Freedom Boat Club
Reviews and Complaints
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Verified Reviewer | Seattle, WashingtonFairly frustrated after sign-up
Watch for the bait and switch. It was pretty clear that we were interested in the lowest-level membership.
The sales guy overstated the benefits of the membership, especially with regard to reservations. With a limited schedule, this issue is key to us. The reservations are already very limited, and we found out they were worse than we thought, basically nixing our hopes of taking boats on occasional short weekend camping trips. Also, both the sales guy and the online-training guy made it seem like they'd be super flexible on scheduling on-the-water training.
Well, not when we actually got in touch with the person who handles that issue. I was wary of the value of a club membership, and my assessment of that value had dropped since we started looking into it.
User's recommendation: watch the details; also, if you are limited to mostly weekends, be cautious
Need to cancel membership
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Verified Reviewer | Lake Park, FloridaOutstanding Operation Great Boats Freedom Boat Club of South Florida
User's recommendation: Outstanding Company and Service
Poorly Managed and Operated Location
Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution
User's recommendation: Join and go to Galveston location
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified Reviewer | Madeira Beach, FloridaTerrible Experience, Stay Away
- Not reputable
- Dean iverson - not an honest person
- Asked to discusss
Preferred solution: Full refund
User's recommendation: waste of money, they are not honest or reputable.
Child safety and boater education ,rentals equipment for safety
Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution
User's recommendation: Purchase the boat US or tow boat policy ,make sure you know the waters and have a chart ,chart plotter on boat or your phone to show shallows or under water dangers
Lack of boat availability
User's recommendation: Buy a boat or go to Carefree.
I think it's important that people know what the are buying into.
Hi everybody...I joined the FBC in Jan of 2020. I was told by the salesperson, Dustin, that boats were readily available.
As a regular fisherman, that was important. After that, I saw them run an ad campaign saying "any boat, any time". Folks, it's just not true. It isn't, and I am disgusted that I fell for the honestly, slick words of the Dustin guy.
I had to wait 2 and 3 weeks to get a boat for most of last year.
Then, because they sold so many memberships (think about the number of $4k initiation fees they got!), they moved to 3 reservations per day, meaning your boating trip was a max of 4 hours long.
I have moved on, and I just feel so bad for people, like me, who will be sucked into this ruse.
They are also owned by the bowling ball people (Brunswick) who are primarily interested in revenue, not necessarily client satisfaction. The are so adamant about it that they censor negative comments from their very own customers.
Look, if you don't care about booking a boat 3-4 weeks in the future, then maybe this works.
But, for a fisherperson, no way this is anything but a get your money scheme.
As a businessman..,churning your client base for the initiation fee makes sense. That's what they did with me.
Mutiny in the So Florida chapter
- Concept
Preferred solution: Full refund
I'm not sure, but i think it's about awareness?
User's recommendation: stay away! Do NOT give them an initiation fee! I tried to get my money bac after 2 weeks and they refused. THey sell hundreds and hundreds of memberships and kdon't update the boat inventory. Peo0ple then walk away afterbeing duped. BE CAREFUL! INSIST ON A TWO WEEK WINDOW FOR REFUND>
Constant issues with broken boats and club franchise owner accusations
User's recommendation: Don't give the club your money or business unless you just want to cruise a bay or lake.
Discriminatory Policies
- Discriminatory policies and rude staff
Preferred solution: Rethink discriminatory policies and train staff for better customer service.
User's recommendation: Do not recommend.
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified ReviewerMake sure you are open losing your large deposit
Preferred solution: Full refund
User's recommendation: Be careful
Very happy for three years
User's recommendation: Join!
Ripped off!
- Getting out on the water
- Staff
- No boat availability
- Dislike
Preferred solution: Full refund
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After a season in the local club, I'm adding comments: It's been a generally good experience. The club is friendly and well organized.
The docks guys are great. We got out about 18 times this season, which made it worthwhile. The only significant downers are the expense (but there are really no practical alternative for us at least), the limits on weekend reservations/overnighters, and the risk of weather-forced cancelations, which is just a part of boating (but it can suck if your schedule is not terribly flexible). We managed to do one 2-night camping trip via a boat this season, but that was hard to arrange and somewhat lucky.
In GENERAL boat availability has been very good. And the boats have mostly been very good. If were had a more flexible schedule, it would be even better. We also did our first two "reciprocal" reservations, as two different Florida locations.
One of those was great, and one was so-so, but in both cases the club was cool/helpful/friendly. (There is no charge, other than fuel, for reciprocal reservations.)