Dealer philosophy..

bigtiller · Mar 19, 2017

For the last few years I have used e-mail to buy from my dealer, and he is only 2.5 miles away. Anywhere from a handful to maybe a dozen e-mails back & forth to buy my 2720, rear blade, ruff cut mower and the latest was a Stihl polesaw.

E-mail's save time and eliminate confusion on both ends, I really like it.

AKfish · Mar 19, 2017

jenkinsph said:
There are a lot of people window shopping and kicking tires. Not much of a problem if they don't use up some one elses time to do it. Tying up the sales persons time with no regard or intention of buying is inconsiderate imo.

When I am ready to buy I show up with a small cashiers check for ordering (earnest money) and a larger cashiers check for a healthy down payment. The dealer knows I am serious and ready to buy and have the money to proceed. I think this helps with pricing and makes for a smoother swap of money for the tractor I want. Most of the sales persons job is taking the order in detail and fetching the price from the dealer/manager. Usually this involves ordering the specific tractor and add on in for delivery to me. I recognize we all have to eat.

Time is money.. In the end that is the ONLY currency we all really have! I don't waste people's time - intentionally... ( my wife will tell you that I allow too many people the luxury of wasting my time.)

Case in point - I just bought a new fertilizer spreader. Casually mentioned with a question or two these past weeks about price of specific models that would serve my needs.

Doing some homework...gathering info about various manufacturers - and MSRP's.

Boiled it down to 2 models. Frontier and Landpride. Dropped into JD and said I'd like a " bid" price on this spreader. Sales guy says, sure. Five minutes later, he gives me a quote. I leave.

Called Kubota and said I'm looking to buy this spreader - how much? He gives me a price... Which was only a couple hundred more than a price I got from a dealer in MICHIGAN.

I give him my credit card number. Done deal. Took 15 minutes 'cause he had to work the price with the manager. JD gave me MSRP and they were subsequently $850 more than Kubota.

For a less capacity spreader.... I gave them the opportunity to work with me and they weren't interested or didn't take me seriously or - who knows...

By the way, the M62 is a pretty impressive looking machine!

jenkinsph · Mar 19, 2017

AKfish,
That is the way to do it, I would figure out which ones were suitable and compare the prices. Would not matter to me if it was green or not.

The M62 is a very nice tlb no question about it being the top of the pile in this category.

AKfish · Mar 19, 2017

bigtiller said:
For the last few years I have used e-mail to buy from my dealer, and he is only 2.5 miles away. Anywhere from a handful to maybe a dozen e-mails back & forth to buy my 2720, rear blade, ruff cut mower and the latest was a Stihl polesaw.

E-mail's save time and eliminate confusion on both ends, I really like it.

Amen! With my memory... It also helps to bring everyone right back to where we left things.

However, I have also noticed that there are some salespeople who will not respond to email inquiries. They only want you to "call" them and or will only give you the prices over the phone.

Those guys don't make the " cut" with me. Way too easy to get caught up in the " but... I thought that's what you said...."

ultrarunner · Mar 19, 2017

I find e-mail most useful... in that everything remains for a point of reference... fax also works.

I don't have anything to text with so that leaves me out for texting and not carrying a cell leaves out this option.

AKfish · Mar 19, 2017

jenkinsph said:
AKfish,
That is the way to do it, I would figure out which ones were suitable and compare the prices. Would not matter to me if it was green or not.

The M62 is a very nice tlb no question about it being the top of the pile in this category.

Steve, I do have a measure of local dealer loyality... Self-interest, really. I need them to be in business... Parts, major repairs, as well as advice- recommendations about equipment issues i.e. hydraulic compatibility for other manufacturers bale grapples, bale accumulators, and my JD tractors, for example.

But... That only goes so far... 'Cause as I've said before - I know I'd see their smiling faces in the crowd at my farm auction!

fried1765 · Mar 19, 2017

AKfish said:
Amen! With my memory... It also helps to bring everyone right back to where we left things.

However, I have also noticed that there are some salespeople who will not respond to email inquiries. They only want you to "call" them and or will only give you the prices over the phone.

Those guys don't make the " cut" with me. Way too easy to get caught up in the " but... I thought that's what you said...."

E-Mails are absolutely THE BEST!
There is simply no .... "he said"...."she said".
I'll show you a copy of the E-Mail!
Issue resolved!