Adventure Yachts brokerage experience

[ipasgas1]

They are still open, they are in Pompano Beach Florida...

[Bulawayo]

Originally Posted by ipasgas1

They are still open, they are in Pompano Beach Florida...

Its also a name that shall be added to my dubious list........
Thankfully, my positive list is many times longer.

[cards26]

Oh, I see, he must have moved at some point or closed the other location. google said that it was closed, but i guess were referring to the old location only. sorry about that.

[Jerryreliable]

I just joined this forum to reply to your post. I searched the Internet for problem with Adventure Yachts, and your post came up. The reason I searched, is that I am having basically the same experience as you with this less than on the up and up Cris Castles, at Adventure Yachts. Within the last year, I listed my boat with Frank Gordon, a most reputable yacht broker, who I have known for over forty(40) years. Within a short time, I was contacted by Cris Castles, who stated he had a buyer for my yacht. I told him it was listed with Frank, and that I would sign a one time listing agreement for his showing with his customer, and even sent him photos and information. Next thing I knew, he posted my yacht on YachtWorld, as his listing. I at first ignored it, and notified Frank Gordon, who said the double listing was not ethical. Thereafter, I reduced the price with Frank Gordon, and had various solicitations from Cris Castles, wanting to reduce the price, but never having a customer. When I received yet another email to suggest reducing the price, I contacted Cris Castles to remove my boat from his listings. Although I had never agreed to anything but a one time showing agreement, Cris Castles said he required 30 days written notice to remove the vessel. I asked him on the phone if that request could be an email, and he said yes. I sent that email on August 19, 2016. Five days ago, Pier One Imports contacted Cris Castles about "his" listing, to show the yacht. We had that showing, and thereafter the interested parties submitted a written offer, for more than the boat is presently listed for with Frank Gordon, but, I never to this moment have gotten a copy of the offer. Chis Castles called me on the telephone when I was in Home Depot, said he had an offer for $125,000, and said he would email or fax me the offer. He never did, and after calls and emails to him, I called the broker at Pier One Yacht Sales, Gary Butler. Gary Butler stated that they were having problems with him too, and both Gary Butler and Frank Gordon were upset, as was I. So, not having anything from Cris Castles written about the offer, and still wanting to have my vessel removed from his website, but not getting any cooperation from him, I sent his business a reply form answer to the ad for my boat, and that prompted Cris Castles to call me. I was speaking about why he wouldn't remove my vessel from his site and YachtWorld, and he said that he did not remove it because I didn't use the word "cancellation" in the right place in my request. Well, my request was written, and it was clear, and it was preceded by a verbal request, and it was over thirty days ago. According to the other yacht brokers, it was valid. Of course it was.
CRis Castles next said, that if I would send him an email stating that the customers brought forward by Pier One Yacht Sales were his customers, that he would then remove my vessel from his listings. HE said he would send me the written offer, now five days old, by email. He has not sent that offer to this moment. Sure, I'd like to sell my boat and since it is listed with Frank Gordon, for $119,000, getting it sold for $125,000 is not a bad price. Next, I called Gary Butler at Pier One Yacht Sales, and he said that he was fully aware of what was going on, and said that Pier One had filed a complaint with the State about this problem, and apologized for this problem. Now, I read below that some folks do not believe you, and that is their problem. You placed this post, just like I responded to it, because you are a handshake give your word kind of person, who has been exploited by a businessman lower class. I am a lifelong Florida boater, the former owner of two different marinas, and continuously in the marine business since 1972. I was instrumental in getting HMY Yacht Sales in business, when the owner was a salesman for Intracoastal Yacht Sales. I am 70 years old. I am mentioning this because, while I have heard of the type of practice you, and I have been subjected to, in all these years, I have never been on the receiving line. I can assure you that in finding myself in this situation, I am the most formidable adversary. Not because I have lost a dime, or a sale, but because the person I trusted with his word, was not trustworthy.

