A fax to my dealer

MossRoad · Jul 25, 2003

$1250 or $1175 = $75.00(which he matched)
$655 or $605 = $50.00
$1120 or $1045 = $75.00

At the time I asked Kevin for this quote, I told him I was going to price it elsewhere, and he certainly knew it would be [the other dealer]’s since I told him that was where I priced the rotary cutter. I also mentioned that I was telling him this so he could price the landscape rake competitively. I was not going to bargain or try to get him to lower his price later. I would simply buy from whoever was cheaper. Naturally if the quotes were the same or very close, you would get my business. 

All of the prices were within 10% of each other. In my book, that is competetive pricing. If you like the dealer and are happy with the service, the total of $125.00 vs the multi tens of thousands you have spent there on two tractors is not worth blowing a good relationship with the dealer, especially since you didn't give him the chance to match the other dealer's price on those two implements. Maybe that was his best price. Maybe he'll come down. Maybe he will take a beating on the implements, hoping to keep your business. Maybe, if you send that FAX, he'll say enough is enough and then good luck getting good service there again /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Give him a chance to match the price of the other guy. Then, if he can't and it still bothers you too much, take your business elsewhere.

Golfgar4 · Jul 25, 2003

Hi Frank!

I agree with most of what you said. A dealer should be upfront with every customer they deal with, but especially with their "good" customers. But I question whether the dealer MUST give even the "good" customer his absolutely rock bottom price right off the bat. If a dealer has marked an item at a certain price, and I, being one of his "good" customers, comes in to purchase that item and never ask if he can give me a better price, then I won't hold that against the dealer. It was my fault for not asking about it.

Sure, I'd love to have my dealer say to me, "Oh, by the way Garry, you're such a good customer that I'm going to knock off $$ just 'cause it's you."

Actually, this happened to me last year. I think I even posted a thread about it. I lease my truck, and my current lease was going to be up in Oct. of '02. In May of '02, my dealer called me and said, "Let's talk about your lease." I replied "Why, it's not up until October. I was going to call you in August or so to begin talking." He says, "Yeah, well, what would you say if I told you I could upgrade you now into the next level truck (power everything!) for only $0.17 more a month than what you're paying now?" I said, "Why aren't you in front of my desk with the papers instead of wasting my time on the phone!!" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Now that happened because I am a "good" customer. Over the last 12 years, I've leased or bought every vehicle my family has had from this dealer. He knows what I expect when I walk in, and I know he'll deliver the very best product my money will purchase. In this case, he did contact me on his own. But do I expect him to do it? Not necessarily. I would hope that he would. But if he doesn't, then it's my responsibility to ask the right questions to get the best deal.

Would I go to another dealer because he didn't automatically offer me the best deal? No. But I would discuss it with him. If after talking about it, I still felt I could get a better deal somewhere else, I might consider it IF the difference were large enough. But it would take a lot, because I've developed a real loyalty with the dealer because we both know where each one of us stands. And that has taken a few years to get to that level.

Sorry for going on! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Back to Bill's situation. He has just started developing this relationship with his dealer in just the last year. It's good to be up front with each other, as Bill wants to do. But a year is a pretty short time to develop any kind of comfortable relationship such as Bill has indicated he wants to do. I still think that using some give and take, on both sides, is what is called for now. Once both parties reach a point of "mutual understanding", everything should be alright. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

MossRoad · Jul 25, 2003

Golfgar4 
This is another reason why I like the no dealer concept... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Golfgar4 · Jul 25, 2003

Yeah, but with a dealer, you have a better chance of getting replacement hats whenever you need them! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

MossRoad · Jul 25, 2003

Yeah, but with a dealer, you have a better chance of getting replacement hats whenever you need them! 

DOH! I'll conceed that point /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

bigpete · Jul 25, 2003

jdeerestl,

I call my dealer "my" dealer because he will offset his slightly higher price with service and support and he has earned my LIMITED loyalty. I think it is really in the same spirit in which he considers me "his" customer. This is hardly naive. I don't consider him my friend, and we wouldn't hang-out together, or invite one another over for dinner. I suppose you could say we have a mutually beneficial relationship.

There is a threshhold for big ticket items that I communicate directly for all purchases. "My" car dealer is worth a couple hundred more to me because they come to my office only a few miles away from the dealership to pick-up and return my car for routine service. Of course I pay for the service, but his competitors don't operate that way. In fact, I just got off the phone with him to let him know--again--that our relationship has its bounds. Once his price goes above the hard-and-fast line, I can afford to spend the extra energy and time it will take in the future to take my car back to the original dealership for any service.

In other words, he has something I want (over his competitors) that warrants a slightly higher price. You are correct that there is a line that a few people fail to recognize. Blind loyalty is just about as costly in business transactions as personal pride.

JohnMiller3 · Jul 25, 2003

( I happen to like this dealership much more than the other Kubota dealer in my area. ) 

Hi Bill,

It appears you're "accepting" the lesser of two evils...

The only problem... evil is still evil... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Why don't you look for a third or fourth Kubota dealer somewhat locally...?

Actually, when it gets down to implements... don't lock yourself into "your" dealer... you'd be severely limiting yourself to selection and brands...

...and now a higher price... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Henro · Jul 25, 2003

Henro,

You say you intend to send this message--this suggests to me that you have some doubts since you are posting it before sending it. 

Bob999,

No doubts. I just wanted to be sure I did buy the second tractor...it was delivered this morning...will send that fax on Monday or tomorrow maybe...

Actually, I was thinking about his issue when I was working my b2910, box blading some stuff after cutting the grass with the new Bx2200... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Here is the the point I think I am trying to make:

Lets say a person you know and believe you can trust showed up at your door with a hundred dollar bill in his hand.

He told you that you have two choices. Either take it or he will go over to the neighbors and give it to him. Your choice. No strings attached.

Would you tell him to take it over and give it to your neighbor?

Well, I think that is what my dealer is doing and I want him to stay in business and I would rather give that hundred dollar bill to him than to his competition.

Simple as that.

I don't like him enough to give him two hundred dollars though, just to keep him around... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

His choice. I would like him to understand that he gave that hundred dollars to the other guy though. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Maybe I have a nasty side to me... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

MossRoad · Jul 25, 2003

Joe blow and henro are not the same guy when they walk in his showroom. 

Says you. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Henro · Jul 25, 2003

Hi again,

Just for the sake of detail and accuracy...

The kid managing the Kubota dealership is a couple years out of college and was put into the job when a more experienced manager quit and left the owner hanging.

The owner has a blue dealership also, and that is where he spends most of his time. I've never been there as it is an hour from here and I have a blue dealership one minute from my home. Please don't tell me I should have bought blue! Kubota hails from my wife's home town...Osaka, Japan.

The owner is from what I can see an honest guy that is a straight shooter. I don't think he gives the kid a lot of say in things. But the kid is the one I have to deal with.

The only reason I care about the dealer and his business is because if I need warrenty work it would be nice if he were there.

I am also a bit idealistic as a natural trait, and think it would be nice if people could work together and so on, in a win-win way.

Additionally, I have a degree in economics and some graduate work towards an MBA, so I do know what business is about.

Bottom line is that it just seems foolish to me for this dealer to send me packing somewhere else when by doing so he will lose the opportunity to MAKE SOME MONEY.

Back in the steel mill they would call me something for even caring...can't say the word here, but we each have one and in is in the back, on the lower half of our bodies... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif or is that /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif...no I think it is... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I might massage that fax a little...might even send it snail mail as suggested...but I will send it. No doubt about that...