Small Town Dealers/Support

thcri · Sep 29, 2004

It sure is comforting when you walk into your dealers place of business and all the personnel call you by your first name. I bought my tractor now over two years ago and yet even today when I walk in I am called by my first name. The salesman, general manager, service manage, mechanics and the parts lady. Two weeks ago I went in to get some filters, parts lady was out for lunch and the general manager helped me. They did not have all the filters in stock so I told them just to get them all together and call me. Tami, (who would run circles around most parts persons) called me two days later and told me she had them all together. Well I forgot about it and finally got in today. As I walked in Tami called me out by name and said she has all of my filters right here in a bag. Slip was ready and waiting for me. I got my Visa out and she said, Steve, you know we don't take Visa so I will just send the bill out to you. Didn't ask for address or anything. It just kind of makes you feel good especially when I don't get out there much except for the once a year they have their open house and I get my free ham sandwich.

Throw the brand wars out everyone and go with the dealer that works with you the best.

murph

slowrev · Sep 29, 2004

Murph,
Yep small town business are great, or they die. they don't have the benefit ? of being able to give poor service and get away with it. If they do mess up word gets around and they are soon up the creek.

Was picking up some electrical parts at the supply house last week when I realized I had no money or anything with me, the counter man saw my dilemma and said pay me next time in town and stuck a note on the register for the other workers. And I really did not know this guy that well, but he knew who I was and my reputation. This was for over 200.00 worth of wire and stuff.

Sort of like bad driving and crime, etc. Everyone knows you or your family and you don't get away with it. Reputation goes downhill, etc... Not like in a big city where you can be rude, etc and get lost in the crowd. Maybe drivers would be nicer if everyone had to have their name and address on their vehicle /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Ben
Lovin livin in the sticks.

AndyM · Sep 29, 2004

When I was doing my tractor shopping last year, I got a great price from the big dealer down south. The dealer 20 miles from me with three full time salesmen also gave me a good price.

However, I wanted to give my business to the little guy around the corner. Previous to this, I had never dealt with him, but I wanted to help support the small-town tractor dealership. He had a price that was much higher than the other places, it was extremely difficult to get him to lower his price, there has been NO follow up in the one year after my purchase, and parts are more expensive there. He has an attitiude like he is the one doing me the favor by even talking to me! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif He didn't have the tractor I wanted in stock, and then put locating one and getting it into the dealership near the bottom of his list.

I ask myself why I bothered? I've been dealing lately with the other place 20 miles away. They answer my questions, even though I didn't purchase from them, and they're happy to see me when I stop in, even for a five dollar trip to the parts counter. I will have nothing to do with the place I bought my tractor, but will go out of my way to stop in at the larger place with better service.

The lack of customer service after the sale was the thing that left the biggest impression on me. In the two months since we bought our new car (from a small dealership, no less), we have received three follow up calls from the salesman and a tin of cookies in the mail from the owner. I've been a Ford man all my life, but my experience with this new Chevrolet will cause me to go to this dealership first for our next new car purchase.

The little guy isn't always the best in the first case, but exceded all expectations in the second. After being burnt the first time, I was pleasantly surprised when I gave it another shot with another small dealership!

slowrev · Sep 29, 2004

Andy, I am not clear here if you are talking about a small town dealer or a small dealer ? Big difference there. A small dealer in the suburbs of or near to a metro area is not a small town dealer. He still has a large pool of people to burn that don't know each other before he will be forced out of business.

Ben

AndyM · Sep 29, 2004

Even in a small town, you'll find a business owner with a big ego, becuase they are the most well known person in town. The funny thing is, if you picked up their business and moved it to the big city, they would be a nobody! Just because someone happens to own the largest business in town (which isn't saying much at all), it gives them no right to have the attitude they have. Sometimes they only exist in business because the town is too small to support any competition.

slowrev · Sep 29, 2004

I understand what you are saying, but on large ticket items most will dirve an hour or 2 to get a better deal/service after being burned. Word does get around. I have seen jerky business owners become more lonely than the Maytag man. For many speciality items there is also the internet. The only small engine parts place in town is horrible. I just order my parts over the internet. The place seems to have less customers when I drive by as time goes on. The origional owner died, it is now in the hands of a second descendant in 3 years. Won't last much longer....Competition is moving in about 7 miles down the road in the form of a small time small engine repair guy who sees the opportunity to fill the void.
It is harder to hide your faults and failures in a small town rural area.

Ben

rockyridgefarm · Sep 30, 2004

Hey, murph, it's obvious we have the same dealer, but you got the parts lady's name wrong, its Judy!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Come to think of it, she handles green parts. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Ok, close enough !!

thcri · Oct 1, 2004

Doesn't make no difference what color them parts are, it is the service. Whether it is Judy or Tami as long as they know what they are talking about I am fine with it. When I was there originally getting my filters the general manager was having trouble and even the girl in accounting came out and helped.

That is the service I look for and it doesn't have to be small town, it is just the typical small town atmosphere.

murph

TOMLESCOEQUIP · Oct 1, 2004

Murph........You're right !! Tami is great !! I got the info from you last year about the gator blades for my TC33, I called Tami and she shipped them to Ohio, Then billed me several weeks later.............Try before you buy !! Who else would ship parts out of state to some unknown person without a prepayment.........just on a phone call !! Service like that is about unheard of these days !!! Thank her again for me next time you see her...............The blades are really doing the Job !! .....................TOM