Stevensville Auto Truck Marine Sucks
Last October I answered an online ad from them to have my outboard motor fixed at Stevensville Auto Truck Marine. They gave many promises. After a few weeks of them not returning any calls they finally called and admitted they couldn’t fix it. They then went on to sell me a motor that was less power than mine, but apparently was in great working condition.
The first issue was they placed it on my boat, without properly sealing the bolts on the transon so that the first time I took it out the amount of water pouring in was incredible, not to mention dangerous! After advising them they said they would fixthe problems, they didn’t. It still leaked like a sieve. The reason was my transom was apparently rotted and the wood wouldn’t catch the bolts properly. So knowing this, they still let me take it out the first time ! When I returned it to them they convinced me they would do a complete restoration of my boat. I gave them a deposit to start the work over the winter.
In March 2009 they called me saying they needed more money to buy supplies, so I gave them another $500. By the time April rolled around I kept calling emailing to see the progress, but again no return calls or emails. In May they finally reached me with nothing but a ton of excuses why they hadn’t touched it all winter! They then proceeded to tell me its so late in the season, that they had a comparable boat to sell us. When my wife and I went to see this boat, it was 5 feet smaller than mine, and this boat that was apparently good to go had the motor in several parts and him working on it! I said it was unacceptable. He invited us to wander around the property and see if there was anything else we liked. My wife and I found a hull, that he guaranteed was sound. After quite some discussions we decided to buy it because he was going to paint it for us, move my lights, bilge pump, downriggers, and a few other things from my old boat to this new one. That was June 10 2009. He promised us it would be ready on June 20. I called several times before the date to see what was happening, but again no answers. They finally called me back on the evening of Thursday June23, asking what time I wanted to pick it up as it was ready. I made arrangements to drive out the next day at 9 am. I called them at 830 am as she asked me to, but again no answer. My wife and I arrived there at 11 am, and found the boat completely UNTOUCHED! The paint they had put on it, which is all they did and switch the motor over, was the wrong colour we ordered. Without even a word of apology, he promised my wife and I they would take it into the shop that evening and work on through the night and not to worry as it would be ready the next day at noon.
Again we drove out. The boat was sitting exactly where we had left it the previous day. Again, without a word of apology, I was yelled at because ‘other customers are losing time and money from here vacations’! I advised him that since last October when I purchased the other motor, I too was wasting time and money. Again he yelled at me as to how busy he is. My friend who accompanied me asked him then to give us the seats we ordered and we would install it. That was when he started yelling to not touch anything, he would bring it in as soon as he finished the seadoo he was working on and that it would be ready that afternoon by 4. I went home rather upset and waited for the call. It never came.
I finally reached him Monday evening and the excuse was he had to go on an emergency call up north! After making tons of promises, yet again that it would be ready the next day….nothing. Finally on July 9, his wife called saying come get the boat its been ready for a few days. When I arrived there, the boat was still in the exact spot….UNTOUCHED. All the equipment he was going to install, was just thrown haphazardly into the boat. When he showed up, there was no explanation why he made me come out for a third time yet again, knowing nothing had been done. That was when he started yelling how if I keep bad mouthing him, that’s what he calls my calls and emails he doesn’t answer to, he would sue me! He then proceeded to throw these 4 ugly rusted seats into the boat, I asked him where were the seats my wife and I ordered and there was no answer. Instead he just kept giving me junk I didn’t need to make up for it. The stuff given is useless garbage. I was so upset I decided to take the boat with me. That’s when I noticed my marine jack I had just installed on my trailer last October was broken, my spare tire also new missing! We finally found the tire, but there was never anything mentioned about the destroyed jack. His wife made me sign a piece of paper that she wouldn’t give me a copy of saying it just said I took it and it wasn’t stolen.
When I arrived at home I realised they had lost the key to the ignition! So I had to get a locksmith out to fix it! Since I have had it home I’ve had to rewire all the lights, install my fishfinder, my downriggers, carpeting, fixed a large hole in the keel that was the size of a toonie that wasn’t there before! Basically everything he was going to do, I’ve done. My wife emailed him saying those aren’t the seats we ordered and wanted back the $500 he was taking for seats and labour. That’s when he told her, I don’t do refunds, and your husband signed a release that he was satisfied with the work. No I didn’t! As of yesterday he hasn’t returned any calls or emails.
Yesterday I finally took it out only to find out that the motor he sold me won’t go into gear, just stays stuck in neutral. I called him from the water as my friend and I were just drifting on Lake Ontario, he didn’t answer. When my friend called from his cell phone, he answered. My friend explained what was going on, and he just said, I guess the transmission is shot, and hung up! We were towed in by the harbour police.
I called all night, emailed and still haven’t heard a thing. I’m sorry if this was a little long winded but I wanted you to understand exactly the kind of business they operate. There is a lot more I could tell you, but I hope you get the idea of how my wife and I have been treated by Shawn and Stephany, the owners of Stevensville Auto Truck Marine on 13717 Ort Rd, Stevensville.
I have contacted BBB and filed a complaint. Hopefully I will get the results I’m looking for. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Disclaimer
This article was submitted by one of our readers. Penciltrick cannot make any claims as to its authenticity but the article was accepted on a good faith belief that it is an accurate and truthful account of the events listed.
