What is your preference when shopping at a dealership?

[/pine]

An off the wall approach might be to put up some signs with a number to text a salesman for questions or personal assistance...

 

[Stimw]

I'm guessing you are looking for info on what people prefer from Dealer/salesperson.
I retired and closed my 15 year old business repairing construction equipment a year and a half ago.
It's a real judgement call with every customer, some want full service, others no service.
When things would get slow I would cold call.
I could drive past a building site, spot equipment that I worked on (dealer for 5 brands)and approach them.
I would offer them a bus card, tell them who I am and what I did, then completely change the subject!
Ask are they staying busy? Did they hear there was theft/vandalism in such in such area. Ect.
It's always a win some loose some/try not to pease them off!

 

[3Lfarms]

I prefer an acknowledgement that I am there and a quick introduction, then let me look around and ill ask questions when I’m ready.
Fun fact, the first dealership I looked at when I started looking at tractors was the big JD dealership. It’s right across the street from the big NH dealership. Both are about 30 minutes away from me, so I did a web search to find their hours of operation so I could go Saturday morning. The JD dealerships website said they opened at 10AM. I got there at quarter after 10, and there was no one there and the doors were locked. The sign on the door even had their hours saying they should have been open. That was enough for me to cross JD off my shopping list.

 

[DK35vince]

I'd prefer all prices be put on tractors and attachments at dealerships (like a car dealer) vs having to ask every price.
But very few do that I have seen.

 

[cphilip]

I like to be asked if I need help right off. Then when I say Im just looking for now thanks, be told OK just feel free to look around and holler at me if you need any questions answered when your ready... and then leave me alone but don't then disappear off the face of the earth to never be found again. Marked pricing is also a good thing. I will assume there is room to negotiate but I want to know if you in the ballpark before I even start.

 

[cphilip]

Fun fact, the first dealership I looked at when I started looking at tractors was the big JD dealership. It’s right across the street from the big NH dealership. Both are about 30 minutes away from me, so I did a web search to find their hours of operation so I could go Saturday morning. The JD dealerships website said they opened at 10AM. I got there at quarter after 10, and there was no one there and the doors were locked. The sign on the door even had their hours saying they should have been open. That was enough for me to cross JD off my shopping list.

All the JD dealerships around here seem to be corporate run boutiques. Im not sure its that way everywhere but they do not have that local owned vibe to them anymore. They pop up in the middle of town lately. Appear to have no history. There are a few exceptions but they all have remodeled and adopted some similar look and sales model. At least around my area they do. Its hard to find one run by the same people for many years. Im more comfortable with a family run business thats been around 40-50 plus years and still thriving.

 

[Rmart30]

Agree as others said... put prices on the tractors and implements. If I want to know more or test drive it I will go find a salesman. Putting prices on stuff would eliminate a bunch of un needed work and questions from "tire kickers" and let them concentrate on someone ready to purchase. Posting current new and used inventory on their web site with pricing would help also rather than "call for price"

 

[ultrarunner]

I grew up in the car business and worked there as a teen...

What worked best for me was to introduce myself and ask if they needed any help.

If the person said they were just looking... I would give them my card and let them be.

Many have said they appreciated being greeted and then left browse on their own letting them decide if they wanted help.

Of course in the auto business every vehicle new and used had the price predominantly displayed... there was no guessing and no pressure.

I liked to move the front row inventory around... and would do weekend specials... might be a clean lower priced used vehicle along with a brand new vehicle... both usually sold.

We would get a lot of positive comments having prices on everything... the shop also had prices marked on accessories and their would always be a rebuilt/new motor on display and often a retired race car...

The frustration for me was tractor shopping... to say no response would be an understatement.

At the Deere Dealers there was no one to answer a single question... even a simple one as to when would be a good time to come back... the only people around would be the secretary who took my name and number and the guy behind the parts counter... I did not go into the backside where the shops are.

The local Kubota Dealer two counties over sold Kubota and New Holland... the yard was full of New Holland.. like a 100 tractors with a huge FORD sign and a small Kubota sign... by that time I was looking for a BX23... the owner only wanted to sell New Holland... said he could make me a very good deal and have it serviced and delivered the next day within 50 miles...

I went back a year later and found they had dropped New Holland all together and were now exclusively Kubota.

Every Dealer tractor I bought... 2 new Kubota, 1 used CAT, 1 used Deere came with very good sales people. They were knowledgeable straightforward, able to quote a price and reachable.

 

[rgr33]

I would prefer a salesman to greet me when I get there, give me his card , then give me some space to walk around and check out the inventory. If I get serious about a product, I will look him up for price and particulars.

One thing that would really score points with me, and result in more business from me is to post the price on EVERYTHING in the store and the sales yard. I have no idea what a lot of the items on display ( seats, pto parts, ag chemicals) cost, and it is a pain to have to keep asking about it. If it’s in stock, on display, put a price on it please.

 

[sweettractors]

Looks like about 1/2 of you guys want to be left alone and the other 1/2 want to be greeted and then left alone. So as a dealer, how do we determine which 1/2 to greet? Ken Sweet