Local JD Dealer makes me go GRRRRR!

PitbullMidwest · Apr 18, 2006

I called my local JD garden center yesterday and asked for a price on a carb kit for my STX46. The owner asked if I knew the engine serial number and model number. Since I was at work I didn't have that info and told him it was a Kohler 14 hp Command. He said without a serial number he'd have no way of knowing which kit I needed. Fair enough.

After hanging up I went to the JD website and in less than 2 minutes I had the part number. I called him back with this information and again asked for the price. I was told that he didn't care if I had the part number, that he wasn't going to give me pricing without my engine serial and model numbers!

Is it unreasonable to expect him to sell me a part without my engine numbers if I know what I need? He has the parts catalog on CD and can look up the same info I got off of the JD website but refuses to.

What are your thoughts? Should I just get the numbers for him or take my business to the ag dealer in the next town or order online? Would you do business with this guy?

Panache · Apr 18, 2006

The things I have looked up in JDPARTS gives me the price.

PitbullMidwest · Apr 18, 2006

Yep, $8.04 online plus shipping. I want to know HIS price because he is sometimes higher and sometimes lower than the online pricing. I also would like to know if he has it in stock before I make a trip to his shop. Remember the old phone ads? Phone first.

HammerFour · Apr 18, 2006

If I had a dealer that wouldn't give me a price for a part that I had the number for, I would find a new dealer.

Maybe try calling and asking for the parts department....if they have a parts department?

The dealer most likely is trying to make sure you get the right part so you don't try and return a wrong one....but if you have the part number and agree to the restocking charge or whatever, he should just give you a price and sell you the part. Sheesh.

beenthere · Apr 18, 2006

He probably already knows, or senses, that you are just checking on his pricing, so is giving you the 'blank' look. He is the one who is taking the risk to keep you as a customer. Sounds like he doesn't consider you worth the trouble to go the extra yardage to get you what you want. I'm sure he has to deal with all kinds of customers, and not dealing with them, is his risk.

Egon · Apr 18, 2006

There just may be different carbs on the same engine and the S/N and model number will be able to determine that.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BillG_in_TX · Apr 18, 2006

I have ordered tune-up kits for a JD lawn tractor online and picked them up at the local JD dealer at the price specified online, and then used an online coupon for even more savings. Twice I called first and asked the price. and the on-line price was less than the dealer's quoted price. But they didn't quibble, because the order was placed through the JD system and showed up in their computer. The third time, I didn't bother to call first.

By the way, the on-line system checks the dealer inventory.

PitbullMidwest · Apr 18, 2006

( There just may be different carbs on the same engine and the S/N and model number will be able to determine that. )

I thought of that too. But according to the JD site and my service CD there is only 2 kits offered for the STX series, the full kit and the gaskets only kit. If he had taken the time to look it up he would have known that. I even provide him with the part number.

( By the way, the on-line system checks the dealer inventory. )

As far as checking his inventory, he's not even listed on JDParts.com as a dealer.

I've bought from him in the past because he's in a convenient location. Maybe one of us was just in a bad mood, but this is typical of buying anything from him. For what ever reason he got under my skin this time.

countrybob1 · Apr 19, 2006

My local JD dealer was trying to get me to buy a LX280 and lied about the price, US$700 more than the recommended retail. Then when I enquired about a GT245, I was told it was no longer available!
I checked with a couple of other dealers 60 miles away (not in the same town) and both gave me the correct price, were willing to discount it and said the GT245 was available also at a discounted price. On top of that I rang JD and they confirmed what these two dealers told me!
Talk about a local dealer making you go GRRRRR! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
After that I just can't deal with the local dealer and I'll go to one of the others.