Bad buying experience

[richamor]

It is virtually impossible to get a commision paid ag salesman to put the proper effort into selling lower priced items like compact equipment. Good or even fair and sometimes even poor ag salespeople earn 6 figures easily.

That's hitting the nail on the head with a sledge hammer.:thumbsup:

 

[fabsroman]

That's hitting the nail on the head with a sledge hammer.:thumbsup:

No, there is a way, but it takes some creativity. For instance, my wife gets a bonus at Target based upon a lot of factors that determine a final score, but customer satisfaction is one of those scores. Tie a year end bonus from corporate into customer satisfaction scores, hammer it into management, and penalize the dealer for terrible customer satisfaction. My wife's bonus can be $10,000 maximum, she makes 6 figures as a salary, and we actually do care about that bonus.

So, there is a way to get an ag salesman to think twice about that "city slicker" that just walked through the door when a portion of his commission is based upon customer satisfaction surveys. Bet if you knock a 1/4% off his commission rate for poor customer satisfaction surveys, he would think twice about how he/she treats EVERYBODY that walks through the door.

Of course, I have no idea what the corporate/dealer model is or how the salesmen actually get paid. What I do believe is that when there is a will there is a way.

 

[meb9796]

Wow!! Looks like I opened a can of worms! But....I have good news! MY 3720 ARRIVED TODAY. But get this, I had no idea it was coming?? Luckily my wife was home and took delivery of it. I called the dealer, and he said I could come sign the paperwork when my front blade arrived next week. So the lesson I learned from all this is to just 'talk' to the dealer and tell him what your problem is. I feel he gave me a square deal and after we worked out the problem, I had my tractor 2 days later, and I haven't paid anything or signed a paper!!!
Spent 4 hrs with it this evening and it lifted my 950lb chipper out of my truck like it was a feather! I'm really impressed with it and wait to start working tomorrow.

 

[Nitro-Fish]

You still didn't mention your dealer's name...........

 

[meb9796]

Gladhill in Frederick. I live near the carlyle shop in purcellville, but they close at 1600 on weekdays, and 1200 on Saturday, so it's hard to get into their shop.

 

[fabsroman]

Gladhill in Frederick. I live near the carlyle shop in purcellville, but they close at 1600 on weekdays, and 1200 on Saturday, so it's hard to get into their shop.

LOL - but not really.

I was treated like crap by their dealership in Damascus, right at route 80 and 27, regarding that zero turn mower purchase. I think the area also goes by Claggetsville, but it is on the way to and from my daughter's pre-school. I thought you would have bought from somewhere in Virginia. Ended up going with Finch Services in Eldersburg/Sykesville instead for the zero turn mower purchase.

Gladhill is where I saw that 3720 with the $23,250 price tag on it. Not a single salesperson came out to talk to me while I was climbing around on the 2000 and 3000 series tractors and I know I was the only one on the lot since I just left the showroom after getting a price for the zero turn. They were nice enough to give my daughter two of their pens though.

Edit to add: You might have ended up with the 3720 that I was looking at. Now wouldn't that be ironic.

 

[bonefish101]

Im sorry to hear all these horror stories, I dealt with Carlyle & Anderson in Winchester, VA and I honestly couldnt be happier, great customer service and follow up and now I stop in whenever I get a chance. The GM there remembers my name every time and always makes time to come say hi and make sure all is well with me and my green godess. They were willing and able to deal, I went in with others pricing and they didnt bat an eye, just adjusted prices so they were cheapest. I am thankful to have them as my local dealer, I feel like part of the family and have high confidence that if I have problems, they will solve them. As long as things dont change drasticly they have me as a lifelong customer.
I expect top-notch treatment in any sales environment and so far I have not been dissapointed.
All you guys close to Northern VA, if your dealer is giving you fits, call Will at Carlyle & Anderson in Winchester, he will treat you right and happily accept all the money you want to spend.

 

[sunnyside360]

Anyone that's switches a brand because of a dealer being a jerk I think really doesn't know what he wants. Don't take it out on tractor, buy the tractor that you think is the tractor for you. There's plenty of dealers out there.

Agree 100%. You can run into loggerheads at any dealer --- orange, green, blue and red. Just move on to another dealer. We have one or two bad ones around here but we also are very fortunate to have some very excellent dealerships and that is where I do my business for my JD 3720, JD 4320 and Kubota M8200.

