This ever happen to you?

[Toffy]

A couple of years ago I bought a John Deere 445 with all the whistles and bells. Even a cab. I thought it cost a fortune but anyway I liked it.
Then I decided I wanted a bigger tractor and a front end loader. I went back to the dealer and he said no way they would take a trade. 200 hrs on the 445. He would not even discuss it. I went back to the dealer and once again inquired about trading. They welcomed me with open arms. The sales men didn't realize i was talking to them previously. So now they seem soooo nice now that the economy has taken a downturn. Will I buy another John Deere? I don't think so.
Put I plan to stop at their shop on my way home with my new tractor.

 

[Gittyup]

Several years ago when I was looking to buy a 425, I stopped into a dealer to inquire. Asked him about taking my old gravely GT in on a trade. They said no way. Then I went to a different JD dealer and they were more than willing to take my trade-in. You can guess who got my business. It's more about the dealer than the tractor make.

445's are in big demand. Shouldn't have any problem selling it.

 

[ToadHill]

When I bought my Tractor I went to several dealers and 2 said they only took trades on the brand they sold, two told me they would stop and see my trade and they never came by. The last one said he'd take a trade but to be honest I could do better selling the tractor myself, and he was right, I bought from him.

 

[AndyMA]

My dealer who my family has done business with since the 50's basically takes anything in trade. Sometimes I show up with a truckload of no longer needed rusty attachments and walk out with a brand new implement.

Andy

 

[Duffster]

A couple of years ago I bought a John Deere 445 with all the whistles and bells. Even a cab. I thought it cost a fortune but anyway I liked it.
Then I decided I wanted a bigger tractor and a front end loader. I went back to the dealer and he said no way they would take a trade. 200 hrs on the 445. He would not even discuss it. I went back to the dealer and once again inquired about trading. They welcomed me with open arms. The sales men didn't realize i was talking to them previously. So now they seem soooo nice now that the economy has taken a downturn. Will I buy another John Deere? I don't think so.
Put I plan to stop at their shop on my way home with my new tractor.

What does that have to do with it being a John Deere?

Is a dealer obligated to take a trade?

 

[Soundguy]

A couple of years ago I bought a John Deere 445 with all the whistles and bells. Even a cab. I thought it cost a fortune but anyway I liked it.
Then I decided I wanted a bigger tractor and a front end loader. I went back to the dealer and he said no way they would take a trade. 200 hrs on the 445. He would not even discuss it. I went back to the dealer and once again inquired about trading. They welcomed me with open arms. The sales men didn't realize i was talking to them previously. So now they seem soooo nice now that the economy has taken a downturn. Will I buy another John Deere? I don't think so.
Put I plan to stop at their shop on my way home with my new tractor.

I'm kinda surprised they were unwilling to trade.. you took a hit when you bought it.. and 200hrs ain't much.. they could ahve had plenty of equity in that thing..

soundguy

 

[nunyabinis]

My dealings with "dealers" have been basically distasteful. When I mentioned trading in my old tractor they looked like they were sucking on a lemon. Like a previous poster, I bought from the guy who told me straight up that they don't do trades and even if a dealer did do trades they wouldn't give you but half of fair market value so I'd be better off selling it myself.


Also, I've checked several implement manufacturers websites to see who sales their products locally but upon stopping by those local dealers they only want to sell what's on the lot NOW. If you come in with a special request, say a Woods flail mower, and they have none on the lot, they talk down the flail mower and try to sell you a rotary cutter of finish mower that's in stock. Really chaps my hide.


Also, I research every major purchase I make and most times when I walk on the lot I know a heckuva lot more about the product than the "salesman".


There, I feel better now.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

445's are in big demand. Shouldn't have any problem selling it.

Thats for sure! IMHO one of the best models JD ever made.

 

[Johndeere3720]

When I got my boxblade, I went with my grandpa down to Wilco and told them what I wanted. They had no clue what I was talking about. I had to explain what it looks like and what it does. It felt like I was the sales man. When we walked out to get it, Wilco had put them on their sides to lift with the forklift. When they set it in the truck, there was a bunch of sctatches from being slid around on the concrete. They didnt even sell pins! I had to use the pins on the arena harrow. I dont think they have sold very many implements since. To add to that, their compeditor, Coastal Farm and Ranch moved in down the road next to Johndeere.

 

[Tig]

Life is too short to be begging people to treat you right.
Look me in the eye, shake my hand, take my money and treat me like I'm a customer.

 

[Toffy]

I see my comments got quite a few people to reply. The comment was made. What does this have to do with John Deere. Well it seems that the dealer is the issue not John Deere. But to go to another dealer i would have to go 80 miles. The compition is 12. Can't see traveling 80 miles for parts or service!

 

[MikesTractor]

Life is too short to be begging people to treat you right.
Look me in the eye, shake my hand, take my money and treat me like I'm a customer.

AMEN! Couldn't have said it better myself!!

 

[pennwalk]

If the dealer isn't going to offer the services that you are used to, and that seems to be the way it is going now days, then the price becomes the main issue. Hammer them down and make the very best deal you can on the new tractor. It is funny though. People used to make money selling used equipment.

Chris

 

[ChuckinNH]

I think the problem with trades these days is that it is the dealer's money involved. New tractors are on a floor plan like they are in car dealerships, but when a dealer takes a trade in he is investing his money in that tractor, or tying up his cash flow until he can move it. Smart dealers have money for those things, and can indeed make more money on trades than they do on new units.

 

[Arky217]

This kind of falls in the same category:
I went to a Kubota dealer, asked for a brochure on the Grand L's.
On the cover of the brochure, it advertised about the new HST Plus features of that series. While the salesman was typing furiously on his computer trying to figure out a quote for me, I asked him what the deal was with this new HST Plus feature. He goes, "huh", then looked at the brochure cover and said, "uh, don't know what that means, it's just HST, ok". Then proceded to continue figuring a quote.
Sad, sad, sad, when a salesman knows so little about what he's selling.
Another thing, it took him over 20 minutes of computer typing to tell me how much they wanted for the tractor I was getting a quote on.
I would think they should have the price their tractors memorized, or at least be able to just look at list and say "that tractor is $xxxxx".
Sort of reminds me of the new car salesmen who have to go to some back room to consult with the mystery man every time you ask them something about the price.
It was so pathetic as to be even comical and I had to really restrain myself from making a comment to him that maybe he might profit by spending a few minutes of his 'waiting for a customer dead time' to read up on what he's trying to sell !