JD Parts - Do you pay list?

[Spudland_Dave]

Maybe, but do you go into an auto parts store and say, "I need those break drums but I want them for 15% less."? Not around my neck of the woods, you don't anyway.

You might want to try it....just last week I was at the local Car Quest for some primer, quoted a price of 43.00...my response was "hmm....is that the best you guys can do" his response was....Clickety...Click...Clack on his keyboard and a verbal response of "Hows 36.50"...my response was "I'll take it"
I really saw the margins and variations on "Parts accounts" when I was working at a large automotive dealership....
On a real simple level, if you're in a Napa, ask for the Triple-A member discount, that will usually knock 10% off...and they wont even ask to see your card.

I don't expect anything, if you treat me right I'll keep buying if you screw me you'll be asking yourself, "whatever happened to that good customer?"

When you boil it down, your right...and to be fair, there are alot of JD Parts that are no different in price then an aftermarket version. I got JD Plus-50 Synthetic in the crankcase of everything I own because I can get it cheaper then Mobil1. Yeah it hurt when I had to spend 300 bucks on the rear glass to my cab, but seriously, the windshield on my truck is equally expensive. The dealer I deal with ALWAYS treats me right.....

So, to make a long story short, I personally I dont think the prices I pay are all that bad when I factor everything in, Do I think that 80.00 for the "enhanced cruise" is a bit on the high side, Yeah, I suppose...BUT, I get free tech support with em...
I'm just glad I dont have to deal with Kubota parts...I do on occasion for my dad, and wow, it gives a person new appreciation for the Deere system and pricing.....

I guess I'm backwards...the whole reason I ended up with a Deere is because of my experience with parts when I fixed up/"Restored" the F935 I own. I wouldnt have bought a shiny new 3520 if I thought parts were that bad.

 

[two_bit_score]

The new owner has the right to charge whatever he wants and you have the right to take your business elsewhere if you don't like it. That's what freedom of choice is all about.

Absolutely right. :thumbsup:

It the American Way. Or used to be anyway.

That said, there is nothing wrong with asking for a discount. Just man up and don't get your undies in a bundle if the seller says 'no'. You can still shop elsewhere.

 

[downslope]

Quote:
Originally Posted by rekees4300
The new owner has the right to charge whatever he wants and you have the right to take your business elsewhere if you don't like it. That's what freedom of choice is all about.

Absolutely right. :thumbsup:

It the American Way. Or used to be anyway.

That said, there is nothing wrong with asking for a discount. Just man up and don't get your undies in a bundle if the seller says 'no'. You can still shop elsewhere.

But is it the American Way for the manufacturers to make it difficult for you to take your parts business elsewhere? Can you view parts prices on JD's website without registering or selecting a local dealer? We know they have discouraged dealers from advertising new machinery prices, and now parts are going the same way. I think Agco parts even requires you pay a personal visit to a dealership in order to "register" for their full parts site.

These parts price differences have been going on for a long time. I can remember calling around for MF parts 20-30 years ago and there could be a consistent 15-20% difference by going one or two counties away.

But 20 years ago you had to get on the phone and call around, today with the internet it should be a lot easier but they are making it more difficult.

 

[ctlguy]

In a former life I was a parts guy at an ag dealership for approx 13 years. On the subject of "I spend x $'s here I deserve a discount" was commonly heard. Somewhat of a lengthy thread so I have not read them all but have noticed the statement relating to where do you draw the line, is it 50k, 100k or even a cool million? Who is to say. What I can say with some clarity although I did not document each instance and create a chart is the ones that constantly pushed the "I deserve a discount, because" where not always your good loyal customers anyways so it was incredibly tough to justify any discounts based on that. All it took was one wreck with that type of a customer and you are no longer turning a profit with their business. So we where better off to not offer different pricing to different people, that being said we where allowed some lee way (sp?) on the prices and I had a tendacy to allow some discounts to my Loyal customers but was primarily based on package volume, ie a whole set of something like all new platform guards, case qty's, stock order, etc. If I kept my margins to where we decided ahead of time that they needed to be then I was able to fix those occasional wrecks and hopefully keep those loyal customers. Just my 2 cents, not necc based on any facts but certainly my opinion, but I never got bothered by being asked for a discount but did dig in my heels when told that it was deserved or threatened that the business would go elsewhere.

