Price Check Proper etiquette

jwcinpk · Mar 27, 2014

What is the proper etiquette when requesting quotes from dealers? Is it not okay to solicit a quote via email? I'm a cash buyer and would use Farm Credit Services for any financing. How long should I give dealers to reply? I've only ever dealt with one dealer and always done so face to face, but for my next purchase I'm considering Case IH too and wanted to hear from a couple dealers who also sell Case IH. It'd be great to be able to compare the tractors all side by side. 2 days...5 dealers...1 response to say they no longer carry Case IH.

newbury · Mar 27, 2014

I've gotten quotes from Messicks and Barlow's solely using email. But they are Kubota. Don't know why Case would be a different case.

GPintheMitten · Mar 27, 2014

Seems like a dealer would want to reply. Maybe it will take a little longer.

You might have better luck on the phone?

Deerherd · Mar 27, 2014

I would call first and introduce yourself and tell them what you are looking for. Requesting that they send you the quote via email is very acceptable and generally will happen much quicker opposed to emailing alone. Sometimes emails can get lost, figuratively and literally.

wedge40 · Mar 28, 2014

I've gotten quotes for many things, including tractors via email. Sometimes it take a couple of emails to get their attention though.

Wedge

Bird · Mar 28, 2014

I wonder if some dealers don't suspect that e-mail requests are nothing more than some competitor trying to compare prices. I would think they'd have serious doubts about quoting prices to e-mail requests.

Daver1963 · Mar 28, 2014

On of my projects while in the military was getting quotes to fully equip a new base with communications equipment ranging from stuff that cost $500 to $500k. I found that most time if I sent an email and introduced myself in an email, told them the purpose of my purchase, and that I was soliciting quotes I would get a favorable reply. They would even call me to get details if needed.
I would say email is quite acceptable.

DavesTractor · Apr 2, 2014

jwcinpk said:
What is the proper etiquette when requesting quotes from dealers? Is it not okay to solicit a quote via email? I'm a cash buyer and would use Farm Credit Services for any financing. How long should I give dealers to reply? I've only ever dealt with one dealer and always done so face to face, but for my next purchase I'm considering Case IH too and wanted to hear from a couple dealers who also sell Case IH. It'd be great to be able to compare the tractors all side by side. 2 days...5 dealers...1 response to say they no longer carry Case IH.

From a dealer's perspective, give us your location and if you are wanting financing options or are a cash buyer. It is disappointing as a dealer to spend a bunch of time on quotes and correspondence to find the guy is 2500 miles away and just gathering prices to use against his local dealer.

We try to reply back to email within 4 hours if during the workday, but we do not generally give quotes unless we know you are relatively local. If you are 2500 miles away and just looking for advice, just state that upfront. I occasionally get an email "the dealer wants $1000 more for the HST over the PST, is that normal?". That sort of thing, and for TBN members the dealers on this board are generally more than happy to have brief conversations like that, even though it will not result in a sale for us. Chatting amongst friends is just fine.

jwcinpk · Apr 5, 2014

All the dealers I contacted were within 75 miles of me. What I wanted to know was more from the Case IH dealers than anyone else. I especially wanted to hear from the Case IH/Mahindra dealer in Crossville TN. We are looking at replacing the 7010 cab with a bigger tractor. I am considering the Mahindra 8560, MForce 100 and Case IH 85C & 95C. No lie, even though I've been a Mahindra owner for 8 or 9 years and they've served me well, I want the C series from Case IH. I love the see thru roof panel and I want more than a 12 speed tranny. However if the prices on Fastline and Tractorhouse are indicative of the true selling price ($57,900) then I have to ask myself is that the road I want to take or should I hold onto the 7010 for the tranny options I want and go with the 8560. I'm extremely frustrated with buying anything at this point. Seems nobody wants to price their units. It's not just tractors either. It's anything big you try to buy. I've talked with folks about replacing my camper recently too and all I get is the guarantee their prices are the lowest and come see them. I even filled out the request dealer quote thru Case Ih's website and no response. Just seemed to me it shouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to have a dealer answer the simple question of pricing a unit in comparison to another unit they have on their lot or have the ability to acquire.
I'll add I've yet to hear from any of the dealers except the one who no longer sells Case IH.

GPintheMitten · Apr 5, 2014

I've lost track. Did you call any of them on the phone?

k0ua · Apr 5, 2014

I have gotten quotes over e-mail.. But this is to local dealers I have either contacted face to face and/or contacted over the phone. Sometimes it takes a little time to prepare a quote so e-mail can be useful for the dealer to reply in his own time. Nothing wrong with that. But I would think a dealer would be a little more responsive if you at least telephoned first and got his attention, and he could learn a little more about your needs.

murphy1244 · Apr 5, 2014

You can't expect to get real quotes on e-mail. Get in there and talk to these dealers, you may find out the service department is worthless by just being there.

whizdbiz2 · Apr 9, 2014

k0ua said:
I have gotten quotes over e-mail.. Sometimes it takes a little time to prepare a quote so e-mail can be useful for the dealer to reply in his own time. Nothing wrong with that.

