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Buying Advice A dealer looking for your input
- Thread starter Morgan Kubota
- Start date
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having been in the same boat as the dealer, this is what I have done in the past..Contact the buyer and congratulate him on his purchase.Then remind him that you will be readily available to service and take care of his new machine...Keep the contact open as to show him your willingness to take care of him as a customer..Guarantee that he will remember this when he comes to upgrade or purchase other equipment...
Ductape
Elite Member
Morgan Kubota, it sounds to me like this particular customer was one you just can't win. $600 on that large of a sale is really insignificant. Its a shame he went long distance to purchase when it was such a small difference. It sounds as though you run a dealership I'd prefer to do business with. Unfortunately, I haven't found a Kubota dealer (nor several other colored dealers) near me that makes me WANT to do business with them. Oh, sure, i DO spend money with the local dealer....... but is out of convenience, not because they try to do me right when I shop there. Just keep doing what you are doing, word will get around, and you'll continue to prosper.
I have to say something to the few of you who suggested turning the buyer in to the government because you feel this is how you will get future sales from people. Shame on you !! Really, you need a government agency to come down on consumers to sell your 'good' or 'service'?? You can't compete on the merits of the good or service you sell? I can only hope you go belly-up with that attitude. It amazes me how many people in this country (or any other country) feel that government is the solution. :confused2:
I have to say something to the few of you who suggested turning the buyer in to the government because you feel this is how you will get future sales from people. Shame on you !! Really, you need a government agency to come down on consumers to sell your 'good' or 'service'?? You can't compete on the merits of the good or service you sell? I can only hope you go belly-up with that attitude. It amazes me how many people in this country (or any other country) feel that government is the solution. :confused2:
MW66
Silver Member
When it comes down to it, EVERYTHING has a price. $600 is nothing on a $35k investment. For me, I checked Barlow's to get a baseline price. My local price was right there so it was a no-brainer to stay local. That way I support my local business and I get good service from a place where I made my purchase.
To the Original poster -- long opinion -
you said you had been doing this for six years - maybe more retail sales experience than that... but everyone is different these days when someone says "gives them the best price I could.. upfront" then they determine that is the bottom dollar and no additional offers would be considered....something as simple as "we will not miss any deal because of price" i.e. lose $$ on the box blade to sell the tractor...or vice versa
my real life example - used to sell cars and our dealership was in a major city that was very price competitive with every dealer in the state. a small town dealer 3-4 hours away starting stealing business from everyone when they starting advertising vehicles $2k+under invoice (cars can already sell for $1k or so under invoice that is the way they are already advertised - and the dealer make money...long story)... yet add another 1000 or 1500 off with no special programs and no one could figure out how they were doing it. Our dealership literally sent someone with a casher's check and bought a SUV to see if they would stay true to their word...and they did -cash deal with no trade in is how they would lose money--- finance they make money -and on a trade in they would maybe give you less than another dealer----they just took the hits on the cash deals to rake in the other business--- and the comment below also helped
if the tractor business is anything like the car business some dealerships really can sell a vehicle cheaper as they may lose a boatload on the deal, but there are incentive bonuses (goal based) available to most that are so large that even I still cant comprehend which are upward of $1k/unit, but they get zero if the goal is not reached--- imagine missing a 100 unit goal by 2 cars and by reaching it what your payout would be---- that last car buyer would probably get a pretty sweet deal--- you just have to catch the "right dealer at the right time".
moral -- sometimes your bottom dollar doesn稚 have to be your bottom $$ if you really want to move units ( then again some people stick by their guns on how much they make on each sale)
YET
the "buyer" still should have come back to you and given you a shot at his business - at least another $500 off.... as you cant sell to someone who doesn't give you that opportunity.
unfortunately you sound too nice - yes a compliment ...although the talk of price maybe should have come up sooner before you spent so much time with them-maybe incrementally as they looked at everything---every situation is different...as your time definitely is worth something?
