Buying Advice Cabela's selling Compact Tractors

[daugen]

Let's take this from another angle. Cabela sells boats, apparently successfully.
Clearly they feel us outdoorsy folk all think along the same lines and we all have a boat and
a tractor.

But wait. I do...and I bet many of you do. Particularly if you are a lake boater.
Like any good company they are trying to find niches and exploit them.
somehow.
I hadn't connected the boat to tractor part before.
You know, because boats won't work on land and tractors won't work on water.

glad we've got that settled.

 

[Cherokee140]

This has sure been interesting to say the least. Just to play this back, after seeing so many posts related to Cabela's tractors that presented lots of questions and more than a few things being written that were not true, I decided to identify myself and post a summary that laid out all of the facts related to Cabela's now offering tractors and implements. I know this forum well, and I knew that there would be some negative comments, but it seemed worth to at least let folks know about Cabela's approach. In the end, for those that have a genuine interest in knowing the facts and not speculating, there is now something to refer to. That was the goal. For those that posted supportive comments, or made the effort to ask others to tone things down a bit, I thank you. For those that thought that being overly critical is how they serve fellow TBN members, God bless you, and I sincerely wish you the best, even if you might happen to work at or own a competitive tractor dealership. Again, I am not a Cabela's employee, I'm an Ag Equipment guy who is helping Cabela's put together a new business. Nothing more, nothing less. One thing that I am absolutely certain of is that neither me nor anyone else that's involved in what Cabela's is doing will ever find it necessary to speak poorly of another, whether they are a competitor or a tractor enthusiast. We choose to let our customers judge how well we serve them, just as any good business does.

You have not talked to Tim D. then.....or perhaps he does not work there any more.

 

[GManBart]

There are not going to be as abundant as your local WaWa.

I think I'd trade our Cabela's for a couple WaWa stores....great coffee, great subs, and awesome baked goods (not that I need any donuts!).

 

[sd455dan]

Let's take this from another angle. Cabela sells boats, apparently successfully.
Clearly they feel us outdoorsy folk all think along the same lines and we all have a boat and
a tractor.

But wait. I do...and I bet many of you do. Particularly if you are a lake boater.
Like any good company they are trying to find niches and exploit them.
somehow.
I hadn't connected the boat to tractor part before.
You know, because boats won't work on land and tractors won't work on water.

glad we've got that settled.

I can see it now- the new Cabela's tractor with the hitch hooked to a brand new boat on a display that looks like a boat ramp ... actually sounds pretty neat, i am sure it would make me smile, and look it all over-
We looked at the new TYMs a few years ago -believe it was a cabbed 353 hst?? and the fit and finish was good...

 

[lilranch2001]

This has sure been interesting to say the least. Just to play this back, after seeing so many posts related to Cabela's tractors that presented lots of questions and more than a few things being written that were not true, I decided to identify myself and post a summary that laid out all of the facts related to Cabela's now offering tractors and implements. I know this forum well, and I knew that there would be some negative comments, but it seemed worth to at least let folks know about Cabela's approach. In the end, for those that have a genuine interest in knowing the facts and not speculating, there is now something to refer to. That was the goal. For those that posted supportive comments, or made the effort to ask others to tone things down a bit, I thank you. For those that thought that being overly critical is how they serve fellow TBN members, God bless you, and I sincerely wish you the best, even if you might happen to work at or own a competitive tractor dealership. Again, I am not a Cabela's employee, I'm an Ag Equipment guy who is helping Cabela's put together a new business. Nothing more, nothing less. One thing that I am absolutely certain of is that neither me nor anyone else that's involved in what Cabela's is doing will ever find it necessary to speak poorly of another, whether they are a competitor or a tractor enthusiast. We choose to let our customers judge how well we serve them, just as any good business does.

I agree, a dealer that piped up made me lose some respect I had developed for them based on peoples comments on TBN over the years, but they came off to me fairly aggressive on this thread, and very defensive and seemingly not completely upfront on another thread I have been reading. It seems like either he is not the kind of guy I would want to do business with, or currently having problems with his business now and is piling on to help his own standing in the industry

 

[daugen]

when one spends his time knocking the competition, it only shows an inherent weakness that without much
good to say about one's product, all one has air for is finding fault in others.

I do love those comparison charts though. You know the ones where they find every conceivable advantage and list them, regardless
of the relevance. chrome gas cap? check oh dear, yours is merely painted...
ultraleather armrests? check. oh dear, yours are just slippery vinyl
Platinum service? check. oh dear, yours is merely bronze
and so on

 

[Deerherd]

I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact that TYM will sell tractors to anyone, and virtually every other OEM is tied up in other exclusive licensing agreements.:thumbsup: Its not like there are lots of options to choose from.

