Dealer Local dealer or travel

[astor]

Ok,
So I price bx2230's with La211 FEL and 54"MMM. Locally I am looking at paying around 13,000. If I travel to Indiana, I have a dealer who says he'll sell me one at 11,250, plus I don't pay sales tax. I live in Northern Mi so competition is limited around here.

I know some of the more experienced people here say deal locally, but this added expense is hard to swallow. Guys, should I travel and what risks am I taking??

Thanks,

 

[OhioTC18]

Whats the local dealers reputation? His service? If you buy out of state, and need service locally.....there's always the chance that your tractor will be last on the lot for service, you might have to pay list prices for filters/parts.
I took mine in for a 50 hr service and felt the cost was a bit high. They cut the price by an hours labor to keep a customer happy. Actually when I scheduled the service appointment, the girl on the phone knew exactly what I purchsed as soon as I told her my name. There was no way she had time to look that up on a computer. I asked how she knew what I had? Her reply was...."It's my job to know what equipment was sold and to whom." They have called me numerous times to see if I needed anything. Sent a service dude out for minor adjustments after hours. Hard to beat local.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Sit down with your local dealer, tell him him you have a lower price. Heck, tell him what it is. See how close he is willing to match the lower price.
My dealer either matched or at least met me half way to my lowest prices

 

[8561]

I think it depends. If you are at all mechanically inclined (can change the oil in your car), you can do your own 50 hour service. If these tractors are as bulletproof as everyone says (and most indications are that they are), then I say put the two grand in your pocket and gas up for Indiana. That said, I agree with Mark that you should give your local dealer the last shot to match, or get in the neighborhood of your price. I travelled for my purchase under the assumption that I could handle all but the major service issues, then agreed with my selling dealer that if it needed major work, he'd come get it. JMHO.

 

[OhioTC18]

He may "come get it" but at a charge of $70+ an hour, I'd guess. No one said they have to provide transportation to a service center. Mine does, but check locally.

 

[44trxfun]

I'm relatively new to tractors, but I agree with MarkinNH. Seeing as buying the tractor is really the first thing, but far from the last thing, I was going to have interacting with the dealer, I thought long and hard about how they treated me. As a matter of fact, I went to a dealer 45 minutes away instead of one 10 minutes down the road (different manufacturer) because I felt snubbed by the closer dealer. To me it was just the first indication of what our relationship was to be. You may be more mechanically inclined than me, but dealer attitude played a huge role in my purchase. In your case, their attitude may have something to do with whether or not they're servicing one of "their" tractors. Good luck with your decision.

 

[tomnky]

Well I bought locally and they charge a $1.75 a mile each way for pick-up and delivery!
That's why I have my own trailer............The only Dealer close to here that would pick-up and deliver free of charge doesn't handle anything but Industrial stuff now , left a lot of folks hanging that had bought ag equipment.

From My experience I would depend only on myself for transportation. Just My Honest Opinion.
I have always preferred getting closer to home if at all possible ,even if they area few Dollars higher, The Dealers will always get to the the unit sold by them before they will one that was purchased elsewhere. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[JDgreen227]

I could have saved some cash by renting a trailer and going to Ohio or Indiana to buy my JD but first I got written quotes from outstate dealers, then sat down with my salesguy and explained:

"I want to do business locally because I have been happy with the service and parts here, but according to these prices I can save (fill in the blank) dollars there. They are not losing any money selling me a tractor at their quoted price, so if you can come close to their deal you have the sale".

Other TBN members make good points about the service issue
and whatever make you buy elsewhere your local dealer will likely service, but it won't be his priority.

The sales tax issue....well, as a Michigan resident I know it is possible to buy out of state and we ARE supposed to pay a "use tax" on purchases made out of state. It cost me over $1200 for sales tax on my JD and implements and I could have used that money for other purposes. However, given the current status of the state budget, there are more than a few people who keep watch on big ticket purchases made outside of Michigan. Question here, if you buy in Indiana are you exempt from sales tax because you are a resident of another state? Last trip I made to Tennessee we had to pay sales tax on the light fixtures, etc. we bought there to bring back to Michigan. Our nephew had to pay sales tax on the bedding he bought here in Michigan although he lives in Ohio.

Sorry if I rambled too much on the tax issue, but the bottom line is, if you want to save money, feel free to shop out of state. But if you want a happy relationship with your new tractor and the dealer, well, that is difficult to put a price on.

 

[art]

You should feel comfortable with the dealer as well as the equipment.

 

[5030]

JDGreen227:

You did ramble quite a bit about the tax issue.

I live here too and I don't pay any sales tax on tractors or implements. Of course I have an agricultural exemption. I farm (hay production) part time.

I guess if you lived in a sub-division it would be pretty hard to convince Jennifer G., that you were tax exempt. In Michigan, about the only thing that isn't exempt from sales tax is tools and on road fuel. I even run ag plates on my pickup truck.