Out of state guy who bought from Barlows

bfisherman11 · May 5, 2015

AxleHub, I don't get your angle. I am man enough to stand up for myself and you were not on the phone listening to this guy. Don't presume you know anything about me or what you interpreted from my post. I don't appreciate or even care what you think about your evaluation of the situation that is for sure. I was polite to this guy, as we spoke. I was exact in every way. Did you miss the part where he said "kubota" said my trade was only worth $600? I am not stupid, I know Kubota had nothing to say regarding what a dealer would offer in trade. This is a dishonest individual who I knew was lying to me. As I sat there I listened to this guy till he had said enough that I knew we could not do business. I pointed out to the dealer that his new better price was more like $200 more than his initial offer. If I was to give you advise it would be that tone and inflection of what we read is not always easy to determine when reading an email or reading from a BB. Nor is it always easy to explain a situation. The real point of the post was the question about the process of closing a deal with Barlows, not so much the dick of a dealer (unnamed).

Your exactly the kind of person I would prefer not post on my thread. I am looking for customers of Barlows. Frankly your opinions on life and my conduct are better explained to your kids. I am not interested.

To the rest, I appreciate your insight.

Bill

JOHNTHOMAS · May 5, 2015

I would not go back to the original dealer myself under the situation you described. I don't think there is a possibility of the situation getting better, only worse under the situation you have described.
There are dealers all over to buy from and to obtain service from. Maybe the person you talked with will be gone in the years ahead if you every decide to return to that dealership. :2cents:
I am not an out of state guy that bought from Barlows, I actually live 7 miles from his dealership and my rental property is 2 miles from the dealership. I knew his wife from Real Estate dealings but did not know Steve Barlow or his son Brady until I bought my first Kubota about 12 years ago. I'm just responding with my experience with them, locally. Some times local reputation can mean a lot.

McREBEL · May 5, 2015

Creamer said:
If I were you I would stop back in at the first dealer, apologize, calmly state your issues, and try to set up the deal or at least establish a relationship for later. Maybe you guys agree to disagree on the price as I did but not ruin the relationship. You will appreciate a dealer in the long run.

I am all for bending to get along and I understand we probably have a condensed version and only one side of the story, but what can you glean from the original post the OP should apologize for? Shopping Around? Serious question, not being a smart-elic.

Tomtint · May 5, 2015

2500.00 is a significant difference. I'm like you as well and would rather buy local ..provided all things are equal of at least close to equal. I have not bought from Barlows but did inquire when I got my L3700. I have heard good things here and from others who I know personally that purchased from them. If your local dealer is providing poor repair service at some point ( should the Bota actually need it ) ..that is simply poor product representation and I'm sure corporate would not like that attitude in the marketplace ...hint hint.. I would not have any reservations saving 2500.00 , good luck.

5030 · May 5, 2015

Isn't Barlow a pocket knife type? You see, I only deal with my local dealer(s), but then I buy large tractors and I need the local prescence if something breaks. I need the dealer to be there with a backup unit and/or quick service if necessary. Buying long distance isn't in the cards for me. Would never work.

Personally speaking, I would have never attempted leveraging one dealer against another, thats bad business and if you need service, you shot yourself in the foot, big time. Just because a dealer is an authorized franchisee, don't mean he has to prioritize your business, don't work that way.

When I spend 50 or 60 grand for a machine I expect the dealer to be available for unforseen breakdowns, not another dealer in the area that I didn't purchase from. Having said that, in the last 12 Kubota's I've bought, I've really had no major issues to speak of. Thats a testament to Kubota quality and engineering.

If was dealer 'a', you'd wait until hadies froze over before you got service, but thats just me and maybe the dealer will 'forgive and forget'. I wouldn't myself.

No doubt you are an adult (kids don't buy diesel tractors that I know of) but exhibiting some common sense when dealing with any dealer is always recommended.

buckeyefarmer · May 5, 2015

I bought out of state from Barlows, including a trade, and it was a good experience. I also buy parts online from Messicks, and that has been good. When I priced my last tractor Barlows was lowest, followed by Messicks, and my local dealer was highest. I got my prices including tradein price, and went with the best deal. Never told the local dealer I bought a new tractor. Barlows will NOT do a bait and switch, everything was spelled out ahead of time by email. I have not needed any warranty work, although I should have gotten the backhoe boom cylinder repacked because it leaks since new. Since it was not too bad, I let it go. probably out of warranty by now. My tractor will be paid off in about 3 more months.

sixdogs · May 5, 2015

I would steer clear of that first dealer even if there was no other dealer involved. Guys that that fail to grasp what makes a business work will likely fail anyway.

bfisherman11 · May 6, 2015

5030, I did not try to play one dealer against another. I had moved on from the local guy because I knew pretty quickly he was not going to deal. I also just got turned off from him running down all the other guys (LS, Kioti, Massey). He happened to call me. I sat listening as he ran my trade down and how he was doing me a favor. Then he shot me his new better price that was $200 more. That was enough. I already knew he and I were not connecting. The point of me telling that story was how he said I would get bait and switched by Barlows. That was all. I was not looking for Axle to try and give me life advise. That was why in the effort to keep on track and get an answer to what the purchase process is with Barlows I invited Axle to stay off the thread. Is it wrong to push back when your pushed? I bet most guys here would rather add to a thread with a post than take it in the wrong direction. My hope was to get an answer and perhaps create a record others with the same question might find in a search. My one question is will there be a written contract before they ship. This keeps both parties legit.

Thanks and I invite all constructive additions to the thread. It is appreciated.

Oh, I too prefer a relationship with local businesses. I said that in my original post.

Bill

JOHNTHOMAS · May 6, 2015

As 5030 said, distance buying isn't for him because of the reasons he said. He wants special attention and is willing to pay whatever his local dealer holds him up for. He's out of the discussion. He believes a dealer should be vengeful and not doing business in a business manner. Farmers are very independent people and that's why many people are farmers so they can do things "their" way.

No one to answer to, no clocks to punch and tell customers to kiss off if they feel mistreated.
5030 has said he's never needed much service nor have I in 17 new purchases from Barlows and 2 used purchases. Steve Barlow is one of the most honest men I've ever dealt with, why I keep going back to him. He's talked me out of many purchases by explaining that what I'm about to buy won't do what I'm expecting it to do.
I've bought over 170 cars/trucks since 1964 and many Kubotas over the past 12 years. I've "boycotted" a few car dealerships over the years and still been able to keep buying vehicles. Different strokes for different folks and over the years I've seen almost every "new" way/style/trained program to sell vehicles to the public. Some have been good and some bad. I taught Marketing for a few years at the College and enjoyed the class and still do some consulting which brings me to or back to Different strokes for different folks. I will step forth and make a bold statement, all business relationships should have two parties that are satisfied after the deal. Doesn't always happen but should for continued business relationships to continue. Buyer brings the money to the table and seller has a product that the buyer wants. Seller gets no money to keep doing more business and buyer walks away with his/her money and no product if they can't reach a mutually satisfying deal. Each parties should give and expect a decent level of respect. Some people do a lot of shopping around and lots of businesses go out of business.
I think from the information presented that the dealer you went to should be avoided unless the owner calls you and apologizes for his employee and if who you talked ot was the owner......go on down the road.:2cents: