Why is it such a hassle?

[sixdogs]

I have emailed dealers and got NO response, then gave them a call.....got the " let me get your name and number and someone will call you back", told them I was going to buy a tractor in the next 2 days. It was bitter sweet when they finally called me back about a week later....I told them I had already purchased and had been using the tractor for the last 3 days. The sales guy was speechless.

And then the guy got mad at you for buying it from someone else...:confused3:

 

[TJSlice]

I think you'll enjoy this thread froom 2014:https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...les-rant-3.html?highlight=manager#post3820373

I did, thanks. I have actually only visited one dealer. It was a Branson dealer in the North Texas area. It was such a positive experience, that I almost certain I will be purchasing a tractor from them. However, I am trying to due my due diligence and pick the tractor that will best fit my needs as well. I filled out a 'receive a quote' from another Branson dealer in the area. That was more than a week ago. I still haven't received a quote, but at least I have gotten a half dozen or so spam e-mails from them that all start out with, "Hi there,". Not a great way to win over a customer.

I have had a couple of good e-mail exchanges with LS dealers. One is about 75 minutes away, and the other over 2 hours. The positive Branson dealer is well over an hour away too. I am pretty much limited to visiting one dealer every Saturday, and sometimes that is tough to fit in. I am busy during the workday, and don't have the time to spend on the phone. Much of my tractor gathering sessions consists of online searches in the evening. With limited time, all I would like to be able to do is get a general ball park figure for what I want, so I can at least determine if it is in my interest do drive an hour plus each way to look at a tractor. Is that too much to ask?


Chances are that I will be extremely happy with either an LS or Branson.

 

[airbiscuit]

Sinners:

Sales People Don't engage customers, don't know the product, don't listen, don't return calls, are lazy.

Customers who are perpetual tire kickers, but never buyers, over analyze the bejesus out of everything, don't have a clue, don't think the dealer deserves any profit, are clueless.

Saints

Sales People who recognize they are there to serve customers, who listen, who try to educate, who get back to you, who are fair with price, who train you on features and operation after the sale, who believe in their product but don't badmouth competitors.

Customers who have the means and are ready to buy, who are honest about their needs, who are upfront about whether or not they are looking at other brands, who are honest about their time horizon for purchase, who have made trips to the dealership to check out features first hand, who have a clue.

I marvel at how many lost sales occur to sales people who are sinners, and I am frustrated by the customers who are sinners.

 

[dragoneggs]

I think a lot of tractor salesmen and car salesmen treat the guy on the lot as a real potential 'fish on the hook' vs. someone calling around. If you are on the lot, they have a much better chance of landing you and will do quite a bit to keep you from walking once you start talking numbers.

I think the tractor buyer has to really nail down what he wants as far as capability and attachments before getting serious with a dealer. Sit on a few, visit a couple or three dealers of different brands and figure what and who feels right for you. End of the day, you will forget the few hundred or thousand $ difference but you will regret if you don't get the capability you need and a good nearby relationship with your dealer.

 

[TractorGuy]

Our local deere dealer readily posts prices on tractors and packages. Go on their lot and tell them you are just looking and they won't waste much time with you.

Our local Kubota dealer doesn't list any prices. I've only been there twice and didn't get the time of day.

I stopped in a Kubota / New Holland Dealer up in GA a while back and a father and son bent over backwards to talk to me and give me information and a quote. I told them when I walked in the door I was not buying and just kicking tires. Stopped in a Mahindra Dealer in the same town and got the same treatment. Seems to be dependent on area somehow.

 

[airbiscuit]

Also check out this thread.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/century-branson/402814-tym-acquisition-kukje-any-speculation.html

 

[dragoneggs]

The Kubota website is an excellent resource to price out your exact package of options, accessories, etc. The dealer will be able to do a little better but not much (at least my experience). They don't have alot of room. The financing and implement packages are the significant savers.

I believe the same is true for John Deere but that is a guess. I can't speak for the other colors and their margins but they will be cheaper.

 

[rngrrymd]

I have recently decided to purchase a tractor for a new home we are building on 5 acres. I never knew there were so many different brands. With so much competition in the market, you would think companies would want to make the process as easy as possible.

Why then, is it such a chore just to get a quote from many companies? A starting point should be readily available on their websites. Some dealers have made it easier, and some harder. If I e-mail you with the specific tractor and attachments I want, what is the deal with the 20 questions and endless e-mails? I would argue that I shouldn't have to e-mail you at all. If I am shopping for a house, I know how much the owner is asking before I even go to see it. The same applies to a car.

Due to this, I have naturally gravitated toward a Branson and LS dealerships near me. Both of them have been extremely helpful and have priced out several options for me. At this point, I am 99% sure I am going to buy one of the two.

Also, why do tractor dealerships close down so early on Saturdays? For working stiffs, like me, I don't have any time to shop for a tractor during the week.

When I shopped for tractors I did all my shopping on Saturdays. I figured out which dealers I wanted to go to and when they opened and closed so we could get to as many as possible with time for test drives, checking the tractor out and making contact with a salesperson. We did this for 2 months straight. Sending e-mails for pricing without a contact call is counter-productive. Where I work I've had manufacturers take 3 days to enter an order that was sent to a generic e-mail box for customer service/orders but if you contact an individual at the manufacturer and send an order directly to that person's e-mail they take care of your request the same day. Same applies to this situation. Tractor dealerships are mostly wholesale operations still hence the short hours on Saturdays. I manage a wholesale branch in the trades and we are only open 4 hours on Saturday and only 8 months out of the year. It is what it is. Make sure you sit on that Branson and LS before you buy if you go for one of those 2 brands - seat time/test drives are key to knowing if the tractor is the right fit for you.

 

[searcyfarms]

I did all my pricing on websites that had them or researched prices on the I-net - called dealers - talked to the about the models I had narrowed my search down to, asked if they had in stock, how long it would take to get one, pricing, etc...........all manufacturers gave me prices - most called me back within a day or 2 - a couple quoted MSRP but avg was 10% below MSRP but my final price after I was more assertive/convincing was more than 10% - most knew their products - a few didn't and didn't have good service/parts -

 

[ultrarunner]

There are no local Kubota Dealers so I went to one in the next county to buy my BX...

He was list plus on Kubota but really was pushing New Holland... they sold both.

Told him the price was too high as I wanted to also buy some implements.

I called another dealer some distance away who shot me a price if I was ready to buy... said I will be there with trailer in tow... made the deal... could not have been nicer.

Two weeks later the original Dealer called saying he might be able to sharpen his pencil... I thank him and said I already bought but what would a Post Hole cost... he told me to go to the Dealer that sold me the tractor...