A New England Regional State of Mind

[JTC]

I'm in SW Connecticut not too far from NY. I had visited the two closest JD dealers (among others) and got a good feeling for one and a luke warm feeling for the other. When I got serious, I emailed the 3 closest dealers from the JD dealer locator page, got quotes from 2 dealers via email. Called the lowest quote dealer who also happened to be the closest dealer (8 miles) and the one that left me with a good impression. Ordered it by phone with a credit card number for a deposit until I could get to the dealer on a weekend with a check for the deposit. They had to order my tractor and it took 6 weeks to be delivered so they weren't trying to move something they had sitting around. I got everything at 20% off list price and feel I did pretty good on the deal. As for my relationship with the dealer, I guess I don't have much of one. I did go to the dealer a few weeks after my tractor was delivered to price a back blade, told them I was the guy they delivered the 4010 to a little while back, and left free touch-up paint. If I had it to do over again, I definitely would do it the same.

Jim

 

[jimg]

This hasnt been my experience exactly. Yes, theyre set in their ways but in a different sense. They understand that most of the folks walking in are brand loyal or at least brand disposed. They also know that most dont do any comparison shopping or homework. They really dont have any incentive to change the way theyre doing business b/c they dont have to. I think only a small number of shoppers are walking out or being frustrated. Most of the compact tractor owners I know have a Deere. Why??? B/c of brand recognition. They paid thousands more just to have a Deere. When I bought my NH I got royally razed. However, all the big 3 compacts are really little different from each other.

When I was shopping last yr I tryed to find Cub and Case dealers. The only one listed had never heard of a compact tractor and really wasnt interested. This is during a time when Deere, NH and Kubota were selling them nearly as fast as they came in. It took the Cub/Case dealer about a year to even move into the compact tractor market. He was much happier selling construction equipment. Thats OK too b/c that was his choice. Only thing is he was missing out on some easy sales. At the same time I also looked at MF. I liked them but MF had grossly underestimated demand so machines of certain types were in very short supply. As you can see theres plenty of 'blame' to go around and sometimes its not the dealer who's at fault.

 

[Trouble]

Living in NH, I have also found that list price is what you'll get most of the time. I talked to the local Deere dealer, Kubota dealer and the local Massey dealer when buying a garden tractor and got list from Massey and Kubota and MORE than list from Deere. I called the Deere guy on it and he "looked at the book again" and found I was right. I told him flat out that I'd pay 10% less than list and you'd think I just told a vampire to go to church. I ended up getting the deal but it seemed like it took an act of god to get it done. As a salesman myself, I went into talking about margins and such with the guy (I talk about margins with my customers all the time, it's pretty much public knowledge in my business) and that if Deere doesn't put any margin into their wares for the dealer then they should talk to another manufacturer. I might as well have been speaking swahili. I have no idea what the margins are but there's gotta be margin plus incentives to their dealers. I know that the dealers on this site likely hate my type for saying these things and likely for haggling with a dealer at all but come on, lets get real folks, someone in the supply chain is making a killing when dealers are selling at list! as awful as it sounds, the 'lesser' brand manufacturers are going to teach the old school teir 1 guys a lesson right quick (unless you're Harley Davidson of course /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ).

-Trouble

 

[SteveH_CT]

My nearest Kioti dealer is a tire dealer... couldn't deliver the tractor that I wanted to buy, and could hire someone for around $150 to deliver it... not gonna happen. Then I thought of servicing it - fitting me in around the tire rotations and mountings. It just didn't feel right. The previously closest dealer went under. When I went to his shop all he had there was a few old MG's and about 20 mini horses. The whole thing left me very leary of buying the brand - but I did like the tractor when I tried it, and I could have gotten a DK35 outfitted about the same for about $3000 less - but it was the cheaper gear drive (8speed?? I think) and it looked tired from just being outside during the winter. All these things combined sent me flying over to Kubota, and then Deere. To date I'm so much more comfortable knowing the place I bought from can deliver it, has been in business for probably 40+ years, and won't be scheduling my service around another primary business which like selling tires.

Rockyridge also posted illuminating $$ comparison figures showing how the less expensive brands often aren't that much less. I figure adding just the cost of HST to a DK35 would have brought it much closer to the price of the Deere I ended up with. In 4 years guess which brand/model will have more retained value, and hence lower cost of ownership??? I think we all know the answer to that one.

 

[SteveH_CT]

It sounds to me like the Bota is the way for you to go - I like their machines a lot, the Grand L to be specific. My Deere dealer is outstanding with all around service and support (free pick-up and free trips to the house for advice even... just to name a few) - he rents implements as well, and that was just part of what swung me to their shop. So I think you are basing your decision on some great points that will serve you well after the purchase - Good Luck with it!