Dealer Poor dealer service

[jtheise4]

I am simply amazed that certain dealers remain in business. I stopped tonight at [dealer name removed] on my way home to get an oil filter for my Massey Ferguson 1643. The parts department didn't immediately know the number for the filter, so they called someone and after about 10 minutes they determined that they had the filter in stock. The parts department woman brings it out and tells me it will be $25 and change! For a filter that should cost no more than $7. I told her no thanks that I'd get an off brand. She then SNAPS at me, Go right ahead an ruin your engine! I just smiled, told her to have a nice day and walked out. I have news for her...the factory installed filter is made by Denso. Not like AGCO frreaking makes oil filters. They simply buy them from some manufacturer who puts the AGCO logo on it. Just really frustrates me when certain dealers try to take advantage of people by charging way too much.

 

[beenthere]

Likely it is not the dealer setting the price, albeit they do get a cut for maintaining the parts dept. and having staff to wait on you.
Not the TBN way to hang out the laundry by naming dealer names, IMO. :confused3:

Sorry you expected a cheap price, but hope you found the right one (be interested in what that filter number is and what it costs from Denso or AGCO).

For a "fun" job, everyone should spend some time behind the parts counter at a dealer. There are high expectations of their ability to come up with the right parts. IMO
And not making excuses for every part person behind the counter either.

 

[IH3444]

Sorry to read about your bad experience with your dealer. $25 for an oil filter is just plain highway robbery. The dealer I bought my New Holland tractor from sells orginal NH filters, with the synthetic filter material less than the aftermarkets ones. They are about $7.50 each if I remember correctly. I also needed some hydraulic hose for my front hydraulic connection. I went to Tractor Supply. Not in stock, but I ordered it, filled out the form to mail to me when it came in. Never to this day have I received that form stating that the hose was in stock now. I left TS, and drove to my dealer. The hose was in stock, 4000psi instead of 3000psi. The outer covering was a very tough, and abrasive resistance cover. The TS hose was just rubber. The dealer hose was $4.00 more for each one, yes! just $4.00. That was almost 5 years ago. I buy all I can from my dealer, because he is there when I need him.

You should also read the oil filter study before purchasing aftermarket filter. Or better yet, buy New Holland filter for you Massey.

 

[RoyJackson]

Just don't come back crying when you ruin your engine!

 

[Wacky]

And here I thought I had the only BAD dealer service. I hope this isn't a trend for Massey. They already are outnumbered in dealers across the US. Let's not make it any worse people.

 

[timswi]

And here I thought I had the only BAD dealer service. I hope this isn't a trend for Massey. They already are outnumbered in dealers across the US. Let's not make it any worse people.

I don't think it is..I don't have a Massey, but the dealer around here has a stellar reputation.

 

[rjkobbeman]

I am simply amazed that certain dealers remain in business. I stopped tonight at [dealer name removed] on my way home to get an oil filter for my Massey Ferguson 1643. The parts department didn't immediately know the number for the filter, so they called someone and after about 10 minutes they determined that they had the filter in stock. The parts department woman brings it out and tells me it will be $25 and change! For a filter that should cost no more than $7. I told her no thanks that I'd get an off brand. She then SNAPS at me, Go right ahead an ruin your engine! I just smiled, told her to have a nice day and walked out. I have news for her...the factory installed filter is made by Denso. Not like AGCO frreaking makes oil filters. They simply buy them from some manufacturer who puts the AGCO logo on it. Just really frustrates me when certain dealers try to take advantage of people by charging way too much.

They took the time to get you your correct filter and charged you what is probably retail price.

I'm failing to see the poor service.

Don't like the retail price? I get that. But where was the poor service.

 

[jtheise4]

Don't like the retail price? I get that. But where was the poor service.

I'll give you that. Bad choice of words on my part. More accurately, rude service. My beef was being talked down to when I said I didn't want the filter. I wasn't rude, nor did I complain about the price. I simply said I didn't want to pay that much.

I don't buy the fact that the price is set by AGCO argument either. I buy John Deere filters for my mower, which the filter is very similiar in size from two different dealers and they both charge about $8. $25 for a piece of sheet metal and paper is nuts!

 

[MFRED]

Those oil filters are expensive. Last one I got was around $20.
You should buy some industrial filters, I got a hydraulic filter for my excavator, $248, and it was a fleetguard in the excavator brand box. I checked my suppliers and I can get the same fleetuard for $56.
That's robbery. At least the MF filter has an AGCO logo on it.
I buy name brand as much as possible/feasable, or get a reputable filter such as Fleetguard or Donaldson.

 

[bp fick]

I am simply amazed that certain dealers remain in business. I stopped tonight at [dealer name removed] on my way home to get an oil filter for my Massey Ferguson 1643. The parts department didn't immediately know the number for the filter, so they called someone and after about 10 minutes they determined that they had the filter in stock. The parts department woman brings it out and tells me it will be $25 and change! For a filter that should cost no more than $7. I told her no thanks that I'd get an off brand. She then SNAPS at me, Go right ahead an ruin your engine! I just smiled, told her to have a nice day and walked out. I have news for her...the factory installed filter is made by Denso. Not like AGCO frreaking makes oil filters. They simply buy them from some manufacturer who puts the AGCO logo on it. Just really frustrates me when certain dealers try to take advantage of people by charging way too much.

