Internet Tractor Purchase

[WillingtonPizza]

People often say that it is important to have a good relationship with a tractor dealer and that is why you should buy local. I pick a Kubota because it has an excellent repair record. When I do service on any vehicle I try to do it myself. I do not know why people think it is so important. (other than having to immediatly trade in for a bigger model wich I intend to buy the largest B series I can afford) I personaly do not have time to drive 30 minutes to the nearest dealer and talk about wich mower I need. That is why I like tractorbynet so much. If I am missing something here please tell me.

 

[WillingtonPizza]

I went to Kahn Tractor today to get a price on a 2410. What a shocker. There price was the exact same as Carter with shipping. Only problem is Carter also included Toothbar, 60" scraper blade, 52" Box, Ballast, Canopy, HD alternator, 4 Lights. When they gave me the price I asked if there was any room for negotiation and they said if I had a quote from someone else that was a few hundred less they could match it, I said what about a few thousand, they said they would not go there. I would never go back with a lower price, I do not think it is fair to guy who is giving me the best deal right off the bat. They left such a bad taste in my mouth I do not think I will ever go back. They did not treat me very well and I was prepared to write a check on the spot for a good deal. They do a very big buisness, but htey have no competition. It's to bad, I would have rather of bought local.

 

[Bird]

Sounds like you have an attitude a bit like mine. I never tell one dealer what another dealer has priced something for. I may tell one that someone else has offered me a better deal, but usually not even that. When I bought my tractor in 1995, I had visited 4 dealers looking at options without worrying too much about exact prices. Then when I was ready to buy, I just called each one on the phone, told him exactly what I wanted and asked what was the best price he could give me on it delivered to my home. I didn't even tell them I was getting prices from other dealers; they just got one shot and the best one sold me a tractor. And when I was ready to trade up in 1999, I just went back to the same dealer, thought the deal he offered was more than fair, and took it.

Bird

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I also went to Kahn tractor today! They gave me the same attitude when I was trying to get a better price basically they said "we don't do that" when I asked if they would match or even come close to other prices I found. They say B2710 w Loader $17,190 + tax - B2410 w loader 15,890. + tax - New Holland TC21D w loader $15,495. + tax ouch! They wont see business from me anytime soon!

 

[msocko3]

With an attitude like that I'm shocked that they sell much of anything. They must get the rich one stop shopper so that they can stay in buisness.

 

[DaleW]

WillingtonPizza,
After many days, weeks, months of research I decided what a FAIR price was for the 2710 that I bought. I compared my local dealers (What a joke), Carvers, Modern Tractor and many others and came up with what I was willing to pay for a tractor.
Steve Bowman at Modern Tractor was more that accommodating and was willing to sell me the machine for the price "I" stated.
Just for comparison I went back to Carvers (who by the way are great guys) with the proice from Modern Tractor and Steve essentially told me he couldn't compete with Modern's price and that I should buy from them.
As for shipping costs I remember it being a little over $500 to the lower Hudson Valley in NY.
The tractor was delivered when Steve said it would with all the right equipment and manuals. The trucker called me at every stop that he made that day to inform me of his progress and ETA at my place. Recieved a call over the weekend from Steve making sure that everything was ok with the tractor and to answer any questions that I may have had.
In all shopping and buying a tractor over the net was painless, pleasant and I saved a few thousand dollars in the process.
Give Steve a call 800-540-1704 and I'm sure that he will treat you right. Tell him I told you to call
Good luck with the purchase
Dale W

 

[glennmac]

Von, I think you have been pricing 2910's for a while. With that much a price disparity between your local dealer and the cyberseller, it would be a nobrainer for me. My feelings of local dealer loyalty would peter out at the $500 difference point.

WillingtonPizza, you seem to have done your homework and understand your options. My advice to give weight to the local dealer relationship assumes there is a good local dealer with whom to have the relationship. If there isn't, then you might as well shop from far away and get the best price you can. I don't recall anyone who actually bought from Carver or Modern, for example, saying anything bad about the experience.

One final point, a Kubota dealer is certainly authorized to perform Kubota warranty service, but I doubt that he is required to do so. I'll ask my dealer and report back. Certainly, as a business matter, a dealer ought to be motivated to service a tractor bought elsewhere as long as he makes money doing so.

Glenn

 

[hayden]

I think you will find that the dealers are not only authorized, but required to service the warranty. Dealers are the manufacturer's agents for fulfillment of the manufacturers obilgations. Probably their biggest obligation is the honor the warranty

 

[ejb]

Yes, if they agree to do the work, they are required to honor the warranty, I think the point was that they are not *required* to work on your tractor if they want to. I doubt many dealers would refuse to work on a tractor, just because you didn't buy it from them...at a minimum, if you didn't by the machine from a dealer, I would imagine that when you need to have some work done, you would be farther down the priority list than someone else that needs the exact same thing done, but gave bought their tractor from that dealer.

That said, I wouldn't overpay for a tractor in order to be father up the line for priority service, but its only human nature (and good business) to take care those customers that provide the most revenue (or potential revenue) to the dealer.

 

[Harv]

You guys have really got me to thinking (there you go again /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif).

Although working through a broker, I effectively wound up buying my 'Bota from a dealer that's about 2 hours away, when in fact there is another reputable dealer less than an hour away. Protocol probably dictates that I should go to the dealer I bought from for repair/warranty work, but that seems silly when the other one is so much closer.

I guess it's all about relationships 'cuz my broker has suggested that if I need any work done to call him and let him use his relationships, which are quite good with both dealers.

Hopefully, I will never have cause to test this out. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif