Kids not allowed at Tractor Dealership?

[bubbacuse77]

As it has been said, the key is adult supervision. I was at the dealer the other day and I stopped and had a talk with my 3 year old son about the expectations of his behavior and what could happen if he didn't listen. Kids are creatures of habit and if parents let them crawl all over machines at home then why would they expect anything different when they go without to the dealership. I for one never let the kiddos even sit on the tractors unsupervised at home. I still think it is good to expose them to it so they can gain an understanding and appreciation for the machine. I found it interesting that JD is putting small seats for children along side the drivers seat in their large machines now.

 

[yelbike]

As it has been said, the key is adult supervision. I was at the dealer the other day and I stopped and had a talk with my 3 year old son about the expectations of his behavior and what could happen if he didn't listen. Kids are creatures of habit and if parents let them crawl all over machines at home then why would they expect anything different when they go without to the dealership. I for one never let the kiddos even sit on the tractors unsupervised at home. I still think it is good to expose them to it so they can gain an understanding and appreciation for the machine. I found it interesting that JD is putting small seats for children along side the drivers seat in their large machines now.

Couldn't have said it better myself!!

 

[wny770]

I think the other issue here is that how many people shopping for tractors at the dealer are actually farmers? How many people on this forum are actually farmers? (I am not) The problems with children that most on here are referring to are not actually problems with "farm" children typically. From what I have seen, most "farm" children have learned respect at an early age. The real question is (as many have eluded to) how to you set a policy that separates the good from the bad. How do you tell one family that their children are not welcome as they are looking over at another family standing there with 3 children and nobody is saying anything? If a family is not able to raise well-behaved children, they probably also can't distinguish the difference between their children and the others, and feel that they aren't being treated fairly.

I do agree that there should not be a blanket policy that indiscrimately prohibits children, it is just difficult to figure out how to handle different families with different circumstances.

Hey, good post. I'd like to see a dealer say no kids when you're gonna dump over $230,000 on a combine..... yeah right....

If my dealer told me to leave my kids at home, I'd leave my money there too. Period. Everyone forget what it was to be young hanging out with dad? (Oh, by the way, Dad NEVER let us get out of line when we were out.......)

 

[DPuro329]

I had the opposite experience recently. I was looking for a new riding mower/garden tractor and I stopped by a dealership with my wife and twin 2 1/2 year old boys. The staff was so accommodating and didn't mind if my boys sat on the tractors in the showroom, ran around and they brought out wooden pedal toys for them to use. Even though I didn't buy from them, I'd like to give them a plug for their customer service, Chappell Tractor in NH. New Hampshire Tractor Dealer: Compact Tractors, Kubota Agriculture Construction Equipment, Wheel Loaders, Crawler Excavators by New Holland in NH

Dave

 

[3v0]

This attitude about kids is one of the reasons schools, and kids, are such a mess. Your kid can do no wrong. Forget the teacher back the kid. Then scratch you head when he/she/it is out of control in their teens.

If a tractor dealership chooses to be kid friendly that is their choice. It takes a lot of cash, or credit, to farm theses days. Getting the right equipment at the right price thumps your kids using millions of dollars of the dealers equipment as a playground.

This thread has been beat to death. I am unsubscribing.

 

[daugen]

I bring my son with all the time when I go to window shop at the Kubota dealer. Growing up, my dad worked at Caterpiller dealer. We went with him every chance we could. We would climb all over the scrapers, D12's and loaders. When he was done he would give us a ride on one of the machines. I never got hurt, and I learned the name of every Cat machine

wow. This sounds like a dream to a young boy.
I had to laugh. A D12? A new bigger one? Nuclear powered?
No, "just" a grader. See, learning your model numbers is important!

No, Caterpillar's bulldozers only go up to D11. The Caterpillar D12 was a motor grader, a number of which were adopted into military service by Denmark, among others, and were sold on the civil market.

My Kubota dealer is pretty large, has a lot of other brands, and I'm always wandering through the display area to see what's new.
I'm past the "what is this and what does it do" phase, usually...., though I absolutely love to be stumped, but taking the time to explain to a young child what the different machinery does must be a wonderful learning experience. I don't have kids, or grandkids at this point, so I'll never get to take a curious son or daughter through a showroom. I envy those of you who can. Maybe I can be rented out...

yes, we have beat this topic pretty hard but it's because it's very real to most of us. How "our" kids act when out in public is always a discussion for parents. The dealership is not the jungle gym at Mcdonalds. Most of "us" get that.
And how "we" react, those of us without kids, to kids playing around us is also relevant. Some folk are very intolerant of kids.
I love kids, but don't like noise. Bit of an issue.

Where are the lollipops? Suck on this kid and keep your hands in your pocket until Dad oks it.
But when that boy or girl gets into their teens, that dealership would be nuts to not be friendly to the
next generation of tractor buyers.

 

[Gator6x4]

Hey, good post. I'd like to see a dealer say no kids when you're gonna dump over $230,000 on a combine..... yeah right....