She "snapped" because they had spent all that time finding the right one and then you didn't take it. Doesn't excuse, but does explain. Should it have taken them all that wasted time? Of course not. Perhaps a better system/training would have lowered her frustration level.

Nonetheless, $20 for an oil filter seems absurd in my universe. Wouldn't mind paying a reasonable price, but if, if that filter can be bought in a Fleetguard, Hastings/Baldwin, or at a different AGCO dealership etc for $10 or less, I'd not buy it either. Plain and simple. Find out what the "reasonable" price is for that filter to be sure that particular dealership was just blowing smoke. Is it possible that is pretty much was that costs? Somehow, I have my doubts.

 

[jtheise4]

She "snapped" because they had spent all that time finding the right one and then you didn't take it. Doesn't excuse, but does explain. Should it have taken them all that wasted time? Of course not. Perhaps a better system/training would have lowered her frustration level.QUOTE]

Honestly, when I baulked at the price, if she had said, 'Sir, I understand that's expensive, but this is why you should buy an AGCO filter. One, it filters down to X microns, where a generic filter only filters to Y microns. Two, blah, blah, blah...'. I may have actually bought it. But when you are condicending and treat your customers like a child, I was really put off. Its really too bad. I am willing to pay a little more to support local small business over big box chains, because I feel I get better customer service, but to pay more to get worse customer service doesn't fly with me!

 

[MoKelly]

It does suprise me when retail employees (who deal with customers) are rude or act like they are doing the customer a favor by helping. It happens way too often.

All you need to do is read the newspaper or talk to neighbors to know it is really really tough right now. To even have customers enter your business is a blessing and you should treat them special. Even if they do not buy today at least they will still keep your store on their list for tomorrow.

No excuses to treat customers other than special unless the customer is abusive which, in this case, was not the case.

MoKelly

 

[bp fick]

Much like the OP, the buyer of small items, even oil filters, will simply go somewhere else.

I suspect, having done a quick look on Wix, that as odd as it sounds, the oil filter for 1643 isn't readily available after market, which might take jtheise4 back to AGCO anyhow, more than likely. But what are the odds it will be that dealership's parts counter?

 

[jlsmith]

Im sorry had a bad experiance with your dealer. I am a MF dealer and list price on a mf1643 oil filter is $18.75. My cost is $15.23 so i make $3.52 on that sell. Thats not much when you figure in the cost of employees and utilities and the frieght to get the part to our shop. Yes the parts lady had no right to talk to you that way and I would never let any of my employees to talk to a customer like that but i have seen some of the ways customers have came in and talk to my employee with a rude att. also. Not all oil filters are that high i have some that so sell for only 6 or 7 dollars.

 

[jlsmith]

Much like the OP, the buyer of small items, even oil filters, will simply go somewhere else.

I suspect, having done a quick look on Wix, that as odd as it sounds, the oil filter for 1643 isn't readily available after market, which might take jtheise4 back to AGCO anyhow, more than likely. But what are the odds it will be that dealership parts counter?

Your right bp, wix doesnt offer it yet. And even then Ive seen MF filters cheaper that wix. Crazy!

 

[rjkobbeman]

I'm curious how often this filter has to get changed. You gotta pick your battles. This isn't one I would lose sleep over.

 

[bp fick]

Im sorry had a bad experiance with your dealer. I am a MF dealer and list price on a mf1643 oil filter is $18.75. My cost is $15.23 so i make $3.52 on that sell. Thats not much when you figure in the cost of employees and utilities and the frieght to get the part to our shop. Yes the parts lady had no right to talk to you that way and I would never let any of my employees to talk to a customer like that but i have seen some of the ways customers have came in and talk to my employee with a rude att. also. Not all oil filters are that high i have some that so sell for only 6 or 7 dollars.

Thank you for taking the time to post. Great information.

 

[jlsmith]

I'm curious how often this filter has to get changed. You gotta pick your battles. This isn't one I would lose sleep over.

This filter needs to be changed at the first 50hrs for the breakend period and then depending on how hard you work it about every 100 to 150 hrs.

 

[TripleR]

No excuse for rude service anywhere, anyhow any time. Like rjkobbeman, I don't worry too much about the cost of a filter that is changed infrequently; sure I am in the minority.

 

[jtheise4]

Im sorry had a bad experiance with your dealer. I am a MF dealer and list price on a mf1643 oil filter is $18.75. My cost is $15.23 so i make $3.52 on that sell. Thats not much when you figure in the cost of employees and utilities and the frieght to get the part to our shop. Yes the parts lady had no right to talk to you that way and I would never let any of my employees to talk to a customer like that but i have seen some of the ways customers have came in and talk to my employee with a rude att. also. Not all oil filters are that high i have some that so sell for only 6 or 7 dollars.

Thanks for the information. I appreciate it. I agree with you 100%. I used to work in retail and some of the people who came through the door were complete jerks. I try to treat everyone with respect and hope that people do the same to me.

Do you have the AGCO part number for the filter?