Dealer damage

[BOC]

All -

I am curious if you guys have had the same problem I have had with my John Deere dealer. Everything I buy from them - whether it be my I-tach quick hitch, a ballast box, my tiller and bush hog, the bucket on the loader- all come delivered scratched to heck (the tractor, bush hog, and tiller sat outside for a year before I bought them).

I am not a farmer by any means; however I find myself going to a very large dealer and am curious if the mentality of these bigger shops is, "well it's gonna get scratched anyway when they start using it." I have dropped a lot of hints to the point where I think they know I am not happy. The last time I picked something up they threw in a can of spray paint as a joke. I will be honest and say I do have a friendly relationship with this dealer as I have gotten to know all of them through local farmer.

Anyone ever have this problem and is there anything you can do about it? Or am I just expected to go home and touch up the things myself that I am unhappy with? Is my **** rententiveness coming in to play too much here?

 

[tonyoz]

If that is their care factor then you gotta ask your self whats the rest of this business like. For me I would not accept delivery of goods that are damaged in any way. I bet you wouldn't take delivery of a new car that was damaged and I bet they are not the only tractor dealers in your area

 

[kthompson]

Equipment does sit outside and a year is not unheard of especially today. Yes it is equipment and will get dings and such being used but I don't want to buy dinged up equipment for new price.

Still you have responsibility I think to look at it BEFORE you agree on price and if scratch or dinged just say wow that is at least a $100 ding there. (sometimes it is best to move it to an amount that lets it be known you think it should be adjusted but leaving it open for them. Such as, wow that is a million dollar ding there.)

But if a dealership has no pride in the way they care for what they are selling you as has been asked how are they treating the service you can not see?

 

[sweep]

I purchased my 2006 TC45A new. Several months into the ownership drove the tractor back to them (3 mi away) and had them reverse the wheels out further as my property is steep.

Scratched the heck out of the rims on both sides. 7-8-9 long deep scratches-2-3" each on each rim either down to the black base paint or steel. Dealer gave me a can of white paint when I brought it up..he thought I was an alien to even bring up the subject of scratched rims on a farm tractor.

Ended up having a friend of mine who paints cars repaint them...yes they looked that bad...to me anyway.

Probably should have pushed it more with the dealer but the next closest dealer is over an hour away and wanted to keep on somewhat good terms..

 

[BOC]

I'm the same with this being the closet dealer and one that I have a relationship with. My first mistake was probably making friends with all of them as it maybe gives them the impression they can get away with it. When I bring it up they make it seem like it is much a do about nothing and look at me like I am crazy. It's a very awkward situation and one I clearly have not found a way to deal with it. Something tells me 5 years from now it isn't going to matter. I'll guess I'll just stock up on touch up spray paint!

 

[DavesTractor]

I think a tractor should not be scratched when you buy it, especially on the "sheetmetal" parts like the hood and fenders and side panels and such. A scratch over the drawbar or the front bumper from tie downs isn't prefered of course, but to me isn't such a big deal.

Implements are often packed onto a truck tightly to save freight. If you can get 120 box scrapers on a truck coming from Tennessee to California, freight will be $50 each. If you build a wood crate around each one, you might get 60 on a truck, so $100 each, plus the crating expense. Woods and Landpride take care to crate them and keep them from being scratched, but the crating and shipping aren't done gratis, you are paying for it one way or the other. To me, I'll pay extra for no scratches. But most people will take a box scraper with a couple of scuffs that is $75 cheaper in a heartbeat.

So I think a ding in a hood or a scratched fender should be fixed or you should get a discount. But on implements, you sort of have to pick your price point.

 

[Jay4200]

Anyone ever have this problem and is there anything you can do about it? Or am I just expected to go home and touch up the things myself that I am unhappy with? Is my **** rententiveness coming in to play too much here?

**** retentiveness is a virtue.

I would never accept a scratched-up item new from a dealer. They DON'T come that way, incidentally - that is damage created by the monkeys that work at the dealership. I don't care if I plan on destroying an item 5 minutes out of the parking lot - if I am buying and paying for something new, I want it NEW. If it is all scratched up, it's used as far as I am concerned. I'd buy it at a 50% discount, or make them get me another one.

Personally, I wouldn't buy anything from that particular JD dealer.

JayC

 

[sweep]

So I think a ding in a hood or a scratched fender should be fixed or you should get a discount. But on implements, you sort of have to pick your price point.

Was looking for a 7' blade some years back for snow removal. I did not want to pay the $$ for a higher priced Woods/Bush Hog brand blade from my NH dealer so I went to TSC. The King Kutters they had in stock were rusted pretty good from sitting out in the lot for who knows how long. Asked the salesperson I they could order me in a "fresh one". Got a "no problem". I was skeptical it would happen to say the least.

5-6 days later they called and said it was in..went down to look at it. Fresh and no rust.

Sometimes the big box stores are easier to deal with than the mom and pop dealers...you would think it would be the other way round..


I have seen brand new tractors on lot's that are incredibly rusted/faded etc. Would never take one of those. If I do buy anything from my dealer he WILL KNOW up front I want a fresh one and not something that has sat on his lot or someone elses and rusted/faded away.

 

[Runner]

I had the same issue, service department scratched up the fender cap (down to bare metal) while installing power beyond. I noticed it on a pre-delivery inspection at the dealer and told them I wanted it fixed, and not with spray paint.

Sure enough, on delivery day, it showed up with a big blob of green spray paint, drips, overspray on the black parts and all.

I pointed out to the delivery guy (also the salesman) that it wasn't fixed as discussed. This was on a small, replaceable part of the fender so I got him to order me a new one, which came painted from the factory.

I think it is pretty common for dealers to look at it as "just a tractor that will be scratched up anyway, so what's the difference..."

However, as others have said, I paid for new and that's what I want. If it gets screwed up, I'll be the one to do it.

 

[MasseyWV]

If a dealer won't take good care of their equipment, they probably won't take good care of you when you need service. I'd find another dealer ASAP.

 

[slowzuki]

Every time you adjust dished type rims its scratches all the paint up, its just the way it is. Same as when you mount clamp on duals, the process scratches the paint off. I'm sure with double the labour they could have figured a way to do it with some plastic guarding but the last drawdown with the bolts onto the welded lug will always chip the paint, and the next time you adjust them the same thing will happen.

I'm on the dealers side with this one, its not a sports car. The dealer also has to manage mechanics who may be very talented and are busy, if he makes them do things that are perceived as wasting their time, he will have a had time keeping good help.

Scratched the heck out of the rims on both sides. 7-8-9 long deep scratches-2-3" each on each rim either down to the black base paint or steel. Dealer gave me a can of white paint when I brought it up..he thought I was an alien to even bring up the subject of scratched rims on a farm tractor.

 

[DavesTractor]

I think for dealers it is about managing expectations and offering alternatives. On an implement, we offer a well built but economy priced item that is less money but will have some scratches and might be painted rather that powdercoated. Then we offer a high-end unit with powdercoating and each crated individually. Take your pick, but don't expect the same price.

We run into more issues with scratched implement complaints when a buyer is purchasing his very first tractor. It's a big deal, it's a lot of money and his only similar buying experience is buying a car or truck. The farmer with a fleet of tractors takes a more practical approach.

Before any of you think I am fine with scratched stuff, I'm actually very fussy, but I am realistic as well. I'll buy the more expensive product because not only do they look better when bought, but they generally look better a few years down the road.

 

[Fossil Farm]

if he makes them do things that are perceived as wasting their time, he will have a had time keeping good help.

Keeping your customers happy is a waste of time??

If you are out in the field changing tires, yes you will scratch things. This tractor was taken to the dealership where they should have the proper tools and hoists to do the job without damaging the goods. If scratches are OK ,then why bother changing the engine oil or hydraulic fluid properly, that takes time may be considered a "waste of time." If my mechanic scratched my trucks chrome rims while changing a tire, he would certainly be paying for it, not considered "typical damage."

 

[sweep]

Every time you adjust dished type rims its scratches all the paint up, its just the way it is. Same as when you mount clamp on duals, the process scratches the paint off. I'm sure with double the labour they could have figured a way to do it with some plastic guarding but the last drawdown with the bolts onto the welded lug will always chip the paint, and the next time you adjust them the same thing will happen.

I'm on the dealers side with this one, its not a sports car. The dealer also has to manage mechanics who may be very talented and are busy, if he makes them do things that are perceived as wasting their time, he will have a had time keeping good help.

I understand some chipping around the lugs and from impact tools and paint wear on the high part of the rim that would have had contact with the rear axle then reversed.

Chipping is way different than huge scratches. My wheels had numerous long scratches over them-way beyond the lug nut area. It looked like the mechanic was doing the job himself and used a fork lift with pallet forks or something similar to lower the rims on their side. Some of the longer scratches were 5-6" long and 1/4" wide in areas..that is uncalled for.

Put it this way, it would have been hard for me to put that many scratches on them doing it on purpose.

I'm not a novice to this..have restored 6 antique cars and one tractor. I would have done it myself but he loaded the tires at the same time an I did not feel comfortable with the weight of the tires involved.

I have seen numerous other tractors with reversed rims and they did not have scratches like mine.

