Buying Advice L3800 HST walked away from first dealer!

[trywhisper]

LOL unfortunatly we all dont live in the land of ethics. I have purchased 3 mini exs 3 skidloaders and a l48 over the last 10 years from a rather large cnh kubota dealer in the dc area. I sold my company and was looking to buy my l3540 for personal use. I did some shopping and my dealer was way out there. During "friendly" negotiations the owner did say this. "If you want to buy that machine from **** tractor, then you might want to drive it back there when it breaks. Now you know i'll always take care of your stuff, just as soon as i finish working on the customers units that purchased here.". He ended up still being 900 high but when i have problems, they send out their repair truck, sometimes offer a loaner and "overlook" some details in order to help me out. Say what you want about what people "should" do in a perfect world but in reality it is up to the dealer to decide how he wants to handle you. Not saying it wont get fixed, just dont expect red carpet treatment. This is all assuming your local dealer knows you are price shopping though. For example i bought my tracker bass boat from a hole in the wall dealer and thier mechinic had no business working on a toaster let alone an optimax, so i now go to a local bass pro shops service center and explained the catastrophies, told them i was a new loyal customer and so far they have been great and treat me like I bought it there.

I know what you're saying.... but we are talking more than a few hundred dollars difference in price for the same tractor elsewhere with better implements, I will probably buy from the farther dealer and keep my dealings with them if at all possible, and thank you too!

 

[arsenix2001]

I know what you're saying.... but we are talking more than a few hundred dollars difference in price for the same tractor elsewhere with better implements, I will probably buy from the farther dealer and keep my dealings with them if at all possible, and thank you too!

By all means do so, I was more or less just stating my exp on the subject. Plus my " great deal" was like 550 miles away. You will have a win win both ways, get your tractor from the farther dealer, and if something major goes wrong an hour really isnt that far. Buy your filters and such local, and just get on the local dealers good side... Chances are it will be a non issue. Good luck!

 

[bradyky]

Hello,

If I may ask, where are you located?

Thanks,
Brady Barlow

 

[TripleR]

Treating someone well even though they didn't buy the machine there is a good way to get a sale later on. I now buy my ATV/UTV's at a different dealer than originally as well as my tractors based on how I was treated even though I did not buy there. And yes, I will pay a little extra just so long as it is not unreasonable.

 

[trywhisper]

Hello,

If I may ask, where are you located?

Thanks,
Brady Barlow

That would be arkansas.

 

[medicshawn]

I would be very hesistant to spend large sums of money at a dealer who put that sour of a taste in my mouth. I'm not against buying local and have done both local and 400 miles away from Barlows. There are plenty of people whose tractors have never returned to the dealer because they didn't need any warranty work. If you can do your own service, changing fluids and filters you shouldn't worry about having to go back to the dealer. I don't think howse makes bad stuff but woods or land pride will be better and so will your resale.

 

[trywhisper]

I would be very hesistant to spend large sums of money at a dealer who put that sour of a taste in my mouth. I'm not against buying local and have done both local and 400 miles away from Barlows. There are plenty of people whose tractors have never returned to the dealer because they didn't need any warranty work. If you can do your own service, changing fluids and filters you shouldn't worry about having to go back to the dealer. I don't think howse makes bad stuff but woods or land pride will be better and so will your resale.

:thumbsup: well with the help on TBN I'm sure i won't have any problems with minor servicing. I do it on everything else around here. I just want to have that "warm fuzzy" feeling with the dealer like JohnThomas has!:laughing:

 

[montelatici]

:thumbsup: well with the help on TBN I'm sure i won't have any problems with minor servicing. I do it on everything else around here. I just want to have that "warm fuzzy" feeling with the dealer like JohnThomas has!:laughing:

I think you need to buy more than one or two tractors (in a couple of years) to get the warm fuzzies that JohnThomas gets.:laughing:

 

[medicshawn]

:thumbsup: well with the help on TBN I'm sure i won't have any problems with minor servicing. I do it on everything else around here. I just want to have that "warm fuzzy" feeling with the dealer like JohnThomas has!:laughing:

Just FYI Barlows is John Thomas's dealer and he will give you that warm fuzzy feeling.

 

[ultrarunner]

I know what you're saying.... but we are talking more than a few hundred dollars difference in price for the same tractor elsewhere with better implements, I will probably buy from the farther dealer and keep my dealings with them if at all possible, and thank you too!

I agree... buying local would have made no difference in my case since the dealers in my county and nearby counties have closed up shop.

Sometimes it's better to buy from a full service dealer with a long track record even if you have to travel to do so.

I grew up in and around the car business and tractor sales people are different... no doubt about it.

Couldn't get the time of day from several dealers and lots of pressure from one that sold New Holland and Kubota... kept telling my NH was a better tractor... well, guess what... they no longer sell NH???

I think many sales people just don't know the products they sell and then there is the ever present... no time to talk to anyone during harvest time... or we don't really handle anything suitable for a hobby farm while the corp website says otherwise...

Nothing wrong with walking away...