Dealer Why do NE dealers not recommend block heaters?

NIXON · Mar 14, 2004

When I bought my machine I asked for the block heater and got it no problem .
However when the conversation turned to tire chains ....
I was told I wouldn't be needing them .
I believed him until I got into a pretty scarey slide while blading snow /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif He missed out on a sale . I got a bit of education and a set of St. Pierre chains .
The block heater allows my tractor to come up to operating temp quicker ,and the chains seem to keep my seat cleaner . John

Junkman · Mar 14, 2004

Mercedes sold diesel cars all over the United States and the block heaters were standard equipment no matter where the car was sold, because they didn't want an unhappy customer that couldn't start the car if they just happened to wake up one morning in Duluth Minnesota and it was -20 and they normally lived in Florida. I can remember -20 degree weather in Worcester MA and that isn't the norm, but it does happen. For $25 it is cheap insurance for the few times you might just need it. It is like collision insurance. You hope that you won't wreck your car, but if you do, you want to know that the insurance company is going to pay to put it back together. If you pay $25 for the block heater, you know that if you use it the tractor is going to start. If you went to the barber and asked for a haircut, would he say that you didn't need one because he gave you one last week? If you want a hair cut every week, and are willing to pay for it, he will cut your hair every week. Tractor dealers are a strange bunch of people. They won't cut the price a dollar to make the sale, but will talk you out of buying an accessory item once they make the sale. I just think that they are all around poor business people that must have been in the right place at the right time, but have the wrong mentality for the job that they are in.

NIXON · Mar 14, 2004

If you went to the barber and asked for a haircut, would he say that you didn't need one because he gave you one last week?

Priceless comment /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I believe you hit the nail square on the head ! John

shoppintractors · Mar 14, 2004

Tractor dealers are a strange bunch of people. They won't cut the price a dollar to make the sale, but will talk you out of buying an accessory item once they make the sale. I just think that they are all around poor business people that must have been in the right place at the right time, but have the wrong mentality for the job that they are in. 

Junkman, Kind of a harsh "characterization" of tractor dealers don't ya think.

Don

Junkman · Mar 14, 2004

( Junkman, Kind of a harsh "characterization" of tractor dealers don't ya think.

Don )

Harsh...... Yes......... Honest......... Yes..... Deserved by reputation.........Yes......... How many people here have said that the dealers have been telling them that they don't need to buy heaters? Too many of them! I call them the way I see them. You might not agree, and you are entitled to your opinion, however I stand by my statement. If a customer requests to make a purchase, it isn't the dealers place to tell that customer that he doesn't need that item or product. His job is to sell the customer what he wants. How would you like it if you went to the store to buy a dozen eggs and the grocer said to you that you didn't need a dozen eggs and that a half dozen was enough for you. I think that you might be pretty perturbed and possibly as angry as a wet hen! I can hear you now "How dare that grocer tell me how many eggs I can purchase!". Think it is any different when a tractor purchaser asks the dealer to install a block heater? "Mr. Dealer, Please install a block heater in my new Kubota". "Sir, you don't need a block heater in that Kubota. It will start just fine." "But I want a block heater." "Sorry, you can't have a block heater." "But I want to give you money to install the block heater." "I don't want your money and your not getting a block heater." "I'm going to call Henro!" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

NIXON · Mar 14, 2004

While Junkmans might have been cosidered "harsh " by you. I agree with his sentiment on the statement . Providing that it isn't someting incompatible with the machine concerned . Say a 7 ft brush hog on a bx . Or a safety related item . I believe the salesman should respond with something better than "you don't need it ". He should give a well founded reason not to buy the item, or just shut up and sell the customer what he wants . JMHO John

frank_f15 · Mar 14, 2004

will agree with you, my b2400 starts fine in all temps without block heater, the only thing i can say is that the heater will probalby help with the lubrication when it is cold.

paparammer · Mar 14, 2004

I have a BX1800 and got the same runaround. "you won't need it / it'll start just fine / besides it's much more complicated to put in than a BX2200". All this after being told by one employee they put block heaters in every tractor. After starting the tractor one day at about 0 degrees - yes, it started but it took a while; can't be as good for the engine. On the info from someone at TBN called Tractorsmart and for $30 got a block heater. Kubota part, Kubota instructions. Take off cowling, remove 3 bolts to take off muffler, pop freeze plug, insert heater, muffler back on , replace cowling and top off antifreeze. Not a lot of time or expense. If they consider this a complicated job, sort of worries me what will happen with more serious repairs. Since I believe they're a decent shop, I just don't understand it at all.

LateBloomer · Mar 14, 2004

Roger that JMan, I too asked for a block heater as I live in Alaska and it is rumored to get chilly here. I bought mine in Washington State and shipped it up to Anchorage to save the local tractor dealers "mark up" for shipping and saved about 3K. The dealer in Washington told me I didn't really need it but he did sell me on a magnet heater which turns out to be worthless. There is not even a flat place on the oil pan to accomodate this gadget so most of the heat goes out into thin but cold air. Oh how I wish I had insisted on the block heater, I am going to install one myself this summer. The start ups in subzero weather were painful and slow.

shoppintractors · Mar 14, 2004

'Tractor dealers' are a strange bunch of people. 'They' won't cut the price a dollar to make the sale, but will talk you out of buying an accessory item once 'they' make the sale. I just think that 'they' are all around poor business people that must have been in the right place at the right time, but have the wrong mentality for the job that 'they' are in. 

Junkman, Just so I understand your point. What your telling me is every single tractor dealer in NE falls into this category?

Don