Is tractor buying supposed to be difficult?

[xreliable]

Last year I decided to buy a tractor. I went to the John Deere dealer. After waiting quite a while the dealer finally had time to see me. We looked at 3 tractors and I decided to buy one. We picked out several attachments. I went home and he said he was going to email me all of the information including pricing for the attachments. I waited and after a few days emailed him back asking for the information. He then sent it to me with the wrong information. I asked about this and he sent me the right info. Took about a week for this all to transpire. Then I went in and filled out a credit app. It was approved but then I never heard from the guy again. I called, left messages and finally gave up. I talked to other people there who said that he was busy and would pass on messages but after a couple weeks of this I gave up.

For some reason this guy did not want to sell me a tractor. Then we had a major family crisis and I didn't have time to buy or use a tractor. A year later I am back to tractor shopping. I just knew that I didn't want to deal with the same guy and the next closest JD dealer was too far so I started looking for used tractors through private parties. After quite a bit of searching I went to the local Kubota dealer. Again the only one local. I looked at few tractors. Decided on one and filled out the paperwork. Approved and I'm told I'd get the tractor in a week or possibly into the following week. Few days later. No tractor. I email. No response. A few days later I call. Leave a message. No response. Call again leave a message and he calls me back. No tractor and it won't be available for a few more days. I call. No tractor. Few more days. I call mid-week. No tractor. In fact I'm told the parts just arrived that day and I'll have to wait another week. I say I don't understand this. I'm told it takes several days to setup the tractor and assemble the attachments but he would call me back about getting it to me by Friday. I don't get a call back. So now it is Friday. Haven't had the courtesy of a call back even if to just say, Sorry I couldn't help you - much less actually getting the tractor.
So I'm wondering is this typical? Last time I bought a new car I got it same day. Even if it is typical that it would take three weeks (or more) doesn't seem the right way to treat people. I'm considering just canceling and going through the hassle of shopping again. I'm feeling so jilted right now was even considering going back to the JD dealer. Any thoughts?

 

[crbr]

Last year I decided to buy a tractor. I went to the John Deere dealer. After waiting quite a while the dealer finally had time to see me. We looked at 3 tractors and I decided to buy one. We picked out several attachments. I went home and he said he was going to email me all of the information including pricing for the attachments. I waited and after a few days emailed him back asking for the information. He then sent it to me with the wrong information. I asked about this and he sent me the right info. Took about a week for this all to transpire. Then I went in and filled out a credit app. It was approved but then I never heard from the guy again. I called, left messages and finally gave up. I talked to other people there who said that he was busy and would pass on messages but after a couple weeks of this I gave up.

For some reason this guy did not want to sell me a tractor. Then we had a major family crisis and I didn't have time to buy or use a tractor. A year later I am back to tractor shopping. I just knew that I didn't want to deal with the same guy and the next closest JD dealer was too far so I started looking for used tractors through private parties. After quite a bit of searching I went to the local Kubota dealer. Again the only one local. I looked at few tractors. Decided on one and filled out the paperwork. Approved and I'm told I'd get the tractor in a week or possibly into the following week. Few days later. No tractor. I email. No response. A few days later I call. Leave a message. No response. Call again leave a message and he calls me back. No tractor and it won't be available for a few more days. I call. No tractor. Few more days. I call mid-week. No tractor. In fact I'm told the parts just arrived that day and I'll have to wait another week. I say I don't understand this. I'm told it takes several days to setup the tractor and assemble the attachments but he would call me back about getting it to me by Friday. I don't get a call back. So now it is Friday. Haven't had the courtesy of a call back even if to just say, Sorry I couldn't help you - much less actually getting the tractor.
So I'm wondering is this typical? Last time I bought a new car I got it same day. Even if it is typical that it would take three weeks (or more) doesn't seem the right way to treat people. I'm considering just canceling and going through the hassle of shopping again. I'm feeling so jilted right now was even considering going back to the JD dealer. Any thoughts?

The character of dealers... Go figure.... It's not supposed to be difficult.

I researched, went to Kubota on Saturday, test drove, said OK, and they told me it would be ready and delivered next Thursday. Come next Tuesday (as **** as I am) I called to confirm. OOPS! Delay in setup. WTF? It will be next week. I call again next Tuesday, same song and dance. I said point blank, papers being signed as a commitment to buy, (but not the agreement sale papers) have it there Thursday between 3P and 4P or don't bother. It was there. Beats all I have ever seen.

Leave no money down with them. Write on the contract anywhere a delivery date. Cut a deal, make a delivery time, reiterate that you talked to me and that I said deliver on time or lose the sale without notice.

As it turns out, (from a later conversation with sales) they sold me a setup without having it available, relied on expediency and availability of others, and it failed them. They ended up making a road trip in a truck to get the mower deck (between that final Tuesday and Thursday - or else).

I have no idea why folks jerk their customers around like that. Personally, it left a resentful taste in my mouth and I could not care any less if I go back there or not. But that is another story and each to their own. This fairy-tale crap of sales with all smiles and glory is for the birds. Homie doesn't play those games. Just like another product that I recently purchased for my tractor....got it and found out it needed further attention. I just don't get it, but I do call it like I see it.