Keep up the good work and I agree with what someone else said -try and continue a strong relationship with them so as they don't drive by you for parts, service, and their next purchase
you said you had been doing this for six years - maybe more retail sales experience than that... but everyone is different these days when someone says "gives them the best price I could.. upfront" then they determine that is the bottom dollar and no additional offers would be considered....something as simple as "we will not miss any deal because of price" i.e. lose $$ on the box blade to sell the tractor...or vice versa
my real life example - used to sell cars and our dealership was in a major city that was very price competitive with every dealer in the state. a small town dealer 3-4 hours away starting stealing business from everyone when they starting advertising vehicles $2k+under invoice (cars can already sell for $1k or so under invoice that is the way they are already advertised - and the dealer make money...long story)... yet add another 1000 or 1500 off with no special programs and no one could figure out how they were doing it. Our dealership literally sent someone with a casher's check and bought a SUV to see if they would stay true to their word...and they did -cash deal with no trade in is how they would lose money--- finance they make money -and on a trade in they would maybe give you less than another dealer----they just took the hits on the cash deals to rake in the other business--- and the comment below also helped
if the tractor business is anything like the car business some dealerships really can sell a vehicle cheaper as they may lose a boatload on the deal, but there are incentive bonuses (goal based) available to most that are so large that even I still cant comprehend which are upward of $1k/unit, but they get zero if the goal is not reached--- imagine missing a 100 unit goal by 2 cars and by reaching it what your payout would be---- that last car buyer would probably get a pretty sweet deal--- you just have to catch the "right dealer at the right time".
moral -- sometimes your bottom dollar doesn稚 have to be your bottom $$ if you really want to move units ( then again some people stick by their guns on how much they make on each sale)
YET
the "buyer" still should have come back to you and given you a shot at his business - at least another $500 off.... as you cant sell to someone who doesn't give you that opportunity.
unfortunately you sound too nice - yes a compliment ...although the talk of price maybe should have come up sooner before you spent so much time with them-maybe incrementally as they looked at everything---every situation is different...as your time definitely is worth something?
Keep up the good work and I agree with what someone else said -try and continue a strong relationship with them so as they don't drive by you for parts, service, and their next purchase
wvpolekat
Platinum Member
In a former life, I worked at a Yamaha dealer as a service manager. The service department exists to support the sales department. We were the ones that KEPT customers. We would perform service work for people who bought elsewhere, but we would try harder for the one that bought from us. We also remembered the ones that were what we called "chicken yankers", and bought elsewhere. We wouldn't gouge them or anything, but they would not get the same treatment that our sales customers got. That went for ANY of our customers, regardless of what they bought, a $500 PW50 or a $20,000 Royal Star.
I am going to pick my used Kubota up tomorrow from a dealer 4 hours away. The salesman was prompt and professional with me, gave me a good price right out of the gate. The local dealer tried to steer me away from used and into new and wouldn't budge on the price, which was better than 50% more than my budget.
I am not sure what I will do for service, but more than likely, I will do it myself and shop elsewhere for implements.
To the dealer posing the question, you did right. You spent the time to help the customer make a good choice. BUT, you have to remember, if low price is all that matters to him, is he a customer you want? I had several customers that were always beating me up on price to the point I asked them to not come back, they were not worth the trouble. Karma will pay off for you, don't worry.
I am going to pick my used Kubota up tomorrow from a dealer 4 hours away. The salesman was prompt and professional with me, gave me a good price right out of the gate. The local dealer tried to steer me away from used and into new and wouldn't budge on the price, which was better than 50% more than my budget.
I am not sure what I will do for service, but more than likely, I will do it myself and shop elsewhere for implements.
To the dealer posing the question, you did right. You spent the time to help the customer make a good choice. BUT, you have to remember, if low price is all that matters to him, is he a customer you want? I had several customers that were always beating me up on price to the point I asked them to not come back, they were not worth the trouble. Karma will pay off for you, don't worry.
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davatk
Gold Member
Price is very important, especially if you are working with serveral dealers and one hasn't really stood out to be as helpful as it sounds like you were. I'm usually the one to really try to get the lowest price possible, but I would have at least given you a call to let you try to come close to the other dealer. Your time and effort are certainly commendable, and I think anyone with half a conscience would have done that. It's a shame, but unfortunately that's how things go sometimes. 
dcyrilc
Elite Member
Morgan Kubota,
Sorry to hear that you didn't get the sale, but there may be other factors involved. If buying in PA saved him paying $21-2400 in taxes plus the $600 difference in price, he may have felt that you would not be capable of comming anywhere close after being told it was your best deal. He may also have felt that it would be insulting to you even to ask. Doesn't mean that he wasn't impressed by you or that he doesn't intend to come to you for service/parts.
I bought a used tractor from a person off CL. I my do my own service and get my parts from my local dealer. My dealer knows me by voice when I call and says "Hi" with my name before I even tell them who I am. Over time, I expect to spend many thousands of dollars to repair and upgrade the tractor I bought. I consider them to be business friends, however price can still make a difference. My tack and hour meter didn't work when I got the tractor and the only way to repair/replace it through the dealer was to buy an entire new instrument cluster for $1190. I found a company in North Carolina which repaired both with a one year warrenty and shipping both ways for $175. I chose to use the company in NC. This had nothing to do with how I feel about my dealer. I think they are fantastic! If I ever buy a new tractor or impliments, I will most likely buy from them if they have what I want.
My point is this...
...Just because he didn't buy the tractor from you doesn't mean that you didn't leave a lasting good impression with him or that you won't see him again. I don't have to buy from my dealer. He usually doesn't have the parts I need and ends up having to order them. I buy there because I like him! If I felt like he didn't want my patronage because I didn't buy my tractor from him, I would simply find another dealer or internet order my parts.
In the six months since I bought my tractor, I have opened a credit account with him and almost never buy on credit. I almost always have an overpaid balance on my account. When know I am going to be buying parts, I begin calling ahead and putting money onto my account until there is more than enough to cover the purchase. My next purchase should be a new canopy for the ROPS and will cost around a grand. I'll call each month and make a $2-300 payment on my account until there is a enough money to buy it outright. Then I'll call him and tell him to order it.
Anyway, don't feel that it was anything you did why he didn't buy from you. If he comes back in, treat him as you did before. Chances are that he doesn't even realize that you felt shorted because he bought elsewhere. He very well may feel loyalty toward you and plan to return for service because of the treatment he has already received. He could also refer others to you because of the time you spent on him.
Sorry for such a long post.
Sorry to hear that you didn't get the sale, but there may be other factors involved. If buying in PA saved him paying $21-2400 in taxes plus the $600 difference in price, he may have felt that you would not be capable of comming anywhere close after being told it was your best deal. He may also have felt that it would be insulting to you even to ask. Doesn't mean that he wasn't impressed by you or that he doesn't intend to come to you for service/parts.
I bought a used tractor from a person off CL. I my do my own service and get my parts from my local dealer. My dealer knows me by voice when I call and says "Hi" with my name before I even tell them who I am. Over time, I expect to spend many thousands of dollars to repair and upgrade the tractor I bought. I consider them to be business friends, however price can still make a difference. My tack and hour meter didn't work when I got the tractor and the only way to repair/replace it through the dealer was to buy an entire new instrument cluster for $1190. I found a company in North Carolina which repaired both with a one year warrenty and shipping both ways for $175. I chose to use the company in NC. This had nothing to do with how I feel about my dealer. I think they are fantastic! If I ever buy a new tractor or impliments, I will most likely buy from them if they have what I want.
My point is this...
...Just because he didn't buy the tractor from you doesn't mean that you didn't leave a lasting good impression with him or that you won't see him again. I don't have to buy from my dealer. He usually doesn't have the parts I need and ends up having to order them. I buy there because I like him! If I felt like he didn't want my patronage because I didn't buy my tractor from him, I would simply find another dealer or internet order my parts.
In the six months since I bought my tractor, I have opened a credit account with him and almost never buy on credit. I almost always have an overpaid balance on my account. When know I am going to be buying parts, I begin calling ahead and putting money onto my account until there is more than enough to cover the purchase. My next purchase should be a new canopy for the ROPS and will cost around a grand. I'll call each month and make a $2-300 payment on my account until there is a enough money to buy it outright. Then I'll call him and tell him to order it.
Anyway, don't feel that it was anything you did why he didn't buy from you. If he comes back in, treat him as you did before. Chances are that he doesn't even realize that you felt shorted because he bought elsewhere. He very well may feel loyalty toward you and plan to return for service because of the treatment he has already received. He could also refer others to you because of the time you spent on him.
Sorry for such a long post.
spike23
Member
True. But will he come to you now? What was one of the first things I did when I bought my tractor? Started looking at TBN for words of wisdom. Maybe he won't join, he'll just look... If he sees your post, he'll probably be a little upset, knowing it's about him.
