Sounds like they are on it ..... let us know how it turns out .

JM

Wow...single point CRT....sure would be a pretty showroom...BUT the way CRT has it set up...the flooring cost would tie up lots of cash turning it into a lot of dead capitol. Ya gotta sell lotta used , f&I and snake oil to feed that flooring monster.

I think there is a little faster return on ALL that coin out there that would be sitting in a showroom.
Sounds like Skip is picking and choosing his retail partners very carefully controlling the brand his way

you know what im saying, within guidelines.. does it bother you that phil lip ship and richie zul might not be working together in the future, with cigarette that is.. you have zul engines in your gun, that im sure fall into the acceptable range and guidelines of mercury for warranty... all im saying is why cant we have options...

I would agree, it's not the best idea. I don't know how some dealers survive. It's hard to move boats esp. when Cig's pricing has gone up almost 28% in two years. Those boats are going to sit for sometime. Also, why would you throw out dealers who have been loyal for years??? Confuses the crap out of me

Yeah I know what you mean. It's still up to the customer on what they want to power the boat with. If I break a drive Mercury isn't going to warranty it, but it was my choice to have bigger engines than the 525's. Cigarette can't tell you what power you have to run before you buy a boat. They can tell you that some parts will not fall under the Mercury guidelines for warranty. I agree, it would be nice to have options. There are too many engine builders out there for Mercury to determine who actually can build or can't build an engine that's acceptable. Most can't.

I would guess that this would be Skips way of controlling the Brand to the next level and regrouping. Cig is truly in a niche market and a very fragil market. Market share is tightening up for Cig with the likes of OL / HUSTLER, DONZI , SKATER, FOUNTAIN, ELIMINATOR etc. and there is only so much room on the shelf for the likes. Controlling the premium brand is very important to niche companies. When he limits his dlr body to a few he can squeeze them his way his time clock. Plus it helps retain margin for the guys left selling his stuff- reducing cheap selling....kinda like controlling the market with a monopoly

Point well taken though. I never looked at it that way before!!

What Cig Dealers Are Still Remaining

In Skips regrouping, if he truely wants to stand out you may see Brand Image changes like facility changes to be more in Brand compliance (like Toyota, Jack in the Box, Micky D, Ford) at the stores he has left to sell the new stuff also remarketing the good used cigs as a certified quality product to keep the overall Brand even stronger and adding another income stream to the select (Skip certified) retailers out there. Lip ship is already kinda doing that but under his (LIpship) Brand Moniker. Let see if Ship moves it to the next level to keep his golden children heathly and sell more Cig auth parts and clothing...another income stream he can and will maximize if he is a visionary. Time will tell to see how sharp he is or is he just riding on Don Aronow hard work and his dlrs blood and sweat-Yes thats a challenge to Skip