AxleHub
Elite Member
I'm a little amazed at the assumptions tractor buyers seem to have at times. YES, if you're a farmer with big equipment, or if you're an industrial user where your business vitally depends on big equipment - a close-in dealer or service center is vital.
But for scut or small or mid frame compact owners - reliability is important. And when some talk about "a family owned operation" - they often don't clarify what that means so most think of a small operation. I personally bought from a dealer 115 miles from me for my GC 1715. I live near a fair sized metro area of 90K or so population - yet I bought from a dealer in a metro population of less than 7K. I bought from a very very family business owned and operated by 3 brothers - yet they have several hundred employees. And the business has been in the family for over 100 years.
Are they very capable in service work? They should be - they have 3 dozen working in the parts/repair/service area. How about pricing and selection? Exceptional in both categories - because they have a tradition of continuing customers and ever adding new customers too. Limited in sizes handled? Nope - they have residential equipment and they have utility sized.
Do I expect my "family owned" operation to be in business the next 10 years? Absolutely. Meanwhile - several other dealer operations much much closer to me selling my brand choice - are in business today - but I have no clue if they will be 5 or 10 years from now - if the Dad in each passes away.
My point is - distance to a dealer is much more important if you are running "vital equipment" that is used in your business and "tomorrow is too late" - but how many of us need that.
Now I "get it" that some need a spot to hang out at - or to "drop by and chat". I get it you're constantly needing parts and breaking things and fail to inventory any. But many of the items I've needed in the last 3 years I can get at any number of local farm supply super stores or a NAPA etc.. So I inventory a few items when they go on sale at my dealer - and I drive over to see the dealer two or three times a year for seminars and great sale specials and new products.
So lets say my dependable unit breaks down and its something I can't handle and the dealer needs to. They would pick up my unit when they are on another run or I can trailer it in and they can drop it off when done.
My point continues to be - "a close dealer" for many of us - is much less important than getting a good dealer with a long likelihood of existing as a good dealer a decade from now.
JMHO
But for scut or small or mid frame compact owners - reliability is important. And when some talk about "a family owned operation" - they often don't clarify what that means so most think of a small operation. I personally bought from a dealer 115 miles from me for my GC 1715. I live near a fair sized metro area of 90K or so population - yet I bought from a dealer in a metro population of less than 7K. I bought from a very very family business owned and operated by 3 brothers - yet they have several hundred employees. And the business has been in the family for over 100 years.
Are they very capable in service work? They should be - they have 3 dozen working in the parts/repair/service area. How about pricing and selection? Exceptional in both categories - because they have a tradition of continuing customers and ever adding new customers too. Limited in sizes handled? Nope - they have residential equipment and they have utility sized.
Do I expect my "family owned" operation to be in business the next 10 years? Absolutely. Meanwhile - several other dealer operations much much closer to me selling my brand choice - are in business today - but I have no clue if they will be 5 or 10 years from now - if the Dad in each passes away.
My point is - distance to a dealer is much more important if you are running "vital equipment" that is used in your business and "tomorrow is too late" - but how many of us need that.
Now I "get it" that some need a spot to hang out at - or to "drop by and chat". I get it you're constantly needing parts and breaking things and fail to inventory any. But many of the items I've needed in the last 3 years I can get at any number of local farm supply super stores or a NAPA etc.. So I inventory a few items when they go on sale at my dealer - and I drive over to see the dealer two or three times a year for seminars and great sale specials and new products.
So lets say my dependable unit breaks down and its something I can't handle and the dealer needs to. They would pick up my unit when they are on another run or I can trailer it in and they can drop it off when done.
My point continues to be - "a close dealer" for many of us - is much less important than getting a good dealer with a long likelihood of existing as a good dealer a decade from now.
JMHO