Explanation of service levels and...MERCURY 'PREMIER SERVICE CRITERIA'

....Mercury assesses all existing service operations at each dealership. The same process is done for a new dealer sign-on as well. Technical Account Managers use a template called a Dealer Service Development Plan (DSDP) as a checklist when performing assessments. After the assessment, Mercury assigns a “category level” to each dealer. The starting level is “Mercury Service,” with “Mercury Certified Service” as the intermediate level, and “Mercury Premier Service” as the highest tier. Dealerships qualify separately for MerCruiser and Outboard products. Every dealership in the U.S. and Canada is eligible to earn the Mercury Premier Service dealer rating. However, the dealership must first meet all established criteria with no exceptions being made.

Technicians at QPM are factory trained with the latest technologies to properly diagnose today's high performance outboards.

....Each service level has a specific set of criteria that must be achieved in order to earn the rating for that level. Here's a summary taken from Mercury of the key criteria for the Premier Service level follows:

1. Possesses all necessary tools, test equipment, service manuals, and parts books as recommended to adequately service all contracted Mercury products.
2. Achieves an overall 12-month service CSI score of at least 85%
3. Employs a minimum of one Certified (or Master) technician who is active in the service shop and is current with all technical education including advanced classes.
4. Fully utilizes MercNET for parts ordering, product registration, warranty claim submissions, and ( U.S. only) Mercury Product Protection contracts.
5. Provides timely service for all Mercury Marine consumers regardless of sales origin.
6. Offers extended service shop hours of operation and mobile service as appropriate for the local market.
7. Use, display, and stock an adequate inventory of Mercury Precision parts to service engines sold in their local market.
8. Maintains a clean and neat Service facility. Special tools and service literature must be displayed, well organized and easily accessible to the technicians.

FACILITY

....SWBA visited Quality Performance Marine recently to take a firsthand look at the inner workings of this premier service dealer. The first thing we noticed was the size of QPM; this is a large facility able to house many boats at one time. Boats can even be stored indoors as this industrial property offers large roll up doors with tall ceilings. However Rob does not overcrowd QPM with boats on the property. He maintains a scheduled calendar of jobs based on the extent of the work, the size and type of boat, and the work load at the time. Well equipped with machine shop and tool room, QPM is clean and ready for business. Since QPM is not a boat dealer, you can rest assured that they are focused on the task at hand. They do most all types or rigging as well as complete sales and service, of new and used motors. Remember the old saying that, “the Sales department earns the first sale to a customer and the Service department earns the future sales.” This rings true at QPM as many of Robs customers have happily been with him for many years!

....We asked Rob what he sees in the future of boating as it would apply to our circuit and he gleamed as he said” the Verado! It's something you have to experience to believe”! The quietness of the supercharged power plant is incredible, but that's not all. Apparently the ‘fly by wire' shifting is so effortless that it can be performed with your finger tips. And unlike standard mechanical shifting you can power up and shift without fear of smashing gears into oblivion. This is a huge advantage when docking around windy marinas, etc. Want to hear a testimonial? Ask Mike Gardner how he likes his motor, the only complaint you might get out of ‘Big Mike is that he can't hear the thing running! Also Perros Viejos' John Beerling can't say enough of his Verado and you know that ‘Old Dog' is putting it through its paces!