Buying Advice Playing dealers off each other?

[sixdogs]

In our business, we just flat out ask, "Are you going to buy from the dealer that offers the lowest price?" And if they say yes, we tell them, "We are not interested in 'low bidder' business," and conclude the conversation.

There is a very good business reason for this. You'd expect that the people who hold out for the absolute cheapest price would leave you alone, while those who paid more would be much pickier buyers of service. Turns out the opposite is true: that guy who wants the last $100 off will be the first one to bad mouth you if anything goes wrong. So in the days of internet reviews and "net influencers" if having a great reputation for service is important, you politely run away from the price-focused buyers.

And BTW the price-focused buyers will always deny this is their behavior.

Very true. It isn't worth educating a newbie who will turn around and buy from some loser down the road for $10 less. That's why Darwin is around. Then he'll be right back with more questions when he needs advice when things don't go as expected. The same with advice. I've given priceless educational assistance to newbies, when asked, only to have them do a 180 and take the path I already learned will fail for them. It's OK and some people learn that way but I try to avoid it being on my dime.

 

[Garandman]

By the same token, if someone walks into a dealership and says, "How much for an L3200 with filled R4's and a Land Pride x1234 mower" you are what we call "Column fodder." You are option B or C, and unless you establish value to the customer you are just providing a 2nd or 3rd price point.

We just had a prospect call us and ask that question. The salesperson asked if he could come out and visit, and wound up selling them 3X as much software and the training to use it.

Most vehicle salespeople seem to spend their days aggressively waiting by the phone. Ours spend 3-4 days a week at customer shops.

 

[ovrszd]

By the same token, if someone walks into a dealership and says, "How much for an L3200 with filled R4's and a Land Pride x1234 mower" you are what we call "Column fodder." You are option B or C, and unless you establish value to the customer you are just providing a 2nd or 3rd price point.

We just had a prospect call us and ask that question. The salesperson asked if he could come out and visit, and wound up selling them 3X as much software and the training to use it.

Most vehicle salespeople seem to spend their days aggressively waiting by the phone. Ours spend 3-4 days a week at customer shops.

We were considering trading road graders last Summer. One dealer emailed me a quote. A second dealer delivered a demo for us to use for a week. We ended up delaying the trade a year. When we do trade it will be with the second dealer, even if it costs us a little money.

 

[kcflhrc]

No game at all, go with the lowest price. When I bought my 3032E the dealer had a bunch of them and I got a smokin good deal. Another dealer told me that it was below cost. Who cares, I went with the best price and I'm still grinnin.

 

[lilranch2001]

I think there is a time to shop price, and a time to shop value....
A good dealer is in most cases a good value!!

 

[Garandman]

Hi everyone, I'm sure this question has been addressed on TBN many times, but I couldn't find the answer. I'm looking at 4052M's (loader, HST) and called the two nearest dealers (different chains). The dealer about 80 miles away, in a major agricultural region, is quoting me at about $3k cheaper (including delivering the tractor) than the more local guys. Their prices undoubtedly are lower because of the economics of the region.

80 miles away: $32k (with tax and delivery)
10 miles: $35,300 (with tax)

I am new to this. What's the game here? Can I let our local dealer know to see if he'll drop the price?

The far away dealer essentially said they need to say our farm is in their county in order to pull this off but they want our business. :confused3:

So Whadja get?

 

[AKfish]

I think there is a time to shop price, and a time to shop value....
A good dealer is in most cases a good value!!

I agree... Up to a point.

When you've done your due diligence (comparison shopping) and your local dealer refuses to meet you (split the difference) halfway on a purchase where his lowest price is more than $6,000 more than another dealers FOB price.

What kind of repair/parts service can you reasonably expect, anyway?

Always have to be willing to walk out the door.

AKfish

 

[Plantation Paul]

I don't play them against each other. I ask each for the best OTD (out the door) price. I don't have time to haggle, although some like to do it. Last purchase I made at a dealer, I was looking at a used machine with 1,800hrs on it. 8310R. I found a new machine (it had 100hrs on it) for only 20K more 150 miles away. Shipping included. After the purchase the local salesman was running the serial numbers trying to figure out why it was so cheap. I think I got my message across.

 

[AKfish]

I don't play them against each other. I ask each for the best OTD (out the door) price. I don't have time to haggle, although some like to do it. Last purchase I made at a dealer, I was looking at a used machine with 1,800hrs on it. 8310R. I found a new machine (it had 100hrs on it) for only 20K more 150 miles away. Shipping included. After the purchase the local salesman was running the serial numbers trying to figure out why it was so cheap. I think I got my message across.

Nah... Not "playing" either. Not angling for the last dime, either. Just a reasonable deal compared to what other dealers are willing to offer.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

Our region has a lot of suburbanites with 3-5 acres and good paying jobs. That seems to drive up demand and prices for compact tractors. I went to a dealer in the farming region of the AR river valley about 75 miles away and saved over $2,400 on my LS XJ2025H vs a NH exactly like it at the local dealer.