Brand Loyalty Guilt Question

9973720wb19 · Feb 19, 2018

After years of buying, trading up, buying attachments, trading in attachments, buying attachment I thought I'd use, buying attachments I didn't use, and overall learning, I think (wouldn't bet on it though) I know what I like and need. I started out with the intention to be 100% loyal to one brand, but as I learned and studied over the years, I find some brands are better suited for my needs based on different pieces of equipment. What I mean is, I prefer a particular brand's tractors, another brand's mower, another brand's Utility Vehicles, and yet another's Skid Steer. I feel guilty...but should I. All of the folks at each local dealer are very nice and work hard to earn my business, and I have a good "business" relationship with them. But I'm actually worried and feel bad that I'm not sticking with one dealer and one brand.

What do you guys do?
Do dealers hold it against guys like me?
Is this what dealers expect?
What about you guys?

mcfarmall · Feb 19, 2018

Why feel guilty about buying the piece of equipment that best suits your needs regardless of color? Diversity and inclusion man!

It would be a shame to settle for something that doesn't suit your application just so you could stay "loyal". In todays world $$ is king and loyalty is for dogs.

MossRoad · Feb 19, 2018

I bought my machine factory direct. They have NO dealers. I can build, adapt existing implements to work with it, or I can buy implements from them if I see the need.

When I had a "normal" tractor, I bought it used.

Being brand loyal to attachements - you'd have to justify it with my wallet. Why would you purchase, say, a box blade, from that particular tractor manufacturer, when you could get a nice, used one(maybe that brand, maybe not), that'll work just a well, or maybe even better, for much less?

MossRoad · Feb 19, 2018

I think the only way I'd buy all the implements from the same manufacturer was if I was doing a period-correct restoration of a machine.

Hanshans · Feb 19, 2018

Sounds to me like you are pretty open minded. I would think it would be worse if you just stuck with one brand out of blind loyalty to that brand. I would hope that most good dealers would be ok with that.

Oldoak · Feb 19, 2018

mcfarmall said:
Why feel guilty about buying the piece of equipment that best suits your needs regardless of color? Diversity and inclusion man!

It would be a shame to settle for something that doesn't suit your application just so you could stay "loyal". In todays world $$ is king and loyalty is for dogs.

You nailed it! :thumbsup:

I always choose what I think is best for my needs and best value for the money spent, regardless of brand.

oosik · Feb 19, 2018

Besides my Kubota tractor my implements are - Rankin, Land Pride, Rhino, Bush Hog, Pittsburg, Wallenstein, Horst & Fit Rite. The only thing I appear to have a loyalty to is spending a great amount of $$$$.

coldsteelva · Feb 19, 2018

So blind loyalty to a brand/mfr. is not required. Is it sacrilege to purchase all the implements from wherever you wish and then paint them to match? JD Green, Kubota Orange, MF Red, Yanmar Red, etc.

mykleh · Feb 19, 2018

not sure I would drink the cool aide of painting to match but buying the best equipment you can for the application and $ is wise.. I just tell the different companies involved why they didn't get my business.. its not a secret to me that I hide and I feel if I tell them something they have heard before maybe the OEM will change the product based on what the consumer wants/uses it for.. I don't buy on price I buy on application, quality, service, reputation. all the dealers I deal with are great businesses.. if I have a fault it would be that I only buy what those companies sell/rep for.. as they will tell me what will work, won't work and stand behind it!

CobyRupert · Feb 19, 2018

Be loyal to those corporations (brands) just like they were loyal to the American worker who use to build their products.

Texasmark · Feb 19, 2018

I buy what's available and meets my needs the best. I've been through all the colors but the currently popular orange. Current tractor stable is as shown, 2 Red and 2 Blue, all 4 here for their reasons, not that others couldn't be here too but enough is enough....have the chores adequately covered.

On implements, rainbow colors there too. I have and have had mostly JD implements (when buying vintage) because they were available primarily. Finding parts for implements made back in the '60s has been remarkably easy to my surprise.

Garandman · Feb 19, 2018

Look up what 澱randing is. The companies seek emotional attachment, in order to extract maximum dollars. Harley痴 are the worst-performing yet most expensive motorcycles on the market, and their owners are proud to own them.

Equipment manufacturers are a little more down to earth, but anybody selling anything has an 的nfluence strategy.

oosik · Feb 19, 2018

Not that I've ever tried - but I seriously doubt that if I painted all my implements one color - the jobs would get done any better, easier, faster, etc, etc.

Steppenwolfe · Feb 19, 2018

No hiding my Brand... But, I really like everything about Kubota, it suits my needs and wishes. I also have three different dealers I have purchased from. I also like Everything Attachments for implements.

Cortessoccer10 · Feb 19, 2018

Need to change the hydraulic oil in my 5320 John Deere any information?

MossRoad · Feb 19, 2018

Cortessoccer10 said:
Need to change the hydraulic oil in my 5320 John Deere any information?

Welcome to TBN! You'd be better off posting this question in the John Deere Owning/Operaing forum.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/john-deere-owning-operating/

4570Man · Feb 19, 2018

Brand loyalty is stupid IMO. It’s a sure fire way to end up with less for more. Every brand makes some real turds.

BleedingOrange · Feb 19, 2018

Since it is my hard earned cash I am spending, and want the very best I can get with the amount of cash I am willing to spend, I feel absolutely NOT BRAND LOYAL TO ANYONE, OR ANY BRAND.
I,ve seen some friends who are very loyal to their various brands, and they have suffered greatly with new junk, year after year, after year. I use to feel sorry for them, and then I realized that the just don,t make good decisions, and it isn,t going to change.