Putting TYM and Cabela's down doesn't advance your standing in my eyes, it diminishes it. I do own products from 3 of the 10 manufacturers you list in your signature and should I ever need parts for them, I'll buy them locally.

I don't think thats true at all. I'm here, and have been for a long time. There is upside. You just have to be willing to swim with the sharks and realize that you loose control of your corporate message. While its causes stress at time, it builds trust and respect and over the long haul people will reward you for it.

We will have to agree to disagree. There is a big difference between factory people contributing and a dealer posting who is actively seeking business from participating on this forum. Selling parts or machines online at discounted prices and circumventing the burden of sales taxes isn't building trust and respect, it's a business model based on price alone.

I'm sure you have endeared yourself to Kubota and their other dealers in the network but it may be contributing to that stress or loss of corporate message you speak of. Only you can decide if it's worth it.

 

[dave1949]

I've purchased things from Messick's and would again. They are head and shoulders above the mostly non-existent NH dealers around here. The NH parts diagrams on their web site have been useful too. They provide proven value to their customers.

Just because Neal is a dealer and competitor doesn't mean he loses the right to express an opinion or offer his insights. His opinions can be challenged by anyone, just like the rest of us. I haven't seen any rebuttal to his opinions, just remarks indicating he shouldn't express them.

 

[kcflhrc]

There's already someone with direct ties to the Cabela's tractor line here, so you're wrong any way you look at it.

It's the internet Bart, do you believe everything you read here? You have no idea who this guy is or what his motives are. Last time I checked Cabela's wasn't a manufacturer of anything. You said OEM then you side stepped that. Now your saying I'm wrong? Please!

 

[RDrancher]

I did a job for a customer yesterday that had just purchased a tractor and roto tiller attachment from Cabelas. He mentioned that their credit line was one of the main reasons. Easier to get approved? I don't know and I didn't ask.

It was a pretty busy day and I didn't get to look at the tractor up close. It did look to be kinda small for a 35 hp. But it looked nice and shiny!

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Just because Neal is a dealer and competitor doesn't mean he loses the right to express an opinion or offer his insights. His opinions can be challenged by anyone, just like the rest of us. I haven't seen any rebuttal to his opinions, just remarks indicating he shouldn't express them.

Yea, I don't think any of that would be particularly controversial had someone else posted it. I don't hide my bias, and more often than not people seem thankful for the opinions of those in the industry. (TractorGuy included, its cool that he is here) Again, it goes back to why most companies won't engage here, its impossible to not ruffle some feathers and you have to look for the larger benefit.

 

[finspop]

This is maybe here nor there in relation to the topic of dealers/manufacturers posting on TBN, but I ordered some parts for Messick's that were a real b**ch for them to find, and the customer service was fanfriggin'tastic. Phone calls returned promptly, cheerful and helpful attitude, persistence in tracking down the part, etc. I bet they lost $ on the deal by the time all was said and done, but they earned my repeat business.

I think TractorGuy has been very honest about his affiliation and respectful in his tone. If we, as readers, are not savvy enough to read between the lines of his very understandable Cabela's boosterism, well... then we ain't very savvy. I hope folks like he and Neal keep posting. IMHO, they add value to this forum.

 

[GManBart]

It's the internet Bart, do you believe everything you read here? You have no idea who this guy is or what his motives are. Last time I checked Cabela's wasn't a manufacturer of anything. You said OEM then you side stepped that. Now your saying I'm wrong? Please!

OEM/Brand is the same thing for this discussion....a company that sells tractors with their name on them is what we're discussing. If it wasn't important to Cabela's there wouldn't be somebody here sharing information for them.

Oh right, there's probably somebody who decided, on their own, to be a random Cabela's tractor program supporter...please. BTW, he's also on other forums, with the same user name, sharing the same information. That would be a LOT of effort for someone who wasn't directly involved with their tractor program.

So yes, you're wrong. The OEMs/Brands care what happens on the biggest tractor forum on the internet, and that includes Cabela's...if they didn't, big names like Deere wouldn't be paid advertisers.

You're a self-proclaimed tractor newbie who just bought his first tractor a few weeks ago, and suddenly you understand all the marketing and business models involved in the tractor industry? Not too likely.

 

[kcflhrc]

OEM/Brand is the same thing for this discussion....a company that sells tractors with their name on them is what we're discussing. If it wasn't important to Cabela's there wouldn't be somebody here sharing information for them.

Oh right, there's probably somebody who decided, on their own, to be a random Cabela's tractor program supporter...please. BTW, he's also on other forums, with the same user name, sharing the same information. That would be a LOT of effort for someone who wasn't directly involved with their tractor program.

So yes, you're wrong. The OEMs/Brands care what happens on the biggest tractor forum on the internet, and that includes Cabela's...if they didn't, big names like Deere wouldn't be paid advertisers.

