Compact Tractor Dealers Ignore Two-thirds of Their Potential Website Customers, Industry Survey Shows

[LFP57]

I purchased a tractor from a dealership that has been in business for 45 years and is family owned. The two brothers that started the business are getting up in age and now have the children running the sales and other functions in the business. The business model the two brothers ran the company on seems to be gone, the children seem to just not care and have an attitude. During and after the sale, couldn't get them to answer emails and if they did, it did little to nothing to answer questions.

Considering that this is the direction the world is heading, emails and text messages are the norm for communicating and if you're in sales, that's what you're paid to do. Who would spend a large amount of money for a tractor and not shop around? These people just haven't figured it out yet, their attitude, not responding to text emails/texts are the reason they lost the sale.

Here's a perfect example of one person's experience.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I am looking for a skid steer attachment and found one online at a dealer in Arkansas. I emailed them from the equipment website and got no response. After 2 days, I called and was put on hold for 15 minutes, then I hung up. I called again the next day and was told the salesman was on the phone. I said I would call back later, which I never did.
I would say there was a 10% chance that I would buy this attachment, but it would have been nice to at least get a price.

I was just telling this to my wife, and she happens to know this dealership and deals with them on a regular basis. She works at a local LS tractor dealership. She will call them today and see if she can get a response.

I think the reason for the "call for price" listings is that prices are going up so fast that they are afraid to publish a price. About 2 years ago I bought a skid steer for 17,500 and today a similar skid steer is listed for about 27,000.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

I purchased a tractor from a dealership that has been in business for 45 years and is family owned. The two brothers that started the business are getting up in age and now have the children running the sales and other functions in the business. The business model the two brothers ran the company on seems to be gone, the children seem to just not care and have an attitude. During and after the sale, couldn't get them to answer emails and if they did, it did little to nothing to answer questions.

Considering that this is the direction the world is heading, emails and text messages are the norm for communicating and if you're in sales, that's what you're paid to do. Who would spend a large amount of money for a tractor and not shop around? These people just haven't figured it out yet, their attitude, not responding to text emails/texts are the reason they lost the sale.

Here's a perfect example of one person's experience.

Yep, what he was talking about in that video has been about my experience as well. Here's another example of some of the brain dead stuff you get when you go tractor shopping:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=669434060944446

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

I think the reason for the "call for price" listings is that prices are going up so fast that they are afraid to publish a price. About 2 years ago I bought a skid steer for 17,500 and today a similar skid steer is listed for about 27,000.

The industry was doing this long before covid or supply shortages.

 

[jyoutz]

Yep, would have been 2 sales from me lost..... I purchased both my tractors after emailing, then phoning my dealers.... Bought both sight unseen.

Me too. All email and phone dealings. I never saw my tractor until it was delivered.

 

[NCL4701]

if only the difference business focus was the reason for the poor service. My closest 'green' Deere dealership usually has 50-70% CUT or smaller on the lot. 2 trips to walk the lot, no salesperson even bothered to check with me.

I understand that some dealerships are different, but for the premium price on the green paint, the service should always be top notch. It is especially disappointing because it is part of the large regional chain. The disdain for the small-mid sized tractor buyers is palpable.

I thought you might be describing my local JD dealer but then saw you’re in Texas. Must not be unique to one dealer group.

 

[rScotty]

SNIP
I think the reason for the "call for price" listings is that prices are going up so fast that they are afraid to publish a price. About 2 years ago I bought a skid steer for 17,500 and today a similar skid steer is listed for about 27,000.

When I was a machinery dealer I simply bought at one price - either cash or IOU - so I immediately knew what I had to sell it for.

I don't know how dealers do their buying today - but from what I hear it is a maze of dealership points, floor planning, promotions, deliveries, and financing from several sources.
It could be that without having a sale at a certain price in hand the dealer is a bit lost. He may not even know what price spread he is working with.
rScotty

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

When I was a machinery dealer I simply bought at one price - either cash or IOU - so I immediately knew what I had to sell it for.

I never knew you were a machinery dealer Scotty! What did you sell?

 

[rScotty]

I never knew you were a machinery dealer Scotty! What did you sell?

Motorcycles and used machine tools.

 

[Username Taken]

I was just telling this to my wife, and she happens to know this dealership and deals with them on a regular basis. She works at a local LS tractor dealership. She will call them today and see if she can get a response.

I think the reason for the "call for price" listings is that prices are going up so fast that they are afraid to publish a price. About 2 years ago I bought a skid steer for 17,500 and today a similar skid steer is listed for about 27,000.

