Is tractor buying supposed to be difficult?

[texasjohn]

I read these stories and it makes me grateful that I got my tractor so painlessly. It was used at a NH dealer. 230 hours on it. He priced it, I countered, he countered, I countered, he said.. fine. It was exactly what I wanted and needed, complete with hay spike, heavy duty FEL, box blade. Then, I said I wanted it delivered with a complete change of all fluids and filters... took 3 days as I recall and it showed up on a flat bed.

I do my own maintence, fluids and am lucky to have a great Kubota dealer about 40 miles away. They answer the phone and let me speak to the mechanic when I am confused.

Just this past weekend, at 600 hr service, I pointed out to him that the service manual had two different sets of instructions about how to adjust the front axle pivot in two different places in the book. Mechanic was amazed, had never noticed this, and told me which one to follow.... I call this a good experience.

Same guys that adjusted my hydraulic relief valve from just under spec to just over spec... best $35 I ever spent...made a whale of a difference.

 

[jbrumberg]

I live in San Fran Bay area. I've lived and worked all over the country but California has been the worst place by far to deal with local companies. I lived in NY City and while the people could be abrasive most businesspeople had professional standards. They might talk loud and fast but at least you get a call back when you should be getting one. In CA it seems like everyone I do business with just has this "I don't care attitude." It's not even an in your face, screw you type thing. Just complete and total apathy. It is a wonder that CA has the 6th largest economy in the world. How does anything ever get done?

Then when you ask them why you didn't get a call back or a follow up of some kind they are like, I understand and you're right but then it is the same thing. With what everything costs in CA you'd think people would be motivated to have customers - to pay their bills. But it just doesn't happen. I went to buy a truck last year and one salesman tried to sell me 24" rims and a drug-dealer pimp package when I told him I just wanted a standard truck. Then he actually yelled at me over the phone and intimated that I was a total idiot when I suggested a price. Needless to say I ended up going with a different dealer but it's sad that you have to go with a company 50 miles away to find someone that treats you decently.

Last week the tractor dealer said he'd call me back and never did. So I call him today ready to cancel the deal and he's sort of like "yeah we'll try to deliver your tractor tomorrow." No explanation, no apology. We'll see how tomorrow goes.

xreliable:

If I performed my job responsibilities like those individuals you dealt and/or are dealing with I would have a lot of time to spend with my tractor. I do not know what happened to the word "service". It is still in the dictionary, but corporate America and a lot of businesses have forgotten the concept of service. I get the impression that in CA people are more into "grooving" and "show and blow". This is truly unfortunate . Jay

 

[RedRiver]

What is even more unfortunate is how wide spread this phenomenon has become. If you just totally refuse to do business with anyone or any business who treats you in a rude and substandard manner you will in time have nowhere to do business.

The unfortunate thing is that both dealers and customers act this way. I guess some dealers get a bit jaded easier than others do. I think if EVERYONE started acting a bit nicer it would help out a lot.

 

[BTI]

Well Spoken RR

 

[Farmwithjunk]

The unfortunate thing is that both dealers and customers act this way. I guess some dealers get a bit jaded easier than others do. I think if EVERYONE started acting a bit nicer it would help out a lot.

Remember those famous lines uttered by none other than Rodney King. "Why can't we all just get along"?

I've had a few bad experiences with dealers along the way. Likewise, I've seen a few dealers being tortured by a potential buyer.

As a way of suplimenting my income, I've bought and re-sold quite a few used tractors and implements. Through a few experiences while doing that, I think that I have a better understanding of why some dealers/salesmen develope a bad attitude. You get a few people that wouldn't be happy if you hung 'em with a new rope. They don't want something for nothing, they want EVERYTHING for nothing. For you dealers in the crowd, how many times have you heard the old line, "I'll be right back with my checkbook", never to see the "buyer" again? Have you ever been told "Brand X dealer" down the road will sell me his comparable model for $xxxx.xx, knowing full well that other dealer couldn't possibly sell it for the price mentioned, as they probably paid more than that themselves.

Some buyers feel they have the right to beat up the dealer, but the dealer has to be Mr. Congeniality, all the while GIVING AWAY his product. Call it the high cost of doing business, the poor dealer has to suck it up and be kind and considerate to the NEXT buyer through the door.

This is why you need to patronize the GOOD dealers when you find one. They can be your best friend in a moment of need. SUPPORT THE GOOD GUYS!

 

[RedRiver]

Remember those famous lines uttered by none other than Rodney King. "Why can't we all just get along"?

I've had a few bad experiences with dealers along the way. Likewise, I've seen a few dealers being tortured by a potential buyer.

As a way of suplimenting my income, I've bought and re-sold quite a few used tractors and implements. Through a few experiences while doing that, I think that I have a better understanding of why some dealers/salesmen develope a bad attitude. You get a few people that wouldn't be happy if you hung 'em with a new rope. They don't want something for nothing, they want EVERYTHING for nothing. For you dealers in the crowd, how many times have you heard the old line, "I'll be right back with my checkbook", never to see the "buyer" again? Have you ever been told "Brand X dealer" down the road will sell me his comparable model for $xxxx.xx, knowing full well that other dealer couldn't possibly sell it for the price mentioned, as they probably paid more than that themselves.

