Dealer Do you want dealers on the board?

[JerryG]

I really appreciact all the dealers that talk here. They have a wealth of knowledge to share. They don't have to but they do. I don't think that they should use this forum as a sales add. BUT, I do think that if they have something that a poster needs there is nothing wrong with them telling the poster about it or to e-mail them for more information. As far as links is concerned, I for one would like to have their page link by their signature. If their page link was by their signature, then if you need something from them, you could just click on it to find them. Having said that, I would like to have the link identified as their business page link.

 

[pruntyc]

I for one like the way it has been. What is wrong if a dealer tells you he has something you want, you don't have to buy it. I was wanting a manual for my tractor, and Len said he had it. I e-mailed him and he said he charges $10 P&H, I think that is too much, so I didn't buy. But I thought it was great, that I could find a place to get it, if I wanted to. I trust more of what a dealer says on repair, than someone that may have lucked out on their repair, and might not really know, a lot about what they did. The dealers has done it a lot of times and know what can and does go wrong, and can be a lot more help than some of the other guys that want and try to help. I haven't seen that much of a deal on dealers trying to sell on here. If it weren't for some of the dealers, I probably would go elsewhere for information, my two cents worth, or maybe three cents worth.

 

[Inspector507]

I have not seen too many down-right ads on here, but maybe I have missed a few things too. I appreciate the info I get from others, whether they be dealers or not. If I needed a part, I appreciate knowing that XYZ dealer can get it for me. Maybe ABC dealer has been looking for that same part, he now knows where to get it. From what I've noticed mostly is the dealer saying I have manuals/parts whatever to fit your Yanmar, e-mail me. Now, if the dealer quoted a price to me, there could be a price war going on soon. I think dealer pricing needs to be kept to PM's or e-mail. But availability should be acceptable in open forum. Links to dealers web pages are in the dealer section above, along with links in their profile. Keep it that way. But lets make sure it's "across the board" too. Different Moderators watch different forums.
I once again will say I appreciate the site that Muhammad has got here.
Just my feelings........

Jerry

 

[cpicton1]

I appreciate any good and correct information that I can get on TBN. I enjoy reading post from people with questions and those that have the answers. However, if I want to buy something I want to shop for it to find the best deal. If the dealers on here want to give out free information then I'm all for it. Your local dealer may give you free information if you ask. But if they want to sell their wares on TBN then they should buy their advertisements like they do in their local area or national papers, magazines or television. I read The TractorByNet.com Dealer Directory information and it seems reasonable enough to me. I'm sure some of the dealers spend more than TBN's asking price per month on advertisements that may not bring them as much business as they could get from potential customers on TBN. Is it fare to the dealers that are paying for their adds to have their competition get it for free? Running a business has always been a risky business to be in. The owners and managers have to make the right decisions to stay in business. Maybe advertising on here would be a good investment for them and maybe not. They won't know without trying. I suggest they invest in a Dealer Listing for a few months to see if it might reap them some monetary rewards. If it doesn't they can opt out. It cost money to keep quality sites such as TBN up and running. A lot of free web sites have shut down over the last couple of years do to paying out more to keep it running than bringing in. Some free sites have survived by not being free any longer. They had to start charging subscriptions to their users. If Muhammad can keep this site running and free for us users by selling subscriptions to businesses for advertisements that end up making those businesses profits then I'm all for that. It may be a free country but somebody has to pay. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I haven't seen any blatant advertising. If someone asks a question, then dealers usually have the best info. Also, alot of times, the dealer refers the posting individual to another dealer who is closer.

If a dealer says I have this tractor for sale for this price, then that is advertising, but reporting that I as a dealer have that part, e-mail me is only being helpful.

 

[DocHeb]

I'm going a ways back, but in the past there have been problems with "dealers" with unscrupulous business practices. The instance that comes to mind was "Bernie" a "small business guy" just starting out, looking to sell some canopies to match your tractor's colors. The "ads" were allowed to stay in the posts, and it wasn't until a month later when several TBN members had sent in money and were asking each other "have you heard from Bernie?" that everyone realized it was a scam.

 

[pruntyc]

I think the most of the dealers, we have on here now, we know, at least by name and somewhat about them. If a new one came on, I think most of us would be somewhat careful, till we came to know a little bit about him. Or at least I can speak for myself in this way. We do get a new one once in a while, but they have been working theirselves in pretty good. And following the rules, at least as close as I can tell.

 

[cpicton1]

cfoxmd,

<font color=blue>If someone asks a question, then dealers usually have the best info</font color=blue>

I'm glad you used the word <font color=blue>usually</font color=blue> in your reply. I'm sure they usually do have the best info. But you don't want to believe everything a dealer or his employees might tell you. There are a lot of people working at dealerships that do not and never have owned any kind of tractor, small or large. Some of them may have driven some around on the dealers lot but have never used one in the real world. The mechanics are well trained but do they own and operate their own equipment. They don't need to own one to be able to work on them. If you ask a mechanic or salesperson a question about what size implement to use on your tractor you may not get the correct answer. The salesperson may just want to sell you what they have in stock whether it's to big or small for your tractor. The mechanic may not really know the answer and recommend you speak to someone else, who turns out to be the salesperson. I'm not saying that all of these people are going to lead you astray. Most of these employees act in a professional and ethical manor. I'm just saying that because they deal in tractors doesn't mean they know all the answers. I put a lot of faith in individuals who have operated equipment for many years. Some of these people have seen and done it all. If you post a question on TBN you will get all the help you can muster. The dealers can be of tremendous help if they choose. But you have to remember that they make their living from people like us. I hope some of the dealers will show their gratitude to the buying public by helping on TBN whenever possible. I still believe that if they want to advertise their products or attempt to sell something on TBN they should buy space on the Dealer Directory.

By the way, I just want to say to any of the mechanics out there, active or retired, that I appreciate your help and advice. Book learning is great but practical hands on experience is worth a lot.

This is my opinion and everybody has a right to their own. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Tractors4u]

By reading your post it sounds like you have been burned by a dealer sometime in the past, tractorwise or other. I have never seen your name in the Yanmar forum before so I don't know how much you've read here, but the dealers don't advertise the way I believe you have the impression they do. No one that I have seen has ever pushed their wares or started a thread just to advertise a part or machine. Information about something for sale is always in response to a problem someone has. There is an wide array of dealers here from those like Buck Bond who has a full crew and an onsite service truck to those like me that works a full time job and sells tractors as a hobby business because I love working with and around tractors. I started driving a C Farmall at the age of 9, so at 33 I have 24 yrs of tractor experience. The amount of tractor background will vary. When you talk to a salesperson take everything they say with a grain of salt, but remember, ultimately you are responsible for what you buy. The compact tractor is like the SUV, everybody wants one and they are everywhere. There is a lot of advice being tossed about out there and the best I can give you is Know your tractor and know yourself. Kinda sounds like Sun Tzu doesn't it.

 

[F15DOWNER]

I bought my first tractor about 6 months ago and without the dealers on the board, I would still be looking for parts support, since we don't have any dealers in my area.
Aaron, Len,Reed, Buck and Ernie, have been nothing but help to me and I hope they continue to participate. I wouldn't hesitate to do business with any one of them. I agree that they shouldn't chime in, and fight over parts business, but in my experience that's not what's happening.
If they wouldn't have talked about being dealers and saying they could get certain things, I wouldn't of even known who to contact when I need parts.
This is a great site and I hope nothing changes!!
Tom