[tunabrat]

Taken from the RS website regarding surcharges. This is pretty transparent, instead of saying here is the cost pay it without explanation. IS THIS FAIR OR JUST WHAT IT IS NOW PAY IT!


May 08, 2008

New pricing based on fuel cost increase.

Due to unforeseen, rapidly escalating fuel costs, it is imperative we adjust our all inclusive fares to reflect present fuel costs. Royal Star anglers will realize fare increases as a "fuel surcharge" that will be added to each voyage as necessary using the following formula. The fuel price upon which advertised fares are based is $2.75/gallon. The total increase in fares will be calculated using the fuel consumption per day estimate of 450 U.S. gallons multiplied by cost increase above $3.00/gallon divided by the total number of anglers listed for the voyage.

*Fare increases will likely fluctuate as fuel costs can vary significantly between fueling intervals.
*Fuel price upon which fare increases are calculated will be available upon inquiry.

While we realize that fare increases are unwelcome, there is no way to effectively foresee the massive price increases that have dominated the oil industry during the prior three months. It is our goal to maintain transparent business practices while providing the fairest pricing possible for Royal Star anglers. In these difficult times we simply request our angler's patience and understanding as cost increases are the result of economic factors beyond our control.

Sincerely,

Tim Ekstrom
Randy Toussaint
Owners/Captain's, M/V Royal Star

 

[sactotuna]

This is a good example of two things:
How to do business in the 21st century.
Why the Star has been my #1 choice for the last 10 years.

Still, the listed price includes permits, a thoughtfull touch.

 

[wahoodad]

Others too

Just for the record, other boats are also going to great length to save us anglers money on fuel. So far, the RR3, Excel, American Angler, Q105 have made trips to Ensenada on their own time, to buy fuel at a much lower rate, like half price. That savings is passed on to us, in the form of a decreased fuel surcharge.
Kudos to these operations as well.

 

[Overflow10]

I like how the Star does business. They tried raising the bar so that their clients know what they are in for. They got hit with a significant cost increase (which we all know about) and are now trying to be transparent how they pass it on. Nice.

Sound of many hands clapping............

My 2 cents

 

[fishybuzz]

I like doing business this way...up front and no hidden costs. :tu:

 

[paulskier]

What a class Act IMHO!! Thanks RS for the explanation.

Also of the boats listed in an above post I question if all will pass much of the savings along. Past history dissagress. REMEMBER this is JMHO
Paul

 

[Outhouse]

With the ever rising cost of fuel, such practices will encourage folks like me who travel from out of state to continue to come. Being a "Bean Counter" it is easy for me to get a grip on what to expect. Based on their given base, a 5 day trip will cost the boat $6750 in fuel (450 * 3 * 5). If the cost of fuel rises to $5 per gallon, then I could expect to pay an additional $180 if there were 25 anglers on board. I can accept this.

The only fear I have is that the Captains won't be as willing to try a far away spot simply because of the pre-determined arrangement. Last year on my Excel trip, the fish weren't biting at Cedros and Justin decided to travel WAY down south in search of warmer water. I appreciated the willingness to look for fish even though it meant traveling all night instead of being anchored at one of the islands.

 

[fishybuzz]

With the ever rising cost of fuel, such practices will encourage folks like me who travel from out of state to continue to come. Being a "Bean Counter" it is easy for me to get a grip on what to expect. Based on their given base, a 5 day trip will cost the boat $6750 in fuel (450 * 3 * 5). If the cost of fuel rises to $5 per gallon, then I could expect to pay an additional $180 if there were 25 anglers on board. I can accept this.

The only fear I have is that the Captains won't be as willing to try a far away spot simply because of the pre-determined arrangement. Last year on my Excel trip, the fish weren't biting at Cedros and Justin decided to travel WAY down south in search of warmer water. I appreciated the willingness to look for fish even though it meant traveling all night instead of being anchored at one of the islands.

