Dealer Dealers are strange businessmen sometimes.

Bird · May 24, 2004

Daryl, your dealer sounds a bit like my younger brother. My younger brother is perhaps the best salesman I've ever known. He makes a real effort to know his products, but ain't gonna argue with a potential customer who knows (or claims to know) more than he does. But, of course, sometimes he really doesn't know everything and doesn't hesitate to say so. When he had the Matco Tool truck, I don't know how many times he had customers ask if a certain tool really worked like it was supposed to and he'd say, "I don't know. Why don't you try it out and you tell me." When he made his rounds to that customer the following week, he nearly always sold the guy that tool. But even if he didn't, he'd just take it back and mark it down considerably and sell it to someone else. And no matter how busy things were, he had time to visit with potential customers and it made no difference whether it was about the products, fishing, golf, their family, or whatever. He'd stay and visit as long as they wanted to. If you think I talk a lot, you just never met my younger brother. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif But he sure sold a lot of whatever he had to sell, whether it was when he had the tool truck, or the tire dealership, or the RV dealership he worked for.

OrangeGuy · May 24, 2004

Many equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Caterpillar, Bobcat and many others give their dealers specific territories. If a customer from another territory buys from a dealer outside of their territory, the selling dealer is required to pay a "fee", as much as 10% of the retail value, to the dealer who "owns" the territory in which the customer lives. I not sure if Kubota has such a program, but because it is quite common with many manufacturers, many dealers participate for practical reasons.

A good dealer needs to make a profit so he can provide excellent service and support for the customer. Nobody benefits from a "low ball" dealer who will sell anywhere, including the customer. Dealers who are further away from the customer may be forced to not participate in a sale (as I stated above) or more likely are being considerate of the customers local dealer expecting "quid pro quo" when one of his customers shows up at a dealer further away.

This is why TBN is great. If you are ready to purchase a new or used tractor, arm yourself with as much information as you can. In addition, make sure that you convey that you are a buyer not a shopper. My experience has taught me that "boning up" on competitive products will get the dealer to move further then pitting like dealer against like dealer. If you want a great deal on a brand new Kubota tractor, bring a bonified quote from the JD or NH or ??? tractor dealer.

In the end you want to establish a great relationship with your local dealer. He can and should be a big part of your overall experience with your new tractor. Are "dealers...strange businessmen sometimes"? You bet, but often times there is a reason.

I wonder if a dealer has ever expressed that we customers can be a bit strange at times.

OrangeGuy

frank_f15 · May 24, 2004

Tom: glad u finally got a good deal and a responsive dealer. It is not only tractor dealers that are that way, a few years ago i wated a 3 car garage built, + a new concrete driveway,+ a complete tear off of my house roof with new installed. called 4 local contractators (rural area) 2 never answered my call, 1 sent me a quote without coming over and lloking the jo over, and the 4th made an appoitment but never showed up. this was in feb. when they are not loaded with work. called a 5 th guy after that, he came over the same night i called, discussed in detail what i wanted (made suggestions) 2 days later came back with complete blueprints, specs, and 2 contracts , one for garage and drive, and one for house roof. price was good, so gave him the job and was 1st on the list when spring came around. excellent job.

DannyD · May 24, 2004

If a customer from another territory buys from a dealer outside of their territory, the selling dealer is required to pay a "fee", as much as 10% of the retail value, to the dealer who "owns" the territory in which the customer lives.>>>

Wonder if this is why the local dealer was SO interested in WHERE I purchased my tractor. 2 Kubota dealers, I bought from the least expensive of the 2 but 75 miles away. I priced 3, last one was least expensive of the 3 but acted like he was doing me a favor..........he is the one that showed me a 2002 bx2200 with broke headlight, beat up hood, torn seat, and scratched up like it had been thru barbed wire.........for 8900.00 without a loader or mower

BIGUN · May 25, 2004

Wife and I were at the dealer looking at a Chevy Tahoe with 8k miles on it. We walked inside and I asked the salesman what they were asking for the used Tahoe. He looked puzzled and said he wasn’t aware of a used Tahoe on their lot. When I pointed it out he said, “Oh that’s not used, that’s a new one”. I said any vehicle with 8k miles and stains and scratches throughout the interior was certainly used in my book. He said. “Well as far as the bank is concerned it’s new, and THEY are the ones that count”. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif After shooting me a price which was more than I would have paid for a real new one he ask how I planned to finance it. When I told him I pay cash he got this funny look on his face. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Needless to say he didn’t make a sale to me and I thought he was a strange business man.

