Buying Advice Last minute buying advise

[Jason977]

I'm about to place an order on a 3520, but I've got a few last minute questions:

They don't have the tractor on their lot that I want, so they're going to have to order it. Say it'll take ~3wks. Does this mean it's coming from the factory (preferrable) or from someone else's lot? The salesman couldn't really answer to my satisfaction. He had a 3120 on his lot that looks like it has been there for years. Is there a build date on tractors? Is it unreasonable for me to ask for one that isn't sun faded? Should I tell him before hand that I won't accept a machine that isn't "brand" new, since that's what I'm paying for? I'd hate for them to get it all assembled, just for me to go there and say I don't want it because its not "new enough"

I've ordered the Frontier 4n1, and asked for the 3rd SCV, and the front hyd lines kit. When the lines to the front didn't show up on the quote I brought it up, but he said I had all I would need. Should I insist that I pay the extra ~$200, or hope that he makes it right out of his own pocket. Worst case, it'll cost me a few days that it takes to get the lines in if he makes me buy them after the fact.

It bothers me that I'm not 100% confident in my salesman, but he's a nice enough guy, and his dealer is beating the next best price by over $1000. They also seem to have good parts and svc. I forget the exact numbers, but I'm getting the deal for about 82% of MSRP. I'll follow up with exact numbers tomorrow when I have the quotes in front of me.

 

[2Malamutes]

I don't mean this in a derogatory manner, but my personal viewpoint is when people go with low bid work they should have commensurate expectations. I guess if your contract says "factory new" that is one thing, but a no hours tractor from another dealer is still new. If you are not confident in your salesman, things have been left off the quote you asked for, and you get ambiguous answers to your questions, see my first sentence above.

 

[ddivinia]

I'm about to place an order on a 3520, but I've got a few last minute questions:

They don't have the tractor on their lot that I want, so they're going to have to order it. Say it'll take ~3wks. Does this mean it's coming from the factory (preferrable) or from someone else's lot? The salesman couldn't really answer to my satisfaction. He had a 3120 on his lot that looks like it has been there for years. Is there a build date on tractors? Is it unreasonable for me to ask for one that isn't sun faded? Should I tell him before hand that I won't accept a machine that isn't "brand" new, since that's what I'm paying for? I'd hate for them to get it all assembled, just for me to go there and say I don't want it because its not "new enough"

----

Getting sun faded equipment is not uncommon. I would make that very clear up front.


--
I've ordered the Frontier 4n1, and asked for the 3rd SCV, and the front hyd lines kit. When the lines to the front didn't show up on the quote I brought it up, but he said I had all I would need. Should I insist that I pay the extra ~$200, or hope that he makes it right out of his own pocket. Worst case, it'll cost me a few days that it takes to get the lines in if he makes me buy them after the fact.
---

I would be wondering if they plan on just running some hydraulic hose down the front end loader and tie wrapping it. You want the hard line - factory type job.

Communication is key.

No sun faded junk
I want the 3rd valve installed using John Deere parts - not something whipped up in the back of the shop from the parts box under their work bench.

D.

 

[Jason977]

2Malamutes:
I have shopped at four dealers nearby, and had simliar experiences with all the salesmen with whom I spoke. Two were within $500 of each other, one was $4000 higher, the last was $1000 lower and coincediently the closest to my house. I figured 'all things being equal', I chose the lowest price.
How else to judge who to give my money to? Can I expect more from a dealer that demands a higher price simply for that reason? It's not like I'm driving to Mexico to get prescription drugs or buying the latest cheap tractor to come out of China; I believe all dealers I've shopped are reputable, and I expect the same high level of service from them all.

ddivinia:
--Communication is key.
Good advice. I'll communicate my concerns, and if they aren't willing to deliver to my high expectations, I will indeed find someone who will.

 

[ddivinia]

You can always refuse delivery if it is not right. I would for sure go to the dealer and check it out before they deliver it, sign papers, etc.

I bet it turns out fine, but it is not a bad thing to be cautious.

D.

 

[AKfish]

Business... like everything - is a balance. Lowest price is not the be-all-end-all; if the balance of the dealership's sales staff, parts staff, service staff is not there; then look elsewhere.

Go where the communication and relationship is best; and their price is within a reasonable range of the other dealerships.

Make sure that it's in writing --- if you assume that it's gonna be alright; well, you know what they say about assuming....

Best of luck with your decision.