Good luck and have patience.
:tiphat:

 

[redlevel]

That is almost unbelievable. I believe I have taken delivery of every tractor I have ever bought, and that's a bunch of them, within 24 hours of concluding the deal. Most were delivered the same day.

The sequence of events you describe should never happen.

 

[jbrumberg]

xreliable:

The difficulty should be in the research, testing, and selection not in the purchase. Jay

 

[EdC]

One of the reasons that I ended up with a John Deere (and not from the closest dealer) was the customer service at the Kubota and New Holland dealerships and the way the sales people treated me. The Massey Ferguson guy was great just a lot more expensive. Anyhow we hit it off with the JD dealer that was about 60-70 miles away and ended up getting the tractor delivered that afternoon, and it was on a Saturday. The dealer and sales folks did not have to do that but it sure means I will try them first when I am buying an attachment or parts. Okay, I edited the post to correct grammar and spelling jeesh, hate typing when I am tired.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Unfortunately this sounds not too uncommon. I was pretty close to ready to buy from a nearby Kubota/NH dealer that had been very helpful on three shopping/test driving excurions. Got to know the salesguy. I called, he was out, I left a message. No call back in several days. Stopped by the next Saturday, still wasn't there, other salesguy took my info and said I would get a call. Never did. Gave up on that dealer and started looking closer at Deere, got wonderful service at a Deere dealer. Still compared Kubota, now at another dealer; better service there, but decided on Deere. Still great post-sale service from Deere dealer. Recently bought two implements from yet a third dealer (Kubota, though the implements were other brands). Decent service prior to sale. One implement was delivered incomplete (ordered 8x8 chain harrow, was given 8x4 chain harrow), other got damaged from normal use after just two weeks. Still waiting to get additional harrow sections and some action on repair of other implement. Multiple calls, promises, no action for 10 days. Planning to put in hayfield this weekend and really would like to have 8x8 harrow and other implement working. If this dealer doesn't straighten things out ASAP, they will never get my business again; I'll be going mostly to Deere dealer, otherwise 2nd Kubota dealer that was at least responsive (but didn't carry implement brand I purchased from 3rd Kubota dealer).

This isn't meant to be biased; I've read enough on here about bad Deere dealers to know that they are out there. Good dealers can be any brand, so can bad. But figure out what your local dealers are and don't buy if they're bad dealers, regardless of brand.

 

[RoyJackson]

Both of my tractor purchases were quite smooth, no problems whatoever.
That includes an internet purchase for a machine that was about 400 miles distant. Both machines were used and the transaction was fair for both parties (dollarwise). The internet salesguy (a dealer in southerrn Virginia) even delivered the machine for a heck of a lot less then I could have had it delivered for. He was coming to PA for a scout meet and volunteered to haul the tractor up. I had to pay for the fuel costs. Good service, that!

One of the local salesmen I have dealt with and I did discuss CUT sales one day. He explained to me that many folks had no clue what they were looking for or wanted. The tractor sales guys are used to working with professional Ag types...farmers and contractors who are knowledgable of their needs and what they'll pay.
This isn't the case with many CUT buyers. They go in tire kicking...drolling over the tractors that are way beyond what they need. Then, they don't buy! So, the salesman's time has been wasted.

I even see this here on TBN with all the "what do I need..." threads. If a guy doesn't know what he need for his property...how the heck are we supposed to know?

So, xreliable...if you know what you need and want...go make your deal. Tomorrow...

 

[Jaybr]

I purchased a Kioti CK35 3 weeks ago on a Monday afternoon. Tractor was due in on the truck Monday night, dealer knew it was on there. They setup the tractor, installed FEL, BH, Brush guard, toothbar, and filled tires and got the tractor to me Wed afternoon as promised. Was an extremely easy transaction. I shopped for several weeks and wasn't impressed at all with the local Kubota or JD dealers, the Kioti dealer was great and he got my business.

 

[crbr]

Both of my tractor purchases were quite smooth, no problems whatoever.
That includes an internet purchase for a machine that was about 400 miles distant. Both machines were used and the transaction was fair for both parties (dollarwise). The internet salesguy (a dealer in southerrn Virginia) even delivered the machine for a heck of a lot less then I could have had it delivered for. He was coming to PA for a scout meet and volunteered to haul the tractor up. I had to pay for the fuel costs. Good service, that!

One of the local salesmen I have dealt with and I did discuss CUT sales one day. He explained to me that many folks had no clue what they were looking for or wanted. The tractor sales guys are used to working with professional Ag types...farmers and contractors who are knowledgable of their needs and what they'll pay.
This isn't the case with many CUT buyers. They go in tire kicking...drolling over the tractors that are way beyond what they need. Then, they don't buy! So, the salesman's time has been wasted.

I even see this here on TBN with all the "what do I need..." threads. If a guy doesn't know what he need for his property...how the heck are we supposed to know?

So, xreliable...if you know what you need and want...go make your deal. Tomorrow...

D@mn....

Tell them RoyJ sent you!!!

:clap: :clap: :tiphat:

 

[DieselPower]

xreliable:

The difficulty should be in the research, testing, and selection not in the purchase. Jay

I couldn't agree more. Most every tractor I ever purchased went home with me on the rollback I drove to the dealer. The only thing I ever had to wait for delivery on was a 750 MF combine. Even that only took 2 day's for delivery.