Impact this Forum has on buying power

[RAGINGBULL]

I have a theory...

In the past outboards were always bought with a few criteria in mind
IE
1) Traditional xxxxxxxx was always good value.
2) So and so says his yyyyyyy outboard never gave him a days dramas.
3) The sales man bags all other outboards, then tells you all his good points about fuel consumption, " (but you never really know because they all tell you there own little rehearsed sales story)"
4) People are duped oops sold into buying a certain type of outboard.

My Example
I would never have Bought a Suzuki in the past

********** BUT ***********

After all the good reports on the fishing forums about the suzuki 4strokes, i am sure to go that way when the time arises
" Halleluya brother " all fello boatmen say AMEN

Back to my theory
1) How much influence does a fishing forum such as this place on a persons purchasing decision.
2) We are hearing from genuine boat owners with genuine stories of fuel consumtion, performance etc etc etc
3) Price and good service is openly spoken about.
4) Bad service, exploitation and ripoff's are viewed with contempt and read by all.....!!!!
5) We as a fishing/boating fraternity are far more em-powered 6) The people that do not know too much can get good advice without it costing them a fortune.

I have never been caught out badly as i always look past the salesman.

My Question
WHAT VALUE CAN WE PLACE ON THIS FORUMS RESOURCES ...??

I have absolutely no commercial interest here and i would love to hear a few opinions, as it is very relevant.

Cheers Mark

[DaMaGe]

I have also learnt alot by reading many stories both good and bad from these forums, I salute Ausfish.

Wonder how much money Ausfish will pay me for that!

On a serious note, there are a few wise posters to these forums and without them, these boards wouldn't be as popular or educational as they have been for myself over the last few years.

[wessel]

Why re-invent the wheel every time. There are others who has been there, has been done in by it and in return stole the t-shirt. or something along similar lines.

Will I ever buy a Suzuki, or will I even look at one as a possible replacement if I were to replace my current donks because of what has been said about them by others on this site? The answer will be no, the comments or opinions of others on this one subject has not made a commercial difference in my opinion or final buying decision.

When it comes to fuel filters though, the comments of others have helped in my decision to replace my old filters with what was recommended by others.

Am I saving up because of the pictures that Col from Fisher boats have placed on this forum - YOU BET YA!!!
Will i ever kiss a fish - NOT ON YOUR LIP!! Just ask Tunaman But that was not what you asked was it

So, in some instances this forum definately made a commercial difference in some of my decisions.

Wessel

[blaze]

when making a large dollar investment I think you should source your info from as many places as you can and then make a judgement on the info you have gained. Forum are just one of the many places you can source that info. So, take only what you need from here and from where ever else then ask the wife
cheers
blaze

[whichway]

HI

Ausfish + Iboats + Hulltruth - Theres a lot of info about outboards, electronicis across these three sites, + maybe a couple of other Australian Sites. Much better than the magazine reviews that generally will not criticize boats and motors.

Problem with buying boats / motors, particularly used, or repowering, is that you can't really take them for a road test under all conditions. Compare to buying a car, where you can drive it on the freeway, up a hill, around a few corners, and you have a good idea of what it will and won't do.

These sites give you a wealth of information, don't believe it all, but you must be in a better position than you would be if you just had to rely on the sales blurb.

Whichway

[PADDLES]

This forum is an awesome pool of information, but like any forum there's also enough mis-information to throw you as well.

All the guys and gals on here are like a little fishing and boating community, it's unreal, there's conflict and in some instances plain old ignorance, but an awful lot of friendly and cheerful help.

At the end of the day people still have to make decisions using information from all sources (like blaze has said) this might be some basic physics and mechanics from your school days (getting harder to remember), it might be from a tiny bit of info soaked up from a rude salesman bagging out someone elses product (usually tune out to these guys), it might be from a bloke you're talking to at the ramp. Add this info to the info found on here and then add a kilogram of common sense and you're armed with everything ya need to make an excellent choice.

[Captain_Starli]

it's like everything, each person has their own personal favourite & will push that barrow regardless. Example..Mercury motors, black anchors, whatever some will bag mercilessly, probably never owned one, but a friend of a friends uncle had heaps of problems, others can't fault them, inc me.
people love or hate cats. lots of horror stories lots more great stories..
unless i know the people involved personally & i was there or i trust them 100% i take it as heresay.

over the years on this board have you all read threads where people have come in with opinions, that are just so much crap that it is laughable, they will argue the point & you laugh as you KNOW what they are saying is crap & people are out there & believing it??

I use information as a guide only & will contact people that have the hands on experience not the 'my mate has one......' poster.

[davo]

Let the good dealer's and their product prosper and the bad one's fall by the way side.

[Kerry]

One has to take a lot of forum comments with caution as in some cases all might not be as it appears.

There is a smattering of fact, a lot of opinions, some is absolute crap and other is well disguised propaganda and nothing more than sales talk.

Many will disagree but then these same people might not want to believe it but there would appear to be an increasing interest by professional writers and with their own agenda in mind. These sites are quite powerfull selling tools in the hands of manipulative posters as $$'s talk and BS walks.

Regards, Kerry.

[ShaneC]

here we go... 8 ounce gloves or 12er's

[Fisher_Boats]

I post my boats on here because it is a Boating Chat forum and I like to show people what we do Don't forget that all my opposition get a good look as well.
I also advertise on the site because I can and without advertising there would be no site.
As far as me doing this to manipulate people into buying my boats that's bs.
If someone sees a boat that I put on here and end up buying one that's my good luck
If you notice, I don't only post things in boat chat either I like to try and join in and help were I can ,but being an advertiser this isn't always easy.
At the end of the day my life is boats and fishing like a lot of other people.

Cheers Col

[Stumpthumpa]

Col,
I guess I can only speak for myself here, but I find your posts very informative, no hard sell and of genuine interest. Please keep them up - the drool factor is great.

Kerry does raise a valid point however, and so there is still a need for people to conduct their own research, not just blindly accept.

[Brissyguy]

I doubt anyone would blindly accept info from a single person as the only reason for choosing a product no matter what the industry.

The posts by some of the advertisers on here showcasing their products is backed up solidly by boat owners that have bought the product and share their experiences with us all.
Isnt that what being part of a community such as this is all about ???

I for one, and I doubt others, would rush out and buy a boat because an advertiser on here posted a pic of it.

However reading posts from owners of that make of boat by regular fishos like myself over an extended period is damn good info.

Keep up the posts advertisers, most of us love what you post.


Cheers,
Rich.

[JasonT]

Col,
If making people aware of a good quality product is manipulation,
then you have my permission to manipulate me all you like!

Personally, I have made decisions based in part on what i have learned from this site, and will continue to do so!

I agree with Kerry insofar as $$ talk and BS walks.....
But only if you're gullible, and/or haven't done your research!
In which case..... you got what you asked for :-)

Have made purchasing mistakes in the past so now I research everything to the Nth degree! It took me 18 months to decide what 4x4 I would buy next. Once decided it took me a week to find one and pay for it!

Do the research - you won't regret it!


JT

[PinHead]

I was a member on here before I bought my boat and I bought what suited us...nothing on here made any difference. I think that when the time to purchase comes then each individual makes up his own mind. If you bought a boat to please somehwere on here then you are definitely buying thw wrong boat. Boats are like cars..everyone wants something different to someone else...each has a different budget and requirements for their purchase.