I'm enjoying being at sea again,and so would like some input on either boat. I'm thinking about maybe doing a couple of 5-6 day trips and would like to hear from any that have anything to say pro or con.

As far as customer service begining with the office, I had a bad time with the Excel. I called to book a trip for my wife and I, wanting a private room with the bath for my wife. They told me that it is offered to their regulars before the " Public " gets a chance. I asked them how much more they get from the Regulars dollars as opposed to the " general Publics " dollars. I thought all U.S. Currency was the same. To me, that had to have been one of the rudest comments to make to a possible new long term client.

The Indy would be and will be my choice over the Excel.

If that is the way they treated you, Piggie, that tells me the Big X does not need anymore business and they are just happy with the same old bunch of old farts. Fine with me.

The Indie is a good boat and everything is new with lots of happy customers. Mark Pisano and Paul Strasser are agressive young bucks who own and skipper their boat. Judy Collins is their office manager and she is really nice to everyone. It has a wide stern, stabilizers, and fresh everything.

Jim Lilly is the skipper for the Intrepid and that boat seems to be uber luxurious....and uber pricey too. We'll just have to see how the crew and skipper meshes together but it sure looks more like a luxury yacht than a LRer.

I am looking forward to switching over to the Intrepid. I spoke with Carol there in the office 2 1/2 months ago and thought, that was that.
I got a call from her 2 weeks ago, to congratulate me on my fish. I was quite puzzled by this as I never spoke to her of this feat.
She " REMEMBERED " my name from our conversation and then saw my picture in the Western Outdoor News.
THAT IS CUSTOMER SERVICE!
We spoke for about 45 minutes.
After my last trip on the Royal Star, and the behaviour of 3 crewmen, I'll never, ever go back. 1 crewman was totally out of control.
Just an ass every....single....day!
A walking tantrum.
I want luxury, professionalism when the Owners are on and off the boat.
I have fished when Tim or Randy were on the Star, then this trip when they were both off.
I'll never, never, eveeeerrrrrrr go back.
I will stand up forever to defend the 3 others onboard.
Brian, Joey Conrad and Capt. Brett. The others all need to be schooled in customer service.
I am in the same industry as they are.They chase fish, I chase Big Game animals. I could never behave like these crewmen and still be in business.
I look forward to fishing the Intrepid in Spring 2008 for 14 plus days.

pigsyicker,

When you tried to book your trip did you contact the Excel directly or did you go thru the landing? Also when did you try to book your trip, what yaer?

Thru the Excel and it was in November.
Please don't think me rude, it shouldn't matter the timing.

I am just a bit jaded to their character.

I do believe that they have tremendously skilled hands on their vessel. I do not want to nor wish to diminish their capabilities.

The personnel running the phones, have poisoned me against them. I will pass their poison on to others who ask.

I just find it to be tragic that one would become so enamored with their " Regulars " that any new money could be sidelined until the Regulars have their shots? Bad, very bad move.

I have many regularly returning clients. I am always, always searching for the new clients as well. I want to share my business with all who wish to book.

If they give such preferential treatment to their "regular" old farts, how will the crew treat you when you come on board? Will they scoop the better baits for them or hand them the good ones while leaving you with the sickly upside floaties? Will they cut you off and snip your line if you and some regular old fart both have a hot fish and you guys get tangled? Will they gaff his first while you're there screaming color until your fish has chewed through the line? Will they reserve tackle box space on the shelves instead of "first come first serve" so you get the crappiest spot even though you were at the landing at 6:00 am and first to board? Will they handle the regulars who get drunk and belligenrent properly and with firmness or will they elt them get shitfaced just to keep them happy?

I dunno, but I have heard horror stories about boats who value their regulars to the sacrifice of building new customers. If they can't treat a new customer well who is coming from Missouri, how will they treat you once they got your money and you're aboard?

That's why I would rather stay with the Intrepid and the Indy. The folks I spoke with on my trip in Dec. on the Royal Star were saying how awesome it is on the Indy.

The entire crew bends over backwards to make sure that your happy.