I agree however if a boat doesn't catch fish on a level with other boats ridership will drop off...JMO

 

[singingreel]

I understand Tim & Randy's perspective. I agree these are difficult times. I love the Royal Star's people and the operation. Their communication and subsequent process looks like a prudent action, but it is one-sided and seemingly unavoidable. As long as they are willing to give a full refund to anyone who wants to cancel their trip due to this new policy (even if it is less than 90 or 180 days) I am okay with it.

I am not happy, but I will get over it

One question: If diesel fuel in Ensenada is at $2.11 a gallon and the RS refuels there often, then why are they calculating surcharges to a $3 a gallon price in San Diego?

 

[john sturdivant]

One question: If diesel fuel in Ensenada is at $2.11 a gallon and the RS refuels there often, then why are they calculating surcharges to a $3 a gallon price in San Diego?

I would think that once the summer trips start and they are doing a 5 hour turnaround they have to fuel up in San Diego..Ensenada is then out of the question..

 

[willy]

This is an interesting development. Transparent, yes and I applaude the step in the right direction. I personally feel all the boats will continue to fish the way they always have. If their fuel nut is reasonably covered they will go the extra mile for fish. These things even out over a season. Their catch ratio and customer service will remain the same, this is what they have built their businesses on. If the people on a trip think for a moment they didn't go the extra mile to save on fuel, it will backfire. The internet has introduced the free flow of information to the fishing community like never before. The other place they will get in a bind is if they fuel in Mexico and then still charge the surcharge at the same rate as before, that would be uncool so maybe some boats will not be so transparent. BTW if I have to pay an extra $20 a day, it's a bargain. Hell I paid $5 fuel surcharge to have my wife's flowers delivered on Mother's Day. Looking at that I personally get more bang for my buck fishing LR.

This post edited by willy 05/20/2008

 

[fishybuzz]

This is an interesting development. Transparent, yes and I applaude the step in the right direction. I personally feel all the boats will continue to fish the way they always have. If their fuel nut is reasonably covered they will go the extra mile for fish. These things even out over a season. Their catch ratio and customer service will remain the same, this is what they have built their businesses on. If the people on a trip think for a moment they didn't go the extra mile to save on fuel, it will backfire. The internet has introduced the free flow of information to the fishing community like never before.
The other place they will get in a bind is if they fuel in Mexico and then still charge the surcharge at the same rate as before, that would be uncool so maybe some boats will not be so transparent.

BTW if I have to pay an extra $20 a day, it's a bargain. Hell I paid $5 fuel surcharge to have my wife's flowers delivered on Mother's Day. Looking at that I personally get more bang for my buck fishing LR.

willy now that's classic....I won't tell Karen what you said....

but everything you said was spot on...I think it is the DNA of all good skippers to go the extra mile or miles to find fish...they want them just as much as we do.

 

[Steve K]

Shogun is another of the boats that has been fueling in Ensenada to save costs and passed it on to us on our 8 day in April. I wrote a check for $213 on check in to cover JP ($50)Permits ($83) and Fuel ($80.) And that is a very true statement about what it about to happen to fuel surcharges as the turnaround season gets under way.

For my trip, we departed on a Saturday morning, April 12. The boat's previous trip was a 3 day weekend Baja Coast Freezer Filler that came in on Monday, April 7. On Monday night they made the run to Ensenada, six hours down, six hours to meet up with the brokered fuel truck and fill the boat, and another six hours to get back to Point Loma. That's a cost of about $1,000 to make that run. But if they only took on 10,000 gallons of fuel, the cost savings was about $15,000.

As far as the boat's not passing on the savings, I feel confident doing business with the boats that I ride on that they will do everything possible to keep costs as low as possible for the anglers. They all know what's going on out there. And I know a number of Captains in the Long Range fleet and also know that there will never be a question about burning the extra fuel required to find the fish. They just don't think that way, never have, never will. I am only speaking about captains and owners of the premier boats that I have fished with in the code group. Can't speak for any of the others.

