Dealer's not what they used to be

[crazyal]

I get various calenders/ Christmas cards from our vendors at work and most, while nice, just go ingot he recycling bin. Maybe one or two calenders will be hung up but that's about it. Anyone remember the good old days when half the calenders you would get were either hot rods or girls in bikinis? :licking:

 

[Thomas]

"Anyone remember the good old days when half the calenders you would get were either hot rods or girls in bikinis?"

Sure do..."girls in bikinis" our work place has ban,for they didn't want to offend the third party.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Goes both ways. Customer aren't what they used to be either.

I gave my customer a $600.00 I-pad and I never got an e-mail, a thanks, a phone call NOTHING.

I know they got it because I have the signed FedX receipt.

 

[number two]

I've bought five implements from a dealer that I didn't buy a tractor from only because Kubota had just what I wanted.They are 90 miles away and deliver free to me when in the area,every week or two.Family business,good prices and advice.Thank you card in the mail every time!

 

[ultrarunner]

A friend of mine went into car sales when he got out of the navy in 1952

He is African American and at the time no one would hire a black salesman...

Eventually, he worked out a deal with the local Chevrolet Dealer whereby he could sell cars but would not have a desk or floor time at the Dealership and he became quite successful...

When I asked him the secret to his success he said it was taking care of the customer and developing his own clientele independent of the Dealership... his home number was on his business card and not the Dealership following their rules...

Turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to him when the Dealership changed hands several years later he found himself out of a job...

He went to Cadillac and was able to make the same deal he had a Chevrolet because he had his own customer base that called him directly when in need for a car...

BMW eventually stole him away from Cadillac and for the first time he had an office and staff... and he still had his client list that was loyal to him...

Besides having a great personality... he was a heck of a nice guy...

I still remember going with him a few times early on Christmas mornings delivering a new car with a big bow on the roof to some one's home...

I think part of the problem is no one seems to stay around or in one place much anymore...

 

[JD 4520]

Not really an issue where I am since all the Dealers no longer exist :-(

On the other hand my brother went right into Real Estate right after college... he had Real Estate as his business minor.

Over the last 24 years his Christmas Card list is close to a 1000 and all have the family letter plus a handwritten note...

Everyone that has ever bought a sold a house through him plus all the families where he volunteer coaches summer league get a card (With the help of his wife and daughters)

He is consistently a top performer in the office and doesn't spend any money on any type of Advertising other than his Christmas List...

This is one of the best and most effective marketing tools for a small business. I have a small business and send out 200 cards each year and it is worth the effort. I hand write on each one including the address. Works for me.

 

[Ken45101]

I've been buying Kubota tractors for over a dozen years now. I've moved away from the first dealer, which is an excellent place, but I never received anything more than a Kubota cap, a occasional promotional flyers.

I know one bad Kubota dealer, and several very good dealers. IMO, they haven't changed. The bad dealer is still bad, the good ones are still good.

(Same for JD, the bad dealer is still bad, the good one is still good :laughing

Ken

 

[DAY]

Business 101:
It costs more money to GET a customer
than it does to KEEP a customer.

 

[Kubota 2007]

I purchased two Kubota's this year, I received nothing, not even a hat with their business name that would be free advertisements. The last Kubota I purchased 12 years go, that dealer sent me a Kubota Calendar ever year at this time with a photo copied letter thanking me for the business, and his original signature. That was something I looked forward to each year, when It came time to purchasing filters and oils, I remembered the thoughfull gift and how that dealer remembered me. I'm afraid we've gone past the thoughtfulness in this country and have turned into a Profit Only Country. Maybe time will teach these dealer's/salesmen there is more profit keeping a customer and that .44cent stamp or phone call will pay pack many times.

 

[jesseb3@att.net]

My Dealer is from the old school. I still get a X-mas card and am invited to the X-mas party every year. Picnic in the summer too.

.

Parties and picnics with a bunch of folks that love tractors?! That would be a fun time!