Service After Purchase Question

[bkmollen]

Hey All,

I'm looking at getting a 2032R or 2038R. If I purchase from Dealer A (in the nearest larger city) that has a better deal, will Dealer Z (in my local smaller city) pitch a fit when I try to get service there?

 

[Deere Dude]

No,
I lived in Wisconsin and bought a JD from Missouri for thousands less including shipping. I had to take it to the dealer probably 4-5 times for work on and never had hint of a problem. They still get my business but they came up short on that one.

 

[PILOON]

Talk to dealer Z, say you would really like to deal with him if he'd come closer in price. (don't push 4 exact match).
Bet he comes around or close.
Showing a written quote helps otherwise he might simply think it is a bluff.

 

[jgayman]

While Dealer Z is obligated to handle any warranty issues you might have, know going in that you are unlikely to receive the same degree of love as customers who purchased their equipment from Dealer Z. Consider everything when determining which deal is better for you in the long run.

 

[mddorange]

I bought my tractor and then moved closer to another dealer. Until my current dealer got to know me and realize that I go there to get all my parts and supplies, he would have given me the "purchased from" lower cost to start with.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Many dealers get burned by warranty issues from corporate. Now, after warranty service is lucrative and no dealer would shy away from that. They are in effect, cutting anothers grass!

 

[RickB]

I manage a dealership service department for a major line dealer. When a machine of that brand comes in for service I couldn’t care less where it was purchased. I like hearing that the level of service we provide is better than other shops, and how we do might bring that customer’s next purchase our way. Your mileage may vary.

 

[John_Mc]

When I first bought my NH TC33 around 17 years ago, I looked at the closest dealer about 10 miles away, who had a great reputation for service. I also looked at one on the next state (Vermont is small, so it wasn't all that far away). I could have avoided sales tax, and paid little or no delivery charge if I were willing to wait till the out of state dealer was already making a delivery run in my direction. The savings was significant (at least to me). The local dealer said that they just cant afford to price equalize for the sales tax difference. I ended up going with the local guy anyway. I wanted to support the local economy, and appreciated that they had a great reputation for going the extra mile for their customers. I try to make a point of supporting businesses like that - I find it ends up paying off in the long run.

3 days after I bought the tractor, I was working on putting in a drainage swale when a random flat rock flipped up under the right rear tire, tearing off my HST filter and destroying the fitting to which the filter was mounted. I called in with a description of the problem. I was going to be out the next day, but they asked where I had left it and said they'd "try to get someone by to pick it up".

I was disappointed when I drove home that day, and saw it sitting in the field, exactly where I had left it. I called up the service department. The conversation went something like this:

Me: "I guess you couldn't get to me today. When do you think you'll be by to pick it up?"

Service Mgr: "What?! I thought we sent a guy up there. Let me check... Yeah, it should be all set. Is there still a problem?"

Me: (After sheepishly explaining that I had not actually tried it, just assumed, since it was sitting right where I left it) "Oh... how did you get it fixed so fast? Didn't you have to order parts"

Service Mgr: "Well, from your description, it sounded as though you were in the middle of a project, so we stripped the part off a new tractor here and sent our service tech up with it."

That is service! Would I have gotten the same treatment if I had bought out of state, when I called for service? I doubt it. The local guy probably would have ordered the parts and fit me in to his schedule when they could. They're service oriented, but I really doubt they would pull out all the stops like that. The out of state guy would likely not have even made the trip, or if they had, it would have cost me a fortune.