Beware: Texas Auto Liquidators Arlington TX.
 

These folks shouldn't be selling ANYTHING. I first saw the boat I purchased on ebay. Their ebay rating is flawless, so I didn't dig any further. I went to their web page, and contacted their sales guy "Brian". Talked about the boat for a while. 2000 Wellcraft Excalibur 260. After the initial "how's it run? everything function as it should?" questions, I asked 3 very specific questions. I asked how the interior is, he replied it's perfect, and if it had flaws, it would be repaired in our in house facility before it left here. I then asked how's the gelcoat? any damage, response was again, it's perfect!. I then asked how the trailer was, road worthy, etc.. all responses were it's perfect. I purchased the boat end of last november, and hired they're in house delivery guy to transport it to my house (Lyle). Upon purchase, I asked Brian to please make sure it was winterized as it's already cold up here and it won't be used until spring time, to which he replied, "we do all of our boats as we sell country wide". Lyle contacted me telling me one of the wheels FELL OFF the trailer, and he had to return to the dealership to repair. He then called me again to tell me that he had 2 additional flat tires on the way up and had to replace them, so this thing shows up with 4 different tires on the trailer, FULL of water and ice, damaged gelcoat, and the interior had numerous things damaged, including the captains chair laying on the floor ripped out of the post it resides on. I contacted them and complained, Brain assured me that if I sent them the damaged interior, they would take care of it. I then asked again, WAS THIS WINTERIZED? he responsed yes. I parked the boat into my carport, and pulled the drain peckock's just to verify, and nothing came out. (evening time, dark out, looking at it with a flashlight now). I then figured that maybe their idea of winterizing may be just draining the water?????? but I figured i'd get all the materials and do it asap.. I then opened the boat up a few days later in daylight to find freeze out plugs on the floor of the engine compartment, nothing still coming out of the drain peckocks, but engine full of ice and destroyed. I called them back and his response was I needed to call the owner. I called the owner, sent them photo's of the damage which was obviously already done upon delivery or else when i pulled the drian plugs, it would have come out then! The owner told me there is no warranty on this boat, but if I send them the boat, they'll swap out the engine for me with a quality used one!!!!!!! REALLY? Your "techs" couldn't winterize it, i'm going to trust them changing the engine? So we reached a mutual agreement verbally that they would supply me with a new block, all the gaskets and necessary materials, and exhaust manifolds upon me shipping them the damaged block and manifolds. I did so, never received anything from them. So I have now taken it upon myself to purchase another block thanks to a member here, sent that to the machine shop for some work, spent my ENTIRE summer gathering parts to put this together instead of enjoying it, all while making payments on it. Oh yeah, kicker is I cannot register this boat in my name, as I was never given a bill of sale. I am as of this moment getting an estimate to repair the damaged interior, and have been in contact with the NYS better business, and Texas better business, and am in process of obtaining a lawyer to sue the crap out of these idiots. Lucky for me I can't take time off from work to drive there or i'd most likely be spending the remainder of my days on earth in texas state penn. So, buyer beware. I wouldn't buy a spare tire from these people, and intend to spread the word country wide!!

what's this 1 post stuff? I've talked with a few folks on here and bought an engine from a guy in Kentucky on here.. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

So you bought a boat online, without ever laying eyes on it, from a salesman at a used car dealer, from across the country and got screwed? Wow! Who'd a thunk?

I was given approx 30 pics to look at it, and the angles of the pics didn't show any damage. The biggest part i'm being screwed on is their neglagence of not winterizing it. You know, I just posted that as a warning to others. Yes, they are a used car dealership, but also sell ALOT of boats, some pretty high end. Maybe you should read more of what was written before you open your mouth and sound like a dumb a$$?? who'd a thunk huh??

No offense but anytime any auto dealer has a boat for sale more times than not they bought it from the repo auction the same auction that they buy alot cars from. I would bet this boat came from the repo Manhiem auction.

Auto dealers most of them know nothing about boats even the fact they need them winterized - even in Texas. My take on these repo auction boats is this - if the owner could not make his payments for the damn boat he sure in the hell did not spend for any maintenance. Ridin hard put away damn wet.

I live in the Arlington TX area and attend these auctions but only to resell my junkie trade in boats that I do not want to retail. I have really never bought too many boats from the auctions because most have some form a major issue (alot of internal crack blocks that banks hide ) but I am not saying U can not buy a good boat but 75 % of boats running thru the auction I would 100% pass on.

Also many retail car buyers looking to buy a car new or used will trade their boat in against that car - the reason they are so willing to trade their boat is because they knowing have a internal crack block or another form of a major issue. Car dealers do not catch this - oil has been changed to new by the owner. We see this alot. Boat owners in Texas think than can get away with not winterizing. Car dealers never even check the boat out being traded in they get a buy bid from a boat dealer or try to retail it off their lot. My point buyer beware and especially from car dealers who sell a few boats most of them know nothing about boats but think they do.

More people are buying and selling boats these days because the margins are higher than selling cars but no so that much with this economy.

Also I grew up in Upstate NY. Been in the boat business 22 years now - its a tough business to be in. About your boat not being winterized they bought it that way from the bank at the repo manhiem auction but never checked it out or knew / found it after the fact unless they owned it before the winter but we did not freeze in Nov 2010 nor Nov 2009 it all started end of Dec / Jan and Feb. both years. We had the hardest last 2 winters ever so any boaters that did not winterized 4 sure have cracked blocks. Good luck.

I sound like a dumb a$$? My block ain't FROZE! How do you know the motor wasn't froze before they ever shipped?

Bup.. Thanks for the info.. Yes, it was a repo boat, but actually fairly well maintained. Only "owner" damage I see is a skeg guard on it, from damaged skeg, and a small issue with the lower unit not raising as it should, but since that's all apart laying in boxes right now, i'm going to replace the parts needed to make that operate properly. Other than the, the interior is SPOTLESS, as is the cuddy. At least those pics were accurate! Where in upstate are you from? I work on boats with a friend of mine who runs a marina, and he's the one doing the work..

it was run and just serviced prior to my purchasing it. and yes, as a matter of fact.. you do!


Funnier thing.. boat originated from your state..

But what about....


And you know this because "Brian" told you so?

it was freezing in Arkansas in Nov. both years. Also I changed up some wording in my 1st post. Upstate NY where? You can make anything look good on the outside to resell but as you know its the inside that counts. who serviced it and ran before your purchase also alot of times you can not catch a internal crack block by running it on the water hose - it needs to be load tested as in on the lake / water to be brought up to temp and then cooled down and run again because a crack can expand and contract then the issue will show up especially small cracks then of course get larger hense water in the oil.

Do you only read what you feel like?

I said, the 30 or so pictures showed it being spotless. yes, there was water and ice in it upon delivery, pumped right out, other than that, all interior carpet/canvas in the cuddy is as if it were never used. The captains chair was on the floor, and there are tears in the vinyl because whoever packed up the boat for transport, layed the bimini tubing across the seats and it tore the one seat. Other than that, it looks very clean as if not used. You know, there's one in every crowd, and if your sole purpose in life it to bust my balls, then why don't you go outside and play hide and go F%$K yourself?

i've purchased MANY cars/trucks/harley's on line, and have NEVER had an issue. I've also sold numerous cars/trucks on line and have never had an issue. If i'm not mistaken, this board is to post "Beware/stolen", not bust people's stones because they got screwed. If you have something constructive to offer, then so be it. if not, why don't you carry on with your day somewhere else a$$hole?

The boat spent most of it's summer in texas last year at this dealership. It is possible that it could have been frozen prior to my purchase, but I doubt it only because nowhere in the pics was there a freeze out plug laying in the engine compartment, and while in transport, the driver "Lyle" stayed over in northern PA/southern tier of NY where it was way below 0 at that time. so i'm pretty confident that it froze during delivery. It was so damaged that the lifter valley was actually exploded.

