Trader Bill's Outdoor Sports — Local services in Hot Springs

On June 26th 2023 I dropped off a mercery 2.5hp motor to have a full service done the choke repaired. The service manager said it would take a week to get it back because the 4th of July was coming up, a week and a half I went to check the progress and I was told they were having issues with being shorthanded with mechanics, so I waited no call for 2 weeks I went in to check I was told the service manager had quit and they would need to check because they had no idea if anything was done, so I waited again for 2 weeks went in and was told its fixed 200+ dollars and 2 months later. I took the motor to the marina where I keep my boat, a few days later I put the (supposedly) fixed motor on the boat it started but would not run if given and fuel and the impeller was not moving water, I took if off the boat and back to Trader Bills when an employee from the Hot Springs store listened to my story and said he would take it Hot Springs to insure it was done right that was another 2 weeks calling each week and stopping by the LR store to check getting mixed information each time I made contact. I contacted them today 9/26/23 to find out it was still not done, I asked to speak to a manager, I was asked if they could call me back, I said sure at this point I just want my motor back. 15-20 minutes later I received a call from Reggy (later I would find out he's the owner) he started with everything was perfect with the motor when I picked it up (in a condescending attitude) and he didn't know what I did to it after. I went through the story again, but he did care. we proceed into and argument where he insulted me and hung-up on me. 4 days shy of 3 months and more than $200 later I guess this is the service you can expect for Trader Bills. I will now take it to someone else and spend more time and money. The thing is it should have been a simple job things happen I understand that, but they made no attempt with...

Service department - very rude and not responsible for anything that happens to your boat while they have it.

Your response is a lie. 1. We called last Saturday and they told us it wouldn't be ready until the first of the week , it was Thursday when your people called and said it was fixed not 10 days but two. 2. The battery was 3 months old not OLD. 3. You did not charge the battery, we left after paying with a boat that would not start. 4. The truth is when we got home the ground cable was loose. So you didn't short out the New battery even though the boat was full of water when you brought down the hill. I realized our boat is older and not as nice as the others you work on, but it is our boat and we paid you what you asked to fix it. Your guy was rude the day we dropped it off and rude when we picked it up. That was before we even knew about the battery issue. I work in a similar business and I would not tolerate an employee of mine behaving that way. Our customers are greeted with a smile and addressed as a welcomed customer not turning and walking away without a word leaving us wondering were to go to pay and what was to happen next. It is call common courtesy. Clearly you are so big you don't need our business. P.s. The only bright spot in the whole experience and to show full disclosure, the boat runs great. Thumbs up to whomever rebuilt...

We were on vacation in Hot Springs when we stopped into Trader Bill's for some fishing lures. We were not looking to buy a boat but they had a Ranger fishing boat on their showroom floor. I immediately feel in love with it. My husband and I are now retired and I really wanted to get back into fishing and this particular boat was perfect. We came back to Texas and could not find this boat anywhere in the state of Texas. We called Trader Bill's to see if they still had the boat. They did and we made arrangements to go pick it up. That is how bad we wanted this boat. We drove over 7 hours to pick it up. Everyone we dealt with made the trip worth it. The salesman, Ronny, was fantastic. He went beyond just trying to sell a boat. He answered all questions and made several phone calls to help us be able to leave the next day. The man behind the counter (I wish I would have gotten his name) was helpful in getting the prop we wanted since they did not have it in stock. Trisha was very helpful taking care of all the paperwork so we could get it back to Texas and, last, but not least, Chris was very knowledgeable on all the details of the boat. Trader Bill's Outdoor Sports should be proud of all their employees. I would recommend...