POP Yachts Most unprofessional company I have ever dealt with HDQTS Sarasota, Florida Internet

This is the most unprofessional company I have ever seen.  They are internet based boat brokers as I understand them, but they are incompetent, completely unknowledgeable about the boats they are selling, unresponsive to customer questions and requests, and no one I have spoken to has a positive thing to say about this company.

I was interested in buying a 6 figure boat I saw advertised with them.  After seeing the boat, I tried to obtain more information about the boat's condition, equipment and accessories before making any decisions about this particular boat. This is not an unusual request for large yachts, as condition of the boat has a great deal to do with the value of the boat. I found out the person I first dealt with was in North Carolina, and the boat was in Florida.  He knew nothing about boats in general, nor did the agent in Florida who was showing the boat.  When I tried to obtain a Hull Number, which is like a VIN number on a car, they would not supply it.  By the way, this information is available as public records. Then I tried to obtain further information from the  boat's owner, who they would not disclose, even though I had met the person already.

I decided to travel from CT to Florida to see the boat, called the owner to set up a meeting time, and was told I should follow their custom of putting a deposit down on the boat before I could schedule a "viewing" as they called it.  This is analogous to putting a deposit down on a house before inspecting the interior!  I informed them I had already scheduled a visit to see the boat, and did not need their permission to do so, only the owners permission.

At this time, I asked to see a copy of their purchase contract in case I wanted to make a formal offer on the boat.  I never received it. Nor did I receive an answer about any surveyors in the area, analogous to a home inspection company.  Nor were they able to recommend an insurance company in Florida I could speak with.

I think any reputable brokerage company would be able to provide all of the above information quickly and willingly before requesting a check for $10,200.00 be sent to their "Escrow" account.

This company is incompetent, and a waste of time.  The broker lost my purchase for sure.