Boone · May 25, 2004

I bought my B7500 from a TBN'r with 40 hours on and a year old. He had purchased it from McFarlane's out of Sauk City, Wis. The owner and the TBN'r had a deal for a front end loader as a future purchase. McFarlane the owner honored the price for me. He greeted me when I dropped the tractor off and when I returned to pick up. I was impressed.

Woodbeef · May 25, 2004

Hey BotaGuy,

I think the whole not really understanding the value of the internet thing is basically a trickle down effect from the manufacturers on down. If they truly understood the value of boards like this one,they'd have someone on them answering questions and helping out customers with problems. Awfully cheap marketing in my eyes!!

Verdemont · May 25, 2004

Here's another non-tractor example:

We just bought a small gardening shed from a company called Tuff Shed. I think they are in a lot of states. This shed was on sale and was already built. It had to be transported to our home. Normally they are built on site. But it was about 50% off ($1200 versus $2100). The shed's roof and some of the metal drop rail were damaged during transportation when it was strapped to the trailer (it's an 8 x 12' x 9' tall shed).
The delivery guys seemed clueless. We called the dealer and they promised to send someone out in a few days to replace the 5-6 shingles and the drip rail. No one came. After about 3 calls to them we had no one come out.

So I stop in to see them. Now, it just so happens that we're also considering building a detached garage as big as 24x36'. So, I drop in and get a written quote on a 26x36' 1 story garage with foundation, pad, etc.. I mention my name and ask when they are coming out to fix my shed. I figured if anything, the thought that I might plunk down $17-20K on a new garage would motivate them.

Sure enough someone comes out 2 days later. Doesn't have the right shingles, doesn't have the right drip rail, spends 5 minutes at the house and then says he'll have to come back. I took my written estimate for the garage, ripped it in two and told the guy to give this to the salesperson.

Salesperson calls me the next day and asks what's up. I tell them if they can't make a simple 10 minute repair on a $1200 shed, I'm not going to trust then to build me a garage. I'm not sure they got it.

Ended up signing a contract for a new pole barn that is 36' x 56' with all the fixins that will be built in about 6-8 weeks. These people know about customer service. I don't expect vendors to kiss my ****, but I do expect them to keep their word. Honesty and product knowledge is so refreshing.

Tom

DAP · May 25, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( A good dealer needs to make a profit so he can provide excellent service and support for the customer. Nobody benefits from a "low ball" dealer who will sell anywhere, including the customer. Dealers who are further away from the customer may be forced to not participate in a sale (as I stated above) or more likely are being considerate of the customers local dealer expecting "quid pro quo" when one of his customers shows up at a dealer further away.)</font>

That's a lotta hooey.

The following is not hooey. The dealers in my immediate locale engage in 'profiling'. This means that unless you are a contractor and the product you'd like to buy can be written off or it's associative cost passed on to a consumer, I need not be bothered with you. That means that all others who NEED or would LIKE to have a TRACTOR or other such similar equipment at a COMPETITIVE PRICE need not waste their time and money at this place of business. That's the reality. And ... my locale is not the only example of this occurence.

If you believe anything else, you are kidding yourself.

It's not a one way street. It's a two way street. These local dealers, one orange, green and blue respectively, are bitter at the loss of their ag business due to sprawl and subrural development. They have long ago discarded their end of the client-customer relationship.

Too much talk about the buyer's relationship with the dealer. These types of dealers have long since discarded their obligation to the relationship to ALL of their customers. In my situation, there will be no relationship to me from them, unless I buy at over list price, buy often, buy a lot.

As much as I'd love to (and do) support local business, I won't do it on those terms. I've known for a long while that a tractor at my place will come from far away.

Welcome to TBN! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif