stlawrence
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2010
- Messages
- 69
I've been researching tractors for our farm (land - I guess a farm has to at least act like it's trying to make money) and have started visiting dealers. I've gone to several now.
The other day I went to one of the big two dealerships. I won't say which brand it was, as I don't want this to degenerate into a "my tractor is better than you" thread. But I think the way I was treated is kind of representative, regardless of the brand.
Now, we're in upstate NY, where mega-dairy farms prevail. Some of these farms milk thousands of cattle - they are huge. They have millions of dollars of tractors and equipment, so they are big players.
So, I walk into the dealership and go into the tractor sales area. I stood there waiting for someone to acknowledge me, and finally one of the salesmen made eye contact and waved me to his cubicle. He did not stand up. He did not offer to shake my hand. I told him I was looking for something under 50hp that could pull a 6-foot bush hog, and he gave me some brochures. We talked awhile, and he took my name and number, saying he'd work up some quotes for me.
That was on Thursday. It's Saturday night, and he has not called.
Now, I understand that the money I can spend on a new tractor is 1/5 or less of what the big boys spend when they come in to buy a tractor. But still. You'd think they'd want to make every sale they can. At this lot, they had no smaller tractors, and the salesman told me they have to take what the manufacturer gives them and have a quota of the number of special orders they can make. Is that true? Do they not want to waste an order on me, because then they may not be able to order the $300k rig when the big dairy farmer comes in?
It was sobering. I'm used to car salesmen being all over me like a cheap rug, and these guys could not care less. I can imagine how reluctant they'll be to try to cut a deal - I can see them saying, "This is our price - we don't care if you take it or now, but we're not budging."
Anyone else have experiences like this?
The other day I went to one of the big two dealerships. I won't say which brand it was, as I don't want this to degenerate into a "my tractor is better than you" thread. But I think the way I was treated is kind of representative, regardless of the brand.
Now, we're in upstate NY, where mega-dairy farms prevail. Some of these farms milk thousands of cattle - they are huge. They have millions of dollars of tractors and equipment, so they are big players.
So, I walk into the dealership and go into the tractor sales area. I stood there waiting for someone to acknowledge me, and finally one of the salesmen made eye contact and waved me to his cubicle. He did not stand up. He did not offer to shake my hand. I told him I was looking for something under 50hp that could pull a 6-foot bush hog, and he gave me some brochures. We talked awhile, and he took my name and number, saying he'd work up some quotes for me.
That was on Thursday. It's Saturday night, and he has not called.
Now, I understand that the money I can spend on a new tractor is 1/5 or less of what the big boys spend when they come in to buy a tractor. But still. You'd think they'd want to make every sale they can. At this lot, they had no smaller tractors, and the salesman told me they have to take what the manufacturer gives them and have a quota of the number of special orders they can make. Is that true? Do they not want to waste an order on me, because then they may not be able to order the $300k rig when the big dairy farmer comes in?
It was sobering. I'm used to car salesmen being all over me like a cheap rug, and these guys could not care less. I can imagine how reluctant they'll be to try to cut a deal - I can see them saying, "This is our price - we don't care if you take it or now, but we're not budging."
Anyone else have experiences like this?
on your face!
