Do You Get Good Service If You Buy Elsewhere?

[PineRidge]

I'm curious and since I have not seen another post ask I must ask the following: If you purchase a new tractor from an out of state dealer can you expect to get good, fast service from your local dealer even though you did not support him with your purchase? Any experiences would be welcome here. I see a LOT of folks buying from North Carolina. I would have no problems getting my implements from out of state but I have to question the tractor itself.

Mike

 

[Kevin_in_VA]

I have been told by friends with NH tractors, and others on this board, that NH policy is that their dealers provide the same level of service to NH owners regardless of where they purchased their tractors or they risk losing their franchises.

This is standard policy in other industries as well. Whether or not it is enforced is another question.

Kevin

 

[art]

Give it to you from a dealers stand point. We don't always make flat rate, how do we make up the differnce? We don't always know exactly what the problem is, till it's figured out who pays to keep the lites on much less who pays the help? There isn't that much money in doing warrantee to think it is a profit center but it is an essential and we are glad we get what we do. Don't get me wrong I do know some dealers that say"if they were close enough to buy it from there, they must be close enough to service it". We will service it, as soon as the fellows equipment who thought enough of us to make his purchase from us is done. All dealers are supposed to service there brands equipment, where ever purchased. What might be missed is some assistance in operation or techniques used to make use and servicing easier. Maybe the use of a machine while a repair is being made on yours to finish a job. There again, every dealer is different, we also include trucking for warrantee to most of our customers, most don't. To at least give the local dealer the last chance with the cards laid out, Maybe he will tell you to buy from the other dealer for that amount if he can't show the value in doing buisness with him.

 

[PineRidge]

Kevin I was in the HVAC service business for a lot of years and the factory/manufacturer always paid just a fraction of what the labor actually amounted to. Most of the time travel allotments were also minimal at best. We did service customers that purchased elsewhere but only after our regulars were satisfied so someone had to wait in line. I would like to hear from a few of the many that actually purchased tractors elsewhere and then needed quick help. Were the local boys happy to come out to assist you in the field? Did you wait forever? Did you have any problems at all getting service where it was needed? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[thcri]

Kevin,

I am in the HVAC business also and yep, I will take care of products sold by competitors AFTER MINE ARE TAKIN CARE OF FIRST. Just the way it is and yep the manufacturers don't pay squat anymore. They only pay for parts at our cost and there is no labor allowance unless the product fails the day it is installed.

murph

 

[JerryG]

My last tractor was bought from a dealer that wasn't the closest. The closest dealer did take care of all warranty work, when ever needed. He told me that he was glad to any time that I needed it. I could not tell that I was ever delayed because of purchasing from another dealer. A smart dealer, knows that if he treats you right, you might buy from him next time. I did buy my current tractor from the local dealer and also a lot of other things.

 

[PineRidge]

I know there are a LOT more tractors purchased from out of state than the posts here so far. Either some of you are afraid to admit it or maybe you are just unwilling share your experiences. I have to admit that I was tempted myself on the TC-40D purchase but the service thing kept me from spending my bucks out of state.

 

[BILL_K]

Try posting in the General Forms/Buying-pricing, You will reach morepeople and get more
answers
Billk

 

[markie61]

I bought a used TC40D from an out-of-state dealer. I had about $1200 worth of warranty work done by the local dealer, who prioritized it because it was warranty. I was completely open about the facts, but the service department did a fast, high-quality job.

Now, their TRANSPORTATION department was pretty awful... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I should have rented a trailer and transported it myself... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Mark

 

[mahlers]

It's a great question - one that I've been laboring over. In my area, there aren't many tractor dealers, and the ones that are here don't do any kind of volume at all. I visited them, and the typical experience was that I would walk in, stand around for a while listening to the crickets chirp, and then go out on their lot to look for myself. Selection was EXTREMELY limited (my NH dealer had one TC40 on the lot, and that was it..., I mean that was IT - nothing else). When I finally got to communicate with a sales person over the phone, he told me that "we've got the best selection anywhere in this part of the state, blah, blah, blah...". He was a nice guy, I liked him, and would buy from him if they had prices that were anywhere near competitive.

So, I haven't decided what I'm going to buy yet, but I've definitely decided that I'm going to buy from one of the folks I've talked to out of state. Even over the phone I feel like they pay more attention to me than the locals. Warranty work might be a problem, but I'll just have to deal with that when and if the time comes.

One interesting thing that I did find out the other day - I talked to Buck at EFC Construction in WA about one of the new TYM tractors, and the warranty policy on those units is pretty good. In short, they will let you get the tractor serviced at any tractor shop, and TYM will pay full shop rates for the work. Most manufacturers only pay a cut-rate on warranty work, and I could see plenty of reputable shops being really happy to work on an outside unit if it paid like that.