Bargaining

[cowboydoc]

Steve,
Couldn't agree with what you said more. One thing you forgot to mention though is that your prices are pretty much the cheapest around too!! Which is what I've found. The really great dealers have great prices and great service. If I hadn't found the great deal I got on the John Deere I probably would have driven down there and picked a tractor up. Why? Because you had the best price and your salesman, I think his his name was Al was the nicest guy and most helpful salesman I've ever talked to on the phone before. He gave me prices and everything with no hassle at all over the phone, which is like pulling teeth at other dealerships. They want you to come down in person and we'll talk. I emailed you on some other implements awhile back and you sent me email and information right away. You guys are a class act. My hats off to you guys.

 

[Billc]

Steve, it is always great seeing you post, and your input is always appreciated. I'm with Rich, when I was shopping I enjoyed talking to you and the people who work with you. Your opperation is top shelf.

For anyone else reading this, I wanted to buy my tractor from Steve. There are two things that kept me from it: First, Goss Tractor in Jasper, GA is also a great dealership. Second, in GA we don't pay sales tax on ag equipment, so the prices were very close. But dealing with Steve Carver's group was a good experience and one I recommend.

Richard had a good point, it seems that the really good dealerships tend to have low prices. They aren't trying to max the profit on every deal, rather they make their money through volume.

Going back to auto dealerships, I think they are their own worst enemy. Look at the adds on t.v. and in the paper, and listen to the ones on the radio, what I hear often is "Bring us any price and we'll beat it. No one under sells us." (This is usually done in a booming voice with fire works going off in the back ground) They are telling the customer to price shop, so that is what customers do, but dealers get angry when you do it. Doesn't make a lot of sense.

Another thing I've noticed about a lot of auto dealers, if someone comes in to buy a car and they aren't a good negotiator, more than likely they will be paying a good bit more for a vehicle than someone who is. In Georgia our wonderful auto dealers had a law past years ago that's still on the books today. They can tell you whatever they want and it means nothing if it isn't in writing. They can tell you the car you're buying has never been in a accident, comes with a 20 warranty, you'll get free gas for 10 years, etc. If they don't put any of that in writing, too bad.

I think this spills over to other big ticket purchases, like tractors, boats, planes, etc. It makes buyers cautious.

Going back to Rich's point of good dealerships usually having the best price, four years ago we decided to buy a new truck. We decided on a Dodge 3500, diesel, 4x4, extend-a-cab, with all the whistles and bells. We went by 5 dealerships checking on price. The best price we found was about $35,000. We decided to try one last dealership, Jasper Dodge in Jasper, GA. When we sat down with the salesman we told him what we wanted. He punched the info into his computer and said it would cost us $31,700. My jaw hit the ground. I said, "No, you left out the diesel engine." He said, "No, that's with the diesel engine". I said, "O.K., you left off the 4x4, or the whistles and bells." He said, "Nope, that's complete, just like you wanted." Guess he gets this a lot. He explained that they sell trucks at a set price, not more and not less. This was before this practice was common. Anyway, because their prices are so low they sell a ton of vehicles. They've been the #1 seller of Jeeps in the country for years. I bought my 3500 from him that day, and have told hundreds of people about them.

Guess I have to wonder why more dealerships don't do this. This mentallity sure made Walmart successful. I think Steve does this, too.

Bill Cook

 

[Boondox]

Well I, for one, did buy from Steve Carver and can't remember receiving such courteous and competent service in ages! Had two very minor problems with shipping damage (the SMV emblem is on the Interstate somewhere between VT and NC, and a bracket on the mower broke). Steve had replacements in the mail the same day he learned of the problems.

It's quite obvious his good name means a lot to him -- one very important trait to look for in a dealer.

Pete
www.gatewaytovermont.com

 

[Charliebrn]

Another thing...auto dealers are a completely different animal than tractor dealers, at least around here. Within 50 miles there are probably 20 auto dealerships and 3 tractor dealers. The auto dealerships typically change hands every 5 or 10 years or so, while the tractor dealerships have all been around for ages, and all still owned by the same families. I think it means more to my local tractor dealership (Industrial Equipment Co) to maintain a good word of mouth than the auto dealers, they seem to be in it for the short-term profits...