Cabellas selling Tractors

[dave1949]

I would guess that TYM was not the first tractor manufacturer that Cabelas approached. There is some danger to the tractor company with that sort of deal, and anyone with an established dealer network (Deere, Kubota, etc.) is going to have some internal hurdles.

Can you convince a dealer network that they may benefit if someone buys at Cabelas and comes to their store for service and parts? I don't think existing dealers are ready for that, and I'm not sure how the financial end of it plays out. It might be adding a layer of paperwork for the dealer doing warranty service too.

It will be interesting to see where Cabelas tractor marketing effort is five years from now. I'm sure TYM and Cabelas have a plan and think they can make a buck on this approach.

 

[farmer2009]

If they are really TYMs. Then they may be thinking like John Deere mowers and Lowes. John Deere dealer does all assembly and warranty work but Lowes sells them. Usually a different grade of mower than what the dealer has. Have seen the local Deere dealer deliver the mowers to lowes and had a lowes salesman confirm this. If so then they are just another dealer in the network and marketing to a different cliental.

 

[dave1949]

If they are really TYMs. Then they may be thinking like John Deere mowers and Lowes. John Deere dealer does all assembly and warranty work but Lowes sells them. Usually a different grade of mower than what the dealer has. Have seen the local Deere dealer deliver the mowers to lowes and had a lowes salesman confirm this. If so then they are just another dealer in the network and marketing to a different cliental.

The advantage to TYM is that they don't currently have an extensive dealer network in-place, thus not much internal resistance, at least that is my impression.

Lawnmowers are one thing, but what if Cabelas asked Deere, NH or Kubota to enter into a sales agreement for their CUT class of machines?

 

[TomSeller]

If they are really TYMs. Then they may be thinking like John Deere mowers and Lowes. John Deere dealer does all assembly and warranty work but Lowes sells them. Usually a different grade of mower than what the dealer has. Have seen the local Deere dealer deliver the mowers to lowes and had a lowes salesman confirm this. If so then they are just another dealer in the network and marketing to a different cliental.

Interesting. Basically then Lowes/Cabellas provide the show room floor?

 

[farmer2009]

The advantage to TYM is that they don't currently have an extensive dealer network in-place, thus not much internal resistance, at least that is my impression.

Lawnmowers are one thing, but what if Cabelas asked Deere, NH or Kubota to enter into a sales agreement for their CUT class of machines?

Would it be a bad thing? I mean how many guys would go to Cabelas or Bass Pro and say hey that would be nice. That would not have thought to go buy a tractor. I mean it's a different market, different demographics and all. The way I was told with the mowers is that it is a homeowner grade of mower at Lowes and that to get the commercial stuff you have to go to the dealer. I don't know how that would work in tractors maybe the D series from Deere would be available at a place like that and to get the E or M series you have to go to the dealer. Just an example.

 

[dave1949]

Would it be a bad thing? I mean how many guys would go to Cabelas or Bass Pro and say hey that would be nice. That would not have thought to go buy a tractor. I mean it's a different market, different demographics and all. The way I was told with the mowers is that it is a homeowner grade of mower at Lowes and that to get the commercial stuff you have to go to the dealer. I don't know how that would work in tractors maybe the D series from Deere would be available at a place like that and to get the E or M series you have to go to the dealer. Just an example.

May not be a "bad" thing, just a different way of doing business.

Who knows? Maybe some Cabelas customers get the tractor fever but end up buying it somewhere else. Others may be attracted to the retail simplicity or the comfort of buying a tractor at Cabelas compared to a typical equipment dealer atmosphere.

 

[sseelhoff]

Although it's a different product, not sure I see this as much different than Cabela's selling boats. They surely don't have a parts department or service department for those, either.

 

[farmer2009]

May not be a "bad" thing, just a different way of doing business.

Who knows? Maybe some Cabelas customers get the tractor fever but end up buying it somewhere else. Others may be attracted to the retail simplicity or the comfort of buying a tractor at Cabelas compared to a typical equipment dealer atmosphere.

Sometime those different ways to do business are very profitable for all sometimes it's a flop. Good point on instilling the tractor fever because we all know its a fever.

And it would be the same as them moving boats IMO.

 

[charlz]

I don't think my local Cabelas sells powered boats either, just canoes and the like.

As for 'tractor fever' I don't think you get that until you come into actual contact through operating one... my wife thought I was nuts getting a tractor until she saw how much back-breaking work is saved by owning one. Now she is in agreement that it is pretty indispensable.

 

[Pete Judd]

Went to the website, and can't believe how over priced the attachments are. The same quick hitch that I got a HF for 60 bucks is 300. Even Northern tools is way cheaper.