Why Buy Parts from Local Dealer? (Long)

[JoeinTX]

On parts and shipping: I work in a business that relies heavily upon warehouse orders to fill customer needs and it is truly mindboggling the number of varying quotes and delivery timelines you can get from the various suppliers and delivery companies FOR THE VERY SAME MERCHANDISE FROM THE VERY SAME WAREHOUSE. I take these differences as an indication of each's operating costs, overhead, and internal practices......these are the only variables in the equation.

On dealers: As much as I like to buy from the "local guy," it is often financially and time-wise less appealing than the on-line alternatives. I understand that dealers' lives have gotten harder with competition from short-lines and more micromanaging from the major makers, but, sometimes it's just too much for the average person to take. The most recent part I needed was a PTO shroud for a cutter and it never occurred to me to try a dealer.......it was so much quicker and easier to go to the maker and order on-line. I go the part 5 business days later and never had to darken a dealer's door. Now, if it had been an urgent need this would not have been the ideal course but it wasn't. And, in these cases, if the dealer doesn't have the part on hand is there much difference in doing business between the dealer and the manufacturer? Apart from the added cost the dealer will tack on for handling the order (which I do understand), I don't see the difference in price and delivery time.

 

[Rara Avis]

I buy from my local dealer...because he has a mechanic that can fix square balers and he comes out to the farm...

 

[Kendall69]

I have two quotes on my desk right now, one from a dealer in South Carolina for a piece of equipment $43,999.00 with $2,500.00 shipping to Southern Ca.

The other from a local company, Apples to Apples, same equipment, and his quote is $52,547.00, and tax is $4,072.39.

Thats $10,120.39 difference, and the only consolation the dealer could come up with for the 10k difference was "we are local and we will service etc.etc.etc"

I quickly read off a dozen more priced around my low point from all over the country.

I finally asked the sales guy, what would you do, seriously, he said I agree, but will you give me a chance to sharpen my pencil, I said sure give it a try, I would LOVE to buy local. Lets see what happens.

When are dealers going to realize the internet is there competition, not the dealer in the next town or down the block - the world is there competition.

 

[JimR]

I don't think they are adding to the list price, I think the online volume places are just giving a small discount off of the list price vs. many local dealers quote 100% of list price.

I have gotten price quotes directly from the manufacturer on parts but had to order them through a local dealer. Upon ordering them I have been shocked to see that they do indeed add at least 10-20% on top of the MSRP. This to me is price fixing/gouging. I now try to order all my parts elsewhere whenever possible. I have found there is a real big discrepancy in prices when buying from the local tractor dealer and a local parts store on the same item number as with a bearing or u joint. One u joint in particular was $24.95 at the tractor dealer and only $15.00 at the parts store. The contents looked the same. The box was different.

 

[Rara Avis]

I have gotten price quotes directly from the manufacturer on parts but had to order them through a local dealer. Upon ordering them I have been shocked to see that they do indeed add at least 10-20% on top of the MSRP. This to me is price fixing/gouging. I now try to order all my parts elsewhere whenever possible. I have found there is a real big discrepancy in prices when buying from the local tractor dealer and a local parts store on the same item number as with a bearing or u joint. One u joint in particular was $24.95 at the tractor dealer and only $15.00 at the parts store. The contents looked the same. The box was different.

You should identify your dealer so people can avoid them...

Maybe they'd be less likely to pull that sort of activity...

 

[JimR]

You should identify your dealer so people can avoid them...

Maybe they'd be less likely to pull that sort of activity...

I still need to buy parts there and prefer not to openly bad mouth them. PM sent.

 

[unreconstructed]

The parts guys are great at the local J.D. dealer here. Could be is that they are Vets and know I have had both my boys in the mideast. They take care of me even though I am just a little customer. The shop is good too. The sales staff will never get any of my business--their line is if you don't like the price--go elsewhere. I have spent about 50K elsewhere in the last three years. But that is small potatoes to them I guess.

 

[JimR]

The parts guys are great at the local J.D. dealer here. Could be is that they are Vets and know I have had both my boys in the mideast. They take care of me even though I am just a little customer. The shop is good too. The sales staff will never get any of my business--their line is if you don't like the price--go elsewhere. I have spent about 50K elsewhere in the last three years. But that is small potatoes to them I guess.

I will also state that the local JD dealer up in Lunenburg, Ma. has prices that are on the nose with the JD prices online. He's been around for a real long time and always will be.