There is a Capt. on the Star name Gregg Tanji. Many, many customers were complaing about his lack of response. In the morning, we'd greet him with a " Hello ". He litterally would stop, look at you, then continue on his way, having never said a word.

It got to where it was a joke. There were several Crewmen aboard, who asked me to write to the Office because they are sick of the s$&* on their boat.

I mean, I am in no way, able to fish multiple trips a year. I am in the income brackett that only allows me to long range every 20-24 months.
I hate the thought of spending a total of $3,000.00 plus dollars to have a crew that is comprised mainly of asses.

The boat even had the Godson of Capt. Tim onboard and this kid was a mess. He cost many, many a client, a great fish. I had a Dorado of about 40-45 pounds, at gaff, when this kid runs up and wraps the gaff around my line and jerks.
That is Fish be gone. He knew exactly what I thought of him and his free ride in no uncertain terms. There were more fish on the hook next to me...so I took the gaff and began gaffing.

The crewman Steve, who was a tantrum the whole time out, shut up once I told him what their free rider did.

Even the Sponsor of the trip from Newell Reels was pissed off at the service this trip.

I am pleased at the shot I got to harvest the fish of my life. I met some really great people on the boat and at the landing. Except this dude. Bear? Ollie? Alleycat? hahahahhahahahhahhahaha Gotcha Ollie!

I am soooooo loking forward to the Intrepid.

Piggiee, this board on Charkbait allows you to discuss the good and band without being flamed by the "regulars". Some years ago I was on another well known board whose owner and regulars flame everyone who has anything but raves for a boat--this is "their" boat. The owner expects us to be almost like "shills" as he depends on their sponsorship and the regulars, well, thye need to get a life. Fortunatley I got booted off for my constant NON-PC posts.

Anyway, one of my frequent comments in support of valid criticsm is that many of these guys--skippers nad dekcie are still in the rough and tumble and have not considered that they are in a service industry, no more or less than Disneyland or Nordstroms. Yo uhave to greet your customers. You have to treat them with respect and courtesy. You have to cultivate a family enviroment. You have to project a professional iamage. No more foul mouth cussing or dirty jokes or wearing torn up t-shirts or pissing off the stern cuz you can't make it to the bathroom. If you have a great trip fishin, people will still talk about the bad behavior and may not come back. If you had a bad trip fishing, people can overlook it with great service and still come back. Somehow, that just did not sink in.

ON the AA, the deckies helped everyone on board pulling and carrying their boxes and tackle on deck, then after everyone got on and waiting for the boat to pull out, they introduced themselves to us individually, walking around asking where we came from ,have we fished LR before, etc. Just making us feel comforatble and to ask any questions--reqwuests for making topshots were done right and with good chatter. Prices were right for making topshots so ther was no gouging. Just a nice relzxed cruise.

There's no excuse for not greeting your customers especially when they greet the skipper first. No excuse for not making the customer feel wanted and appreciatred. This ain't Princess cruises, but the same principle remains. With prices the way they are, every boat must up the ante in service cuz fishing is the same on all the baots. It's service that makes it or breaks it.

My two cents worth...

There is absolutely no reason for any office staff to alienate new clients. If that had happen to me with my dealings with the Excel office I would never book another trip on the boat.

I did take a very enjoyable 5-day on the Excel last Labor Day and had a wonderful experience. My ace in the hole was that I had fished with three of the deck hands on over/night boats and they knew me and how I expected to be treated. Once they shared this newcomer profile with the rest of the crew life was good.

The AA was another solid trip, The RR is always a pleasure and I look forward to my upcoming 10 day on the Shogun. I have yet to fish the Qualifier 105 but have nothing but great reports on the office staff, same with Carol of the Intrepid.

I agree that our passion is fishing but the LR fleet is in the service business and as the regulars lifestyles change and they cut back on the trips they take new clients have to be cultivated.

This might be a great article for western outdoor news to cover. Any one connected there?