I've never sold junk or a polished turd in my life, and honestly i've had really good luck working with online purchases and sales up until this purchase. My whole point of the post is they won't honor their word, or make good on their mistakes.. so I'm with no other options than legal at this point in time.

I'm in upstate NY just west of Albany. Used to live in Auburn, and Syracuse a while ago though..

Ok, I admit, I've been busting your "stones". So sorry for your misfortune. You really need to relax and unwad your panties. I can offer these constructive tips:

DON'T believe everything you see on the internet.
DON'T believe everything a car salesman tells you.
DON'T think that pictures tell everything about an item.
DON'T think just because you tell a story, that everyone will believe you.
DON'T ever think just because you haven't gotten screwed before, that you won't in the future.

Like BUP stated, if a boat goes to auction for repo, the owner probably didn't give a rats a$$ about it to begin with. Thanks for the heads up about this dealer/seller.

Unfortunately, this has soured me on purchasing things on the internet. I've been shopping for a 1970 chevelle 2 door/rag top rolling chassis, or small block car for a while now, and resisted the urge to bid on one last night as i'm sitting on alot of parts to assemble one. 512 big block with steel crank etc, 12 bolt rear end, complete A/C etc, etc, etc.. but now i'm very hessitant to purchase without seeing myself.

as stated earlier, I did have the pleasure of meeting up with another member on here and purchased his shortblock 502 for my boat. Only missing manifolds and head/intake gaskets and I can put her together just in time to hear it run while I winterize it for real this time around..

Gloversville NY boated my whole time on the Great Sacandaga Lake & Lake George man miss the summers but damn the weather always is crap up there no matter what time of the year it is. Left at 22 and lived in Arlington / Ft. Worth TX for almost 30 years now. Good Luck

Surveyors (good ones) are worth the time and money investment.

now that's funny! I grew up on the sacandaga lake.. family had a camp on Griffis road just past the old lasky's marina. Drove truck for Perth lumber while in college, and lived in Johnstown. Used to tear it up at a place called the connection/celler back in the day with alot of bands coming and going.. along with hanging out at the old after dark on occasion.. Currently in town of amsterdam just about 9 miles from the lake.. Was planning on docking this baot at Wally's this summer, but it'll have to wait till next year..

I've bought quite a bit of stuff over the internet, but mostly small things like electronics from known vendors. I am probably over cautious but I just can't bring myself to trust any big ticket item I can't personally put eyes on. That sux that you are just now getting to hear your boat run, right before having to winterize. Here's to a good NEXT summer!

I always find it amusing when somebody buys a boat with never looking at it. Then pays sombody to drag it to their house and then complains about the pile of crap they bought.

But the pictures looked good, belive nothing you here and half of what you see on your next purchase and you will be fine.

shouldn't be that way, but it is.. as I said earlier... the boat looked fantastic in the pics, and the dealer's rating on Ebay is spotless.. so I assumed they were a decent dealership to purchase from. lesson learned.. the hard way! As i also said. i've purchased and sold other vehicles via ebay and the internet. but I make sure whatever I sell is 100% or I don't sell it, and then before I sell it, I drive it/use it to make sure there won't be any issues.. Hopefully the courts will hash it out soon..

+ 1. Sadly, your story is all too familiar when due diligence is lacking on the part of the buyer. Anything can be made to look good in pictures. I've traveled hundreds of miles numerous times to view potential vehicles in person that looked rock star in photos only to turn around and come home empty handed. Best of luck with getting the boat up to par so you can enjoy it.

This does happen way to often. Always make an attempt to see what you are purchasing in person. FOr some reason if you dont want to use a surveyor or cannot travel, there are tons of people on this board from all over and if you put the word out, most likely someone will go look at it for you.

I was looking at buying a 63 impala...guy told me it was solid..went to go see it and upon opening the trunk I noticed there was a pair of shoes in there just like mine! (floor rusted out in the trunk) :)

that had to SUCK! Been kind of browsing for a 62 as my grandmother had a nice red and white one with a 327 in it...

Another unfortunate thing... I wasn't a member here until I started looking for parts to rebuild it.... Once I lost contact with the dealership in april, I decided to do it myself.. gather up all the receipts/estimates and go after this guy...

Many survey people do not dig deep enough on the mechancial side of things like engine / drive (internally). I have never seen a report of them doing a leak down test nor a spark plug veiwer for the true way to examine the spark plugs nor a spark checker most do not even own a scan tool.

Take it to a real boat place and have an unbias pre purchase inspection done and pay for it for the engine / drive side of things.

Case in point I went to look at a boat in MD who had a survey done by a very highly recommended and contracted by a very large shop in Ill. All I can say it is easy to walk around a boat and pull carpet up and write stuff down on a clip board but will say the inspection for stucture damage was very good by him and spot on.

The motor side was very poorly rep. 1st off had auto Holley carbs on it, mech fuel pumps if failed would leak fuel in the bilge area, motor had 2 mis matched spark plug wires, fuel fill hose to the gas tank had one hose clamp not 2 plus loose, middle cyc spark plugs running very rich, one prop shaft bent out of spec, gear oil dark and so on and so on. None of this was in the report. it was reported comp good and motor ran good , pumped water, shifted fine. Big deal on the water hose. Under load a whole diff. story can take place.

Like I said highly sought after surveyor. IMO have a pro certified boat mechanic check out the engine / drive then have it surveyed for the cosmetics and structural part of this. Again most surveyors do not have a lot of tools or the know how to dig deep internally for engines and drives. Some do but most do not.

Sorry to hear about your troubles.

Next time, feel free to use OSO for the powers of good vs. the powers of backlash. Reach out with a thread to members in the local area who would be willing to take a look at a boat or any purchase for you. Hundreds of threads like that over the past 10+ years.

Sorry you had to experience such a transaction.
Careful on the surveyors too. Like was said, some walk around the boat and look and some know a boat bow to transom. Some even advertise that "if your looking for 14 page detailed breakdown of a boat we are not the ones for you", and I took that to heart. ABSOLUTELY I want the 14 page breakdown!

Careful even with a friendly helping pair of eyes. I had an uncle in the boating industry check out a boat for me once because it was in his area. When I looked at it and found obvious in your face issues he just said, I don't know how I missed that. ????????????? It was still my problem.

I flew to look at a boat knowing that I couldn't bring it home even if I bought it. The pics looked superb from the broker. When I got there it looked terrible. I didn't even want to hear the engines. I just got on the plane and went home.

Best of luck in your boating efforts

Thanks everybody......... I'm just hoping that after my interior estimate, i'll be able to optain a lawyer in that area and take them to court. i've already spoken with one, and they're waiting for my estimates to be all added together..

hay bup....im in azle....little boat house,,,,,,where your shop or yu just local seller?

I have 2 shops 121 HWY airport freeway close to downtown Ft. Worth for my showroom / boat sales and my other is located on the east side of lake Benbrook just up the road from the lake for all repairs. We work on about 500 to 800 boats a year not counting winterizations / summerizations. DFW not too much performance boaters left in the area but a crap load of wakeboard boats, bass boats & Pontoons.

funny ive lived here almost all my life an dont recall seeing a shop on 121......dont go to benbrook,,,,to small an to manty stumps...lol....im bout 1 mile from eagle mountain lake om 730,,,stop in sometime an see my 38kv im almost done restorin also have a purty nice 89 villian3 with 454mag that runs 70+

When I make an offer on an out of town boat they are always pending a survey and sea trial before settlement . When looking for a survey guy , I always ask that a mechanical survey be done as well . There have been times that I had to get a mechanic involved to make the additional tests that a boat surveyor wouldn't or couldn't do . Things like checking the drives and engine compression are a must . To me it's like a form of insurance , also gives me peace of mind when getting a third party opinion .

dumbass!!!!!!!!!!!!

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