 

[fabsroman]

Im sorry to hear all these horror stories, I dealt with Carlyle & Anderson in Winchester, VA and I honestly couldnt be happier, great customer service and follow up and now I stop in whenever I get a chance. The GM there remembers my name every time and always makes time to come say hi and make sure all is well with me and my green godess. They were willing and able to deal, I went in with others pricing and they didnt bat an eye, just adjusted prices so they were cheapest. I am thankful to have them as my local dealer, I feel like part of the family and have high confidence that if I have problems, they will solve them. As long as things dont change drasticly they have me as a lifelong customer.
I expect top-notch treatment in any sales environment and so far I have not been dissapointed.
All you guys close to Northern VA, if your dealer is giving you fits, call Will at Carlyle & Anderson in Winchester, he will treat you right and happily accept all the money you want to spend.

My wife used to teach at Shenandoah University in Winchester. I went out there a couple times for some school functions and the atmosphere is completely different out there versus Northern Virginia. Just going into Wal-Mart was completely different than going to a Wal-Mart around the DC beltway. So far, I have been really happy with Finch Services. I told them the story about Gladhill and the salesman and service manager said "Sorry that you had to go through that, but we are glad you are here now." I'm going to buy some Stihl equipment from them after tax season is over and probably the 3720 this fall or next spring.

 

[ctlguy]

No, there is a way, but it takes some creativity. For instance, my wife gets a bonus at Target based upon a lot of factors that determine a final score, but customer satisfaction is one of those scores. Tie a year end bonus from corporate into customer satisfaction scores, hammer it into management, and penalize the dealer for terrible customer satisfaction. My wife's bonus can be $10,000 maximum, she makes 6 figures as a salary, and we actually do care about that bonus.

So, there is a way to get an ag salesman to think twice about that "city slicker" that just walked through the door when a portion of his commission is based upon customer satisfaction surveys. Bet if you knock a 1/4% off his commission rate for poor customer satisfaction surveys, he would think twice about how he/she treats EVERYBODY that walks through the door.

Of course, I have no idea what the corporate/dealer model is or how the salesmen actually get paid. What I do believe is that when there is a will there is a way.

Not sure that I want my favorite dealers to model themselves after a box store. If there is no sale then there is no bad corporate review, Just sayin.

 

[two_bit_score]

I'm trading a 2305 w/ FEL, 54"MMM, and a LX4 brush hog in for a 3720 w/ FEL, and a AF11 front blade, and a used lawnmower. I was originally told it would be ready in a week, then didn't hear from them and had to call back. Then I was told 2 weeks and the same thing happened till I called him back this morning. He said he'd try for next week????? I told him that was unsat and he told me I could cancel the deal if I wanted?? Are tractors selling so good they can turn customers away??

Also, can someone clarify the deal JD has on attachments for getting 1,000 back if you buy more than one? When I asked about this, he told me that was only for small compact tractors, and I could only get $300 off for buying 2 attachments. Does that sound right??

I hope you cancel your deal and find another dealer who will be happy with you as a customer. Save both of you a lot of trouble.

 

[jwillett]

I went to our local John Deere dealer and could not even get waited on. I went to buy that day and they just set around and talked to each other. After 15 minutes I left but did go back two other times with the same results,(across the street from my mother's rest home), never waited on or was ask if they could help me. I am getting old and want service these days and when we are talking about spending that kind of money I expect to be waited on. I just wish I knew about the JD dealer in Newberry, SC before I got so upset with JD. I have stopped in there several times with my boss so he could get parts and they were always there to greet you and willing to help any way they could.

 

[grsthegreat]

I'm a self employed electrical contractor and i get between 70-80% (best guess) of my business thru referral and continuing customers. The rest thru ads. If I'm a *&^%$ to a customer, it will get around, and ill be out of work.

I think the same applies to car dealerships, tractor dealerships, grocery stores, etc. If they piss me off, I'm out of there....for good. No second chances. No one give me a second chance.

But I'm a nice guy, and have been in business for a long time.

 

[TripleR]

I went to our local John Deere dealer and could not even get waited on. I went to buy that day and they just set around and talked to each other. After 15 minutes I left but did go back two other times with the same results,(across the street from my mother's rest home), never waited on or was ask if they could help me. I am getting old and want service these days and when we are talking about spending that kind of money I expect to be waited on. I just wish I knew about the JD dealer in Newberry, SC before I got so upset with JD. I have stopped in there several times with my boss so he could get parts and they were always there to greet you and willing to help any way they could.

Sadly, not unique to any brand. I had the same experience at a Kubota dealership several years ago and have not been back. I bought two new tractors and one used since then, Kubotas, but at a different dealer. Our local JD dealer also has good salesman and we bought one there too.