Why is it so hard to buy a tractor?

[PJSprog]

I just remembered the OP's comment regarding a dealer that does not deliver - I have never heard of that. How can you sell equipment if you do not deliver?

Maybe you're looking at the wrong brands.

I don't think that deficiency is brand-specific. I had a similar experience with a local LS dealer; he simply does not deliver tractors; you either pick it up yourself, or he might help you arrange for someone else to take it to you. Duly, we bought elsewhere.

I didn't get the best impression from the two Kubota dealers I visited last summer, but at least they weren't rude like the OP experienced. That's just a shame. Sorry you experienced that.

 

[plowhog]

I think I would own a Kubota L6060 tractor today if the dealer was willing to deliver and could load the tires. I was ready to purchase. I really like the L6060 even though I was not *allowed* to start or test drive the one I finally found to sit in and try out. (This particular unit was sold to another customer, and I do respect the dealer was diligently caring for a tractor already sold, which I respect.)

The dealer who does not deliver did offer to find a 3rd party to deliver, and estimated a fee of up to $500. So they did make an effort. I asked if the driver would collect the final balance due when the tractor was delivered? The sales person replied the tractor must be paid 100% in full before it left the shop. So risk of delivery was on me. If the unknown person with the unknown transport rig hauling my fully paid for shiny new $60,000 tractor crashed, well .... that was a problem between him (or her) and me. I said I was not comfortable assuming that risk. The sales person replied: "they will have insurance, and we have insurance too." I said I am buying a tractor because I have tasks to do, and filling out insurance claim forms isn't how I want to spend my time. The deal died.

My experience with other brands has been about what I expect. Some dealers better than others, some faster or slower to respond, and some who sell professionally and some who bad mouth everything except what is on their lot. Not really different from dealerships of many other things, like cars, trucks, airplanes, whatever. Needless to say, it has been an interesting experience.

 

[onionfmr]

So, if I read this right, after you had taken delivery of the tractor (with the non-delivering Kubota dealer), any warranty work that had to be done back at the dealership was going to cost you up to $500 to get it there and then up to $500 to get it back again to your property? That could get expensive fast! Any new tractor that I've ever purchased has had at least a 12 months (some even longer) dealer picks it up for free for warranty repairs. Wow! My experience with new compact tractors has been if they are going to have issues it is usually in the first couple of months of operation. After that initial break-in period, they usually run okay for several years based on doing proper maintenance and then dependent on working conditions and workload.

 

[Gary3032]

If a dealer is not interested in selling a product how are they going to respond to warranty work?

Gary

 

[Todd727]

Do tractor dealers generally take trade-ins if you're buying a low-hour used machine? Or only on new equipment?

In my experience yes.

 

[Creamer]

Do tractor dealers generally take trade-ins if you're buying a low-hour used machine? Or only on new equipment?

A dealer is in business to make money. I f he sees a trade-in that he can make money off of he will take it. If he doesn't think he can make money off of it he won't.

 

[Btown]

In my mind the dealer should be able to deliver, pick up the majority of the stuff they sell. I understand that some sell very large items and need heavy duty trucks to move them. I would not buy from this dealer if they cannot afford a one ton dually and a trailer to tow it. But that's just me.

 

[DavesTractor]

I think it is important to separate yourself from the tire kickers at the outset of the deal. The dealership needs to know you are a serious buyer IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT. I do this by showing him a cashiers check for $1000 to order in the unit and showing him another cashiers check for $10,000 to be used for the balance of the down payment. The dealer knows he has a legitimate buyer in front of him and can proceed in earnest. I start with a discounted price that I feel we can both live with. If we order a tractor the dealer gets the $1000 check and I inspect it when it comes in, if it is what I ordered and want then he gets it ready and I present the $10,000 check for the down payment. You could pay off the unit at this point if preferred..

I understand what you are saying, but a good dealer does not need this. EVERY person that calls, emails or stops in the dealership ought to be treated as a buyer. As Messick has rightly stated above, the tractor industry tends to be not very good at customer service. That's a broad brush of course, guys like Messick and many others give outstanding service. When we started our dealership 16 years ago (and literally thousands of retailed tractors ago) I told my wife that if we just respond quickly and politely and treat people well we will distinguish ourselves from most of the competition and sell a lot of tractors.

If you send us an email for a quote, we may ask for your location before we quote you (in case you are 2500 miles away...we do value our time somewhat and do not wish to step on other dealer's toes), but we then quote you a tractor. Then we assume you are a buyer and ask when you want it delivered, or if you plan to pick it up or if you want to buy a trailer. And we sell a ton of tractors by simply assuming that if someone inquires that they are a buyer. And most are.

And the guy that comes in unshaven with a beat up pickup truck....he is often a cash buyer. Never assume otherwise. Treat all people with respect. I think there are quite a few dealers that share our way of doing business. You just have to find them.

 

[dickfoster]

I understand what you are saying, but a good dealer does not need this. EVERY person that calls, emails or stops in the dealership ought to be treated as a buyer. As Messick has rightly stated above, the tractor industry tends to be not very good at customer service. That's a broad brush of course, guys like Messick and many others give outstanding service. When we started our dealership 16 years ago (and literally thousands of retailed tractors ago) I told my wife that if we just respond quickly and politely and treat people well we will distinguish ourselves from most of the competition and sell a lot of tractors.

If you send us an email for a quote, we may ask for your location before we quote you (in case you are 2500 miles away...we do value our time somewhat and do not wish to step on other dealer's toes), but we then quote you a tractor. Then we assume you are a buyer and ask when you want it delivered, or if you plan to pick it up or if you want to buy a trailer. And we sell a ton of tractors by simply assuming that if someone inquires that they are a buyer. And most are.

And the guy that comes in unshaven with a beat up pickup truck....he is often a cash buyer. Never assume otherwise. Treat all people with respect. I think there are quite a few dealers that share our way of doing business. You just have to find them.

It happens he is my part time neighbor it seems.

 

[FatTire]

Dave's Tractor, with your attitude you should always do well. Wish you were located near me.