Why is MC not the market leader?

[bturner2]

Exactly. Is Ferrari a market leader? Aston Martin? Bugatti? Depends on criteria and the local market.

The BU dealer by me is a selling machine. I'm sure they're outselling MC 2:1. My dealer has great service compared to the BU dealer but the BU dealer does a much better job in price and marketing IMO. In the past they've sponsored more skiers held more events and one of the owner's wife was/is a national recognized tournament skier. That relationship broke up this last year and I've already heard rumblings from some of their long time customers about leaving the fold. Should be interesting if the remaining owner can hold things together or if he'll screw it up. Most are expecting the later as his relationship with the skiing community comes apart.

[soacj]

one of the owner's wife

Must be in Utah

I'm much more interested in MC's (imo well deserved) reputation than their market share.

[FourFourty]

Go to a boat show, and ask around outside the MasterCraft booth what people think of MC. You'll see why they aren't the market leader pretty quick.

Elaborate.....



As for the answer to Bama's question- It is terribly simple. MC was the market leader, until Malibu started a whole new boat company, with all different designed boats, with a completely different sales demographic.... And then tacked those sales numbers onto Malibu.

Axis is your answer. Plain and simple. Axis is over 35% of Malibu sales now, and are dragging sales away from Moomba, MB, Tige, etc. Those are the mfg that have seen a hit from Malibu in recent years. Not really MC or CC. They have been maintaining the same relative level of Market share.

I am sure surfgate gave A little bump in sales for Malibu in its introduction year as well, but not a significant impact.

The intro of Axis was brilliant. It is not a Malibu, and everyone knows that. However, it is manufactured by Malibu, and everyone knows that. For the average person who needs to be 50-60k deep on a new boat, and not a penny more...... I am buying Axis......because "almost Malibu".

[H2ORidr]

Why do more people shop a Walmart vs Nordstrom? Nordstrom has far better customer service and quality is much better. It always comes down to price or perceived price. I work for a company that sells the best products for a good price. We see competitors sell junk for cheaper or even similar prices, yet customers still go with the cheaper stuff. Better sales people, cost, perception, any number of things drive their purchase and price is one of the bigger factors. It can be $0.02 cheaper, and that is enough to swing the purchase to a competitor.

Fortunately we have a new class of products that our competitor's cannot touch with a ten foot pole. We are taking business from them left and right (all of them foreign competitors) and it feels good. And it is 100% made in the USA in Minnesota.

Here is a shameless plug:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W3CdwGR0NY

[Snipe]

Simple question.... The quality of the MC is leaps better and the dealers that I have met have all been excellent. MC has more features, better ride, more selection. Everyone knows MC name and heritage, why are they not the market leader?

Simple...you get what you pay for. How many Caddies on the road vs Fords , Chevys??? Compare quality. I did and HAD to move on to MC.

[mikeg205]

Simple question.... The quality of the MC is leaps better and the dealers that I have met have all been excellent. MC has more features, better ride, more selection. Everyone knows MC name and heritage, why are they not the market leader?

Okay - what do you mean by market leader? Most units sold? Highest quality brand?

[AlbertaSurfer]

FourFourty Elaborate.....

Well. MasterCraft carries a very widespread stigma of being overpriced and over the top. Meandering around the boat show in Edmonton this year, it didn't take long to find the common theme. Sitting in the Moomba, directly across from the MC booth, the comment of,"or you could go over there and spend too much", could be heard frequently. Same dealer by the way, for SC and MC. The Centurion booth scoffed at the MC line. The Nautique/Malibu guy happily advertised himself as the quality decision.

Are they right? I suppose that's in the eye of the consumer. But it definitely doesn't help sales when more affordable boats advertise themselves as having "everything you need, and nothing you don't" when the boats are side by side. There's merit in that statement too. Billet aluminum is expensive, cameras in the tower playable on the dash screen are not necessary, $10,000 towers add to the overall cost where $3000 towers help out. Definitely, you get what you pay for, but I can see where consumers can be swayed.

[mikeg205]

[QUOTE=AlbertaSurfer;1032709]

Elaborate.....

Well. MasterCraft carries a very widespread stigma of being overpriced and over the top. Meandering around the boat show in Edmonton this year, it didn't take long to find the common theme. Sitting in the Moomba, directly across from the MC booth, the comment of,"or you could go over there and spend too much", could be heard frequently. Same dealer by the way, for SC and MC. The Centurion booth scoffed at the MC line. The Nautique/Malibu guy happily advertised himself as the quality decision.

Are they right? I suppose that's in the eye of the consumer. But it definitely doesn't help sales when more affordable boats advertise themselves as having "everything you need, and nothing you don't" when the boats are side by side. There's merit in that statement too. Billet aluminum is expensive, cameras in the tower playable on the dash screen are not necessary, $10,000 towers add to the overall cost where $3000 towers help out. Definitely, you get what you pay for, but I can see where consumers can be swayed.

not everyone drives a Lambo either -- just sayin'

[AlbertaSurfer]

No, I get that, I'm just offering opinion on the OP's question.

I'm not claiming the other dealers are right, but I don't see MC as a Lambo either.

[scott023]

If the OP is referring to pure sales numbers for determining market leader, the answer is simple: price.

[Rossterman]

Market leaders typically share a few common traits:

1. Knows the customer market and what they desire
2. Provides the most value for the money relative to peers
3. Respected for integrity and the reliability of their products

If that doesn't work, have a huge advertising budget instead!

[mikeg205]

No, I get that, I'm just offering opinion on the OP's question.

I'm not claiming the other dealers are right, but I don't see MC as a Lambo either.

was just adding to your comment. Interesting comments - The Super Air's are not any cheaper. Moomba's aren't bad, Supra's are nice.. but for some reason the MC owners who are on this board are much more enthusiastic then the other boards - even EastTX stayed on this board -my MC is 19 years old - I see more vintage MC's than other boats on my waterways.. from that standpoint I see them as a leader.

From a price feature standpoint - the top three are all pricey. There are many Tahoe's sold and a fully tricked out Q7i comes in a about $47K - Hence the NXT right?

friend picked up a new 2013 Wakesetter 23 LSV for $80K - that would be hard to pass up if you were in the market for a new boat. I'd be hard pressed to spend another $30 even $50K - lol if I was ever able to do so

[mikeg205]

Market leaders typically share a few common traits:

1. Knows the customer market and what they desire
2. Provides the most value for the money relative to peers
3. Respected for integrity and the reliability of their products

If that doesn't work, have a huge advertising budget instead!

..................

[Nick911]

I for one enjoy the fact that there are less MC's around. I'd rather be exclusive than inclusive. My boating lake there are at least 15-20 new Tige's and Malibu's for every new MC or Nautique. I'd prefer to be unique than just another RZ2.

[scott023]

I for one enjoy the fact that there are less MC's around. I'd rather be exclusive than inclusive. My boating lake there are at least 15-20 new Tige's and Malibu's for every new MC or Nautique. I'd prefer to be unique than just another RZ2.

I'm with you Nick. Uniqueness has value, in my mind.