Originally Posted by ipasgas1

I wanted to share my recent experience with Cris Castles, owner of Adventure Yachts inPompano Beach Florida. I was contacted by a broker saying he had several buyers who would be interested in my boat. I told him I had a couple folks interested and had it advertised on ebay and was going to continue trying to sell it on my own as well. He said if I sold it myself, it was no problem and sent me a contract. I signed the contract assuming that he would be good to our verbal agreement as well. That was in February. I heard from him only a couple of times in five months with one being a low ball offer of a little over 50% of the asking price. I continued to advertise it myself on ebay. I found a buyer through that forum and notified the broker that the boat was sold. He now says he is due a $5000 commission as our contract was exclusive. I am already in the hole over $7500 on the boat sale and now he wants $5000 when I'm the one who sold it? I have emailed him numerous times regarding our verbal agreement that I could sell the boat on my own and he has not once acknowledged or denied making the agreement, only that he wants paid commission. He "graciously" (his word) discounted it to $2500 if I paid it by the end of this week. Otherwise he was going to file legal action against me and he let me know that he had recently done the same to another client and had won the commission and more. I was advised that even if I fought the suit, it would cost more in time, money, and effort than the $2500 so I had to pay him. When I paid him, I let him know I would be sharing my experience and he responded with the threat of a lawsuit if I falsely defamed him. I share this so others do not make the same mistake as I. While it is human nature to see good in all and want to trust them, be careful...you make regret it later.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Jerry.

[ipasgas1]

Jerry,
I am sorry to hear of your troubles. Hopefully, it does validate my experience with some of the folks on here. If not, so be it. My whole intent was to prevent at least one person from having the same experience and hopefully, I have done so. I also hope it hasn't cost you a sale...or commission he feels due him as in my case. Good luck and let me know how it turns out...

[Jerryreliable]

Thanks, and I sure will keep you posted. I had a call from the buyer direct, today, and I suggested he go through the brokerage he originally used, which contacted Adventure Yachts. I also filed a complaint with Ms. Rodriguez at Florida State Licensing enforcement. I intend to post on CL also, and keep it on there. The way he contacted me, and what he said, was so similar to your situation. With me, it's just about the principle, doing the right thing. Good to hear from you.

[ErikFinn]

Originally Posted by Jerryreliable

Thanks, and I sure will keep you posted. I had a call from the buyer direct, today, and I suggested he go through the brokerage he originally used, which contacted Adventure Yachts. I also filed a complaint with Ms. Rodriguez at Florida State Licensing enforcement. I intend to post on CL also, and keep it on there. The way he contacted me, and what he said, was so similar to your situation. With me, it's just about the principle, doing the right thing. Good to hear from you.

" The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

After some ridiculing posts, teeth sucking and selfish unsocial attitudes here I am delighted to learn that a good man stepped forward. Thank you Jerry. You are a Good Man.

[Jerryreliable]

Thank You. The latest is that last Thursday, I called the Florida Yacht Brokers Assocaition, and left a message. They called back today, and were quite upset to hear of the problem, but are able to do nothing, because Adventure Yachts is not a member of their organization.

The broker who showed the boat is still hoping to put something together, but has been warned by Adventure Yachts that they will sue him and the purchaser if they do not receive the commission they want. They claim to have an "open" listing, which type of listing does not entitle them to list the boat on YachtWorld, or to collect a commission for a vessel they do not have centrally, or exclusively listed.

The prospective buyers are disappointed, and not wanting to pursue the purchase in the light of a threat of suit.

[Capt Phil]

This is precisely the type of situation that gives all boat brokers a bad name and until they clean up their own nest, folks will continue to advertise themselves, refuse to sign sales contracts and sell their vessels on their own.
Unfortunately, the honest and principled brokers are tarred with the same brush and will suffer business losses until either the State or their organizations take it upon themselves to clean house! Phil