My understanding is that the OEM doesn't want Dealerships getting into price wars. So, if you list it for Suggested Retail or do a 'call for price' listing, the OEM will cost-share in the expense of the Ad with the Dealer.

I find it to be senseless. Completely and totally beyond senseless and way into 'stupid'. I'm talking Sears stupid people. So there's that. There are reasons why but that can get long-winded. The OEM isn't doing them a lot of favors with that bit of lunacy

I drove 2 hours in bumper-to-bumper traffic with my wife to buy her car with her. I hate, HATE, dealing with idiot salesmen that think they're slick. That try absurd 'trial close' methods and ask closed-end questions. It seriously ticks me off. I'm like, 'Save it for your 3rd grade students'.

So I drove to Brandon, Brandon Ford. They're like 'Here's the price, take it or leave it'. It's clear, it's plain as day, it's written down, no surprise prep fees or any other BS. It's full disclosure, up front. Every nickel. And you never have to worry about whether or not you got the best possible deal at the time because -- You did. Nobody ese is getting a better deal. They're not rude. At all. Just matter-of-fact businessmen and women. No song and dance, no razzle-dazzle, no 'Bring your Wife by and we'll dicker' kind of stupidity.

Last year, they were the biggest Ford Dealer in the World. They're not every year, but a lot. When I was there looking at an F-250 (I bought a Ram CTD instead), they had over 1,200 (one thousand two hundred) trucks on the Lot. On.The.Lot.

The problem we have here, with unresponsive Tractor Dealers, is really simple. They're terrible businessmen. Amateurs. Mister Haney types. Carnie Barkers instead of salespeople.

While it is sad that Mom and Pop places keep getting shuttered...... It's their own fault. You don't have to be a sooper-star or have an MBA. Just do your freaking job and don't dikk people around.

And if you have employees that won't do their jobs, they need to take it on down the road.

simple

 

[Username Taken]

One of the ways some of the more enterprising dealers found to get around the OEM insisting on TAV (true advertised value) listings was, they'd list the price at Suggested Retail but give away stuff with the tractor. Trailer, rotary mower..... Whatever.

And about 90% of the time, they didn't have it. Which leads to frustrated and angry customers. Not good for business.

It starts at the top. The Factory is as much to blame as anybody. Possibly, mostly to blame.

 

[rScotty]

My understanding is that the OEM doesn't want Dealerships getting into price wars. So, if you list it for Suggested Retail or do a 'call for price' listing, the OEM will cost-share in the expense of the Ad with the Dealer.

I find it to be senseless. Completely and totally beyond senseless and way into 'stupid'. I'm talking Sears stupid people. So there's that. There are reasons why but that can get long-winded. The OEM isn't doing them a lot of favors with that bit of lunacy

I drove 2 hours in bumper-to-bumper traffic with my wife to buy her car with her. I hate, HATE, dealing with idiot salesmen that think they're slick. That try absurd 'trial close' methods and ask closed-end questions. It seriously ticks me off. I'm like, 'Save it for your 3rd grade students'.

So I drove to Brandon, Brandon Ford. They're like 'Here's the price, take it or leave it'. It's clear, it's plain as day, it's written down, no surprise prep fees or any other BS. It's full disclosure, up front. Every nickel. And you never have to worry about whether or not you got the best possible deal at the time because -- You did. Nobody ese is getting a better deal. They're not rude. At all. Just matter-of-fact businessmen and women. No song and dance, no razzle-dazzle, no 'Bring your Wife by and we'll dicker' kind of stupidity.

Last year, they were the biggest Ford Dealer in the World. They're not every year, but a lot. When I was there looking at an F-250 (I bought a Ram CTD instead), they had over 1,200 (one thousand two hundred) trucks on the Lot. On.The.Lot.

The problem we have here, with unresponsive Tractor Dealers, is really simple. They're terrible businessmen. Amateurs. Mister Haney types. Carnie Barkers instead of salespeople.

While it is sad that Mom and Pop places keep getting shuttered...... It's their own fault. You don't have to be a sooper-star or have an MBA. Just do your freaking job and don't dikk people around.

And if you have employees that won't do their jobs, they need to take it on down the road.

simple

What a beautiful rant!
But frankly I'd much rather deal with a Mom and Pop shop. No, they don't have 1200 F-250s on the lot. That doesn't matter to me. Price is soon forgotten, and at any rate it means little compared to the enjoyment of the whole buying experience.
It's about people and how they deal with each other.
rScotty

 

[m1garand762]

Looks like you bought a Kubota. I would have brought in the NCHA membership card and slapped it down in front of the local dealer and tell him you want the 20% off MSRP.