If my dealer told me to leave my kids at home, I'd leave my money there too. Period. Everyone forget what it was to be young hanging out with dad? (Oh, by the way, Dad NEVER let us get out of line when we were out.......)

I wonder if this is what the parents of these two said. No wait she reportedly said she was proud of his skills.

Video tips: Budget advice - MSN Money

 

[Gator6x4]

Hey, good post. I'd like to see a dealer say no kids when you're gonna dump over $230,000 on a combine..... yeah right....

If my dealer told me to leave my kids at home, I'd leave my money there too. Period. Everyone forget what it was to be young hanging out with dad? (Oh, by the way, Dad NEVER let us get out of line when we were out.......)

I wonder if this is what the parents of these two said. No wait she reportedly said she was proud of his skills.

Video tips: Budget advice - MSN Money

 

[KenB2920]

Lol, Not only are kids welcome at my dealer, but they offered to watch mine. The first tractor I purchased 2 years ago my son was 8 months old. I walked in with him in his car seat ( so yes not old enough to climb all over things). I had been in several times and wanted to look at some tractors and overall "learn" since this was all new to me. This is a really family oriented place. There is like 8 employees and they are all related. AWESOME family by the way. The lady "owner" offered to watch my son. I politely declined and this could be because she wanted the family to make a sale or because women love kids. Who knows. Well since the dealer is only 2 miles from my house I have been back numerous times looking at equipment, buying accessories. Well obviously my son has aged and is 2 1/2. While I was up there this week picking up a my RFM for my new tractor him and I walked the whole lot of tractors and implements.

When I walk in this place they know "us" now and have since met my daughter. My kids are literally growing up with tractors and mind there business as do I. Work is work and toys are toys. These are not toys.

Now some kids dont know better only because there parents either don't know or don't teach them. I understand liability and a dealers point of view for no kids. However I have child care issues and there is no way I could of made it to the dealer without my kids. My son Has been to the dealer more with me than not.

Now let's face it tractors are work but I am a big kid. If kids weren't allowed I probably would of been kicked out my first time waking in. I was 29 and all over these machines like a kid on a jungle gym.

Oh well THUMBS UP to Rosy Bros in Almont Mi..... Great Dealer, Great service, Great family

 

[CobyRupert]

Let the market decide

 

[kozman]

I am blown away that there are actually 27 pages dedicated to this so far. It's an interesting read for people like me with a lot of time on my hands. I have 2 young sons that love to play on the Kubotas at my local fair. When making a $25,000 purchase, if I was told no kids in the dealership, on to the next one. Now that I have one, they are almost getting big enough to use it. Wow, actually another future tractor customer possibly? That's the way the dealers should see it because I have 2 potentially.

 

[txdon]

I wonder if this is what the parents of these two said. No wait she reportedly said she was proud of his skills.

Video tips: Budget advice - MSN Money

When a 7 year old ran into me with his moms car (she left the car running at a filling station) the mother just kept screaming how she was going to sue me. Parents are irrational when it comes to THEIR kids. I can give you about 20 examples but this is the most blatant in my life history.

 

[daugen]

this is where a good set of security video cameras is priceless.
Helps to sort out the fact from fiction.

And yes, get a nice gypsy family in and isn't it amazing how someone always falls?
A small payment for medical bills and distress would be appreciated. Ka Ching.

I'm a retired insurance agent and the industry record of slip and fall claims in gas stations, supermarkets
and shopping centers makes for fascinating reading. These claims are a big part of why security cameras are everywhere.
And for a sense of protection, which is likely illusionary.

I can only wonder when Russia's problem with phony car accidents will head our way. And we will all have to have
recording cameras in our cars, preferably providing 360 degrees of HD resolution, certifiable in court...

back on topic...
A child's behavior that might be fully acceptable and even commendable at a Roy Rogers might be
too loud, too distracting, simply too much in a John Deere showroom where two sales guys are busy with people in their booths
and you are milling outside. I expect there to be kid's noise in a family restaurant. It would be strange without it.
But a hundred "what's this" and "why" later, in confined quarters high energy kids can be overwhelming.
And how about the whiners and the wailers? "I want. I want. repeat a zillion times" "Mommmmy, Billy won't let me sit on this one"
Irritatingly loudly.

Ok, for the record, I am not a terminal grump and I love kids. I make a great Uncle.
But kids can be loud, and I'm a quiet guy. And as a non-parent my personal vision of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"
motivates me to pick a table as far away from a large family of young kids as possible.

Short of bringing six severely autistic kids into a dealership at one time, for me, the more kids the merrier. They are our future and they
had better learn how to grow food. And hopefully to get more excited in a baler's knotting mechanism than the latest first person shooter
video game. And if the baler is a stretch, at least get them in the seat of a small tractor and let them make vroom vroom noises.

I think farming communities have been built on the foundation of strong family life for so long that any ag dealer that wasn't tuned into kids wouldn't be very successful. Perhaps vast agribusiness will take over all the small farms, and family life, family values and good manners will become irrelevant. Sure hope not.

