Is your dealer connected?

[PineRidge]

I suspect that more than a few dealers just plain don't care for the Internet, period. That is they don’t like what it can do for their potential customer. It connects buyers to valuable information much too quickly to suit a few of them.

As an example once our local dealer discovered that we had obtained an Internet price from Corriher’s they immediately ranted that NH was eventually going to drive the NC establishment out of business.

Even before we purchased our TC-40D we had read of the problems that developed with acid leaking from batteries on NH tractors here at the TBN site. Before we signed the contract we asked our local guy if we would have to deal with the acid damage and battery replacement at a later date. Told him we would much rather pay the price upfront and just have them install a better battery from the start before we took delivery of the unit. We were told that the incident was isolated and a permanent fix put in place by NH a year prior to our purchase. Surprised and disappointed we were when less than 100 hours later we were replacing our battery and cleaning up all the mess that the acid had made to our brand new rig. Yet the local guy ignored the issue until we wrote NH directly and cited other cases here at TBN where the very same damage had occurred. We were then finally reimbursed from NH for the price of the Optima battery. The hardware was on us.

Then since our last tractor leaked hydraulic oil we were concerned about the new tractor doing the same and again we were assured that it would not leak a drop of any type fluid. Yet from day one the entire bottom of the TC-40D was painted with hydraulic oil and leaked worse than the old tractor that we sold off. The local guy did finally come and get the tractor only to find out that the test ports were leaking because NH had not sealed them correctly when the tractor was assembled. Funny how that tractor sat in the service bay having the FEL and the backhoe installed for more than a couple of days and yet no one from the dealership ever noticed that the floor was covered with hydraulic oil even after crawling under the tractor to install the backhoe sub-frame assembly. It cost us transportation both ways to get that problem fixed even though this was a problem from day one.


We think any dealer that is not Internet connected should be dragged kicking and screaming to forums just like these so they can get a taste of some of the real problems that occur on a daily basis out in the real world. That way they might be more apt to educate rather than isolate their customers.

So how about it is your dealer connected, does he understand what it takes to keep you happy and coming back?

 

[kozak]

Not only is my Dealer not Internet connected (i.e. website) the salesmen (at least the one I dealt with) don't even have access to e-mail.....although they have computers on their desk. That's rediculous. Again, not sure if this is Dealership policy or just strong-arming from New Holland. (Based upon recent threads discussing this issue)

Would make communication alot easier & as you say, would cater to the customer & depending upon circumstances keep the customer coming back.

Recently, I made some enquiries into tire chains & wheel weights. Well the turf tires cannot except wheel weights, so the sales rep suggested a metal box attached to my 3 pt. hitch with weight that could be added. I told him to get dimensions of the box & pricing. Did'nt hear back so called again. He told me he did not get the info yet & was going to look into it. Well.....it's been over a month & a half & still no reply. (Really wants my business ???? Maybe I should go into the office & throw some hundred dollar bills all over the floor to get his attention. Very strange indeed.) So I have given up on him & am arranging to have someone weld a bracket up for the 3 pt hitch that will accept steel plates for counterweight. Have been doing FEL work now for 10 months with a light backend. Counterweight should make a big difference.

Sorry, that last bit was a bit off-topic.

 

[DUMBDOG]

First of all we must remember that the information that is on this site is the best unbiased information in the world when it come to the small tractor market.

Some dealers cater to the sub compact and compact market some do not. It would depend on the type of farming area that one is in or not in. This being said, what is said on this site has little effect upon those that are in a large tractor market. I am in one of those markets where the small tractor makes up a small portion of the business in a large ag markets.

The dealer that I purchased my Kubota from does have a web site, it is quite good, with used product being listed, but no prices, it has links to their suppliers web sites, parts and service specials along with sales employee pictures. All of the quotes were from a laptop and they have email. The NH dealer just a used listed with an email address and no more. The JD dealer has a web site which is part of a chain of related dealerships but not a lot of information on the ag inventory, the information is on the construction end.

When dealing this winter on the Kubota, after getting the price , I told the dealer that based upon the average prices paid on similiar products across the country that is price was to high, he did some more figuring and came down another thousand dollars. The figure was about $800 higher than the higher price for this type of tractor but I took it based on the fact that in a state like ND without a large population base they do not have the sales like in a more populated area. The freight coming in here is also higher it seems.

During the process I told the salesman that I was getting my information from the this site and nothing was said either one way or the other. They also handle Case and the price on the 55HP was just as good as the NC dealer. However the model that I wanted was not available. The GST model will work out much better for what I will be using it for any way, so it all worked out and that cab sure is nice.

When you live up here they assume that you know how to operate a tractor so you miss out on them going through the manuals and the tractor as in some parts of the country. After the tractor was unloaded, I was sitting in the cab, for the first time, trying to figure out on where all of the controls were, the service manager did take a couple of minutes to show me where they all were. When the salesman showed me the tractor in the shop, the mechanic who was installing the extras did tell me how to take the top of cab off to install the radio without being asked, guess I did not know the top shell had to come off to install it.

The number of compacts on the dealers lots, this time of year is worse than in the spring, is limited. The NH dealer tried to sell me the 45HP in a hydro which would not work with the tillage that it will be used for, the Kubota dealer's closest is size was the L3130, no cab. So when you order, you had better make sure that you know what you want and get it right the first time. Would have waited and checked out the various models in FL this winter but figured the price was going up and the finance rates would not be as good. Guessed right there.

As far as your dealer being derogatory towards the internet dealers is just a fact that will not change, it is a sign of just being set in their ways and not willing to change. The hydro leak at the the beginning is another sign of this. Do the job to get the unit out, do not look to see if everything is right or not. Some of the dealers will continue to get away with this and others will succumb to competition from other brands. Forcing them to read a forum such as this would not change their attitudes. Hopefully the next generation there will be bettor, not that it would help you a lot.

I do like my NH1630 hydro and will keep it in the fleet so to speak. The Kubota was just an addtion, not a replacement, but I sure like all of the worklights on the cab.

 

[JerryG]

<font color="blue"> it is a sign of just being set in their ways and not willing to change. </font>
That statement summed up a lot of dealers. A lot of dealers that have been in business of a long time have and are having a very hard time converting to the computer era. It has even been a hard change going for books and micro film to using the computer. It seems as though the older dealer that are having this problem are also having the most problems adding compact tractors. The ones that don't have a problem, are usually the more knowledgeable dealers to do business with. These old dealers that are having problems with computers are mostly the same ones that had a hard time when the first power-shifts and power-shuttles came out. These are also the ones that are having the most problems with all of the different options for the compacts. The Evolution in tractors is like so many other products, some keep up and some fall behind.

 

[thcri]

My dealer is kind of out in the boondocks. The best they could get would be a 56k line that probably would only run at 33 at best because of the lines. Yes I realise there is options out there. I do know they are connected because they can access New Hollands computers. But I think for the most part these are guys who, well I guess they don't want to learn "New Tricks" Some people are just afraid of computers or worry that they will wreck them.

On another tnote when I had some trouble with my ATV, I told the dealer that there was a lot of troubles with the issue I was having. He told me how would I ever know after he just got done telling me he never heard of the problem. I told him on an ATV discussion group and he basically told me us guys on the discussion group didn't know what we were talking about????.

murph

 

[twabscs]

Mike,

I'm also looking for a new dealer and will probably go a different color. My dealer does have email but my salesman (partial owner) only checks it "every so often" so it isn't much use.

My TC40D also started leaking fluid at about 80 hours. I researched the problem here on TBN, read the discussions about the test ports leaking, got some help, etc. I mentioned this to the dealer and he didn't believe a word of it. Came back with a comment that I must have somehow damaged the tractor. They initially indicated they would come out and pick the tractor up, but after many phone calls and promises, I finally delivered it to the dealer three weeks later. And, yes, it was the test ports leaking...

Initially I thought I had a good dealer, but you really don't know until you have issues and you get to see the dealer's true face. I paid extra for my TC hoping that buying local would be better for everyone. Oh well.

I may pay extra on my next purchase, but only because there will probably be a shipping charge. If a dealer got angry at me and mentioned "NH is going to put that NC company out of business", that would only motivate me to buy directly from the "offending" dealer.

 

[SKOALMAN]

I actually got the opportunity to introduce my Dealership to TBN. The owner just happened to come in and saw where I had taken pictures and posted to TBN and was showing my salesman Chris, He was really amazed at this site. His comment was that "Ididn't know that this site existed!" My salesman Chris stated that he (The Owner) will be all over this web site. So, guess that they are connected and was not informed. I think they will be now! Thanks to TBN! But, think now that they will be more abrest of what is happening to the rest of the "world" outside of our area. If competitive pricing helps the consumer, then more tractors will be sold and more "Blue" tractors will be sold, therefore the dealership sells more tractors and turns more profit in the end. I think it is good for everyone! If you can sell more tractors at less profit that is good advertising because I know in my area everyone comes by to look at the "NEW TRACTOR" and satisfied tractor owner will brag which means maybe someone straddling the fence to buy may buy and buy "Blue" in the process. But, I really am glad that I could get a decent price and buy locally.

As a matter of fact I showed the "Ebay Grapple" thread and was able to show pictures of the Ebay Grapple and the ATI Grapple that I was looking at. We had a long discussion about the pictures that was posted. I also know the night my dealer delivered the tractor, that night they were online checking out my pictures that I posted. So, think they were happy to be a part of it! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

So, not only does it help with pricing, but in my case I was able to give a good picture (Thanks to you guys) of what I was talking about! So, I really think it Helps! The Internet and TBN can be a very useful tool in my opinion! (That and a Quarter will get you a cup of Coffee!) /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[AndyM]

Bound and determined, I had two goals for my tractor purchase and my most recent new car purchase-- I wanted to get the best price possible, but if at all possible, I also wanted to buy from the local guy.

