Are they having a laugh!!?

[NickC]

Lost a small seat cushion for a Zodiac Yachtline 4.8m somewhere on the A303. To order from a Zodiac dealer is £265! This to me is an outrageous price - I was thinking more along the lines of £30 max! Any thoughts on how I can replace at a reasonable price or do you simply have to accept it?

Regards

NICK

[psychopic]

That is very expensive! There is an upholsterers near me who shape foam and make up covers for seats in old cars etc. They are not too expensive. I'm sure that if you sent them or similar a template and told them how thick you needed it, colour etc it would be an awful lot cheaper than from zodiac. I recently bought the materials cut to size for a small boat seat for about £15, however my mum sewed it together for me for free

[Tims Osprey]

The prices for replacement parts from these big company's are scandalous! but the trouble is lots of people actually pay them i was once quoted nearly a grand for some stainless steel hand rails for a Boston whaler, i had them made up to the same spec and quality for less than £300 elsewhere

[psychopic]

it's the same deal with cars, if you were to buy all the parts on their own from say BMW and build the car yourself, you would end up paying about 100k fior a 30k car

[NickC]

Yeah but, no but.......... £265! It's about 3ft long by 1ft wide! I know it's a bespoke item but even so...

[RAD]

Bit obvious but have you tried driving the route? Anyone else seen the cushion?

I remember seeing a bow cushion washed up in Poole near to Sandbanks! (that was back in May)

[NickC]

It could be anywhere on a very long route so not really a drive back option. Think I'll do Psychopic's suggestion of finding someone local. Might see what what I can get done for Zodiac's £265 quote - calf leather, gold leaf and ermine trim perhaps. Might be able to shame Zodiac into reducing their ridiculous prices - I know - folorn hope - but at least I get to write a pompous letter!

[genoa]

Afraid I am one of the mugs who paid up!
I got a new floor for the Futura FR after getting petrol all over it over night. Fortunately the insurance paid, but it still cost me 150 + increase in premium. The actual bill was £600+
I couldn't go anywhere else. The inflatable floor was gone. At least with a seat cushion you can go to Mrs Brown's upholestry round the corner. Hope you get sorted at a reasonable price. Good luck

[Tims Osprey]

Well said, but as you say no folorn hope! unfortunately the people that own most of these giant company's spend most of their time sitting in the sun and cruising around on their big yachts and don't give a stuff, even if they were to lower the price of replacement parts it still would not be to a reasonable amount that would make the whole thing worth while. Maybe i'm wrong i don't know but thats how things seem to be

[RibinSpain]

My Ribeye bow cushion was lost by the vendor & a replacement was quoted at 90 GBP or so, I thought that was a rip off but now see it as a bargain!

I got an alteration lady to make me a cushion from my measurements for the vast cost of 15e. She used a jigsaw with fine blade to cut the foam (square edges) & the cushion has a side panel & zip so I can wash it.

It clearly isn´t the same quality but at 1/10 the cost I am more than happy. Manufacturers margins on spares are laughable - I would just use theirs as a copy & get someone locally to make it up.