Watch yourself if dealing with SOKY Marine

[Devils Horse]

Deal at your own risk with SOKY Marine in Bowling Green.

Our bass club, the SOKY Bassmasters hold a charity tournament every year in July. SOKY Marine, a Triton dealer paid bonus money to the top finishing Triton owners for the 2004 and 2005 events.

I talked to Raymond Hagan Jr.(co owner of the business)on the Phone last Feb. and asked if they wanted to pay the bonus money for the 2006 event. He told me yes, and even went so far as to tell me how he wanted the money split up between the top finishing Triton owners.

I prepared the flyers Which had SOKY Marine's name in big bold letters along with their phone number on the front, and emailed him a copy. He emailed back the next day and said he couldn't open the file. I responed asking what version of MS Word he had and didn't hear back. 3 days later I took him a printed copy of the Flyer in person, and he said it was fine. I finalized the flyer, hundreds were mailed out, and we put them out at the area's fishing oriented businesses. One of the businesses where flyers were on display from the winter all the way into the summer was yep, SOKY Marine.

Well the event goes down, we pay out all the prize money, and our club sec goes over to get the Triton bonus money. He came to the next club meeting saying they refused to pay, they say they never agreed to sponsor this year's event. Remember now, flyers for this tournament were in their showroom for months and members of our bass club were there regularly.

Last week I went over there in person to ask them about it and sure enough they refuse to pay. After I pointed out he personally told me the flyers were good, Raymond Hagan Jr. hands me a printout of an email he claims he sent me and disappears while I'm reading it. Sure enough in the email he politely declined to support this year's event due to other commitments.

Only problem is this email he supposedly sent me was FROM himself TO himself, it's right there in black and white.

I went to his office to point this out, and ask him why he hadn't declined in person the many times I was over there between Feb and July, but he was nowhere to be found. I was afraid to go into the shop because there's an employee only sign on the door. (They've already called the police on a friend of mine's wife after she raised heck with them about them keeping their boat for several MONTHS without touching it. Blown powerhead under warranty, but that's another story.)

Bottom line here is they got advertising and support from our club. Our charity got nothing in return.

Draw your own conclusions. This story is nonfiction.

Jim Richardson
857 Dye Ford Road
Alvaton, Ky. 42122
270-792-1524

[Danny]

Jim,

That is a shame. I'm not surprised though.

I've not ever told the story of how Triton reacted to my trailer problems. I suspect that it was more likely Triton's decision, and your buddy at the dealership simply failed to act like a man about it.

Since Earl Bentz sold out to Brunswick/Mercury Marine things seem to have changed quite a bit.


Tight lines and God Bless

Danny
270-543-0786 (cell phone)

[EJHick]

Thanks for sharing the info. Posts such as these are ones that can be very useful on this board when a person enters in the purchasing spectrum. It will also force companies to treat customers and potnetial buyers with respect unless they plan on going out of business. Thanks for the info. Jim..

Eric Hickman Jr.
The L-Raisin' Anglers
University of Louisville
Tournament Director
http://www.freewebs.com/ejhick01/

[Danny]

Eric,

Nice home page you have. very nice.


Tight lines and God Bless

Danny

[TR21X]

Before everyone gets excited about the SOKY MARINE story maybe there is another part they don't know about they have been awful fair to me with help and service for any reason so before you judge maybe you need to ask why they did not donate.And yes Danny Triton has changed since Earl sold,but the Triton dealer does the best they can with what they get.

[Danny]

>And yes Danny Triton has changed since Earl sold,but
>the Triton dealer does the best they can with what they get.

That was a part of my point. But if that was indeed the case, I think the issue could have been handled better. I know Jim.. aka DevilsHorse, and although he is sometimes subject to exaggerate some of his catches, I find him to not only be a believable person, but a trustworthy one as well.


Tight lines and God Bless

Danny

[redneckshadrap]

I have to agree with Danny. Devil's Horse is as straight as a stalk of corn.

Believers...well, they believe.

Billy Elkins
201 Haven Ct,
Lexington, Ky. 40509

[email protected]

[crazyfishinnut]

Danny
I was the one that went to pick up the check. this is a very accurate story. we were rather surprised that they didn't pay as they had committed to this already and was a distributor for our fliers. they also had sponsored this since they have been in business. i have heard several rumours as to why but the truth is that they committed and changed their mind after the fact. I guess this is in part our fault cause we took a man at his word in stead of in writing. this does in no way excuse the back peddling. I know a lot of people on this board and I tell it like it is and this is 100 fact. This is 500 dollars that will not go to our charity for which we put all the time and effort into this tourney for.
Rodney Hoffman
1019 Ellis Cole road
BG KY 42101

[Danny]

Rodney!

Glad to see you back. I've been worried about you. I've asked Jim several times about you, since I hadn't seen you on the board. I was afraid maybe you had some more health problems. Glad to see you back...and by the way, Jim really sang your praises in regard to your charity tourney and all that you did.

Folks, Rodney also has proved to be honest and trustworthy. He's not ever led me astray, except maybe with Barren's reputation...LOL... sorry Rodney, could not let that slide.

For everyone else, I'm horrible on Barren and Rodney is great. I like to rib him about the lake.... all in fun of course.

I hope this situation might work out for you guys. Perhaps if the SOKY marine guys see this on the web, maybe they will honor their committment.

Good luck guys,

Tight lines and God Bless

Danny

[know1]

Not justifying anyone's actions, but it's always wise to get a signature or documentation for things like this.

[crazyfishinnut]

Danny I am OK not good but considering all the problems i am OK .

Fishergurl I or we have learned a lesson. we will get a signature next time cause a mans word isn't what it use to be.
Rest assured if its my word i will stand behind it as would devils horse some of us still stand behind our word and a hand shake.\
It is a shame really cause I wont go back in there and most of our club won't and I am encouraging every body i know to not shop there of deal with them.

[know1]

Well, I wasn't just talking about a person's word being good. I also think it's good to get it in writing because it helps prevent misunderstandings of the agreement.