Hello All;

Wonder where Frank went? Met him once in Offshore Performance showroom...nice guy.
I had email sent to Frank returned today by fellow named Hugh in sales..also very helpful,and eager to please.

Yes...Sonic home office is reeaaall hard to communicate with.
Thats just the labor base in S. FL. so what can you do? Make English a required course/qualification for job for one thing, and hire consultant to train.
Call about a technical question and get the gift shop girl.
Regards...
Harpoon

Hugh at offshore performance.... I've met with hugh on several different occasions over the past year to demo the 31 and 35... He's a really great guy!!! No pressure sales antic.s.. eager to get us out on demos and assure our understanding of the boats.... No follow up sales calls.... answers our emails and calls.... Haven't put a deal together with him yet, but will call him when we're ready. I was also very impressed with their service department at offshore performance..... I ran into several people that bring their boats from hundreds of miles away to have it serviced there....

Yes....I am one that had mine picked up fom NC and taken in to MD for service. They will put it back where you want it as well...States away.
Pays to take em to someone that knows.

The best people at Sonic to speak to are Marc & Linda...... just dial the option for parts and they answer. They were very helpful to me and speak English as a first lanquage!!

Everyone needs to get the owner of Sonic to explain what's up without Jay around. I've ordred a 2000 42' and a 2002 45' from them (Jay). Still no answer about Jay being gone. I'm done with them and going to buy a 36' Spectre!

Byron,,,What kind of answer are you looking for?? Richard is looking to take the company, which he owns by the way, to the next level. I am also sure he is busy with the day to day operstions of the company as well as getting ready for the Miami show. For christ sake did you stop using Microsoft products when they changed the CEO?

I certainly hope Richard is paying attention to the boats on the production line, increasing his dealer network, promotions, and the general busines of running HIS business. And NOT spending hours on the phone with "everyone" explaining personnell decisions.

Richard is an excellant business man, a gentle man and more importantly passionate about the boating industry and the Sonic product line.

Lastly, I am sure Richard will have time set aside at the Miami show to talk about the changes and the direction the company will be taking. It may even be evident in the display!!! Guess you'll just have to stay tuned!!

Jay's a great guy but don't you think you are jumping the gun just a bit?

Catagory5....You may be right, some people jumping to conclusions....but I have talked with Byron (we met at the Cumberland Poker Run) when he had the 45.....if I remember it had triple 575's and all the bell and whistles. Byron really carried the flag for Sonic. The boat was featured in Poker Runs America magazine and others I am sure.

Now...you say Richard is a good business man.....here is a guy (Byron) who has spent seriously big bucks with you and is out there showing everyone what your product can do and you don't call him back...........I don't know......I don't think that is good business.

Just my .02

I don't know many (if any) companys with annual sales in the $ 20 to $ 30 million dollar range that you can get the owner on the phone simply to chastize him for his personel decisions.

Just my $ .02

Steve

H2o warrior and Cat 5 I believe you're both right ,Ive Known Jay for years now and have bought 3 boats from sonic (Jay) Ive seen first hand the current Quality of the boats, is still as exceptional as it was years ago . Richard is a good person and business man and right now has alot on his plate, sometimes a business has to take a few steps back before it can take steps forward. Richard is trying to bring a new enthusiasm to Sonic which some know company-wise was missing .
Right now my 45 is being painted there and getting new interior , I have no problem in dealing with them whatsoever.
My .02

Guys, as a newbie to Sonic I don't know all the particulars, but it seems that Jay (who built my boat) had a hard time with the business end of the BOAT business.
Otherwise the company would not have been sold, it would still be his.
I don't know how many of you own businesses, but if you do then you know you cannot personally answer EVERY phone call that comes in, and if the wrong person answers the phone it can reflect badly on your company as a whole. I do agree a repeat customer should get a call in a day or two at the outside, even if it's from a PR person. I have enough trouble with 4 employees, I can't imagine a boat factory full.
Then there is the personality issue to deal with, maybe the two just did not get along, I'm not saying either guy is a bad guy, sometimes try as we might things don't go well between two people(any divorced people here?).
If I fired someone from MY (no shareholders) business and a customer called to ***** me out I'd tell them to pound sand (in a nice way of course). When they started to write the paychecks they could make the decisions.
Lets face it Sonic still builds a great boat, although they are not well known in my area, maybe with fresh blood this will change, and people will stop stop saying "oh you have a Cigarette boat" AHHHHHHHH NO it's a Sonic!
It was nice having someone who could talk to us about our older boats, but have you tried talking to any other manufacturers about thier old products? I'm not saying it's right but try talking to Harley about a 79 FXE, or Chrysler about a 68 Charger, or how about Mercury Racing about your 87 efi motors,geez there only 16 years old, Merc told me they threw away the blueprints and specs for the motors and noone could help,when it comes to old stuff you are on your own you've got to dig and ask, that's what makes it a challenge to put old things back together, and to me anyway the it makes the ride/drive that much sweeter .
No flames, just my .02
PS Blown Formula how's the rebuild coming?