Like the man said we pays the money and we 's like to have some respect.

enough said...If you get great service tell the world.. If it sucks speak up and blogg the web with your stated facts. No ranting or flaming.

quote:

No more foul mouth cussing or dirty jokes or wearing torn up t-shirts or pissing off the stern cuz you can't make it to the bathroom.

I'm sorry that this happened to you. I haven't seen this kind of behavior since the RR 1 was still running for grouper and sea bass. The trips that I have been on discouraged this kind of thing by the deckies. You should write both the landing and the San Diego Sportfishing council.

Thanks Ollie. That is why I wanted to praise those on board who needed the positive recognition. I also wanted to praise the fact that I also caught the fish of a lifetime.

There are just some things that need voicing as well. Tim and Randy have built incerdible, Stellar reputations and I have seen such when they are onboard. In fact, the crew knows they are on a very strict leash then.

I am just pointing out how badly some of them let their hair down when the Owner's were away.

The Royal Star is a fish catching machine. Don't get me wrong. It is just nice to be able to point out the short comings of a trip.

I am not now, nor have I ever been politically correct. It is society lying. I tell the truth no matter how bad it hurts.

Fat is fat, stupid is stewpeed and aliens are illegal. That is why I like this forum so much. Not one person has bashed me in any way. The Cahrk family points things out to each other in positive ways.

That's what makes this a great atmosphere to chat in.

I would go on the Indy or the Q105 . Jaded crews and favoritism has been around forever on both coasts . The good thing about San Diego is there is such a wealth of talent around . The one to three day trips have a way of weeding out the lesser crews leaving the best standing . Unfortunatly some deckhands only see the money and don't do the right thing . When some one pays that kind of money for the experiance of a lifetime a boats standards had better be high . If they are not up to snuff then hurt them in the wallet ! Make sure that the Captain/Owner knows what the problem was before you leave the dock for home . Tell the deckhands why the tip was so small (never stiff a crew) and never fish with them again . Tough conditions shouldn't enter into the service formula . Just remember just because you paid your money doesn't give you the right to be a jerk and mess the trip up for the rest of the fares .

I wasn't a jerk. I just went about my business and caught lots and lots of fish and made a lot of new friends.

the tipping thing is a whole nother can o' worms that pisses me off.

I even post in my fees section of my website, that tips are not required!!!! The boats tell you and that it is usually 15-20% of the cost!

That's the most disgusting thing any business can do.

Remember, I work on the same basis as they do.
The people whom I guide, did NOT apply to me for work. They do not get tax return info from my Co. therefore it IS NOT their responsability to pay me, at the end of a successful hunt, for doing MY JOB, and what they already paid for.

This tipping POO-POO is waaayyyyyy out of hand. Every single industry it seems now, has individuals with their hand out for doing what their employer PAYS THEM to do.
The worst is when a waiter asks " do you want your change back " once they ask that stupid question, no tip. that to me is a crappy form of pan handeling. Do your job, place the final bill and leave. If ya did your job to the highest standard, then ya have nothing to worry about.
I personally consider it to be a very flattering compliment at the end of a hunt to be tipped. I will fire any of my Guides if they ever told a Client what is a required tip.

But, once again, I DO NOT REQUIRE A TIP. In fact, I've never taken a tip from a client, even if they had a great time, yet didn't get an animal. To me, I didn't do my job. I am an absolute fanatic about my client's going home with an animal.

Okay....I'll step down from my soapbox. Sorry folks.

Dude , you have every right to complain . You probably weren't a jerk . I wasn't singling you out . I was using generalizations . I also am in the industry and handle myself much the same as you . When you do the right thing then the money/customers will come . I got into this Email thing because someone was badmouthing me/my boat . I quickly defused the situation by confronting the person in a positive manner and fixing what his problem was . I asked him why he didn't say anything at the dock as We were there for quite a while after we got in . He didn't have an answer . He is now a regular and brings his friends . When I'm working deck and there's a problem don't wait until you are home to tell me/my capt. If more people did this very thing then there would be more Great Boats . Face to Face may be old school but it means a lot and gets results . You can't fixit if you don't know it's broke .