Do dealers not listing prices shoot themselves in the foot?

oosik · Jan 2, 2015

I've very often taken the opportunity to tell a company that the email I'm sending is not to find out the price but to ask that they list prices in their adds. I find it most irritating to not have prices listed. I know it some kind of merchandising scheme - and that makes me even more upset.

bigbull338 · Jan 2, 2015

the 1st tractor i bought from stopping by the dealer as a joke to look at.then i bought said tractor over the ph.the next 2 tractors was bought over the ph and paid for on delivery.then i traded tractors over the ph.went to that dealer to pay only because i had a mod done on the tractor and had to show and tell them what todo.i haggle with every dealer i do bisiness with.if they dont haggle i dont do business with them.

MossRoad · Jan 2, 2015

I've talked to a few business owners that don't put prices on the web because as soon as they do, the guy down the street puts his lower. Kind of like gas price wars. There's a station here that always puts his price 1 penny lower than the station across the street. 1 penny. Been doing it for 10+ years. I think the guy that is 1 penny higher enjoys changing his prices just so the other guy has to.

2458n · Jan 2, 2015

Old marketing tool for car sales. I took a ton of grief when I started out as I sold the car that was advertised in the Sunday paper. I was known as the new guy who sold the "bait". Tractor dealers want a live person in the dealership-that is the reason for the ad. Once they get you in the game is on. To just put a price in the paper does nothing to drive showroom traffic. Anyone can beat the price or the customer goes someplace else looking to beat your advertised price.The next guy to get the person in the store wins because you already stated your price. That is the way it works. Most people say they shopped hard for their new car,tractor. -facts prove other wise and they often buy at the first place they stop.

bigcut · Jan 2, 2015

GManBart said:
I find it annoying, but I know that most manufacturers don't let their dealers advertise prices. That was one of the nice things about LS....the dealers are allowed to advertise actual selling prices.

GMan,
Thanks for the post....I didn't know that. Learn something new everyday.
Thanks,
John

forestcreature1 · Jan 3, 2015

Another item to keep in mind, few online dealers actually have anyone to CHANGE those online prices once they are posted. Keeping an accurate parts/inventory/price is viewed as a pain they can do without since they are not in the web/database business. This is especially true, as others have stated, for the lack of negotiation. Vendors can usually give you a better deal when they feel pinched to make a deadline/quota. Difficult, if not impossible, to reflect that on a web page - maybe more possible with "social media" (I hate that phrase, and I am in the IT dept) as each person could have different prices [within the dealership].

I prefer to know at least ballpark pricing, certainly when I am "off the leash" and looking at something new to me [I am going to buy a chipper sometime this year].
In the case of the snowblower I bought from Iowa Farm Equipment, they didn't have what I was looking for on the website, but they carried the brand that made them.
So I emailed Andrew about it. It will be shipping this week (I asked for the delay since I didn't want to bother with it over the holiday).

I will give more of my attention to dealers who post prices online, and will also check my several local dealers. But if you are not local, nor posting prices, then I will skip you.

paulfun9 · Jan 3, 2015

With used tractors I will skip an add that does not include prices. Over the years I have found that more often than not if the price is not included its way overpriced and their starting point is usually too high for me to even begin negotiations with so its best to skip them.
With new machines I would like to see at least the retail price listed on the manufactures web site so I have a starting point but not all have the build your machine option which I found frustrating when starting my potential tractor list this year.

MessickFarmEqu · Jan 3, 2015

few points from the dealer side.

If we're getting paid co-op dollars, you can't advertise anything but list prices. Many vendors won't allow new prices online either, some people get around this or mask their pricing doing weird package deals or listing things as 'demo' or 'rental'.

There are very few tractors we can actually put a price on out on the lot. Zero turns you can, and we do some of this... but how would you price a BX Kubota? Tire choices change the price, a grill guard is extra, lot tractors are not ballasted, etc. There are so many variables and the machines sitting on the lot as they are will rarely fit a customers needs.

Its also tough as programs change quarterly, as seem to always become more complex. Buying a New Holland? Your price is different if you join the cattlemen's association!

You'd be surprised how hard it can be.

davesl708 · Jan 3, 2015

I understand the Dealers point of view. My nephew is a dealer. However, If I cannot see where you are price wise I move on to someone who post their prices. It is very frustrating to go to a website to look at prices to get an idea of the cost of a project and find you cannot get any info.

When buying equipment I expect to see pricing. If not I am not going to waste time with a salesperson just to see where they are on price.
When a gas station prices their gas a penny cheaper I do business with them. I may only save 20 cents but I reward the business that keeps prices lower.
I don't like being expected to give up all my personal information just to find the price.
When I am looking for a used car I call my dealer and tell him what I want and want to pay. He then finds the car and calls me. We both save a lot of time haggling and back and forth on "what about this one".