 

[KenB2920]

Lol, wow I had an interesting thought today. I was in "the city" ( I am exaggerating its only 20 miles from me) and I went to the kubota dealer there. Wow, now that place is a business all about money and aside from my son which would be holding my hand the whole time, that's not a place for kids. Not saying they shouldn't be welcome. It was just very busy. It's a wiengartz and they sell: kubota, John Deere, stihl, echo, red max, exmark, cub cadet etc. well there was literally a counter set up with 6 salesman. A parts counter with 3 guys and a repair area with 2 guys. Not to mention misc employees. Don't get me wrong, if you need something they have it and know there stuff. But this is not a family place like "my" kubota dealer. Not to mention my dealer easily has twice the inventory of tractors. However this place literally has a warehouse FULL of leased exmarks for sale. At least 100+ and holy wowsers how many other NEW items. Ok, off on a tangent there. Either way that is high volume fast pace selling.

Now my experience. I walked in to purchase a "mantis tiller". The price was 349. I asked the salesman if he would price match $330 from the website. (Kickstand and bed edger). He said "no" so I began to walk out. He said well I can give it to you for that price in a box and you have to assemble it. I said deal. He laughed and said good luck. Well I am no repair man, but there not much I can't do with a new product and a handy set if instructions. The guy said it takes them an hour. Now I am starting to wonder. I asked if there is alot of parts and he said yes. I got it home and opened the box. I pulled a couple pieces out and there was only 8 bolts. That includes to the kick stand option. I had it done in ten minutes only because I read the instruction which are definitely not needed. I seriously think now that I did it, I could do on I. Under 5 minutes. Thanks Steve, you just tried to pressure me into a fee for constructing my tiller. SMH. I am glad I didn't fall for it and shame on their big business ways. I love my family oriented slow paced dealer by my house. 10 times smarter, have all accessories you could ask for, already have the new inventory and are FAMILY ORIENTATED!!!!

 

[Robert Castro]

Interesting, my question is what does what does this mean, was this a dealer decision or Kubota? Liability is something that impacts businesses each day, many have little experience with what impact that has on the dealer, but definitely a factor for them today. Many great comments on the topic that get your mind churning over the impact of how decisions such these weigh in with folks. Additional they define how that voice echos with Kubota as a manufacturer. MHarryE made a valid comment with our next gen.!

Loved the booger comment, made me chuckle!

 

[aczlan]

Interesting, my question is what does what does this mean, was this a dealer decision or Kubota?

Dealer decision. Our Kubota dealer is fine with me bringing our 3 year old in and she has been going there since she was a couple of months old.

Aaron Z

 

[CliffordK]

Most stores/dealers try to maximize the amount of time their customers spend at the business. Even window shoppers may come back the next time with a wad of cash.

I suppose I spend very little time at car/tractor dealerships myself.

I do believe that at a place like a tractor dealership, at least young children should be accompanied by an adult at all times, and the adult should be responsible for the children's safety and any potential damages. Older children might get more freedom if they are respectful of others property.

The tractor dealership, of course, should make sure that keys are not in the vehicles, or the ignition systems are otherwise disabled, and that things like buckets or forks are stored in a safe manner.

If children are a problem, then perhaps make families with children sign in at least once in their lifetime which includes a one paragraph agreement of what is expected of all parties.

 

[ultrarunner]

I was on the road yesterday and stopped by a Kubota/NewHolland Dealer...

I spoke with the owner and commented most of their inventory is street side on a gravel lot and open 24/7.

He said lots of folks will come by after hours and call back if they see something they like.

They had a number of new and a few used units out in the open and some RTV's too.

 

[aczlan]

I was on the road yesterday and stopped by a Kubota/NewHolland Dealer...
I spoke with the owner and commented most of their inventory is street side on a gravel lot and open 24/7.
He said lots of folks will come by after hours and call back if they see something they like.
They had a number of new and a few used units out in the open and some RTV's too.

We did that before buying the BX2660...

Aaron Z

 

[daugen]

remember the "old days" when driving through the dealer lot on Sundays was a fun, slow way to check out the
inventory? Maybe we were avoiding the old fashioned car salesmen who would chase you through the lot.
Today most dealerships are locked up on Sunday, at least in this area.

this got me to thinking...if McDonalds can make a safety vetted play area for their restaurants, why can't John Deere or Kubota
license something similar and offer a nice safe tractor oriented play area in an easily installed module?

Gosh, dealers could compete on how lavish their play areas are.

Billy: my Dad took me to John Deere World and boy, I got to drive a huge 5 series tractor! They had a big sand box and my tractor had
real lights too!

Sammy: well, my Dad took me to Kubota Land and I got to drive an even bigger M series! I got to drive right over this little broken down
John Deere. Kubota rules!

Priscilla: so? that's nothing. my wonderful father took me to the Fendt Haus where we had
wiener schnitzel and beer. I got to have beer too, and then I had a manicure. Stupid tractors.