August 23rd, 2009 at 7:20 pm
we have been treated the same way this week i wish we would have read this about 3 wks ago. They are crooks i am out 1300 and my boat was never touched. trying to do something but not having much luck
August 25th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
I have contacted BBB. They sent me a reply basically stating that they too had been ignored several times by these crooks. I have seen a few postings elsewhere and one even said they were known to the local police out there. I have been in contact also with a local MP there. My big issue is, what if these con artists tell someone theri boat has been fixed and something terrible happends on the water to someone else, then what ??
August 30th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Good day to the good folks that have had such a terrible experience with Stevensville Marine. I unfortunately am enduring a similar experience as those registered here. At this point I will be retreiving my boat and moving forwward with the repairs being done elsewhere.
Dave, if you could let me know the name of the police officer who was good enough to show empathy to your situation, I will ask if he would be able to provie police presence as I retieve my boat. This , I persume. will help send a message to the so called proprietor, to take us seriously, and, we won’t be bullied.
Thanks in advance for your assistance. I will post the outcome.
September 4th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
officer pilapew,at least thats how his name sounds,ask for his superviser,this cop knows them well
September 17th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Hi-dee-ho,
FYI,
I have engaged the services of legal counsel in dealing with these bandits. I have already engaged these people regarding the issues similar to yours. It may well be of benefit to colaborate on this issue to help present a solid case against them. If you are interested in participating in legal action against these bandits, you can express your interest by emailing your reply to satch1956@live.ca. I will be continuing as I see fit to satisify the damage done to me. You are welcome to join in. Your e-mail will be accepted as your expression of interest.
September 22nd, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Further to my previous communication, I will be submitting court documents in the very near furture in an attempt to recover damages from Stevensville Auto Truck Marine. I have arranged with my legal counsel to draw up and submit the required documents.
I re-iterate my invitation to those who issued complaints here to respond if you wish to colaborate in this action. This is not an idle threat, this is action in progress, you are welcome to join.
Unfortuneatly, I am not able to contact you individually. You can repond by emauling me via.satch1956@live.ca
September 25th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Consumers stay away!
I had a horrific experience with this company/person/people!
The initial work promised on my outboard was not actually ever done.
Against my better judgment and bad gut feeling I returned the motor for promised proper repair.
Several months of numerous unkept promises to complete the job, non answered messages and an attempt to see the status of the work done. I discovered nothing was actually done! When I went there to get my motor.
He promised to have the motor done in a week and I returned a week later to a closed facility during normal office hours with people in the house adjacent looking out at me!
I went to the local police department and was advised they had numerous complaints about Stevensville Auto Truck Marine and advised me to retrieve my motor and stay away from this facility.
2 weeks later I was finally able to retrieve my motor when, just by luck, an assistant happened to arrive on the property at the same time and allowed me in. The owner suddenly appeared and made more promises and I simply demanded my motor be returned immediately!
It was now in pieces, parts missing and in generally worse shape than before the first repair. It was also partially painted with overspray.
I am somewhat embarrassed by my own gullibility dealing with this facility. I Googled the name to see if they were still in business (wishing they were not!) and discovered numerous complaints from many sites about this place! I decided to join the choir of voices against them!
I have never felt so humiliated virtually robbed by and angry about dealing with a business as I did with this one!
December 20th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
These guys are absolute cons everyone. I was ripped for 350 bucks to have bearings replaced on a snowmobile. My light bulbs was stolen, along with my drive belt. And the funny thing is, on my receipt, in his comments section, he wrote “New drive belt recommended”. I took matters into my own hands, and got my money back. Play hardball.
May 5th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
im out 4200 and my boat was “stolen” can the police help me?
May 7th, 2010 at 12:57 am
my was “stolen” as well. i have informed police and let them deal with that
May 12th, 2010 at 11:27 pm
did they refund you?
May 13th, 2010 at 6:35 am
investigation is not finished yet
May 22nd, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Interesting….I just read a post on Kijiji Hamilton warning buyers to beware of Stevensville Auto, Truck, Marine. This poster too claims that his parts were stolen and had his boat returned to him in worse condition.
June 9th, 2010 at 5:25 am
I was also burned by these “SCUMBAGS”!!! They are still at it as well. Everyone who has dealt with these scumbags need to get organized, and warn others. Everyone needs to call their local politicians and contact the local media. Radio, newspapers and television. I’m pretty sure a tv show like CBC’s marketplace or W-5 would love to do a segment on them.Ads need to be put up obn Kijiji to warn people to stay away. I was also thinking of putting signs up at each end od Ort rd warning people to turn back. It might be a good idea to rat them out revenue canada since it’s probably a good bet that they haven’t paid their taxes. The humane society should be called in to shut down their puppy mill they have and as well dig up all the bodies of the anaimals they have abused and buried in their back yard…..some facts about these low lifes….
2004-arrested for posssesion of stolen property (Boats)
2006-arrested for cultivating Marijuanna
2007-arrested for assault…
Police consider them Violent dangerous people and will only go out there in force…..Keep that in mind when dealing with them……
June 10th, 2010 at 11:34 am
I would like everyone to know that, Shawn & Stephanie Ott of Stevenville Auto Truck Marine are low-lives!!
After taking my money, they promised me they would deliever a refubished boat by May 1,2010. To this date, they have not touched the boat we contracted to. The Law stipulates that if someone takes your money under fall pretences and gives nothing in return, that’s FRAUD. If you have any information about them, please share-it with me.
sgr@xplornet.ca