Thoughts on buying remotely from a dealer & shipping -- anyone near East Peoria IL?

[MossRoad]

Re: Thoughts on buying remotely from a dealer & shipping -- anyone near East Peoria I

I recently saw an attractive price on a mower on the internet, seemed to be from a reputable dealer and all looked fine, that's not the point. I sent a few reasonable questions that I had since I couldn't be there and kick the tires.

Got no answer and in the meantime went to a semi-local dealer and did kick the tires and in doing so realized that I wanted the larger of 2 sizes I was unsure as to which to buy to suit my purposes, something I wouldn't have known with out kicking. I paid a goodly amount more for the one I bought but I have already realized that it was money well spent. The money is gone but the mower is here and it's the right one. Good decision.

That's a good point to make a distinction between buying something sight-unseen (you don't know what condition it is in) VS buying something you've never seen before (you're not familiar with the object).

When I got very interested in my PowerTrac, I told myself I would not buy one factory direct (there are no dealers), unless I could see one in person and become familiar with it. I was contemplating a trip to Tazewell, VA to the factory before purchase, when I happened upon a landscaper with two of them working on a sight in our town. They were kind enough to show me how it worked, some of the features, how they used it, etc.... so once I saw one in person, I was familiar with the object, and not so hesitant to purchase factory direct. Had I never had my hands on one, I wouldn't have purchased it.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Thoughts on buying remotely from a dealer & shipping -- anyone near East Peoria I

The other thing is I got a brand new 2017 unit that just arrived at the dealership. That internet sale price may have been on a "hangar queen" a unit that had been sitting out in the sun for a year or so....not saying it is, but not saying it's not. It could surely happen. I keep my stuff in my shop or shedded. Why would I spend that kind of money for something that has been sitting out in the weather for a year that is supposed to be new.....same thing goes with buying a car or boat.