Dealer Dealer info in Virginia,

[newbury]

I grew up near Stowe, Vt. in the 1950-1960 time period. Back then we did a LOT of mailorder. The internet has only speeded up the process, not fundamentally changed.
Instead of catalog to product in hand within 3 weeks it's web page to hand in 3 days.
I still need to go to a dealer to sit in a seat. Good dealers will get business, poor dealers will survive on the unknowing.
I'd like to have a dealer in my commute range, which is only a mile. Ain't happening.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

For those of you that don't know, Barlows is a dealer that has a local business. Has a hugh inventory of equipment and parts. Full service department and wants to stay in business, support his wife, pay his bills and help his son. He sells farm equipment locally at decent prices. I imagine someone told someone else in the surrounding area about his fair prices and they called for a price. He could have said no I don't want to sell you a tractor, buy from your local dealer that wants $2500 more from you than I'll sell it too you. As young people say "NOT". Good pricing has kept this local dealer in business so he can sell at good prices and stay in business. More people started calling him and he kept giving good prices. Not being stupid he expanded his sales to whomever wants to buy from him. Most people want to conserve their money so they can buy more not help a local person keep an unprofitable business open at their expense. I also grew up in the 50's and 60's and remember alot of it with a smile but it wasn'tall great. Remember the people down the street that owned a business and were considered wealthier than most in town? Maybe they were, maybe they weren't. Volume sales is where products can be sold for less and the seller still stay in business and the buyer save a few bucks. My pocketbook hunts for a good deal and will sometimes pay a little more if there is a reason that I can justify. Steve and Brady are a father and son just trying to make a living by making a good deal andservicing their customers far and wide.

 

[LBrown59]

Thanks for your fill in about Barlows.
I bought my 2 BX1500s and the attachments there for 3 reasons.
a*good price
b*great to deal with.
c*Had the tractors and attachments I wanted.

For those of you that don't know, Barlows is a dealer that has a local business. Has a hugh inventory of equipment and parts. Full service department and wants to stay in business, support his wife, pay his bills and help his son. He sells farm equipment locally at decent prices. I imagine someone told someone else in the surrounding area about his fair prices and they called for a price. He could have said no I don't want to sell you a tractor, buy from your local dealer that wants $2500 more from you than I'll sell it too you. As young people say "NOT". Good pricing has kept this local dealer in business so he can sell at good prices and stay in business. More people started calling him and he kept giving good prices. Not being stupid he expanded his sales to whomever wants to buy from him. Most people want to conserve their money so they can buy more not help a local person keep an unprofitable business open at their expense. I also grew up in the 50's and 60's and remember alot of it with a smile but it wasn'tall great. Remember the people down the street that owned a business and were considered wealthier than most in town? Maybe they were, maybe they weren't. Volume sales is where products can be sold for less and the seller still stay in business and the buyer save a few bucks. My pocketbook hunts for a good deal and will sometimes pay a little more if there is a reason that I can justify. Steve and Brady are a father and son just trying to make a living by making a good deal andservicing their customers far and wide.

 

[LBrown59]

Keithinspace, there is a lot in what you say. If you have a good dealership near you they can give you support that you will not appreciate until you need it. Sometimes you don't even realize it at the time. Yet, local dealerships go out of business for many many reasons.

If the dealer near you don't have what you want and can't get it he ain't going to do you much good.

 

[riptides]

There is something to be said about working with people face to face.

I like going to my dealers to discuss repairs, ideas on repairs, new products and trends.

When I bent the bed on my RTV, the dealer and a tech went into the lot and we all found the best way to unbend it.

That would be hard to do on a discussion board or by e-mail.

Just something to think about.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

How soon we forget the old ways. Telephone. I agree, I prefer to look someone in the eye when I talk to them but we seem to be moving away from that in our fast paced new world. The last few car purchases I've made have been on the telephone after extensive internet research. I find my vehicle, then a fair price, then request price from dealer on internet. They call. Then I go see them and pick the vehicle up. After buying over 110 cars since 1965 I'm starting to prefer it to the old way of 5 hours of being jerked around. I still do the look em in the eye but after the numbers are worked out. Steve Barlow is trying to mess with my system though. I stop and ask him for his best deal. He usually surprises me because he offers me a better deal than I'm prepared to do so it's get the papers out and deliver the tractor.

 

[hackalot]

Any body done any business with Lawson Building supply in RoseHill Va, I have spoken to them a couple of time and got a good delivered price, thier about 85 miles away from me, seem to be on the up and up,I just had another dealer kinda bashing them, about how unorganized they are in parts, takes them forever,bad service center,charge a big pick-up and dropoff bill if thier is any problems with the tractor, so was seeing if their was any body that has bought a tractor from them, the deal I'm workin on is a new unit from the warehouse,yaa OCD I've seen a couple on the lots around that were faded real bad and the seat was chalkey white, so about 1500.00 more for a fresh one it looks like, B3030w folding rops, turf tires(Loaded), LA 403, 60"MMM, $19700 delivered,

Bought an M9540 from them, very easy to work with. The unit had a bad hydro cylinder and they sent the serviceman out immediately to replace it at n/c.

 

[Rock23]

I have known all the Lawson almost my entire life. Good honest people, i live in TN now and people from Rose Hill(lee County) to knoxville all know of them. I am currently looking at a smaller tractor for myself, and that probably going to be the best deal i will find. Good luck with your tractor, and tell Chris to do you right....lol.

 

[atlawson]

Any body done any business with Lawson Building supply in RoseHill Va, I have spoken to them a couple of time and got a good delivered price, thier about 85 miles away from me, seem to be on the up and up,I just had another dealer kinda bashing them, about how unorganized they are in parts, takes them forever,bad service center,charge a big pick-up and dropoff bill if thier is any problems with the tractor, so was seeing if their was any body that has bought a tractor from them, the deal I'm workin on is a new unit from the warehouse,yaa OCD I've seen a couple on the lots around that were faded real bad and the seat was chalkey white, so about 1500.00 more for a fresh one it looks like, B3030w folding rops, turf tires(Loaded), LA 403, 60"MMM, $19700 delivered,

I bet the dealer is in Kingsport doing the bashing. The bashing has to do with the sales Chris is getting the other dealer isn't by making a good deal and taking care of the customer after the sale.

I am not Chris but his brother. They don't charge Pick up and drop off charges that are out of the norm for the industry.

The parts is not unorganized. They have a young lady named Melissa that grew up on a farm and equipment. She knows her stuff. She is a graduate of UT Knoxville with a degree in agriculture.

The biggest problem is other dealers are jealous of their success with Kubota.

And yes I would travel a few extra miles to save a dollar anyone should do that.

I have nothing to do with the business itself, but just stopping buy on my day off from my real job.

 

[atlawson]

I think I'd be wary of a dealer who starts bashing another dealer. Have you discussed pickup and delivery fees, parts availability, etc., with Lawson?

I agree with this post completely. Before you buy talk to each dealer and as about "hidden" charges whatever it may be. And check out the service department and speak to the mechanic. If a dealer won't let you see or speak to the mechanic then it would be a question to think about. Why?

And besides that a Kubota tractor rarely comes in for warranty work. Most come in just for a service job.

Also they may not have a state of the art Shop or Parts house, but that doesn't matter as long as the job gets done right the first time!

Just my $0.02