Dealer Gold Star Dealer

[tarious]

I recently ordered a 3320 from my local JD dealer. This dealer came highly recommended and is well respected locally. The dealer didn’t have a tractor for me in stock, so the salesman tried to locate the exact tractor I ordered from another dealer. He did find a few tractors available at other dealers, but all had been sitting outside and were manufactured months earlier. The salesman stated that I paid for new and I would get _new_.

When I questioned him about the delivery date, he stated “we are a gold star dealer, and it _will_ be here on the 8th of June or before”. Apparently, in his experience, Deere is very reliable with these arrival dates.

In reading some of the posts here I notice some people have experienced delays. Have any of you had delays with a Gold Star dealer? Does the Gold Star label really mean anything?


Thanks

 

[beenthere]

""...all had been sitting outside and were manufactured months earlier""""

That doesn't make a tractor anything other than 'new', any more than a car setting on a new car lot. Not sure what this salesman is pulling on you, but as long as you are satisfied, that is what counts. Sounds like he knows that too. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[tarious]

You may well have a point. Do you think the dealer would make more selling a tractor from the factory?

We own a motor-sport business and we often buy/trade inventory with other dealers. In our business, we trade/sell at dealer cost. However, often you will get a machine with a few scratches.

Oddly, I never mentioned wanting something fresh from the factory to the salesman...


Thus far in the process I am extremely happy with this dealer. This dealer delivered the lowest quote and they have been easy to work with from the start.

 

[fargo]

I am purchasing a 3720 from a "Gold Star Dealer" and I have to say that so far, they have been great. 3720 and 300CX were on the lot. They ordered the 448BH and it was there within a week and a half.

Still waiting on the 72mmm, but the delivery date was originally beginning of July and now it is 6/13. The salesman told me that he had other customers waiting for the 72mmm and they would have to make calls to see if they could get the date moved up. I don't know, it may be coincidence, but it should be here 3-4 weeks earlier than originally quoted.

 

[tarious]

I am curious. Did you purchase a frontier mmm mower then? I am strongly considering a Farm King. I can buy a 72 inch rfm for 1500.00 and pick it up in Fargo.

 

[2nstonge]

My dealer tells me Deere is pushing hard for him to make the investment to achieve "Gold Star" status; a new & bigger building, dedicated/trained sales staff, not carry competing or 3rd party products, certain number of factory trained service personel...

Some of the benefits to him were better availability of product, better finance terms for the dealer thru JD, etc...to me, it all sounded like typical distribution program criteria that you see in most business. An aggressive dealer with the resources will go for it - if there's enough incentive to make it worth their time.

I had a bunch of routine service work done last week and my dealer mentioned that the parts distribution & shipping set-up was changed, because he's not Gold Star it would be taking an extra day or two for parts - unless he spent etxra $$ for an expedite fee.

-Norm

 

[fargo]

Yes, it is a Frontier deck. I don't know much about a Farm King, but it definitely costs less than a Frontier 72 ($2699). The Frontier is a 7 iron commercial mower and is built like a tank.

 

[gkaether]

I just ordered a 3320 with the 448 from my dealer here in CT. I was told 2-3 weeks for delivery so I'm anxious to hear how reliable these dates are.

I'm obviosuly very anxious....I just haven't found a way to tell the CFO what the damage was.. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[SoloDotCom]

When I told my CFO the cost of my 3520 with FEL and 448 BH, she said "Well there goes my new SUV", I guess I'll be driving the tractor to the mall! To which I replied, "Yes but you'll have the best looking tractor in the parking lot"!

 

[GeorgeC]

It's only money boys..
Life is too short to expect less.