Originally Posted by ShootinRopes35z

I am going to assume your comment is directed at ME for getting upset because I called vendors who would not call back....So let me clarify just HOW SIMPLE my calls were and what the potential upside was for the vendor when I left a VM.

Vendor #1 - "Hello, I saw that you have a pair of low hour 525's listed for sale. I am looking to upgrade power and would like to know if you have a scan shot of hours/use and if you could handle swapping our my existing power if I brought the boat your way. Please give me a call back I am a cash buyer this week and can drop the boat anytime into the fall/winter. If you are backed up I will buy the power and just need it loaded into a freight carrier."

Vendor #2 - "Hello, I am looking for a B1x Upper drive housing. I saw that you had those previously listed in bulk. Was wondering if you still had any as I would like to purchase 2. Give me a call when you have time."

It goes on and on....

I am not calling and leaving messages like "Hey my boat is sputtering and the engine alarm is going off can you help me fix it?" Its common courtesy and being in the trades myself I can respect that time is money and a mechanic should not be on the phone helping people realize they need to actually drag the boat into a shop. When they are talking on a phone while working on another customers boat - somebody (paying customer) is getting shorted. However, when I call you and come right out with - "I am a buyer, I respect your time, call me later as I want to buy something" - Who wouldn't follow up on that as a business owner? Leads don't come any hotter than that.

Now, as far as BUP (John) he is a one man shop. There is no calling him at a good time and although we hear statements like "He has made thousands of dollars with ECM and fuel system service and he didn't buy a $500 membership" it makes me really consider what this hobby is all about on this particular site. We here things like great hobby....amazing people....incredible forums of knowledge...and yet its boiled down to making money. OSO used to be the THE SOURCE of information for all things performance boating. It clearly has changed its mission and has become more of a commercial advertising machine driven to PAY TO PLAY for the highest paying advertiser. Wow this seems awfully familiar to those poker runs splashed all over the site - "Come one..come all - but make sure you have at least $2k for fees set aside for our two day event and a half milllion dollar boat or we have to park you over there on the commoners dock"

Originally Posted by Knot 4 Me

I’m chuckling at the suggestion we need to gofundme for a membership for a business owner who was also building a new 29 Lavey with a 900 HP custom mill that was going to make the rounds nationwide once completed. C’mon, man!!

Originally Posted by ShootinRopes35z

I consider it payment towards all of the incredible information he supplied over the years.