Burst my bubble at the dealership

Kevin37 · Apr 17, 2004

Well...
I was going to post early this morning and say I was on my way to the local John Deere dealership, checkbook in hand, wish me luck.

It wouldn't have done much good.

The wife and kids and one very excited ME went to the JD dealership we had good luck with last year and tracked down the salesman we had dealt with and liked very much.

After more then a year of researching, looking, asking questions, and lurking on TBN, I had my order list in hand for a 4710 and was ready to buy. It happened to be their annual open house so I even got some free pancakes!
I asked my final list of question to the salesman, was satisfied with my descisions, gave him my list and said lets price it up. Oh glory day!

Now I am one of the people who was torn with the dilemma of taking an out of state and long distance delivery if my local guy couldn't compete price-wise. I want to buy local and start a good relationship, but smart is smart at these purchase prices. I expected my local guy to hit me high and start the dreaded price negotiations.

Holy cow, he gave me a very fair price and I was actually shocked at how low it was! I'm on cloud nine now, and all that is left is when can we set up delivery?

Um....now that may be a problem, he says. (Heart sinks, smile fades)

It seems JD has not planned very well with the intro of the new 4720 model, due out in mid to late June. The 4710 inventory is gone that he knows of and this guy has got NO information on the 4720 and is not optimistic with the delivery time of the new model. (I don't want the new one, I want a 4710 and I want it NOW!) That was the five year old in me shining through. The three 4710's I saw on his lot were all sold THREE MONTHS AGO! What have I done? He who hesitates is lost? I don't want to hear it!

So, we leave it with him calling monday morning to see if he can find one anywhere, and I put my checkbook back in my pocket. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Bummer. Best case is he calls Monday and has found one! Worse case is he can't find ANY 4710's and I have to wait until late Summer to even look at the 4720.

Tomorrow wil crawl by like Christmas Eve day for a small child.

Thanks for letting me rant. I'll let you know the outcome.

Kevin

JerryG · Apr 17, 2004

Kevin,
I am sure that he will find you one. I have had dealers go several hundred miles to pick up me a tractor. The dealer I use the most, told me that if I wanted my last tractor faster than he could get one built and shipped, he could get me one like I wanted from California. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif That's a long way from Arkansas.

gbpackerfan · Apr 17, 2004

From my understanding JD will continue to distribute the 4710 for a while. In fact he had one on the lot yesterday (thur.). My county borders Va. May not be too far away for you to take a look or inquire about a dealer transfer. I'll check again for you Mon. if you want.

KiotiJohn · Apr 18, 2004

The one thing that really strikes me here is that the salesman knew all along through the pricing process that he was not going to have that tractor, and I would be very reluctant to do any business with someone who charmed me in and then banged me over the head like that. I think it was decietful behavior, and I'm sorry to hear that happened to you. John

lablovers · Apr 18, 2004

I have to agree with KiotiJohn about this one. How can he give you any price knowing that that they are not available. I will do one better than the dealer. I will give you to a 4710. Shoot, I will even pay the shipping charges to get it to you. That is if I had one available. But, I gave away my last one five minutes ago. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Sorry to burst your bubble. Good luck and don't let this get you down. Lot of other good brands out there and hopefully a salesman that will not yank your chain.

KiotiJohn · Apr 18, 2004

( I have to agree with KiotiJohn about this one.) Wow! Richard, does this mean you usually DON'T agree with me? Okay, I guess that's alright! LOL /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif John

GerardC · Apr 18, 2004

I also must agree with KJ and lab. I would be looking for another dealer and maybe even go as far as to talk to the owner of the store. Let him/her know what the actions of the salesman were. Who knows, maybe you'll be compensated for in some way for your time and let down.

KiotiJohn · Apr 18, 2004

( I also must agree with KJ and lab. ) Not you too, Gerard! Does this mean that you usually agree with Lablovers or with me? Or does it mean you usually don't agree with either one of us? Or does it mean you usually agree with us, and this time is included? Come on, I've gotta know! Ah shucks, another Saturday night and I ain't got nobody, I got some money cause I just got paid...(Sam Cooke) Just goofin guys! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif John

Richard · Apr 18, 2004

( another Saturday night and I ain't got nobody, I got some money cause I just got paid...(Sam Cooke) )

I thought that was by Cat Stevens?

Or was he just the singer & Sam author?

(no intent to hijack thread)

Kevin37 · Apr 18, 2004

( The one thing that really strikes me here is that the salesman knew all along through the pricing process that he was not going to have that tractor )

Mornin' all,
I thought that myself later in the day. All he had to do was to make that statement at the beginning of our conversation, not the end. But I really don't believe this guy was being deceptive. The whole experience with this salesman and dealership was a pleasant one, all the way back to late last year. My wife especially liked this guy because he is very low-key and not pushy at all. The other thing I remembered last night was that while he was pricing my list in his computer, the family and I were at the open house function eating pancakes. When I came back to his office, one of the owners was sitting there. Maybe they were discussing the availability at that point and the salesman was just learning the big picture? Anyway, I'm not trying to make excuses for anybody. To me, it's all about how you feel when you leave. We walked away from the dealer with a positive feeling, not a negative one. I've dealt with bad dealerships in this tractor quest before and this one was always one of the two that were high on our list. Actually this location is 19 miles from my house and they have another location 7 miles away that I've already ruled out due to poor salesmanship.

Monday will tell the story. I too, can't imagine that in mid-April there is not a 4710 to be found, and maybe the salesman feels the same way. I'm trying to stay positive, and will probably have a different demeanor with questions for the owner if I'm told there is nothing come monday.

Come Monday it will be alright, come Monday I'll be holding you tight.....Jimmy Buffet /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Good Sunday to all...

Kevin