Local dealer dropped ball -- forget buying a Massey?

[GregP27]

Very glad it all worked out! Nice people and good endings are what make life worthwhile ina lot of ways since it avoids the unpleasant alternatives.

You might go on YouTube and check out the channel by Paul Short. He owns a company in Newfoundland called "Specilaty Repairs," and does a lot of videos, among which are a lost of modifications to his Kubota tractors that would ALSO be very nice for any model or brand. The thing ism he HAS the tools and shares the mods. It is good fgood for thought, if you have a good tractor, but see some improvements you might want to make.

Good luck and happy Kubota use!

 

[SDT]

Salesman at local dealer (non-owner) initially quoted a figure $3,200 + tax over my best quote delivered from an out of state dealer on a 2706e. Began to mention their competitor's pricing (with the intention of offering "if you can get within ~$1k of their price would be glad to do business") and he abruptly cut me off and said, "We wouldn't service it." Repeated back what I heard and he said "Yep." Thanked him for his time and immediately left. Really like this Massey model best but want trustworthy, responsive dealer(s) nearby even more. Would you write off Massey Ferguson altogether? Deere, Kubota, and Mahindra are the only local choices left, and they all cost significantly more and have demerits like DPFs, plastic bodies (Deere), extra cost rear remotes, etc.

Background: After a month of looking, thought the 2706e was "the one." Overwhelmingly positive reviews about that model, and it was my top choice during brief test drives. Started with a few quotes from out of state dealers (tractorhouse advertisers) just to see if it was possible to get into a comfortable price range. Hoped to build a business relationship with the closest and preferred M-F dealer, a long-time maw and paw type dealer that admittedly doesn't move many units judging by their lot stock. Have also briefly visited the alternative M-F dealers recently -- all 2+ hours each way, didn't talk numbers -- and it would be a real hassle/expense to tow there for warranty issues/repairs, or to make urgent parts purchases. Same with Kioti, probably my second top choice.

An aside -- have been following the "Will some tractor makers not survive?" thread (http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...sons/370386-will-some-tractor-makers-not.html) with interest. Conclusion is that some dealers won't and therefore it doesn't matter if the brand survives if customers don't have reasonable access to a good dealer... and in the end these manufacturer will bear the brunt of their dealers' failures to their detriment.

"Would you write off Massey Ferguson altogether?"

Yes.

Indeed, I did.

I bought two new MF tractors from my local MF dealer within the past 10 years

After significantly poor after sale treatment by the dealer regarding both tractors, I have written MF off and replaced both with Kubotas.

The MFs are now gone and the dealer has closed his doors..

 

[fried1765]

Perhaps you are correct, Obviously, I wasn't there.

But if I heard from someone that they would not service a unit bought somewhere else, I'd raise holy caine with the parent company and tell the better business bureau.

I've been in business for 38 years and you don't DO that. And I won't stand for it without a LOT of people knowing, so they can make an informed buyer's choice. If they choose to buy there, great. But at least they should know the kind of people they are dealing with.

Also obviously, I could have mis-read the situation, but his post didn't sound as though he received too nice a welcome. Could be wrong. If so, no problem here. Stay nice and make whatever decision is desired.

I never go in expecting anything but regular service and dealings. Last time I bought a car, it was all very fast and friendly. I told them what I was looking for and what I would pay for it, and said that if they could meet it, I'd drive out in it. If they couldn't, let me know and I'd be gone. I said they had exactly 5 minutes to answer and I had a yes in 4:30. I drove the unit within 10 more minutes, and I left in it with another 20 minutes. Paid cash. No credit needed or asked for. They demanded my SSAN and I said no. They said they needed a credit report and said no they didn't, it was a cash deal. They still wanted it and I said all they were going to get was a driver's License. That ended it. California tried to use my SSAN for the license and I refused. They can't legally make you divulge it. It's how identities get stolen and I wasn't about to let my SSAN on a license!

That was after walking out of 3 other dealers 5 minutes after I walked in. Total time wasted was less than 3 hours including driving around time. I walked out of Ford, Chevy, and Toyota. Wound up with Nissan Titan. Have had zero issues with it since 2007. Have had nothing but good service since then the very few times I have gone there. Almost all my service has been at dealers I didn't buy from, out of convenience ot me.

I'd expect the same from tractor dealers and, if not, would NOT deal with them. But, to each his own. We all do what we do. The OP didn't sound too happy to me, but maybe I read it completely wrong. The best thing is to stay as pleasant and nice as possible, state your case, and move ahead.

Mea Culpa, if I got it wrong.

Cheers to everyone!

