This review is based on our experience with the owner. The staff does not deserve a one star…read morerating, but the OWNER went out of her way to earn less than one star.
We arranged the purchase of a Axis T23 over the phone for 99,900 dollars, before fees and taxes. The purchase was handled this way as we are 4.5 hours away from the business, which they were informed of. On 03/26/2021 we drove 4.5 hours to get to Kennewick and to see the new boat in person.
On our arrival we saw the boat as it was being cleaned up. The young shop person was very friendly and helpful. He took us on our demo ride the next day as our sales person was not available. He was a great help and is not reflected in the one star rating.
During our first look at the boat, a older women, later identified as the owner, came outside and the first words out of her mouth were, who are you. We were standing outside the shop door so I did not get too concerned when she came within 6 feet of us without a mask on. We did not receive a greeting or a thank you for coming all that way to spend over a 100K at her business. She barked some order at one of the staff and quickly walked away.
The next day we went out on the demo ride. Again, this young man was great. This was consistent with all the staff in the store, pleasant, professional, working hard to make the customer happy. That was true for everyone except the owner.
The demo ride went great. It was time to close the deal. At the store we went to the business person. We brought up that the sales person had told us that we could receive some gear as part of the deal. This was in lieu of an additional price reductions. Boards, ropes, fenders, etc was related to us as being on the table. She knew nothing about it. She brought in another person, who was trying to be helpful, who said they only discount gear. He said he would try to call the other sales person. He came back and said he could not get a hold of him but would through in a wake surf board in an effort to make us happy. At that time we were ready to cancel the deal and head to Montana where a similar boat was available. The board supplied was a nice Hyperlite. Once we took a closer look at the package, after arriving home, we saw that the wrapping had a small cut in it and all the fins were missing. I hope they did not know they were missing, but who knows. At this time were told we could buy any other gear or supplies with a 25 percent discount.
We went out to pick our board with the salesperson. Once this was done the owner walked up. Totally ignored us and began questioning, in front of other customers, the staff member about the board. She began arguing about the board being thrown in. She said it should only be discounted, then only at cost. The staff members had saved a 100k deal by following through on was our absent salesperson had promised. The owner acted in front of us like we were stealing something.
The boat did not come with bumpers on the trailer guides or a safety strap. We were told Malibu and Axis did not put safety straps on the boat. We looked at the first Malibu for sale on the lot and it had a safety strap. We bought the trailer bumpers. The 25 percent discount quickly changed to a 20 percent discount. The owner reappeared as we were making the purchase. She again ignored us and ask the counter person who he was helping. Another customer had walked up to buy a couple items. She had the counter person stop helping us and help the other customers. As he was helping them, the owner began arguing with the counter person about the amount of discount he was giving us. She said it should be only 10 percent, not the 20 percent. This went on in front of the other customers. The owner was arguing over $5.00 dollars after we just spent over 100K at her business.
Our entire experience with the OWNER ofTraveland RV and Marine was nothing but a negative and insulting experience. She ignored us, was rude to us, treated us like we were a problem and trying to steal from her. Not once did she treat us with any courtesy or respect. Not once did she say the words, "thank you" to us. At least three times she came within 6 feet of us, inside the store, without a mask covering.
I don't know if it was because we were from out of town, or because she was upset that one of her staff was working to save the deal and fulfill what her salesperson had promised, or we received a $5.00 discount. What ever the reason, she, the OWNER, went out of her way to treat a 100k customer with contempt and disrespect.
I think her staff does a good job and are generally professional. It appears from our experience that they cover her unprofessional, egotistical and disrespectful behavior. If I could do it over again, I would of gone straight to Montana to make our 100K purchase.