Compact Tractor Dealers Ignore Two-thirds of Their Potential Website Customers, Industry Survey Shows

[IndyJay]

I couldn't agree more. To me it means "My price is so inflated that I want a chance to "sell" it otherwise you would surf on by."

Same with "add to cart to see price"

 

[BigBlue1]

Same with "add to cart to see price"

No, that's actually the opposite. 'Add to cart to see price' is a way for sellers to sell an item for less than the manufacturer wants to see it advertised for.

 

[IndyJay]

No, that's actually the opposite. 'Add to cart to see price' is a way for sellers to sell an item for less than the manufacturer wants to see it advertised for.

That has not been my experience.

 

[Username Taken]

There should have been no reason he couldn't have given you a price within 30 minutes. Even getting price approval through management shouldn't have taken that long.

It might be on consignment

 

[ArlyA]

It might be on consignment

Who would take something in on consignment and not have its price, before you even got it in? Whatever the case, not calling back is a poor sales strategy......

 

[bvanek]

(BTW I'm 64, and most peers that I know seem pretty tuned into online info, etc., too.)

It's the stereotyping of "Old Farts" as if wisdom is obsolete.

I'm older than you, but here I am in an online tractor forum always looking for information, options, and ideas. I learn something new every day, but it can take weeks (or longer) to verify the legitimacy of each source on the remote "information highway"... However, I often find that the "old guy" neighbor of mine knows much more than many online pretenders. A genuine in the flesh old time farmer with 80 years of hands on experience. (and no internet) Maybe resistance to "change" is overrated and in many cases justified through experience?

remember the reason you have your equipment today, no matter how big or small your inventory is, came from generations of innovation started by an old farmers need and subsequent development and improvements by people who are not likely with us anymore.

 

[airbiscuit]

And now for another crappy dealer experience.

Today I went to my local Bobcat dealer looking for prices on a couple of attachments.

The young salesman was very helpful and knew his products pretty well. As I was about to leave, I asked him if he had any used attachments that I needed to buy.

We walked outside and there was one if exactly what I am looking for. It was a bit rough, but I said 'give me a price'.

We went back inside and he looked on his computer and said they have not yet put a price on it.

He took my number and said he would get a price and call me.

That was around 10 am this morning and he has not called me back as of 6:45 pm.

I want the attachment and will probably buy it. It's just frustrating that I haven't got a price yet.

Let us know when you hear back. Maybe they are pretty casual about pricing and response. On the other hand, maybe they were busy with other things, maybe the person authorized to make pricing decisions was out, or ... Not surprising that a rough looking - used implement wasn't their top priority.

 

[IndyJay]

It's the stereotyping of "Old Farts" as if wisdom is obsolete.

I'm older than you, but here I am in an online tractor forum always looking for information, options, and ideas. I learn something new every day, but it can take weeks (or longer) to verify the legitimacy of each source on the remote "information highway"... However, I often find that the "old guy" neighbor of mine knows much more than many online pretenders. A genuine in the flesh old time farmer with 80 years of hands on experience. (and no internet) Maybe resistance to "change" is overrated and in many cases justified through experience?

remember the reason you have your equipment today, no matter how big or small your inventory is, came from generations of innovation started by an old farmers need and subsequent development and improvements by people who are not likely with us anymore.

This reminds of the frequent harping on "that's how we've always done it" as being bad. It is only bad if it is said by someone that does not understand WHY it has always been done that way when trying to explain it to someone that thinks they have a better way of doing something a whole new way. This is how people sometimes get hurt.

It is similar to how Chinesium products often copy the cosmetic aspects of design without benefit of understanding that comes from the actual R&D that went behind the design. When you pick up a tool and realize that the feature that you've always used is there but is not functional because of how it was poorly implemented even though it looks right.

I am always amazed at the ingenuity of the "old farts" and of how some of the old tools and methods actually worked well in their day. All done without computers or high tech manufacturing methods.

 

[JDZ735M]

if only the difference business focus was the reason for the poor service. My closest 'green' Deere dealership usually has 50-70% CUT or smaller on the lot. 2 trips to walk the lot, no salesperson even bothered to check with me.

I understand that some dealerships are different, but for the premium price on the green paint, the service should always be top notch. It is especially disappointing because it is part of the large regional chain. The disdain for the small-mid sized tractor buyers is palpable.

There are different types so they can better cater to those different markets.

I've never felt 'disdained' at a JD dealer anywhere.

But I don't have a complex about that sort of thing like some do. I have experienced poor service from some individual vendors or service people in a lot of different areas. It's an individual issue.

When I drive up to a dealer, if it's tractors, trucks, trailers, anything, I don't really want a sales jockey running up to me. I will go inside and talk to one when I get ready to talk.

 

[fishhead]

The industry was doing this long before covid or supply shortages.

I believe the "Call for price" and "place in cart to see price " comes from MAP enforcement and dealer agreements- i agree those are frustrating but as someone in sales for the last 30+ years those are not signs of a dealer wanting to play games, often those can be aggressive deal oriented folks who do not want to lose their franchise.
MAP is minimum advertised price and MAP, MAP enforcement, price advertising, market areas etc. are largely governed by FTC rules. Essentially the customer wants the best price, the government wants that as well but the companies have traditionally wanted dealers to make money on their products so that they: bought, stocked, displayed and actively sold more of their products. This was deemed to be important on more complex products or those with real non-obvious benefits. Or, also with newer, less known items. It was a decision by companies to forgo some short term sales gained by the lowest retail prices and instead grow larger long term.

Arguably the internet has obviated some or most of the advantages of having dealers at all.