How to ship compact tractor from West coast to Hawaii?

[MtnViewRanch]

Hawaii, by chance do cars and trucks cost more over there? Just wondering, I have no idea, I would guess that they are. In fact I would guess that just about everything is more $$$. Like I said before, it just costs more to live there, and there is a reason for that additional cost. I'm pretty sure that there aren't any deals in Alaska either.

Again, good luck with your tractor purchase.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

The results are in :
Just a bit of a shocker to see a $3k difference when half that parts are floating right past me to get to the mainland.

A considerable price differance really isn't that uncommon even in the states. Depending on what part of the country you live in, equipment popularity, supply & demand etc.
When I purchased my NH TC35D in the spring of 2003 I got several prices, one even from out of state that was definatly tempting. I asked for and received, all my price qoutes to be broken down. ie. Tractor, quick tach, canopy, remotes, block heater etc.
I took my list of items and prices back to my local dealer and we sat down and went over them 1 by 1. Most items he was able to and willing to match my lowest bid. The others he and I agreed to split the differance.
The end result was, my local dealer had a sale and a new customer. I had the tractor and accesories I wanted at a price I could live with and more importantly, I had my local dealer to fall back on when I needed parts, repairs etc.
As I said in my earlier post. Take you price concerns back to your dealer. Let him know you would like to do business with him. Be open and honest with him,tell him what your thinking about and why. I have no doubt that you can come to an arrangement that will please both of you.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

The results are in :

Give the dealer whatever he wants : Unanimous

Save a Thousand Dollars and buy from another dealer : Maybe Me

Thanks for all your input folks. I guess maybe it just comes down to a grand not being much when your dealing with equipment like this.

Just a bit of a shocker to see a $3k difference when half that parts are floating right past me to get to the mainland.

I don't think that we are saying to just bend over. People make mistakes all the time. Ask your dealer if there is anyway that he can get the shipping costs down, or maybe he can help out some other way.

And as far as 1/2 the parts floating by, that is just how it is. Try buying fuel across the street from an oil refinery, my experience is that I can usually go a few miles away and get it for less money. Just doesn't make sense, but that's how it is rather we like it on not.

 

[WilliamBos]

Hawaii, by chance do cars and trucks cost more over there? Just wondering, I have no idea, I would guess that they are. In fact I would guess that just about everything is more $$$. Like I said before, it just costs more to live there, and there is a reason for that additional cost. I'm pretty sure that there aren't any deals in Alaska either.

Again, good luck with your tractor purchase.

Reminds me of my trip to NZ back in 02, everything, except for sutff made in NZ cost more because of shipping.

 

[PBinWA]

Isn't this the price you have to pay to live in Paradise?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Isn't this the price you have to pay to live in Paradise?

It ain't free, or even the same price, if it were, most everybody would be there.

 

[tugboat-2]

I don't know what your tractor experience is,.. but per chance your thinking a brand new tractor will be trouble free and reasonably inexpensive to operate for years,.... best think again sir!

The purchase is a major expense,..accessories begin to add up after that, plus fuel. The important thing to remember is "good, regular maintenance",..even if you plan to do it all yourself. Still, you will need your various lubricants as well as all the very expensive filters. If you ignore those things, you'll have to go back over and buy another before long.

Maintenance is "costly", you'll soon find that out. Parts are costly, information and help can be extremely costly,...UNLESS you have a "friend" to turn to. In my opinion,...I would say: find a good local dealer, get down and personal with him and "create" yourself a valuable "friend",...then do the same with the Service Manager, . . . as time goes by that 3 grand will be well worth every dime!!

All the best to you, . . . and CHEERS!
. . tug

 

[WilliamBos]

I agree 100%!!

I don't know what your tractor experience is,.. but per chance your thinking a brand new tractor will be trouble free and reasonably inexpensive to operate for years,.... best think again sir!

The purchase is a major expense,..accessories begin to add up after that, plus fuel. The important thing to remember is "good, regular maintenance",..even if you plan to do it all yourself. Still, you will need your various lubricants as well as all the very expensive filters. If you ignore those things, you'll have to go back over and buy another before long.

Maintenance is "costly", you'll soon find that out. Parts are costly, information and help can be extremely costly,...UNLESS you have a "friend" to turn to. In my opinion,...I would say: find a good local dealer, get down and personal with him and "create" yourself a valuable "friend",...then do the same with the Service Manager, . . . as time goes by that 3 grand will be well worth every dime!!

All the best to you, . . . and CHEERS!
. . tug

 

[EFC]

Hawaii has a long tradition of monopolies and price gauging.

This is true.

Everybody responding to you is absolutely correct about supporting the local dealer. I am a poster child for it. But they are looking at it from a mainland perspective. Hawaii is part of the US I agree but they are a different culture. I am shocked that your local dealer is only 3k higher we routinely see quotes that are 40% to 50% higher (MSRP plus 20%). The majority of tractors sold in Hawaii are shipped in from west coast dealers. The Hawaii dealers I know could care less about selling a tractor (especially compact tractors) they would prefer to have the 125.00+ per hour in the service bay and the 300% markup on whole goods. Retailers in Hawaii are the masters of supply and demand. Looking at the industry sales reports for Hawaii it would be impossible for a dealer to stay open selling compact tractors; you just cant stay open selling 3 tractors a year so selling one more doesnt really light a spark at the bargaining table. Plus dealer flooring and retail finance rates that we have on the mainland do not apply in Hawaii.

We have shipped to Hilo for as low as 500.00 and as much as 1800.00. In a 40 foot high cube your only taking up 10% of the container. In this case though I would probably buy locally. I dont think you will get any better service from your dealer (where you were born means more than who you buy from) but the buying process will be virtually painless and shipping done wrong can be painful.

Buck

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Looking at the industry sales reports for Hawaii it would be impossible for a dealer to stay open selling compact tractors; you just cant stay open selling 3 tractors a year so selling one more doesnt really light a spark at the bargaining table.

There may well be some truth in this. But if the dealer in question has tractors on his lot then those tractors are out there to be sold. Unless the dealer has the tractors just sitting out there as eye candy and advertising and doesn't want to sell them and his cost to purchase them was a complete write off for the dealer, He needs to sell those tractors to recoup his initial investment in them.
18 years in business has taught me that stocked inventory is of no value sitting on the shelf or out in the yard as the case may be. It needs to turned over in hopes to turn a profit and regain valuble working capitol. I would think ( my opinion only ) that the dealer would rather turn a reasonable profit on the tractor, recoup his working capitol, gain a customer and still get his shop rates and mark up on parts to boot.
None the less. As has been said. Having a good reputable dealer to turn to is money in the bank. If the dealer tells you that he can't or won't talk turkey on the price and that your better off shipping one in, but that he would still be pleased to have your service business. Then you gotta do what you gotta do.