As a former employee of Surfside 3, reading this thread is very interesting. Many of you will know me, just by me posting this. First of all, anyone who really knows SS3, knows that Trina tends to exxagerate just a little. No one was replaced by $8.00 an employees. The facts are Service Writers are paid an hourly rate + commission. Anyone who works on a commission rate knows, the hourly pay is low, but rest assured they are making ALOTT of money in commissions IF THEY WORK VERY HARD. It is called incentive. They simply "weeded out the yard" and unfortunately, Trina did not fit the "MarineMax family profile". It had nothing to do with the amount of money she made. Having said that, I personally know first hand that in her position (Service writer) it is very hard to please everyone. There are almost countless boats sold through SS3/MMAX every year. The boating season in NY is a short one. As a writer you are responsible not only for the boats in your marina, but those sold around you on Long Island / Chelsea Piers etc...as well. It is very hard to keep up with that sort of volume. MMAX definitely made it hard to do our jobs as writers, which is the reason I am a former employee. This is one of the reasons I chose to leave MMAX.
You should know that it wasn't all bells and whistles when it was owned solely by SS3. That company has always been mis-managed. Hyper fishing and Mintreglia both hit the nail on the head with their statements regarding "incompetent Excecutives" / "Poor Management". Union or not, workers are still following managements guidelines, and if those guidelines are incorrect, in the end, you are going to get a bad final product. In this case it is the Service Department. That is why the service is horrible, and always will be. The same people who ran SS3 service, are in control of the service department on Long Island for MMAX. As long as they are still at the helm, you customers are going to continue to get the same crappy service.
As far as Winter service goes....They have always had a policy in effect that THEY must do all the service to a boat if you winter store with them. They write their work orders in packages so they capitalize on the maximum amount of money they can get out of their customers.
Rendezvous, Raft ups, Marina parties, BBQ's, etc... They have always been a service for SS3 customers first. Meaning, SS3 customers will be invited 1st, and if there is any room left, then they will invite other stores customers. I must say I find it hard to beleive Matthew would say something like "You won't be invited to the rendezvous" because you didn't buy a boat from me. He may have said you won't be first on the list, but I doubt he said you won't be invited at all. Then again, you never know!!!!
Bottom line is MMAX on Long Island will crash and burn. The company is set up to fail. As you know, a publically traded company (HZO) has very public information. We all know what they spent to purchase the SS3 name. That is the key here... It is just the name. I think they are feeling the squeeze of trying to make the lease payment for the property that SS3 sits on, and trying to make back what they spent to buy the name. Unfortunately for you customers, you are feeling it as well. Prices have gone up, policies have slightly changed, services provided have gone down, but management is still the same.
I hope I have shed some light, or a little bit different perspective on this perticular situation.
Oh, 1 final note to Katie.... I am not speaking bad about anyone, and I can tell you are friends, but in all fairness, it is known fact that Trina took alott of time off, and managers ALWAYS locked the door and closed the department at quitting time no matter what. No one was able to stay late. They do not pay overtime. Never did... Never will.
