Dealer damage

[slowzuki]

Every time you adjust dished type rims its scratches all the paint up, its just the way it is. Same as when you mount clamp on duals, the process scratches the paint off. I'm sure with double the labour they could have figured a way to do it with some plastic guarding but the last drawdown with the bolts onto the welded lug will always chip the paint, and the next time you adjust them the same thing will happen.

I'm on the dealers side with this one, its not a sports car. The dealer also has to manage mechanics who may be very talented and are busy, if he makes them do things that are perceived as wasting their time, he will have a had time keeping good help.

Scratched the heck out of the rims on both sides. 7-8-9 long deep scratches-2-3" each on each rim either down to the black base paint or steel. Dealer gave me a can of white paint when I brought it up..he thought I was an alien to even bring up the subject of scratched rims on a farm tractor.

 

[DavesTractor]

I think for dealers it is about managing expectations and offering alternatives. On an implement, we offer a well built but economy priced item that is less money but will have some scratches and might be painted rather that powdercoated. Then we offer a high-end unit with powdercoating and each crated individually. Take your pick, but don't expect the same price.

We run into more issues with scratched implement complaints when a buyer is purchasing his very first tractor. It's a big deal, it's a lot of money and his only similar buying experience is buying a car or truck. The farmer with a fleet of tractors takes a more practical approach.

Before any of you think I am fine with scratched stuff, I'm actually very fussy, but I am realistic as well. I'll buy the more expensive product because not only do they look better when bought, but they generally look better a few years down the road.

 

[Fossil Farm]

if he makes them do things that are perceived as wasting their time, he will have a had time keeping good help.

Keeping your customers happy is a waste of time??

If you are out in the field changing tires, yes you will scratch things. This tractor was taken to the dealership where they should have the proper tools and hoists to do the job without damaging the goods. If scratches are OK ,then why bother changing the engine oil or hydraulic fluid properly, that takes time may be considered a "waste of time." If my mechanic scratched my trucks chrome rims while changing a tire, he would certainly be paying for it, not considered "typical damage."

 

[sweep]

Every time you adjust dished type rims its scratches all the paint up, its just the way it is. Same as when you mount clamp on duals, the process scratches the paint off. I'm sure with double the labour they could have figured a way to do it with some plastic guarding but the last drawdown with the bolts onto the welded lug will always chip the paint, and the next time you adjust them the same thing will happen.

I'm on the dealers side with this one, its not a sports car. The dealer also has to manage mechanics who may be very talented and are busy, if he makes them do things that are perceived as wasting their time, he will have a had time keeping good help.

I understand some chipping around the lugs and from impact tools and paint wear on the high part of the rim that would have had contact with the rear axle then reversed.

Chipping is way different than huge scratches. My wheels had numerous long scratches over them-way beyond the lug nut area. It looked like the mechanic was doing the job himself and used a fork lift with pallet forks or something similar to lower the rims on their side. Some of the longer scratches were 5-6" long and 1/4" wide in areas..that is uncalled for.

Put it this way, it would have been hard for me to put that many scratches on them doing it on purpose.

I'm not a novice to this..have restored 6 antique cars and one tractor. I would have done it myself but he loaded the tires at the same time an I did not feel comfortable with the weight of the tires involved.

I have seen numerous other tractors with reversed rims and they did not have scratches like mine.

 

[MasseyWV]

we offer a high-end unit with powdercoating and each crated individually. Take your pick, but don't expect the same price.

In my opinion, primer/paint is far superior to powder-coating. Call it high-end if you wish, but powder-coating makes it look low-end to me.

Before any of you think I am fine with scratched stuff, I'm actually very fussy, but I am realistic as well.

Fussy but realistic... Realistic from who's point of view?

I'll buy the more expensive product because not only do they look better when bought, but they generally look better a few years down the road.

I think many dealers may try to use this to their advantage. Scratched product with rust for less money, or scratch-free product with no rust for more money. Which would you buy? Clearly, the scratch-free product looks better, which creates an added incentive to get the buyer to pay more money, thus making more profit for the dealer.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would not accept it. All my equipment, my tractor, trailer, finish mower, box blade, grader blade, bush hog, front end snow plow, post hole digger, 2 bottom plow, ect all sit in side the barn on dollys for easy hookup. I am **** I guess but they get power washed and stored after each use. Its worked well for me. Since implements have gone up so much I guarantee you I could get what I paid for them or more for each and every one.

Chris

 

[DavesTractor]

In my opinion, primer/paint is far superior to powder-coating. Call it high-end if you wish, but powder-coating makes it look low-end to me.



Fussy but realistic... Realistic from who's point of view?



I think many dealers may try to use this to their advantage. Scratched product with rust for less money, or scratch-free product with no rust for more money. Which would you buy? Clearly, the scratch-free product looks better, which creates an added incentive to get the buyer to pay more money, thus making more profit for the dealer.

Massey,

Apparently my post had no value to you, probably my answer to yours won't either, but I'll give it a shot.

You go with equipment enamel, I like powder coating vs the kind of paint you see on most implements. We are not talking about a fine automotive paint job vs powdercoating. You don't get a primed, sealed, topcoat/clearcoat paint job on a box scraper.

Realistic from who's point of view? Obviously mine. You are welcome to your point of view also, but there really isn't anything to argue about here.

And your third point indicates we are using this as a scheme to make more money? You must be kidding? Giving more than one quality and/or price level option is just giving the customers more options, not some sort of trickery. Does it make more money? Well, I suppose it does if it keeps the customer on your lot and he doesn't go off and buy elsewhere. But should we not do that?

 

[scrappy isb67]

when I bought my rig the tractor looks like it had been outside for a while, the knobs are all faded, the seat had a really small tear in it and the seatpan looks like they painted right over the rust. the Imatch looked like it had been drug from one end of the parking lot to the other. I asked for some touchup paint and touched everything up. Do i like it? no, but I understand it and am not going to lose any sleep over it. it is not going to affect functionality and is only asthetics. I have put way more scratches on everthing myself!

 

[MasseyWV]

Apparently my post had no value to you, probably my answer to yours won't either, but I'll give it a shot.

Of course your post had value to me, it allowed me to make a point.

You go with equipment enamel, I like powder coating vs the kind of paint you see on most implements. We are not talking about a fine automotive paint job vs powdercoating. You don't get a primed, sealed, topcoat/clearcoat paint job on a box scraper.

I agree that the paint used on implements is greatly inferior to automotive paint, but I still believe it's better than powder-coating because most manufacturers don't seem to take the time to properly prepare the metal surface, which only causes the powder-coating to begin peeling off.

Realistic from who's point of view? Obviously mine. You are welcome to your point of view also, but there really isn't anything to argue about here.

It was a rhetorical question. Since you are a dealer, it was obviously from your point of view.

And your third point indicates we are using this as a scheme to make more money? You must be kidding? Giving more than one quality and/or price level option is just giving the customers more options, not some sort of trickery. Does it make more money? Well, I suppose it does if it keeps the customer on your lot and he doesn't go off and buy elsewhere. But should we not do that?

Despite having used your post to make my point, I wasn't trying to imply that you were using the "upsell" scheme, but I wasn't kidding either. You may see it as giving the customer options, but have you considered how the customer may see it? I'm sure you have, but as you already know, not all customers will see it in a positive light.

Personally, I believe that appearance is everything, and I hate rust with a passion. That said, many of your customers may feel the same way, and seeing rusty implements, etc... on your lot has the potential for making the dealership (as a whole) look bad to them. There is nothing wrong with trying to turn potential customers into paying customers, especially in this economy, but why not use every advantage you have at your disposal? Seriously, how much trouble would it be to touch up scratches on new implements and other equipment so they all look their best?

 

[remington270]

When buying a new tractor (not sure about implements) you can actually ask the dealer how long the unit has been on his lot (there's a term for this which I forget), but this was very important to me when I bought my tractor new.