 

[MasseyWV]

we offer a high-end unit with powdercoating and each crated individually. Take your pick, but don't expect the same price.

In my opinion, primer/paint is far superior to powder-coating. Call it high-end if you wish, but powder-coating makes it look low-end to me.

Before any of you think I am fine with scratched stuff, I'm actually very fussy, but I am realistic as well.

Fussy but realistic... Realistic from who's point of view?

I'll buy the more expensive product because not only do they look better when bought, but they generally look better a few years down the road.

I think many dealers may try to use this to their advantage. Scratched product with rust for less money, or scratch-free product with no rust for more money. Which would you buy? Clearly, the scratch-free product looks better, which creates an added incentive to get the buyer to pay more money, thus making more profit for the dealer.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would not accept it. All my equipment, my tractor, trailer, finish mower, box blade, grader blade, bush hog, front end snow plow, post hole digger, 2 bottom plow, ect all sit in side the barn on dollys for easy hookup. I am **** I guess but they get power washed and stored after each use. Its worked well for me. Since implements have gone up so much I guarantee you I could get what I paid for them or more for each and every one.

Chris

 

[DavesTractor]

In my opinion, primer/paint is far superior to powder-coating. Call it high-end if you wish, but powder-coating makes it look low-end to me.



Fussy but realistic... Realistic from who's point of view?



I think many dealers may try to use this to their advantage. Scratched product with rust for less money, or scratch-free product with no rust for more money. Which would you buy? Clearly, the scratch-free product looks better, which creates an added incentive to get the buyer to pay more money, thus making more profit for the dealer.

Massey,

Apparently my post had no value to you, probably my answer to yours won't either, but I'll give it a shot.

You go with equipment enamel, I like powder coating vs the kind of paint you see on most implements. We are not talking about a fine automotive paint job vs powdercoating. You don't get a primed, sealed, topcoat/clearcoat paint job on a box scraper.

Realistic from who's point of view? Obviously mine. You are welcome to your point of view also, but there really isn't anything to argue about here.

And your third point indicates we are using this as a scheme to make more money? You must be kidding? Giving more than one quality and/or price level option is just giving the customers more options, not some sort of trickery. Does it make more money? Well, I suppose it does if it keeps the customer on your lot and he doesn't go off and buy elsewhere. But should we not do that?

 

[scrappy isb67]

when I bought my rig the tractor looks like it had been outside for a while, the knobs are all faded, the seat had a really small tear in it and the seatpan looks like they painted right over the rust. the Imatch looked like it had been drug from one end of the parking lot to the other. I asked for some touchup paint and touched everything up. Do i like it? no, but I understand it and am not going to lose any sleep over it. it is not going to affect functionality and is only asthetics. I have put way more scratches on everthing myself!

 

[MasseyWV]

Apparently my post had no value to you, probably my answer to yours won't either, but I'll give it a shot.

Of course your post had value to me, it allowed me to make a point.

You go with equipment enamel, I like powder coating vs the kind of paint you see on most implements. We are not talking about a fine automotive paint job vs powdercoating. You don't get a primed, sealed, topcoat/clearcoat paint job on a box scraper.

I agree that the paint used on implements is greatly inferior to automotive paint, but I still believe it's better than powder-coating because most manufacturers don't seem to take the time to properly prepare the metal surface, which only causes the powder-coating to begin peeling off.

Realistic from who's point of view? Obviously mine. You are welcome to your point of view also, but there really isn't anything to argue about here.

It was a rhetorical question. Since you are a dealer, it was obviously from your point of view.

And your third point indicates we are using this as a scheme to make more money? You must be kidding? Giving more than one quality and/or price level option is just giving the customers more options, not some sort of trickery. Does it make more money? Well, I suppose it does if it keeps the customer on your lot and he doesn't go off and buy elsewhere. But should we not do that?

Despite having used your post to make my point, I wasn't trying to imply that you were using the "upsell" scheme, but I wasn't kidding either. You may see it as giving the customer options, but have you considered how the customer may see it? I'm sure you have, but as you already know, not all customers will see it in a positive light.

Personally, I believe that appearance is everything, and I hate rust with a passion. That said, many of your customers may feel the same way, and seeing rusty implements, etc... on your lot has the potential for making the dealership (as a whole) look bad to them. There is nothing wrong with trying to turn potential customers into paying customers, especially in this economy, but why not use every advantage you have at your disposal? Seriously, how much trouble would it be to touch up scratches on new implements and other equipment so they all look their best?

 

[remington270]

When buying a new tractor (not sure about implements) you can actually ask the dealer how long the unit has been on his lot (there's a term for this which I forget), but this was very important to me when I bought my tractor new.