Buying Advice Cabela's selling Compact Tractors

[MessickFarmEqu]

Just because Neal is a dealer and competitor doesn't mean he loses the right to express an opinion or offer his insights. His opinions can be challenged by anyone, just like the rest of us. I haven't seen any rebuttal to his opinions, just remarks indicating he shouldn't express them.

Yea, I don't think any of that would be particularly controversial had someone else posted it. I don't hide my bias, and more often than not people seem thankful for the opinions of those in the industry. (TractorGuy included, its cool that he is here) Again, it goes back to why most companies won't engage here, its impossible to not ruffle some feathers and you have to look for the larger benefit.

 

[finspop]

This is maybe here nor there in relation to the topic of dealers/manufacturers posting on TBN, but I ordered some parts for Messick's that were a real b**ch for them to find, and the customer service was fanfriggin'tastic. Phone calls returned promptly, cheerful and helpful attitude, persistence in tracking down the part, etc. I bet they lost $ on the deal by the time all was said and done, but they earned my repeat business.

I think TractorGuy has been very honest about his affiliation and respectful in his tone. If we, as readers, are not savvy enough to read between the lines of his very understandable Cabela's boosterism, well... then we ain't very savvy. I hope folks like he and Neal keep posting. IMHO, they add value to this forum.

 

[GManBart]

It's the internet Bart, do you believe everything you read here? You have no idea who this guy is or what his motives are. Last time I checked Cabela's wasn't a manufacturer of anything. You said OEM then you side stepped that. Now your saying I'm wrong? Please!

OEM/Brand is the same thing for this discussion....a company that sells tractors with their name on them is what we're discussing. If it wasn't important to Cabela's there wouldn't be somebody here sharing information for them.

Oh right, there's probably somebody who decided, on their own, to be a random Cabela's tractor program supporter...please. BTW, he's also on other forums, with the same user name, sharing the same information. That would be a LOT of effort for someone who wasn't directly involved with their tractor program.

So yes, you're wrong. The OEMs/Brands care what happens on the biggest tractor forum on the internet, and that includes Cabela's...if they didn't, big names like Deere wouldn't be paid advertisers.

You're a self-proclaimed tractor newbie who just bought his first tractor a few weeks ago, and suddenly you understand all the marketing and business models involved in the tractor industry? Not too likely.

 

[kcflhrc]

OEM/Brand is the same thing for this discussion....a company that sells tractors with their name on them is what we're discussing. If it wasn't important to Cabela's there wouldn't be somebody here sharing information for them.

Oh right, there's probably somebody who decided, on their own, to be a random Cabela's tractor program supporter...please. BTW, he's also on other forums, with the same user name, sharing the same information. That would be a LOT of effort for someone who wasn't directly involved with their tractor program.

So yes, you're wrong. The OEMs/Brands care what happens on the biggest tractor forum on the internet, and that includes Cabela's...if they didn't, big names like Deere wouldn't be paid advertisers.

You're a self-proclaimed tractor newbie who just bought his first tractor a few weeks ago, and suddenly you understand all the marketing and business models involved in the tractor industry? Not too likely.

I can see I'm wasting my time, you will figure it out sooner or later, I'm guessing later.

 

[GManBart]

I can see I'm wasting my time, you will figure it out sooner or later, I'm guessing later.

You're so funny! :laughing:

 

[murphy1244]

Yea, I don't think any of that would be particularly controversial had someone else posted it. I don't hide my bias, and more often than not people seem thankful for the opinions of those in the industry. (TractorGuy included, its cool that he is here) Again, it goes back to why most companies won't engage here, its impossible to not ruffle some feathers and you have to look for the larger benefit.

Neal, who is your parts guy for Land Pride implements? Will be starting to rebuild the BB if this ^%$%^% snow goes away.

 

[94BULLITT]

Neal, who is your parts guy for Land Pride implements? Will be starting to rebuild the BB if this ^%$%^% snow goes away.

You were supposed to have it ready to work for when the snow goes away

 

[MinnesotaEric]

As a former sales manager, to me it sounds like Cabelas is applying the classic value add to the CUT market. Those who want the staying power of an established, well funded, private company, whose entire reputation is built on customer service, will now be able to enjoy the same kind of customer service experience buying and owning a CUT from Cabelas. Think you cannot get Under Armor, Columbia, Smith & Wesson and the like for less some place else if all you do is shop around? then why are you buying from Cabelas? Because of their stock of inventory, availability, experience, and customer service.

Today there is a lack of professional salesmanship and familiarity in many kinds of different expensive retail saleså‚*e it boats, trucks, heavy equipment or tractors. Yet at the same time, a professional salesperson's job is to act as a guide for the customer by first qualifying their need, and making certain any preconceived notions of what the customer thinks he or she needs is what they really what will do the job, and then by showing and explaining the way points along the way to meet the desires and needs of the customer. From the customer's perspective, they want the salesperson to supply them with special knowledge that cannot be learned except through familiarity and use of the equipment and they want a salesperson who is eager to please, returns phone calls, answers questions, and makes certain that the customer knows he or she is important by their mannerisms and by meeting expectations.

Being in sales is pretty easy if the salesperson is one of those chatty types who easily walks into conversations with strangers and then can hold their attention, but in my own quest of comparing tractors, I've met deadpans who I would fire. Especially with phone skills. Customers loath being treated as though the salesperson (or anybody for that matter) treats them as though they are doing the customer a favor. Example: too busy to quote out a tractor? Too busy doing what? You're in sales for crying out loud, make time or failing that, briefly explain you're busy now, but will make time at such and such a time or call back at such and such a time. Do not treat customers as though they are teenage girls hovering around their phone all day waiting for a boy to call!

At any-rate, those who are motivated solely by price need to understand that if Cabelas can notch up just one area in their level of professionalism by treating customers better than traditional dealers, then they will have a good shot to get business from their core customers.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Neal, who is your parts guy for Land Pride implements? Will be starting to rebuild the BB if this ^%$%^% snow goes away.

implements like that are dead simple, any of our staff will be able to help you equally as well. Had you asked for a high HP tractor, self propelled sprayer, etc I'd have some names for you .

 

[Wheresmy]

It looks like the MSRP for the LM35 (35 hp shuttle-shift) dropped to $17,999 and the LM35H (35 hp hydrostatic) dropped to $20,099. I don't recall what the LM35 shuttle-shift was priced at, but the LM35H went from $22,899 MSRP to $20,099 MSRP if I recall correctly. Supposedly the free loader promo expired yesterday, though it is still listed on the website.

Here are the current MSRP listings on the Cabela's website:

LM35:   $17,999  (35 HP, Shuttle-shift, Open Station)
LM35H:  $20,099  (35 HP, Hydrostatic, Open Station)
LM43:   $21,699  (43 HP, Shuttle-shift, Open Station)
LM43H:  $23,199  (43 HP, Hydrostatic, Open Station)
LM43HC: $26,399  (43 HP, Hydrostatic, Cab)
LM50:   $23,799  (50 HP, Shuttle-shift, Open Station)
LM50H:  $25,799  (50 HP, Hydrostatic, Open Station)
LM50HC: $29,899  (50 HP, Hydrostatic, Cab)

The prices are still a bit high, but if they continue the free loader program the prices are now much closer to comparable TYM tractors. For instance, I found a T433 with Shuttle-shift and loader online for $20,592. If Cabela's continues the free loader program, the same LM43 at $21,699 is pretty close in price. Supposedly the free loader program ended yesterday, though it is still listed on their website at this time.