Bayside Boat & Tackle

These guys screwed me out of $300.00.\r \r This place is either incredibly disorganized or dishonest (or both). When I called about my reservation on the morning I was to get a pontoon boat, they said they had no record of my reservation. \r \r Then when I got my credit card statement I saw they had charged me for the boat. I called five days in a row and the person that answered each day said the manger would call me back. The next week I called and could hear the person on the phone trying to get the manager to the phone and the manager saying no. So I called back and insisted. Finally the guy talked to me. He said my reservation was in the book and had been whited out which could only mean that I had canceled. I said if it was whited out, how does he know it was my reservation. He said it must be me because he charged my credit card. He said I would not be refunded because I must have canceled and they were not able to rent the boat out that day. Over and over he said if I had read the website I would know there were no cancellations, even though I told him I didn't cancel and that they had told me they did not have a reservation for me. Even though I never brought up the idea of disputing the credit card charges he said he would challenge any dispute and that he always wins the challenges. \r \r For the record, I made the reservation over the phone and had not been to their website and don't see how I had any obligation to go to their website and read their rules when I booked the boat on the phone. I have since went to the website and found once sentence regarding refunds that was in the ""rental notes"" section which in my opinion is not very well displayed. Obviously the real issue is they told me they didn't have my reservation so they gave me know opportunity to use a boat and took my cash.\r \r He said they have a bunch of teenagers working there and that he always tells his customers they can't go by what the employees say and they need to talk to him. Unbelievable that he thinks that is a valid explanation. When I asked why he didn't call back for five days he said their are 100 sticky notes on his door and he is very busy, so I shouldn't expect him to be able to call me. Unbelievable that he thinks that is a valid excuse for not returning messages left five days in a row. He sounded very desperate. I got the feeling they are having financial problems. They charged my credit card for the full amount of the rental the day I made the reservation. I would highly recommend against ever giving these guys your credit card number. I am disputing the charges but expect him to challenge the dispute. If they go out of business I won't get my money back regardless of the results from challenging the charges. \r \r \r more

Purchased a Groupon for boat rental. Terms and conditions on Groupon simply stated appointment required and weather permitting. When I attempted to use the Groupon (with an appointment) I was told it was only valid Monday - Thursday and a $50 deposit was required, and if the deposit was paid using a credit card, a $5 fee would be applied; none of these terms were stated on Groupon. Company refused to honor Groupon based on terms stated. Very misleading. more

I haven't seen a business run this badly in a long time, so I had to get on google and comment. Here are all their screw ups, in order, in just one visit: - Failed to write my reservation in the books - Put us in a broken boat, boat won't move, wind blew us towards the mud then owner tried blaming me for not going were I was supposed to go. - Put us in a second broken boat - Finally put us in a working boat, then when I came back, refused to refund my $200 security deposit until I got in his office, pulled up my bank statements to prove that I had actually already previously paid for the reservation. Afterwards, I waited in vain for an apology due to his failure to keep records but instead all I got was more self-righteous crap about how he has to protect his business. Finally, Ken was polite but very irritating and arrogant. One of the boys was apologizing profusely, while Ken, the owner could think of nothing to say except that he's busy and everyone around him just need to cut him slack. They may have good fishing experience and knowledge, but this business is a complete fail and they definitely won't have my continued business. more

Service was rude and outright lied- they claimed they couldnt honor a groupon because they only had 3 paddleboats available- there were 3 more sitting there they were just too lazy to bring them down to the water- We ended up having to rent a kayak next door (full price) because they wouldnt honor the groupon. Also for those getting the groupon- what they neglect to tell you is you have to front $50 deposit while the paddleboat and if you use a card to hold the deposit that will cost you a $5 fee. There is of course no mention of this on the groupon fine print. We had fun with our friends on the water but we all agreed we would never go back to bayside more

I don't usually write reviews but the service and product is so good, it makes me wonder why anyone would go anywhere else. I rented a Pontoon boat with my wife and kids last summer. I have never driven a boat before but the staff gave me a rundown on do's and donts. The staff here are really willing to go the extra mile to please their customers. Prices are great too. My family will never forget the experience we had that day. more

Very knowledgeable staff . It was nice to deal with someone that actually fishes vs the teenagers working at the local Big Box Sporting Goods Stores. Bayside was the only local shop with a good selection of Center Pin Rod and Reels. I was able to try out the combo before I bought it and after that Ken and staff showed me what was needed. Caught my first Steelhead the next day !!! Cant beat their experience and willingness to share their knowledge... Im hooked.... Heading back to check out the fly shop HY more

Took an uninspected boat out onto the water and had a disaster of a time. The previous users had a tubeing rope stuck around prop and when taking my family (with 3 kids) out, the boat's deck filled with water (a pontoon boat, supposed to be safe) we were submerged to our knees in water and our stuff floated to the back of the boat almost coming out of the boat, we spent an hour untangling the rope from the prop, another hour getting towed back. The worst was trying to defend ourselves to the owner who kept argueing that he doesn't know for sure that we didn't cause this rope damage and can't refund our money, but will give off 1/2 off our next visit. That is entertaining, for the fact that 1/2 our rental was getting towed and bringing the boat back an hour early for it had just been submerged on water. The best part, is after finally agreeing to get 1/2 our money back (it should have been all) I called to have a refund credit card reciept mailed to me and was told he could ot go out of his way to get a stamp and go to a post office.....WHAT??? I had the fear of my family sinking in a pontoon boat that was not right from the start and you can't mail me my reciept?? He didn't even want to give me my reciept telling me it would show up on my statement. Sorry Ken, don't like to bad mouth small businesses but you need a reality check. more