AKfish

 

[mjncad]

I'm about to place an order on a 3520, but I've got a few last minute questions:

They don't have the tractor on their lot that I want, so they're going to have to order it. Say it'll take ~3wks. Does this mean it's coming from the factory (preferrable) or from someone else's lot? The salesman couldn't really answer to my satisfaction. He had a 3120 on his lot that looks like it has been there for years. Is there a build date on tractors? Is it unreasonable for me to ask for one that isn't sun faded? Should I tell him before hand that I won't accept a machine that isn't "brand" new, since that's what I'm paying for? I'd hate for them to get it all assembled, just for me to go there and say I don't want it because its not "new enough" It's your money, and make sure you get the tractor you want. Don't give them a dime until it's right.

I've ordered the Frontier 4n1, and asked for the 3rd SCV, and the front hyd lines kit. When the lines to the front didn't show up on the quote I brought it up, but he said I had all I would need. Should I insist that I pay the extra ~$200, or hope that he makes it right out of his own pocket. Worst case, it'll cost me a few days that it takes to get the lines in if he makes me buy them after the fact. Get it in writing as a salesman's word is as good as a politician's. Don't accept the unit until the SCV and front hydraulic lines kit are installed and the dealer is liable for the workmanship and warranty on it.

It bothers me that I'm not 100% confident in my salesman, but he's a nice enough guy, and his dealer is beating the next best price by over $1000. They also seem to have good parts and svc. I forget the exact numbers, but I'm getting the deal for about 82% of MSRP. I'll follow up with exact numbers tomorrow when I have the quotes in front of me. They are all nice guys until they get your money, then you are Joe Who.

I just had a lousy experience dealing with a JD "Gold Star" dealer near our new property trying to get a couple of hydraulic kits for my 4200. I thought I'd give them a shot to see how their customer service was. The salesman I had (JD makes the sales department handle upgrade kits) sucked. It took over 6-weeks to get one kit that should have taken a week. I wasn't in a hurry; but still I was hoping to get my kits installed before summer started. The parts people seemed A-OK. I didn't talk to the service department so I have no comment on that part of the operation. I will probably buy parts from this dealer as they will be 10+/- miles from our new home as opposed to 40 to 80 for the next nearest dealers. But I doubt I'll buy tractors and implements from them based on the salesman.

 

[Jason977]

Quick update: I emailed the salesman today and he said it would not be a problem getting one directly from the factory, and that is indeed what he was doing originally. I've called two other dealers to get final quotes from them, but haven't heard back yet.
The only complete quote I have currently (the one I was speaking of earlier) was 85% of MSRP, plus $2017 for the Frontier 4n1.

As an aside, I thought I'd share the hands-on new car buying experiences I've had. Sorry if it's off topic, but I'm allowed to hijack my own post, right?

My personal truck (first new vehicle):
The dealer had exactly what I wanted, and I was told a good price over the phone. When I got there the saleswoman thought I was a waste of her time, so she handed me off to someone else. We took a test drive. The new salesman told me someone else was driving from out of town to pick up the truck, so I better hurry and make a decision. He then made us wait while he "talked to his manager". I was about to walk out and leave, but found him BSing and drinking coffee. I wanted to walk, but I bought the truck because it was the end of the model year, exactly what I wanted, and a good price.

Company truck:
Boss says "Spec out an F450 the way we need it, and go buy it. Don't go to dealership X, because my car was broken into on their lot before I took delivery, and they lied to me about it until I confronted them about the broken glass in the rear seat." I went to the nearest dealer, gave him all the option codes I wanted, and basically said order it. Probably the easiest sale he ever made. It came in with the wrong aftermarket bed. He first tried to blame me for mis-ordering, then blamed the body builder and said they had taken the responsibility and were making it right, but it was his mistake all along. He told me at least a dozen lies that I had written evidence of.

Friend's Lexus:
A friend ordered a Lexus and was first told it had come in, then told that they were mistaken, and it wasn't in yet. Two weeks later he was told it was in, so I took him to the dealer to pick it up. As we were inspecting it, we noticed some repainted areas and a couple cracked pieces of plastic. He called his "high up" friends at Toyota who did some investigating and found that the car had been damaged at the dealer (the first time they said it was in). He reordered a "virginal" car, and when it came in he inquired why there were over 100 miles on the odometer and was told they just add up from shipping, etc. I later noticed it had been inspected the day earlier, and at the time had 8mi on the odo.

These are the only new car buying experiences I have. I just thought I'd give a idea of why I'm so **** uptight...