Same for me ....with cars/trucks.
At 76 years old, I have done just that,.... more than a few times.
They may not like me when I leave, but I am not there to make friends or influence people!

 

[ultrarunner]

An informed buyer with means should be able to reduce the process to a simple yes or no.

When I was shopping for a car I knew it would be a factory order... was not interested in anything but the vehicle with the equipment I wanted and had a price that made me a buyer.

Printed it up and contacted 5 dealers... spoke the fleet manager and then sent my fax... the 5th one about 30 minutes away said he would call me by the end of the day...

He did, took a $1000 credit card deposit after faxing back the purchase order... simple, painless and exactly what I wanted at the price I had agreed to pay.

 

[edgarrian]

Some people can deal and others can't. No different than a house or purchase of a car. If you paid more then thats on you

Let's say you go to your local tractor dealer and he sells you a tractor for $20,000. and you bring it home all excited and it's just what you wanted, your neighbor comes over and sees your new tractor and really likes it, so he goes down to the same dealer and buys the exact same tractor and brings it home, you go over and ask your neighbor what he paid and he says $17,500, now how would that make you feel. Your neighbor paid $2,500. Less than you did for the exact same tractor. I'm just saying its not right, both people should pay the exact price because you know the dealer is making a profit off both tractors.

In my case all three MF dealers are owned by the same owner so that means I would need to drive an hour and a half to the next town.

 

[AxleHub]

I do wish posters were more careful about how they title their threads.

Because a single individual dealer (of any brand) "drops the ball" is not justification to exclude a brand from consideration in my opinion. I contacted over a dozen dealers in a 150 mile radius of my area before investing in the one I felt was the best justified choice. Absolutely a few of them were not pronto in response or customer service. But isn't that the whole idea of a prospects efforts?

I don't expect dealers to "kiss my feet" as a prospect because to me that means they spend to much effort finding new buyers instead of taking care of existing customers. I look for a logical balance of attention and response REGARDLESS how big the tractor and sale price is.

 

[MAN IN BLACK]

I do wish posters were more careful about how they title their threads.

Because a single individual dealer (of any brand) "drops the ball" is not justification to exclude a brand from consideration in my opinion. I contacted over a dozen dealers in a 150 mile radius of my area before investing in the one I felt was the best justified choice. Absolutely a few of them were not pronto in response or customer service. But isn't that the whole idea of a prospects efforts?

I don't expect dealers to "kiss my feet" as a prospect because to me that means they spend to much effort finding new buyers instead of taking care of existing customers. I look for a logical balance of attention and response REGARDLESS how big the tractor and sale price is.

I totally agree....existing customer are the ones turning the business...service, parts...and return visits for more implements or tractor
upgrade.

 

[edgarrian]

I agree with axle and his statement in above post. When i searched for my tractor (1705). I researched a bit about the dealers and then went to the one I thought id like best and I paid a good price and was happy with my purchase. Since then the dealer and the salesmen has been awesome to deal with. He has come to the house after a few months of ownership to check it out. The salesmen is the owners son who is going to take over the business one day so I feel like he was more than just a salesman. Good customer service. I have bought an implement from them. Bushhog tiller. When he checked out my tractor i had already purchased a QA with forks and he was asking a lot of questions about it. At the time of purchase when i asked about the forks and QA he didn't have much to offer other than the attachable forks that lock onto your bucket. So he asked for the company that i bought mine from to pass on to other customers that might be looking for a good solution. To be honest I haven't had to many bad experiences when purchasing a car, tractor or other big ticket items. I personally think it comes down to the CUSTOMER. You have to have arm yourself with info and take the time to research, call, and email. If you don't then you are setting yourself up for failure.

 

[ultrarunner]

When I was looking to buy my first TLB it was hard to zero in but I was leaning to Kubota.

The only Kubota Dealer was in the next county about 35 miles away and he also had a lot full of New Holland... kept pushing me to New Holland and away from Kubota.

So I found another Dealer at some distance that made an attractive price and I bought... really simple and no Dickering.

A few months later I decided to buy a post-hole Digger and went to the closest dealer and was hoping he had one for me to take home... he asked me what tractor I had and then asked where I bought it... what came next was a surprise as he said his post-hole diggers are for customers and said I need to go wherever I bought my tractor because he would not sell me one...

The Dealership is still around and the lot full of New Holland is no more... it is all Kubota now.

I saved over 2k not buying from him as he was only dealing on New Holland at the time and all Kubota was at full MSRP and then some.

The Deere Dealer had not time as it was Harvest Time... he did get back to me about 6 weeks later and by that time I already had my BX