Just say no to American Marine Liquidators near Charlotte North Carolina and Lake Norman.
When we purchased our boat, we were told by Randy Salter and the American Marine Liquidator mechanic, that our boat had been inspected, test driven and they had completed an oil change. Within one use, we noted oil in the engine compartment. Boat repairs at a reputable repair marina were over $2500 and all repair items had visible indicators of issues if an inspection or test drive had been completed by this dealer.
1) Oil Leaks (front & rear): Incorrect placement and seal of long block. Visible indicator: Leak visible in idle and low speed; Over 1 quart of oil in engine compartment after running for 1 hour
2) Melted Cable Linkage (throttle): Boat would not and did not consistently go in to either reverse or neutral when driven.
3) Cracked Exhaust Manifold: Visible indicator was water in spark plugs.
4) Radio not working: No power or output to any speakers for radio
5) Damaged coupler between out drive and motor: Visible indicator was engine bounced up and down when running
When this dealer was contacted, we were advised they were not responsible for any of the above items. American Marine Liquidators in Denver North Carolina (near Charlotte and Lake Norman) will not stand behind their products or offer good customer service. Choose a different boat dealer if you expect a quality product and service experience.
Jerry
Fort Mill,#2Consumer Comment
Mon, August 22, 2016
we won a judgement against them which was never paid. They left Fort Mill, SC to avoid prosecution.
Anyone who believes this company to be reputable is very badly informed. They left a huge wake of damage here in Fort Mill, SC and surrounding area.
Angela Salter
Denver,#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, October 14, 2015
Clarification, The driver only knew to go to this marina and ask to take pictures of a 1999 MARIAH and nothing else. I dont know what your mechanic said to him!
#4Author of original report
Wed, October 14, 2015
Thank you to the owner for providing some critical clarification in writing....
1) So a friend/customer of the you, the business owner, was provided our confidential information, including our boat purchase details and names, then provided the location and name of the repair shop where out boat was being repaired? Then the friend/customer, armed with this confidential information, was sent to the shop to take pictures of our boat at your request?
CONSUMERS: Please note your personal details may not be safe with the vendor.
2) If you use the Google maps street image, it will show that the repair shop is fenced with a door entry and requires engagement with their personnel, in this case the owner of the shop, to enter. Our boat was in the shop, along with damaged parts on the ground, and therefore was not accessible without speaking with the repair shop owner. All of which the repair shop owner has attested as part of his detailed description of their visit on 9/2 to his shop, including that this friend/customer represented themselves as an employee of American Marine Liquidators to gain entrance.
So thank you for providing written confirmation that you, the business owner, shared personally identifiable and confidential information with a non-employee, and that you do, in fact, have photos showing the damaged engine parts and no damage to the boat itself (as you suggested we may have run the boat aground to cause this damage).
CLARIFICATION FOR CONSUMERS: Below are easy ways for you to do your due diligence, which we did too late:
Google Search: Case Records South Carolina (SC) Judicial Department - York County
Use Search Parameters:
Business Name = American Marine Liquidators
Business Name = Carolina Boat (former company owned by same owners in SC)
Last Name = Salter (Randolph or Randy)
You can also search at a STATE level US District Court, District of South Carolina for the below:
Plaintiff v. American Marine Liquidators Inc
Cause: 15:1692 Fair Debt Collection Act
Angela Salter
Denver,#5REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, October 14, 2015
How many times are you going to allow ALLISON and SHAWN LAWRENCE to lie and slander our names without any proof.
We got the 99 Mariah a 16 yr old boat ready for them to pick up on 7/24/15. We test drove for ONE HOUR and the boat did not have any issues! They arrived at our dealership and REFUSED to take a TEST RIDE, as we give to all our customers.
They purchased a 99 Mariah a 16 Year old boat on 7/24 and didnt call us until 8/19/15 and they want to say NOW that they used the boat once and noticed issues why didnt they call us immediately? Boats that are over 15 yrs old can create issues without any warning BUT we have not been given an opportunity to examine the boat. Then NO I am not going to trust them or their laundy list from another mechanic.
There total lies We did not send a mechanic to there repair shop for pictures nor did we talk to there mechanic. We sent a friend/customer of our business to there shop to take pictures only he didnt speak with anyone. He has no interest in this boat or ALLISON and SHAWN LAWRENCE.
We sell 200 boats a year and have repeat customers for past 20 years. We take care of all our customers needs. We are very reputable and honest people. We continue to have a A+ Rating with the BBB Becasue we are honest and reputable.
These customers Alison and Shawn Lawrence are professionals with social websites and trying to destroying peoples business reputations they dont like on the internet and brag about it.
#6Author of original report
Mon, October 05, 2015
This report is about a dealer accepting responsibility, but learning their current actions and their previous reputation suggests that is not something they are willing to do. For that reason, this is fair warning to other consumers.
American Marine Liquidators stated the used boat had been inspected and test driven prior to our purchase. Within one use we noted low oil pressure, 1+ quarts of oil in the engine compartment, radio and gauges did not work and the throttle ‘stuck’ going in to reverse. Upon taking to a reputable repair shop, we paid over $2,500 in repairs, all of which were issues that had clear, visible indicators during our first run in the boat.
American Marine Liquidator’s response to our request for help in repairs was to suggest we return the boat to them and trust them to repair. However, we cited the same mechanics that did not disclose these significant engine issues and/or did not inspect the boat were not a viable option to us to ensure accurate repairs.
Their next response was to send an employee to where our boat was being repaired to take pictures and make false/slanderous statements to the owner of the repair shop. We were contacted by the owner of the repair shop and advised that this employee stated they did not inspect the boat or do maintenance to it. However, they did test drive it. The repair shop owner, with 20+ years of experience, stated that if the boat has been on the water for 2 minutes, they would have felt and seen indicators of the significant level of engine damage (see list of issues below).
The last response from American Marine Liquidators was to suggest that we damaged the boat ourselves by running it aground, even though they had photos which did not show any damage to the boat of that nature (from the repair shop).
Upon further investigation, we noted several small claims cases in South Carolina in favor of various plaintiffs against the owner, Randy Salter, under another business name. In summary, we wish we had done further diligence on public website reviews and public court records prior to purchasing from Randy or Randolph Salter and Angela Salter. American Marine Liquidators does not feel they are responsible – we do not feel they are reputable. Search elsewhere for your boat purchase near Charlotte and Lake Norman North Carolina.
Issue/Repair List:
-Oil Leaks visible at idle/low speeds; 1+ quart of oil in engine compartment after running 1 hr
-Melted Cable Linkage (throttle): Boat would not consistently go in reverse or neutral
-Cracked Exhaust Manifold: Water in spark plugs.
-Radio had no power output.
-Damaged coupler between out drive and motor: Engine bounced up and down when running
Angela Salter
Denver,#7REBUTTAL Owner of company
Thu, September 10, 2015
Date 9/8/15
First, we sell a product that is USED BOATS, we sell the boat as is with NO WARRANTY.
On 7/24/15 these customers, Allison and Shawn Lawrence, arived at our dealership to purchase this 1999 Mariah (16 year old boat). As we do with all our customers we were ready to take Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence for a test ride BUT they insisted on returning to their lake and Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence refused the sea trail on the boat.
On 8/19/15 Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence, the customers contacted us with repair issues, Mr. Shawn Lawrence said the boat had an oil leak and needed $700.00 in repairs he also stated the radio didn’t work. At that time we told him WE would handle any repairs the boat required and would replace the radio at our cost at our shop at no expense to them! The customer then stated that he was 4 hours away (in reality he was actually only 60 miles) and Mr. Shawn Lawrence wanted the repairs handled at another shop. I explained to Mr. Shawn Lawrence that is not how we handle repairs that he needed to bring his boat to our service department for we cannot examine and determine the issues without having the boat. To keep the customer happy I agreed to mail him a radio and help with the $700.00 of repairs. He then bragged about how he and his wife, Allison Lawrence, are great with social websites and destroying people’s business reputations they don’t like on the internet.
On that same day another dealer in the area called to tell me Mr. Shawn and Allison Lawrence had already been posting UNTRUE crap on several different websites all over the internet about me personally and my dealership. This was before they even contacted me.
The next time we were contacted was on 9/1/15 we received an email from Alison and Shawn Lawrence saying they took the boat to another mechanic that gave them a laundry list of things HE (the other mechanic) and Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence wanted to be done and changed on the boat. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence demanded that we pay them $1580.00 plus send them a radio. Again we have no idea what is really wrong with the boat we weren’t given the opportunity to examine the boat.
My position is that the damage has already been done to our company with their lies and slanderous comments all over the internet prior to them even picking up the phone or bring the boat back to my dealership for any repairs required!
We have contacted our attorney and have been advised not to have any further communication with Shawn and Allison Lawrence.
Angela Salter
American Marine Liquidators