This is a tale of two dealerships...

I bought my New Holland TC18 in September 2003.
After a summer of researching, I had decided that was the tractor for me. The nice man in North Carolina who has been posting here lately had an excellent price and was very enthusiastic to do what was required to get my business. However, I felt that was a rather large purchase to make over the internet. I visited the much smaller dealer a few miles away from me. The owner/salesman tore himself away from working on a tractor and went to his desk to give me a price. After looking up several things in a binder, he wrote down several numbers and made some calculations on his adding machine. When he was finished, I received a quote that was almost 1000 dollars more than the place down south.

I decided to keep shopping. I went to the next closest New Holland dealer. They are a much larger place, with a website showing their inventory, and the three salesman who work there each have their own email address. They gave me a price that was almost the same as the fellow in North Carolina. However, I still wanted to buy from the guy around the corner, not from someone 500 miles away, or even 16 miles away. I went back to the local guy and showed him the other prices I received. You could see his lack of emotion as he went back to work on his adding machine, and after several silent minutes of thinking it over, he grudging said, "I guess I can do it."

He didn't have one like I wanted on the lot, so he said he would have to call and find one. After stopping in several times over the next two weeks, I was starting to feel unimportant, waiting for the dealer to find my tractor. Since it has been delivered, I stopped in once but he was too busy to talk to me. I haven't had so much as a follow up telephone call since my purchase.

Because the larger dealership 16 miles away was more eager to make the sale, I have since taken my other needs to them. Since that time, I have also found out that my brother knows that dealer and works with the owner's wife. Even though buying from the small local guy is usually best, my first stop will be the larger dealer on the other side of the county next time I need to make a large purchase, because of his interest in my smaller purchases, combined with the other's lack of interest since my large purchase.


The two large dealerships (one in North Carolina and one on the other side of the county) in the story above show that a web presence, combined with a eagerness and enthusiasm toward the customer will keep the business coming in. However, I have also found that these traits CAN also be present in some small dealerships! I know this is a long post, but here's another story...

As many of you here know, I had also extensively researched before my car purchase. After deciding on what kind of car, I went to the internet. I was able to search the inventory of new car dealerships to find a model equipped the way I wanted, and I could email them for a quote of "their lowest possible price." I found dealerships with the exact car I wanted and received quotes from here to Pittsburgh. Out of all of these dealerships with this web presence and online quoting capability, not only did the small local guy have this technology, but he was also the lowest price, even lower than the company with locations all over the Pittsburgh area! When we went to the dealer in person, we introduced ourselves, and proceded to test drive the car (he didn't even ask to make a copy of our driver's licenses).

At the purchase, we received a dealership hat and calendar, and when I went in for our free oil change at 3000 miles, the salesman came back to the service area to see how we were doing. We have since received a follow up phone call, a tin of cookies in the mail, and a Christmas card from the dealership. Being a third generation Ford buyer, it was a difficult thing buying a Chevrolet, but they will be the first place we visit for our next new car!


The moral of both of these stories...
Big or small, dealers need to use the current technology available to them to work toward their advantage, combined with enthusiasm toward their customers, both online AND in person. It will get them far!

I loved being able to research the purchase online and got a great deal quoted online, but I got a great deal more with superb customer service in email, on the telephone, and in person. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[AndyM]

<font color="blue"> We think any dealer that is not Internet connected should be dragged kicking and screaming to forums just like these so they can get a taste of some of the real problems that occur on a daily basis out in the real world. That way they might be more apt to educate rather than isolate their customers. </font>

I also remeber an incident where your dealer was fixing a problem with your tractor, and you asked for the part numbers so you could help others with similar problems here at TBN, and he refused to give them to you...

I just don't understand this fear of the internet that some businesses have. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif That kind of attitude above will drive customers away. Giving out the part numbers to help others, will ultimately bring more customers.

 

[kozak]

AndyM,

Your response with regard to the part numbers got me thinking. (A rare thing indeed. Might get myself in trouble now) Well here goes....just being the devils advocate for a short while.

Maybe its a case of lost maintenance work. Put yourself in the Dealerships shoes. If he gives out the part numbers & is aware of this site, he may be thinking that others with the same problem will order the parts & do the maintenance themselves. More Dealerships than we realize may well be aware of this site & fear it thinking they will lose business. To a certain degree I can't blame them.

What a great site with incredibly knowledgeable people. Everybody brings a small piece to the table. All together it becomes a force to be reckoned with. Power to the people. Lets take it back bit by bit !!

Ok....ok....I know. I'm starting to lose it.