You're a self-proclaimed tractor newbie who just bought his first tractor a few weeks ago, and suddenly you understand all the marketing and business models involved in the tractor industry? Not too likely.

I can see I'm wasting my time, you will figure it out sooner or later, I'm guessing later.

 

[GManBart]

I can see I'm wasting my time, you will figure it out sooner or later, I'm guessing later.

You're so funny! :laughing:

 

[murphy1244]

Yea, I don't think any of that would be particularly controversial had someone else posted it. I don't hide my bias, and more often than not people seem thankful for the opinions of those in the industry. (TractorGuy included, its cool that he is here) Again, it goes back to why most companies won't engage here, its impossible to not ruffle some feathers and you have to look for the larger benefit.

Neal, who is your parts guy for Land Pride implements? Will be starting to rebuild the BB if this ^%$%^% snow goes away.

 

[94BULLITT]

Neal, who is your parts guy for Land Pride implements? Will be starting to rebuild the BB if this ^%$%^% snow goes away.

You were supposed to have it ready to work for when the snow goes away

 

[MinnesotaEric]

As a former sales manager, to me it sounds like Cabelas is applying the classic value add to the CUT market. Those who want the staying power of an established, well funded, private company, whose entire reputation is built on customer service, will now be able to enjoy the same kind of customer service experience buying and owning a CUT from Cabelas. Think you cannot get Under Armor, Columbia, Smith & Wesson and the like for less some place else if all you do is shop around? then why are you buying from Cabelas? Because of their stock of inventory, availability, experience, and customer service.

Today there is a lack of professional salesmanship and familiarity in many kinds of different expensive retail saleså‚*e it boats, trucks, heavy equipment or tractors. Yet at the same time, a professional salesperson's job is to act as a guide for the customer by first qualifying their need, and making certain any preconceived notions of what the customer thinks he or she needs is what they really what will do the job, and then by showing and explaining the way points along the way to meet the desires and needs of the customer. From the customer's perspective, they want the salesperson to supply them with special knowledge that cannot be learned except through familiarity and use of the equipment and they want a salesperson who is eager to please, returns phone calls, answers questions, and makes certain that the customer knows he or she is important by their mannerisms and by meeting expectations.

Being in sales is pretty easy if the salesperson is one of those chatty types who easily walks into conversations with strangers and then can hold their attention, but in my own quest of comparing tractors, I've met deadpans who I would fire. Especially with phone skills. Customers loath being treated as though the salesperson (or anybody for that matter) treats them as though they are doing the customer a favor. Example: too busy to quote out a tractor? Too busy doing what? You're in sales for crying out loud, make time or failing that, briefly explain you're busy now, but will make time at such and such a time or call back at such and such a time. Do not treat customers as though they are teenage girls hovering around their phone all day waiting for a boy to call!

At any-rate, those who are motivated solely by price need to understand that if Cabelas can notch up just one area in their level of professionalism by treating customers better than traditional dealers, then they will have a good shot to get business from their core customers.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Neal, who is your parts guy for Land Pride implements? Will be starting to rebuild the BB if this ^%$%^% snow goes away.

implements like that are dead simple, any of our staff will be able to help you equally as well. Had you asked for a high HP tractor, self propelled sprayer, etc I'd have some names for you .

 

[Wheresmy]

It looks like the MSRP for the LM35 (35 hp shuttle-shift) dropped to $17,999 and the LM35H (35 hp hydrostatic) dropped to $20,099. I don't recall what the LM35 shuttle-shift was priced at, but the LM35H went from $22,899 MSRP to $20,099 MSRP if I recall correctly. Supposedly the free loader promo expired yesterday, though it is still listed on the website.

Here are the current MSRP listings on the Cabela's website:

LM35:   $17,999  (35 HP, Shuttle-shift, Open Station)
LM35H:  $20,099  (35 HP, Hydrostatic, Open Station)
LM43:   $21,699  (43 HP, Shuttle-shift, Open Station)
LM43H:  $23,199  (43 HP, Hydrostatic, Open Station)
LM43HC: $26,399  (43 HP, Hydrostatic, Cab)
LM50:   $23,799  (50 HP, Shuttle-shift, Open Station)
LM50H:  $25,799  (50 HP, Hydrostatic, Open Station)
LM50HC: $29,899  (50 HP, Hydrostatic, Cab)

The prices are still a bit high, but if they continue the free loader program the prices are now much closer to comparable TYM tractors. For instance, I found a T433 with Shuttle-shift and loader online for $20,592. If Cabela's continues the free loader program, the same LM43 at $21,699 is pretty close in price. Supposedly the free loader program ended yesterday, though it is still listed on their website at this time.