Burst my bubble at the dealership

GerardC · Apr 18, 2004

.... I see nothing wrong with pricing one up and then working on availability.... 

Take the children to the candy/ice cream store to tell them they can't have any?! SAME THING Please! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif!!!

AndyMA · Apr 18, 2004

( .... I see nothing wrong with pricing one up and then working on availability.... 

Take the children to the candy/ice cream store to tell them they can't have any?! SAME THING Please! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif!!!
)

Gerald, I have to disagree. Not even similar. think about pricing a car, unless it's off the lot no idea of availability until you price it. Same with tractors if they have options. Maybe some versions are available and some are not. In reality, dealer won't know until they check manufacturer and other dealers. I still don't think there was anything wrong in what was done. Now you've got me remembering back the last 5 tractors I purchased and in only one case when it was on the lot did I have any idea of availability when the dealer and I priced it.

Andy

GerardC · Apr 18, 2004

....I had my order list in hand for a 4710 and was ready to buy....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.......


Should have told him AT THIS POINT!!!!

 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) 
GerardC

Richard · Apr 19, 2004

( Should have told him AT THIS POINT!!!! )

I agree with you. In another lifetime, I use to be in retail. you'd get a lot of customers coming in to "look" (touch/feel & hand back) at an item, we've all done that.

SOMEWHERE in the sales process, it becomes a bit more clear that their intent is to walk out with one. Since I was selling the widgets, I had an idea (or darn well SHOULD have) what we had in stock, it's location, it's CONDITION (colors, imperfections...) I knew if there were some others also lined up to buy one on a "will call basis" (so we segregated THOSE from our stock).

Upshot, once I felt they had more than the casual "kick the tires" intent, I made it crystal clear that "I only have a purple one", or I only have one left that has a curve on it".

Point being, I wanted them to know ASAP, what my inventory situation was, because I'd be wasting both their time AND my time, if they mandated blue/straight and I only had green/curved. I (via just conversations) had to figure out what they were looking for.

the upshot though, if I was out of stock, or low on stock, the sooner I told them UPFRONT, the better they were about it, and much more willing to work with me on getting "theirs" in as opposed to me waiting until the end of the "sale" /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif and bursting their bubble by telling them...oh...sorry... we dont have any.

Dealer messed up in my opinion

riptides · Apr 19, 2004

Ahhh........

I feel for you, BUT, your post doesn't list the TIME it took to get from your list, to the price, to the I don't have one HERE.

I mean, I went shopping and I knew what I wanted, and yes, it was over in less than a few minutes.

All I am saying, is that maybe in your excitment, the TIME passed really slowly for you, but in reality, it was like an instant.
Time is relative, or so the theory goes.
And the dealer is looking, right? So that is a good thing?

Perhaps the oppertunity for him to say out of stock, or not in my lot, just did not arise.
This could be part of building the relationship. See what happens today, and keep us posted.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hambone · Apr 19, 2004

I think everyone is way over reacting. Kevin went in to get a tractor. Priced one. Liked the price. Out of stock. It happens in the real world. He wasn't complaining about the dealer, just sharing his experience about what he wants that they didn't have.

rockyridgefarm · Apr 19, 2004

( Yes, and Red, Red, Red, orange, orange, purple, yellow and they're at least equal to the greene. John )

This guy spends a year researching, and knows exactly what he wants and has a disappointment on Saturday, that the dealer hopes to resolve on Monday. And the collective wisdom is to go get a Kioti or CubCadet and all his problems are over... Those are fine tractors, but for some reason had already been eliminated in his search.

Give the dealer you picked a chance to do his job. There are 4710s to be had, and it only comes in two flavors, eHydro and reverser, so there's a great chance that they can get it for you. If there is additional shipping, maybe there is another way they can compensate.

Buying a model that is being phased out is always tricky. They could be everywhere and dirt cheap, or in short supply and priced high. Or impossible to get at any price. Sales prople are not always in the know, as the manufacturers want to keep new models under wraps for competitve advantage. Or dealer owners may have lots of existing stock they need to move before the new models arrive.

Most folks will want to wait for the 4720, so really a 4710 buyer should make some dealer's day, right now...

zuiko · Apr 19, 2004

I don't see a problem with it either. I ordered a tractor that I never saw on any dealer's lot (before or since). I had no problem getting quotes on one.

Availability came after I had a good offer and wanted to buy. There is no point in them wasting their time trying to track it down from another dealer and get an ETA from the factory if I am not going to buy from them.

I only bought from one dealer. I got quotes from several others. I didn't need them all to check availability. That would've been a waste of my time as well as theirs.

Kevin37 · Apr 19, 2004

( I think everyone is way over reacting. Kevin went in to get a tractor. Priced one. Liked the price. Out of stock. It happens in the real world. He wasn't complaining about the dealer, just sharing his experience about what he wants that they didn't have. )

Hello All

Hambone got it right . I wasn't complaining about the dealer, just sharing my disappointment at what has been a long anticipated day. I didn't expect them to follow me home that morning with my new tractor, I've been reading the TBN site long enough to know what some of the delivery times have been.

Mike Z:
The time line was pretty quick from first speaking to the salesman to walking out of his office with my frown. Only about 30 minutes. The salesman recognized me from late last year when we test drove a couple models, but this was the first time he heard me say I'm ready to buy.

Mike Mc:
I must admit I get a chuckle when I see the other "Colors" quickly point to their brand. It's what makes this forum fun to read and participate with. In the past year, I have ruled out other brands. Due to individual model likes/dislikes; dealer experiences; proximity to where I'm located; test drives; tire kicking;past ownership; Brother-in-Law; and general gut feeling, I settled on the 4710. This is a huge vehicle purchase (Only my Truck cost more) and I've not taken it lightly.

So, here I wait. It's Monday 11:13 AM (Not that I'm watching the clock) and I'll wait and see what happens.

Thanks for all your inputs......including you other "colors" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Kevin

Golfgar4 · Apr 19, 2004

Kevin,

Like they say......" Good things come to those who wait! "

Hang in there buddy. Before you know it, you'll be tooling around on that 4710 with a big ole grin on your face! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif