My partner owns a Ranger 522, the biggest and most expensive made. He has had several issues with getting warranty work done, and we just assumed it was the dealer being an a*s not Ranger itself. Now I'm not so sure.
A few months ago I decided I was going to buy a Ranger. I went to the same dealer in question. Now from my friends dealing I knew I would not buy from them, I was just looking and planned to go elsewhere and buy cause of the problems my partner had had with them. I asked about some flyer's I had seen at a local tournament several times. Yes the man went Postal as others have described. Did I get an explanation? No. I asked a second time and the man started demanding I.D. And questioning who was I and was I the police. Like some drug deal gone bad. I was then ordered to leave or the dealer would call the police on me!
I was Dumbfounded. Here is a person about to buy a $64,000.00 boat and that is the response when a single question is asked. The asking if I was some sort of undercover cop leads me to truly believe what the dealers have been doing is illegal.
I drove to a neighboring city and was going to purchase a Ranger from a different dealer, after a few minutes of looking around I spoke to a salesman named Glen, nice and polite, we went over all the details I wanted and what options I wanted. I told him I was ready to buy and we sat in his office and started the paper process. I asked Glen about the flyer's as well. He became very stoic and inquired as to why I wanted to know, I related the issue I had just had with the other dealer. Glen excused himself and left the office, I continued to look through brochures and color options when Glen returned with a manager and 6 other employee's.
The manager stated they DID not, and COULD not sell a boat to anyone who asked, or has read the flyer's I mentioned. Again I was asked for I.D. And If I was in State or Federal Law enforcement, and asked to leave.
Dumbfounded does not even begin to cover it now.
Now my partners issue is related and here is how, I went home and he came over and we discussed it, Even with all the warranty issues he had, He still could not believe it. So we drove to the original Dealer of which he is a customer. I waited in the truck and he went in to ask the manager, who he knows from his own purchase what the issue was. After maybe less than 10 minutes inside I saw a police cruiser pull in. The cop got out walked inside, a minute later a second pulls in, go's inside. About 5 minutes later the officer exit with my partner, My partner has a strange look on his face and the cops are laughing and shaking their heads.
Long story short, they refused to explain to him either, while discussing it with the manager someone called the police. The cops claimed they have had to show up there several times a month about the same issue. One of the cops even had a copy of the flyer in question in his cruiser. Now as they were exiting the dealership the manger told my friend the had to return his boat! What?
We both ignored that comment as well. Less than 48 hours later the sheriffs show up at his house and seize the boat under a writ. Why? Apparently the Dealership had signed the loan papers as a co signer, AFTER my partner had already completed the papers and received his copies, of which no cosigner is shown. We both placed several phone calls to Ranger in Flippin Arkansas. I was hung up on 4 times and even laughed at by a Tim then hung up on. My partner was told not to call again as it was a legal matter in court and they could not speak on it. And yes he was hung up on as well 11 times. Why would Ranger allow this, and why would Ranger not at least discuss it. Strange? Yes. Illegal? Yes. Clear Psychotic behavior? Yes.
At the court date to appear we both went and my friend showed the Judge his papers and the boat was ordered returned. It was clear that is not the first time, because the Judge never even really looked at the papers. My friend instructed the judge he want his money back not the boat, and all interest paid. On the ground s the papers are not genuine, The judge agreed. As of today 4 days later still no check, but they have 10 days to pay. We'll see.
So I will never buy a Ranger product, If Genmar is the parent co. I will never buy anything they sell. To be honest I have never heard of Genmar till I started reading all the complaints and down right horror stories on line.
Ranger is for sure crooks and criminals, the mere asking if your a cop before you buy is just mind boggling. Why else would they ask if they weren't crooks. Maybe it is all these illegally resold boats and defective boats, they want to make sure no one with authority gets one. A C.Y.A. Move? Stay as far away from Ranger as humanly possible.
Bauer
Atlanta, Georgia
U.S.A.