Loyalty to Local Dealership? ??

[namesray]

Here is my situation. I can get a new kubota mx5200, loader, r4 tires loaded, remote, qa forks, 6ft bush hog, 20ft 12k rated trailer, and chains/binders, delivered for $34,744.68! Sounds great right! (At least I think so). Alif I buy the equipment listed above is good equipment, not junk. (Believe me, I have asked a thousand questions about this package deal.

This deal is from dealer in neighboring state over 7 hours away.

Here is where I feel a problem comes into play. All the local dealerships in my area are asking about $34,000 for just the tractor, loader, r4 tires / loaded. With the package as listed above, local dealers are about $8000 higher. That is a lot of money!

I am worried if I dont buy from local dealer, I will loose a very good relationship that I have now. (Have bought a lot of equipment from this local dealer and in return gotten the red carpet traetment, such as parts, repairs done to my equipment immediately, and just being treated like family whenever I show up).

I am especially concerned since this mx5200 has a lot of electrical stuff on it that I am sure only kubota dealers can work on and not just your friend who happens to be a mechanic. I feel I will get the cold shoulder treatment if I buy the better deal from out of state dealer and go walking in to my local dealer asking can you fix my tractor for me. You see where this is going. I think I will hear from my local dealer, load your tractor up and haul it to your out of state dealer if you want it fixed!

What do you folks all think. Loyalty is great and so is that relationship with local dealer and community, but is it worth $8000???

 

[nybirdman]

Tough call.I always buy local myself.For starters I don't think a 20ft.trailer is anywhere long enough to haul that tractor with a FEL and any implement,what brand and how heavy duty is the BH(lots of differences in quality and weight).
My dealer has been outstanding and I would pay more to have him service my tractor,but that's just my experience.
Kind of funny,you hear about a lot of people running to Pa. to get a deal from NY.

 

[kf4uda]

A good relationship with a local dealer is worth a lot to me, but $8k is a lot of money. If you have that good of relationship with the dealer, then I would take your deal to him and see if he can come closer to it. If he can't then you will have to decide how much that red carpet is worth to you. I think that he would need to meet me at least half way.

 

[s219]

I sort of see the point, but I also would question the integrity of any dealer who is nice to you on the sales floor but suddenly becomes a jerk if you bring a tractor in for service that was purchased elsewhere. If you are a paying customer (past/present/future), who are they to discriminate? Seems like a good way to lose parts/service business.

What if it was a used tractor from out of state? That is a common scenario. People couldn't buy used tractors if they were restricted to get service work done only at the original dealer.

The only place where I have heard this sort of practice described in a reasonable manner is at my boat dealer. They told me there are certain times of year where they get super busy, and they prioritize purchasing customers in the service department, but otherwise they don't turn away any work and will service anyone's boat no matter where it came from.

I do recall hearing a couple stories here on TBN where someone actually got better warranty service done from a different dealer than they purchased from (often in cases where the original dealer screwed something up). Warranty service is paid for by the manufacturer to the dealer, so it's not like you're putting them out or anything.

$8K is a lot of money in this case. If you think your local dealer is reasonable, you could maybe see if they can work up a better price to come closer to the out of state deal. But you may know ahead of time how they operate and what their sales attitude is like. I know when looking at Deere's my local store didn't give a rip about meeting/beating prices, even from their sister store 30 miles away. I happened to pass that sister store on the way to check out Kubotas, and they had a better price (by a lot) and weren't going to charge for delivery. I ultimately did not buy a Deere, but always remember how odd it seemed that I could get a better price buying from a location further from my home, when it was the same exact company. I know for a fact they trade inventory all the time, but I guess it's up to the local manager to decide on selling price. Their attitude ultimately cost the whole brand a sale opportunity.

 

[TripleR]

When I bought my last Kubota, bought three from my dealer previously, I told them while I'd much prefer to buy from them, loyalty only meant so much and if they wouldn't couldn't com up with a price much more reasonable than the original offer, I would buy elsewhere. More negotiating ensued than I like, but we came to a good price, I paid a bit more and they took a bit less.

I don't mind paying a little more, but $8000 is a lot more, I would have bought elsewhere.

I have a great dealer that's been in business for about 60 years and there's a reasn for their success.

 

[rgr33]

if you're comparing apples to apples, and that needs to be listed clearly in the bid, I go with the better price. if the local dealer shows a bad attitude, he loses future business and I get the regional manager involved.
Having said that, I give him every chance to get closer to the lower bid, and give him a little slack for good will in the future. I could find better things to do with $8000 than donating it to that dealer.

 

[628pm]

Take you bid in to your local dealer, show him exactly what each item costs ( if you have a breakdown by item), look at the msrp for each item, then have a breakdown with 15% off the msrp. I always put this info on a spreadsheet take it to the dealer, then we discuss from there, if you can agree to a price that is great, if not, thank him for trying to work with you and buy somewhere else. I think we all have seen how something looks good until you sign the papers and there are "hidden charges", so I always ask for out the door prices. I don't care what they give me for my vehicle (or tractor) and I don't care what they sale theirs for, I just want the out the door price, all the other stuff don't mean anything to me. I just want to know what comes out of my pocket.

 

[big bubba]

how does sales tax play into the equation? able to go agri exemption within your state?...as mentioned, dealer support is big... lots of variables here & well founded. always a question of final price vs serviceability. best to you on this. the mx series is a reliable no nonsense series. wish you the best on your decision.

 

[DarkBlack]

I'd give the local dealer the chance to at least come real close in price. If he drops within say a grand stay with him.
Otherwise save yourself $8,000. It's a no brainer to me but that's just me.

 

[BleedingOrange]

Personally, I don,t think it is fair to give your local dealer another shot at the price.
If you are comparing the exact same equipment, they are trying to stiff you for 8K, which is a lot of cash.
If the guy giving you the deal was good enough to give you that price on the first quote, then I think he deserves your business.
When I,m shopping for big ticket items, I tell all the bidders they get one shot at the price, no games.