Some buyers feel they have the right to beat up the dealer, but the dealer has to be Mr. Congeniality, all the while GIVING AWAY his product. Call it the high cost of doing business, the poor dealer has to suck it up and be kind and considerate to the NEXT buyer through the door.

This is why you need to patronize the GOOD dealers when you find one. They can be your best friend in a moment of need. SUPPORT THE GOOD GUYS!

100% Agreed.

I can't even begin to count the number of times I've tried to help a customer trying to find a part and they act extremely rude when I ask them basic questions about the parts location, etc. I'm not asking them questions because I enjoy it, I'm asking to make sure I'm getting them the correct part the first time. I realize everyone has their bad days and a lot of time I just let the bad attitude folks words go in one ear and right out the other. But it just leaves me speechless sometimes to know that people live their lives that angry and rude day to day.

 

[patrick_g]

100% Agreed.
But it just leaves me speechless sometimes to know that people live their lives that angry and rude day to day.

This is related to the mysterious phenomena that puzzles those close observers of veterinary science who note the large disparity in the total number of horses compared to the total number of horses behinds.

Pat

 

[john_bud]

This is related to the mysterious phenomena that puzzles those close observers of veterinary science who note the large disparity in the total number of horses compared to the total number of horses behinds.

Pat

I think it's because some people tend to have so much rectal-cranial inversion that they mostly vanish --> leaving only the behind, behind. When doing a census, it apears that there are more behinds than people and while it isn't technically true, it's hard to dispute the point.

jb

 

[JoeinTX]

"I can't even begin to count the number of times I've tried to help a customer trying to find a part and they act extremely rude when I ask them basic questions about the parts location, etc. I'm not asking them questions because I enjoy it, I'm asking to make sure I'm getting them the correct part the first time. I realize everyone has their bad days and a lot of time I just let the bad attitude folks words go in one ear and right out the other. But it just leaves me speechless sometimes to know that people live their lives that angry and rude day to day..."


While I certainly feel for those who have had some obviously bad experiences at dealers, I do see the other side too and know of some the difficulties in dealing with the "buying public."

As a buyer, I went down to one of the local "big box" ag retailers pretty well set on buying a shredder credit card ready to swipe. I check the lot, make sure what I want is there, go inside. Lady at the counter isn't sure about the price or how to sell it out......seemed a little 'turbed that I am asking about it. And I wound up just leaving and buying elsewhere. I am not a difficult person to deal with.

I work in a service industry where my job is the take care of customers who have bought our products and services. I feel your pain, RR, regarding those customers who so often seem to have a chip on their shoulder and an utter unwillingness to let you help them. Some just want to be mad and feel victimized when they encounter a problem. We go and try to learn the exact nature of their problem and how it is affecting them and they can act as if we're wasting their time...........as if we can read their mind.
I am pretty easy going, both as a customer and an individual trying to help customers, simply because I know all too well the ins-and-outs involved in running a business and making it work.


Too often today, "Customer service" has been redefined by the public to mean getting whatever they want whenever they want it with little or no expectation or cost. That isn't really realistic, but.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

"I can't even begin to count the number of times I've tried to help a customer trying to find a part and they act extremely rude when I ask them basic questions about the parts location, etc. I'm not asking them questions because I enjoy it, I'm asking to make sure I'm getting them the correct part the first time. I realize everyone has their bad days and a lot of time I just let the bad attitude folks words go in one ear and right out the other. But it just leaves me speechless sometimes to know that people live their lives that angry and rude day to day..."


While I certainly feel for those who have had some obviously bad experiences at dealers, I do see the other side too and know of some the difficulties in dealing with the "buying public."

As a buyer, I went down to one of the local "big box" ag retailers pretty well set on buying a shredder credit card ready to swipe. I check the lot, make sure what I want is there, go inside. Lady at the counter isn't sure about the price or how to sell it out......seemed a little 'turbed that I am asking about it. And I wound up just leaving and buying elsewhere. I am not a difficult person to deal with.

I work in a service industry where my job is the take care of customers who have bought our products and services. I feel your pain, RR, regarding those customers who so often seem to have a chip on their shoulder and an utter unwillingness to let you help them. Some just want to be mad and feel victimized when they encounter a problem. We go and try to learn the exact nature of their problem and how it is affecting them and they can act as if we're wasting their time...........as if we can read their mind.
I am pretty easy going, both as a customer and an individual trying to help customers, simply because I know all too well the ins-and-outs involved in running a business and making it work.


Too often today, "Customer service" has been redefined by the public to mean getting whatever they want whenever they want it with little or no expectation or cost. That isn't really realistic, but.

There's an art and a science to being a successful salesman.

There's an art and a science to being a successful buyer.

lessons learned in both regards apply to every phase of life. Try to get along with people, and be courtious, considerate, and realize that we just don't know everything in every situation and things go much smoother.

People don't need to walk through the dealers door with unreasonable expectations of the greatest bargain in the world headed their way. Sales people shouldn't expect every buyer to be a well versed Mr. Congeniality with a pocket stuffed with cash.

Doubtfull either the buyer OR the seller will be very successful with an attitude or a chip on their shoulder. You catch more flies with sugar than you do with vineger.