Ocean Kayak

As a kayak retailer and follower of the kayak industry for over ten years now, I'd have to say that guy tried to sell you a steaming pile of BS.OK produces quality boats that have integrated quite a bit of feedback from kayak fishermen in their design.I have the choice of buying pretty much any kayak at below wholesale (pro deal) and I chose an OK T-13 for my personal boat.I am very pleased with the overall quality and performance.OK boats are also the bread and butter of our rental fleet and their quality and durability is unmatched.Consider the source of your information carefully folks.

K produces quality boats that have integrated quite a bit of feedback from kayak fishermen in their design.

Agreed--that's why my primary boats are a P-15 and T-15 and if I get another it will be a T-13. OK listened and made a great line of fishing boats. Spear fishers and ab divers might prefer Cobras for good reasons. I am looking forward to seeing how the sonar shield and rod pod ideas evolve--It would be nice to see the rod pod better sealed--like the t-lock on the Cobra hatches

There was an OK rep in town last weekend that was supposed to bring a trailer full of used kayaks "many angler editions" I was told.  I called the place where they were going to be and asked if he had t-13's - I was told yeah come by.  So I spent my $20 in gas to go find out the one t-13 was sold the night before.  he had 2 prowlers, 2 scramblers, a lot of capers, a pink venus 10, yak boards and other stuff i wasn't remotely interested in.

Most were in decent shape - i wouldn't put any except the pink venus in excellent condition(go figure).  He wanted $550 for the prowler... $600 with a cheap seat.  I was kinda thinking $450-500 cash w/o seat or paddle for a used t-13 would be a good offer to the mfr ... these yaks had obviously been rented and generated income for somebody along the way.

Ive seen mfrs in my business making offers that are insanely low as small retailers like myself have let inventories dwindle down.  As the saying goes, buy when there is blood on the streets.  I was expecting some drop dead blowout prices as the season is coming to an end ... that was not the case.  

Regardless of economic conditions and layoffs, i would not expect a company like OK to sell anything that would pose a potential risk to somebody otw.

I'm probably the smallest retailer on this site from one of the poorest demographic areas but that doesn't stop me from aggressively pushing my Malibu brand over all other boats. That's our job as salesman, however giving someone a line of BS and putting them in a boat that they haven't sea-trialled  is a cardinal sin in my book. I'm surrounded by big outdoor retail shops selling all the top name brands but I've worked at other shops selling all those lines too. I've seen that no company big or small is immune to quality control issues or occasional bad service. It the small dealers like ourselves that for 1) have to use and believe in the products we sell 2) Stand behind those products come hell or highwater even if it means a loss to us. To me there's a difference in having someone as a customer and having someone as a client. A client entails sort of a life long commitment to the development of them as a kayaker and friend/supporter. I beam with pride when I see Abking and fishinmike and many others on this board posting reports with pics of boats I put them in. It reaffirms to me that the end product is quality fishing experience not a bottom line sales index.

'm probably the smallest retailer on this site from one of the poorest demographic areas but that doesn't stop me from aggressively pushing my Malibu brand over all other boats. That's our job as salesman, however giving someone a line of BS and putting them in a boat that they haven't sea-trialled  is a cardinal sin in my book. I'm surrounded by big outdoor retail shops selling all the top name brands but I've worked at other shops selling all those lines too. I've seen that no company big or small is immune to quality control issues or occasional bad service. It the small dealers like ourselves that for 1) have to use and believe in the products we sell 2) Stand behind those products come hell or highwater even if it means a loss to us. To me there's a difference in having someone as a customer and having someone as a client. A client entails sort of a life long commitment to the development of them as a kayaker and friend/supporter. I beam with pride when I see Abking and fishinmike and many others on this board posting reports with pics of boats I put them in. It reaffirms to me that the end product is quality fishing experience not a bottom line sales index.

Bravo. If I didn't live so far away, I'd have bought my Romany through you. And the OK boats as well (if you sold them). I have worked in the high tech industry for decades and that same kind of client-consultant sales relationship is what works there as well--even for multi-million-dollar accounts. People tend to forget they are fulfilling a needs the client has--not just making a sale.

To me there's a difference in having someone as a customer and having someone as a client. A client entails sort of a life long commitment to the development of them as a kayaker and friend/supporter.

Two thumbs up - i have a similar philosophy with my business(guitars, amps, drums).  I tell my guys they aren't a customer unless you get them to come back repeatedly ... that only comes with great service.  I also have a non-commission sales force - all the gear we sell is top quality.  I pay my sales people top dollar to listen to the customer and meet their needs, not pimp something they have no use for.

  I tell my guys they aren't a customer unless you get them to come back repeatedly

Maybe people forget the origin of the word customer--from "custom" as in repeated and familiar behavior. Such as frequenting a vendor for a good or service.