 

[sweettractors]

In a former life I was a parts guy at an ag dealership for approx 13 years. On the subject of "I spend x $'s here I deserve a discount" was commonly heard. Somewhat of a lengthy thread so I have not read them all but have noticed the statement relating to where do you draw the line, is it 50k, 100k or even a cool million? Who is to say. What I can say with some clarity although I did not document each instance and create a chart is the ones that constantly pushed the "I deserve a discount, because" where not always your good loyal customers anyways so it was incredibly tough to justify any discounts based on that. All it took was one wreck with that type of a customer and you are no longer turning a profit with their business. So we where better off to not offer different pricing to different people, that being said we where allowed some lee way (sp?) on the prices and I had a tendacy to allow some discounts to my Loyal customers but was primarily based on package volume, ie a whole set of something like all new platform guards, case qty's, stock order, etc. If I kept my margins to where we decided ahead of time that they needed to be then I was able to fix those occasional wrecks and hopefully keep those loyal customers. Just my 2 cents, not necc based on any facts but certainly my opinion, but I never got bothered by being asked for a discount but did dig in my heels when told that it was deserved or threatened that the business would go elsewhere.

That about sums it up for me. Ken Sweet

 

[rjkobbeman]

Whether being a parts counter employee at the Harley Davidson dealership (long time ago) or buying parts as a consumer, I always consider a discount a special benefit that occurs on a case by case basis. I never considered it an entitlement, which appears to be the case here.

I too have no metrics to back anything up, however from my past experiences as a parts guy, from talking to my local Kubota dealer and simple observing customers at the parts counter (you name the place, pretty much anywhere), it does appear to be the higher-maintenance customers that feel entitled to a discount.

Demanding and/or expecting a discount just seems so cheezy to me. (Many words to describe, but I chose the nicest one I could think of.)

 

[ddivinia]

In a former life I was a parts guy at an ag dealership for approx 13 years. On the subject of "I spend x $'s here I deserve a discount" was commonly heard. Somewhat of a lengthy thread so I have not read them all but have noticed the statement relating to where do you draw the line, is it 50k, 100k or even a cool million? Who is to say. What I can say with some clarity although I did not document each instance and create a chart is the ones that constantly pushed the "I deserve a discount, because" where not always your good loyal customers anyways so it was incredibly tough to justify any discounts based on that. All it took was one wreck with that type of a customer and you are no longer turning a profit with their business. So we where better off to not offer different pricing to different people, that being said we where allowed some lee way (sp?) on the prices and I had a tendacy to allow some discounts to my Loyal customers but was primarily based on package volume, ie a whole set of something like all new platform guards, case qty's, stock order, etc. If I kept my margins to where we decided ahead of time that they needed to be then I was able to fix those occasional wrecks and hopefully keep those loyal customers. Just my 2 cents, not necc based on any facts but certainly my opinion, but I never got bothered by being asked for a discount but did dig in my heels when told that it was deserved or threatened that the business would go elsewhere.

Well there ya go. You had flexibility depending on the situation.

Flat rate discounts don't work anyway - margins are different, etc.

D.

 

[Rob-D]

Demanding and/or expecting a discount just seems so cheezy to me. (Many words to describe, but I chose the nicest one I could think of.)

There you go! My dignity seems a whole lot more important than a being seen in that light for a few bucks!

Cheeezzzy! Gag me with a spoon!

Rob

 

[ddivinia]

There you go! My dignity seems a whole lot more important than a being seen in that light for a few bucks!

Cheeezzzy! Gag me with a spoon!

Rob

Do what you want.

I just saved $350 on some JD parts today by shopping the deal.

D.

 

[AKfish]

I did not have the impression from reading the posts on this subject that a discount was ever "demanded or requested".

More refined sensibilities would consider such behavior - "gauche". (Maybe that's what Rob really meant when he asked to be "gagged with a spoon"..)

Rather, given the cost of a particular purchase - it was "expected" that the dealer would at least "offer" a discount given the amount of the current transaction and the history the customer had with the dealership.

Personally, I have NEVER asked, requested, demanded or attempted to "nickle and dime" the salespeople for a discount for parts or service of any kind from my local JD dealer (or anywhere else for that matter). However, we did reach an impasse for the purchase of two different NEW machines over a reasonable discount from MSRP.

I have been given a discount in the past - and from my perspective - that genuinely fosters a desire on my part to " keep walking thru the front door"!

And when I know that I'm paying more for a particular item than I would somewhere else - I willingly do that - 'cause I want the business to remain in business and sometime down the road - I "expect" the dealership to look out for my economic interests as well with a discount "here and there"...

AKfish