Visited our local Mahindra dealer at the fair when I saw them set up there last fall (first time they'd been there and were stuck back of the fairgrounds by the cattle barn). Wanted to just stop and take a quick look as the wife had little interest in the subject :laughing: They gave me a quote on the spot for a Max 22 with FEL and MMM they had there with three finance options (two with actual financing deals they had and the cash price). Took less than 3 minutes, printed off that I could take with me and an brochure. Because they did that, I realized it might be doable to buy new, up to then I'd been looking at used only. And the wife liked the look and size of them.

k0ua · Apr 10, 2014

whizdbiz2 said:
Visited our local Mahindra dealer at the fair when I saw them set up there last fall (first time they'd been there and were stuck back of the fairgrounds by the cattle barn). Wanted to just stop and take a quick look as the wife had little interest in the subject :laughing: They gave me a quote on the spot for a Max 22 with FEL and MMM they had there with three finance options (two with actual financing deals they had and the cash price). Took less than 3 minutes, printed off that I could take with me and an brochure. Because they did that, I realized it might be doable to buy new, up to then I'd been looking at used only. And the wife liked the look and size of them.

I would say that dealer was "on the ball" and wanted to sell a tractor!

supertuff · Apr 10, 2014

i priced every mahindra dealer in ky. . no problem. be prepared to pay when you nail down a price you are satisfied is best for you. you need to work out financing in advance and when a dealer shoots a price you are prepared to pay, get the deal in writing that day. then have funds with your finance company forwarded. i know where you can probably get the best deal if you are interested. its a place where you wouldnt think. if you want a price i can get you a contact name and number. unfortunately , you cant always get the best deal from the dealer that is nearest to you.

arrow · Apr 10, 2014

Bird said:
I wonder if some dealers don't suspect that e-mail requests are nothing more than some competitor trying to compare prices. I would think they'd have serious doubts about quoting prices to e-mail requests.

Bird I used to sell trucks. The predominant reason back then for holding pricing cards close to your chest was that "negotiations" were never to be done "long distance". They wanted the customer right there in order to "work them". This is why I never got along with management as I felt no one needed to be "worked". The other reason is that there are so many "tire kickers" that some dealerships simply did not consider a person a "real" customer unless they were there. It was very easy to "lowball" someone over the phone and many dealers did this. Times have changed but there are still some dinosaur attitudes out there.

whiz · Apr 12, 2014

I had about 50% luck with "cold call" e-mail quotes, both positive responses were within about 12 hrs. from Mahindra dealers and two no responses. A fifth dealer told me he'd call me in two weeks about a tractor, it's been over 3 and no call and no one was answering the phone there, and I was there personally in his office. Long story short, I bought from one of the two Mahindra dealers that got back to me right away, the one I chose was the closest to my place and only a few dollars higher on price (like less than $80 higher). Their price quote over e-mail was their bottom dollar. I like to spend my money locally so with no significant difference I went local. The financing was better than I can get anywhere else (and we have stellar credit), even lower than my home equity line of credit rate so going with their financing. Interest is tax deductible for us as a farm expense so there is no issue of home equity interest deductibility vs. the Mahindra financing.

As Arrow says, there are still some dinosaurs out there, but they won't get my business. With the internet and all the people shopping there first, I believe it pays to have a great web-site, up to date on the inventory on the lot, good finance options and respond to e-mails and phone calls and have a knowledgeable and friendly staff to help you through the looking and buying process.

GPintheMitten · Apr 12, 2014

Apparently proper etiquette is to call the dealer introduce yourself and ask for a quote. Then a follow up with email to confirm. They want to close a sale ... and that's hard to do with email.

jwcinpk · Jun 8, 2014

supertuff said:
i priced every mahindra dealer in ky. . no problem. be prepared to pay when you nail down a price you are satisfied is best for you. you need to work out financing in advance and when a dealer shoots a price you are prepared to pay, get the deal in writing that day. then have funds with your finance company forwarded. i know where you can probably get the best deal if you are interested. its a place where you wouldnt think. if you want a price i can get you a contact name and number. unfortunately , you cant always get the best deal from the dealer that is nearest to you.

I'd certainly be interested in where you got the best deal. We are looking at replacing our entire equipment line with new. Ended up paying Uncle Sam because I've waited and my depreciation is gone. I'm Mahindra 5035 and Case IH 85C. May throw in a new Vermeer roller too. Definitely picking up a new V rake and 4 basket tedder this year.