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

 

[ultrarunner]

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

Don't forget items with posted prices... ;-)

 

[sweettractors]

Don't forget items with posted prices... ;-)

We post prices on tractors currently and will consider implements in the future. Of course all our product prices are posted online with free 1000 mile shipping figured in. Ken Sweet

 

[Sysop]

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

I personally would say "situation by situation".

If your or your staff happens to be near enough to say "Hello! Come track us down if we can help." and continue on their way, go that route; of course that is simply being friendly. Otherwise, a big sign where folk pull in the lot saying:
WELCOME!
Please visit our sales office for any assistance!

You could also push some advertising that you are a "no pressure" dealer so folk know what to expect.

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm thinking this why you and a few others here are market leaders...

Not to belabor... when I was left a voice message two days later on the BX it was almost 3k more than a friend had bought exactly what I wanted 6 weeks prior... this is how I came to San Jose.

So he let me copy is papers and I went back... the Dealer said the BX23 are so popular now that no discounts... even from 6 weeks ago... friend was right at 15k + tax and I was quoted 18k... but, was also told they had better tractor price points on New Holland.... which I was not interested in.

I was in San Jose a couple of months later and stopped in to buy a post hole digger... the owner recognized me from my two previous visits and asked why I needed a post hole digger... told him I had found a BX for 15k... and had some projects... he said go to whomever sold me the BX because his implements were only for his customers...

Not in a million years would that fly in the auto business... at least not here.

 

[darmstrong2319]

The way I see it sweettractor is if you walk out there to greet a potential buyer and he throws a coffee cup at you he is one of the ones that don’t want to be greeted

 

[ultrarunner]

A friendly hello shouldn't ruffle anyone...

Probably why some simply have little aptitude for sales...

Only have one shot at a first impression... make it a good one.

I know what I am going to say will sound crazy to most...

My Grandfather was in the automobile business for 65 years... to the day he died his business card not only had his home phone but also home address...

He explained it to me like this... a car is the second largest purchase most people will ever make... wouldn't you want to buy from someone with a stellar reputation and enough confidence to put their home address and phone on their business card?

One of my parents best family friends was the first African American Salesman to join the union in Oakland California back in the 1950's The Chevrolet Dealership owner was willing to take him on provided he was never on the sales floor...

Harold was a prince of guy with a personality to go with it... soon he was the top Chevrolet Salesman in the region and never spent one minute on the floor... it was a little bit of a shock when he went to the national convention to get his award the first time.

Anyway, I digress... because he was not allowed floor time... he wrote up contracts in peoples homes... brought out the demonstrators and sponsored youth sports out of his pocket... he was the guy driving the new flashy convertible to church on Sunday and soon the man to see if you were in the market for a new Chevrolet...

Harold had a very good run... 22 years and consistently a top performer... then things changed... the dealership was sold... no more demonstrators... ALL sales people were required to put in floor time... etc...

Harold went to management and said his arrangement was a company car and no floor time... he was told take it or leave it... he put the keys down on the desk and walked out

And he walked straight to Cadillac... had a sit down with the owner negotiated the same deal he had at Chevrolet... now he was driving brand new Cadillacs... and his customer based followed.

What Chevrolet didn't realize is his customer based was loyal to Harold and could care less about the Dealership where they had not been welcome...

Harold too always had his personal phone and home address on his business cards... he said it was old school and part of his success.

I remember him driving home cars with huge bows for birthday presents or anniversary gifts etc... helped him deliver a few Christmas mornings just for the fun of it...

 

[Arc weld]

Nothing wrong with being greeted or asked if you need assistance. At least they are acknowledging you. I hate it when you do need help and nobody is around anywhere. The Home Depot here seems to be like that. They see you in the aisle and make a bee line out of there. What I hate the absolute most is when a salesman comes up before you are even parked and is pestering you to buy something right now. I had this happen when I was looking for a truck. Over 3 hours and even on the way home called me twice. The guy even tried to tell me he was good at what he did. Sorry, that's for me to decide and you suck with your extreme high pressure sales. I spent my 20+K at a low pressure dealer that actually listened to what I was looking for.

 

[Wagtail]

I've now read a few posts on this thread specifically saying that their experience with John Deere dealerships has been 'disappointing'. (none have been 'colour bashing' comments, mind you) All this in the home country of JD.

I, on the other hand and half a world away, have had nothing but a positive experience with the (one and only) JD dealership on this island State. (Note: all other colour tractors are single owner dealerships). In Tasmania, reputation is KING. 'Tick off' a few people and the word spreads quicker than a bush fire in a gale.

Sales wise, I showed up at the JD dealership just after opening time. I sat down with the one and only salesman, over a coffee, and we honestly talked about my tractor needs. Because there were no 4105's on the lot, he then drove me out to a worksite that had one (calling the owner to ask if I could have a 'play' on it).

So, yes, I approached the salesman. That salesman devoted his whole time to me and I did buy my CUT tractor from him/JD... a dealership whose primary business comes from big agricultural tractors/implements/equipment. I bought my lawn tractor from the same place.

On one occasion, I required a part during haying season. My JD dealership opened up an hour early so that I could pick up that part. They are that sort of people.

I'm sorry for the rest of you that it isn't the same.

(or, maybe I'm just one heck of a great bloke that good things like this happen naturally to. )

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Sweet,

I would say there's nothing wrong with greeting a customer that shows up on the lot, ask them if they need any help or have any questions. If they say "No", then tell them to give you a wave or a holler if they do, and let them be. But if they walk inside, and stand there in front of you, or your sales people, then it's pretty obvious they want something.

When I was tractor shopping a year ago, I got completely ignored by 3 of the 5 dealers in town. I mean I was standing inside their sales lobby for greater than 15 minutes, being completely ignored. Went back to one of them 2 more times, same treatment. Proved to me that they don't need or want my money. The JD dealer didn't ignore me, but had no models close to what I was looking for on site, and made no offer to bring the EXACT model I had "built" on their website over from another dealership for me to try before I bought. Their entire effort was exhausted at showing me the shiney brochure and expecting me to plunk down 50K on a tractor + implements that I can't even climb on first.

I was ready to buy that weekend.

Guess which "color" I bought? The one that waited on me. I know various people that know the owners/managers of a couple of those dealerships that ignored me. I told them to let them know they missed out on a tractor + implement sale by ignoring their customers.

I don't need lavish and fawning over attention and butt-kissing when I walk in your place of business. But I do expect to be recognized, and treated like my business matters to you. That, good service before and after the sale, with good prices, and you will likely have a permanent customer.

 

[check]

I like to know and research the tractors on the lot I’m going to, so far I knew more about the JD, NH and mahindra’s than the salesmen knew lmao, the kubota Guy was a wash, he had clearly been in the game longer than I have been on the planet. So when you know more than the guy who approaches, they tend to give you space. I ask very detailed questions for comparison, like where the equipment was manufactured and assembled at, who made the rubber on the rims etc etc, most salesman don’t know that kind of stuff.

I am always amazed at how little sales people know about anything at all. I was in a Ford dealership the other day, and two sales people did not know what the engine options were on an F150. And those guys spend most of their time just sitting around! You would think they would bother to look up the specs on the stuff they sell!