I got well below 20 percent off by finding the right dealer I just had to drive a few hours to pick it up

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

The problem we have here, with unresponsive Tractor Dealers, is really simple. They're terrible businessmen. Amateurs. Mister Haney types.

Mr. Haney types Dude you have a way with words! LMAO....

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

What a beautiful rant!
But frankly I'd much rather deal with a Mom and Pop shop. No, they don't have 1200 F-250s on the lot. That doesn't matter to me. Price is soon forgotten, and at any rate it means little compared to the enjoyment of the whole buying experience.
It's about people and how they deal with each other.
rScotty

Scotty, I'm completely with you. I also wanted a great buying experience. In fact, I was really excited to go shopping for tractors as I knew this would be a once in a lifetime experience for me and I was getting to do it with my 80 year old father which made it all the more special. However, I can say publicly with transparency and honesty that it didn't turn out the way I had hoped. I was disappointed and even shocked at the experience that I ended up having with the local dealers here. But I will also say that what I lost in a great buying experience I more then made up for in a great online community of people who helped me obtain the information I was seeking and gave me the opportunity to sow that information back into other people looking to obtain it. So in hindsight I am glad that I didn't get the great buying experience or I wouldn't still be here today writing this post on TBN.

 

[Hay Dude]

I purchased a tractor from a dealership that has been in business for 45 years and is family owned. The two brothers that started the business are getting up in age and now have the children running the sales and other functions in the business. The business model the two brothers ran the company on seems to be gone, the children seem to just not care and have an attitude. During and after the sale, couldn't get them to answer emails and if they did, it did little to nothing to answer questions.

Considering that this is the direction the world is heading, emails and text messages are the norm for communicating and if you're in sales, that's what you're paid to do. Who would spend a large amount of money for a tractor and not shop around? These people just haven't figured it out yet, their attitude, not responding to text emails/texts are the reason they lost the sale.

Here's a perfect example of one person's experience.

The big box store mentality has definitely arrived at many tractor retailers.
I am dealing more & more with the mom & pop dealers that are left and although they dont have the gimmicky stuff the big dealers have, they do seem to know their products better.

 

[bvanek]

Lots of older peopl don’t accept changes, and never will.

They eventually age out of the system, as we all do, and change and new ideas and ways of doing business happen anyway.

Change is inevitable, and clinging to old ways won’t stop it.

Most older people accept that change is inevitable. But if change is not an improvement over what works for them then they resist.

Choices are what matter and when "you people" continually undermine/eliminate choices in the name of progress then you get what we have today. Corporate domination, no competition, and dependence on China. Again once you eliminate choices you lose "new ideas" and subsequent "other ways of doing business" as in small business ventures that don't have the capital for this change you are aspiring to.

"They eventually age out of the system" I've heard that talking point before. Yes we will all die off and leave your "system" in place.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I was just telling this to my wife, and she happens to know this dealership and deals with them on a regular basis. She works at a local LS tractor dealership. She will call them today and see if she can get a response.

I think the reason for the "call for price" listings is that prices are going up so fast that they are afraid to publish a price. About 2 years ago I bought a skid steer for 17,500 and today a similar skid steer is listed for about 27,000.

My wife called the dealership today and asked the owner to call me.

He called me later today and apologized for not returning my email earlier. He said he just can't find any help. He pays well, and provides plenty of benefits, and still can't find anyone.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

And now for another crappy dealer experience.

Today I went to my local Bobcat dealer looking for prices on a couple of attachments.

The young salesman was very helpful and knew his products pretty well. As I was about to leave, I asked him if he had any used attachments that I needed to buy.

We walked outside and there was one if exactly what I am looking for. It was a bit rough, but I said 'give me a price'.

We went back inside and he looked on his computer and said they have not yet put a price on it.

He took my number and said he would get a price and call me.

That was around 10 am this morning and he has not called me back as of 6:45 pm.

I want the attachment and will probably buy it. It's just frustrating that I haven't got a price yet.

 

[tradosaurus]

And now for another crappy dealer experience.
Today I went to my local Bobcat dealer looking for prices on a couple of attachments.
The young salesman was very helpful and knew his products pretty well. As I was about to leave, I asked him if he had any used attachments that I needed to buy.
We walked outside and there was one if exactly what I am looking for. It was a bit rough, but I said 'give me a price'.
We went back inside and he looked on his computer and said they have not yet put a price on it.
He took my number and said he would get a price and call me.
That was around 10 am this morning and he has not called me back as of 6:45 pm.
I want the attachment and will probably buy it. It's just frustrating that I haven't got a price yet.

There should have been no reason he couldn't have given you a price within 30 minutes. Even getting price approval through management shouldn't have taken that long.