prior to getting long shafted for $300 I
would have done so. Guess that's why I wasn't informed beforehand by
Walt and the Gang at Riverside. Don't take your boat there. Go to
Pacific Powerboats or somewhere else. At least when I had problems
with their repairs they bent over backwards to make it right instead
of bending me over forwards.
Oh, post script.......They also called
the Washougal Police on me because I was yelling and using bad
language. Apparently they felt that was worse for business than their unethical
business practices.
would not recommend. went there for a problem with my 25 horse outboard. the problem was quite obviously the carburetour as i told them. $250 later they had it diagnosed---the carburetor--- duhh. this small carb cost $800+ to rebuild based on the hourly rate. my bill was over $1,200. rediculous. 6 months later i am taking it in for repair of --you guessed it-- the carb!!! has about 25 hours on the rebuilt carb. buyer beware.
Fool? Hmm....I was being sympathetic and you call me a fool? After reading again I see where the misunderstanding was. Learn how to write a sentence and use spellcheck and maybe you won't be misunderstood. I was aware they ripped you off that's why I commented.
If Riverside told you 800.00 plus for a new carb I would be very skeptical. Call someone else. They charged me $300 on a carb rebuild on a carb that was $95 new
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