One question: If diesel fuel in Ensenada is at $2.11 a gallon and the RS refuels there often, then why are they calculating surcharges to a $3 a gallon price in San Diego?

I would think that once the summer trips start and they are doing a 5 hour turnaround they have to fuel up in San Diego..Ensenada is then out of the question..

 

[Overflow10]

I am on a trip next Sat on the Star. Tracy told me they had fueled last in Ensenada so there would be no fuel surcharge on our trip......

Most of these LR operations are good business folks and it is not worth it to piss off their clients especially in a down market.

Go with a good boat/captain/crew and it is worth it...........

 

[Iron Thrower]

Way to go guys,,,,,,,,, nice act. Being one to NEVER complain about the FS cough cough,,,,,,,,its about time they started going to Mex to fill up. A savings of 15K is alot. I hope that with this savings they no longer charge us a FS. Some will an some won't, thats life, an like Willy said, its a bargin, but I would have NEVER EVER said it was better then paying that for flowers for the wife,,,,,,,,,,,wow you have balls buddy..........LMAO


Ray

 

[willy]

Way to go guys,,,,,,,,, nice act. Being one to NEVER complain about the FS cough cough,,,,,,,,its about time they started going to Mex to fill up. A savings of 15K is alot. I hope that with this savings they no longer charge us a FS. Some will an some won't, thats life, an like Willy said, its a bargin, but I would have NEVER EVER said it was better then paying that for flowers for the wife,,,,,,,,,,,wow you have balls buddy..........LMAO


Ray

Ray I am singing soprano this morning, I no longer have balls...LMFAO

 

[CAPTCHRIS]

Here is the bad news the cost of deisel at High Seas Fuel dock yesterday morning was$4.56 a gallon by the end of the day it was $4.80 a gallon and we were told to expect it to continue on the rise.I raised my charter prices this year on the indian to cover $4.00 a gallon as the fuel dock said its sources did not see it going any higher than $4.00 and it almost $5.00 in May.There does not seem to be a way to stay ahead of this problem other than fuel surcharges we hate doing it but if we dont we will go broke.We also post on our web site our current fuel sucharge price and it will be adjusted when needed.As for fueling in Mexico this will be a problem during the season as it takes too much time and requires some NOAA paper work and a stop a the customs dock if you have more than 12 passenger I am told you cant do it at all.What about the boats that hold less than a 1000 gallons its not worth the 120 mile round trip plus a $100.00 harbor fee in Mexico and another $250.00 at customs and a full crew is also required this means that a boat would have to cancell trips for fuel runs

 

[Iron Thrower]

CaptChris,,,,,,,, I for one thank you for the information along with alot of others here on this board. This fuel problem is past the point of no return for alot of people, let alone the fishing industry. Along with alot of us, I have been fishng up an down the coast an doing LR trips since 1961. Yeah, a long long time. It has become a wealthy mans sport now if you consider also buying tackle. I can understand the FS an feel for you an others in this industry. I can't see how you (boat operators) can stay in business if it keeps going up on the fuel charges. I know its none of my business, but were is the cutoff in doing trips if it goes higher then $7.00 a gal. which it will by the end of this year? I mean if the FS is like 40 bucks a day,,,, it will be almost 1/4 of the price of a 8/10 day trip. I'm just thankfull I had the chance to fish all the times I did when It was less expensive.


Thanks

Ray

 

[CAPTCHRIS]

The limit on how high things can go will ultimatly be set by our customers.When thay cant afford to fishing and we cant cut our cost any further we a in big trouble.I was with Bob Taft fueling the Top Gun 80 today and Andy at High Seas said fuel is going up 20 cents and it just went up the other day 24 cents so now we will be paying $5.00 per gallon and its still May.At this rate we could be over $6.00 a gallon in no time OH BOY!

 

[captn_tom]

Well, guess we are going to have to throw an extra $200+ on our upcoming 7 [email protected] But on the star...gotta be worth it!!