Carver web site down?

[sixdogs]

Wow---I just discovered the Carver's closing news and admit it was a surprise. While I never bought anything from them they looked like a class act devoted to volume and pricing. Apparently the volume slumped. But I wonder if or to what degree they might have been squeezed by Kubota because of their price strategy and if that was a contributing factor? The website seemed to look different a while back that made pricing and out of state sales somewhat more restrictive. And I suspect their pricing created a lot of noise from other dealers trying to hold the prices at a higher level than Carver sold at by restricting competition?

I sure wonder about those things and if it was not all the economy but jockying for price strategy for when the economy does recover. If Kubota squeezed them I wonder if they will regret it if the economy continues to weaken and whacks the higher-priced dealers with lesser volumes that depended on larger margins?

Do others on this board think this econmy has more to go on the downside?

 

[EFC]

That statement is outright laughable. Anyone who said that has not worked with very many manufacturers. Kubota is without a doubt the easist company that we work with (expect for maybe Stihl, they've got their act together also).

Not only laughable but also illegal.

Buck

 

[powerstroke444e]

I was @ my dealer I deal with and he said unit #'s where up and heard same thing from the smallest deere dealer in same area. In my primairy business (insurance) I have seen growth but I have seen the bottom end clients have problems with loans. The higher end (ones that made good decisions) make more with current conditions.
Hate to see a dealer go but it does let the one's doing it right stay in business. We lost the dealer in town last fall and he had kubota and JD.

 

[KeithInSpace]

Do others on this board think this econmy has more to go on the downside?

As far as my business is concerned, there's not much more downside than ZERO. We were VERY fortunate to have some things in the door to help us limp through. Those who didn't work extra hard to take care of their clients in the good times probably don't exist any longer.

I think if you've made it this far and are still kicking, you're in pretty good shape. If you're on life support, it'll be a rough couple months. If you're closing your doors today, I'd wager to say that you wished you had closed them 18 months ago and saved all that money.

I think we're on the other side, but it will be a slow crawl out of the hole. I believe (or hope) that America's mentality has changed...both in the purchase of wretched excess (one word...Hummer...) and in respect for what spending a dollar means. Less "chasing the Jones'".

Moreover, I've noticed that the service industry is FINALLY getting the clue that they have to treat you, the customer, well to keep you in the door. It seemed to me that some folks forgot that. People who are working now seem to genuinely appreciate the fact that they have a job, they act accordingly, AND IT SHOWS.

Not sure if the light at the end of the tunnel is indeed the end or just the headlight of the oncoming train, but either way, it'll all be over soon.

 

[medicshawn]

I work for the county government as a firefighter. I assure you the economy has hit us hard as well. We first went through a forced energy conservation from cutting off unused lights and turning up/down HVAC. Then they clamped down on driving the fire trucks due to poor fuel economy and high fuel prices (fire trucks get at best 2-4 MPG). They have pushed back replacing fire trucks. They have clamped down on Overtime and leave usage. They have delayed building or remodeling fire stations. They have slowed hiring new firefighters when people retire. So far we haven't closed any fire stations or laid any people off. Hopefully it won't come to that for us. But there are plenty of localities that are cutting services drastically to close budget holes. Thankfully the county I work for is managed well or it could be much worse.

 

[manganos]

You must work for Henrico lol. That "managed well" statement probably take Chesterfield out of the equation. I wish Palumbo was still around. I'd love to hear what he would have said about how the dept. is run now LOL

 

[dieselsmoke1]

This is the second Kubota dealer in our area to go out of business... The Tractor Place in Knightdale (where I bought my L3400 5 years ago), just closed recently also. Kind of makes you wonder if Kubota is giving their dealers the help they need to make it through these times...

I was through Kinston a few weeks ago and the Kubota dealer on hwy 70 is closed also.

On the positive side, Musgrave Equipment Company in Goldsboro (also on Hwy 70) has added Kubota to their Mahindra line. I bought my 2810HST there 6 yrs. ago. Owning it and interacting with Anthony and his staff has been a good experience, no complaints.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

A good price helps but it's not enough to stay in business, in my opinion. I bought my first Kubota 6 years ago. A BX2200, MMM, FEL. I shopped Kubotas around the state and Barlows had the best price. I checked with the local JD and they wanted $3000 more for the equivilent tractor. NH wanted $2500 more. I told them they were that much higher than Kubota and they just gave me the "deer in the headlights stare". I bought Kubotas number 8 (B3200) and 9 (BX2660) early this year and I bought them from Barlows. If they had not treated me fair as a customer over the years I wouldn't have continued buying from them. Price would not be enough to keep me there. The NH dealer is still in business and the JD dealer is still there but with different owners. My purchases did not keep Barlows in business nor did my not buying from the other dealers put them out of business. Price brought me to Barlows and service kept me there. (and hats and Steve and Velda and Brady and Gary and the other workers at Barlows) MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

 

[sixdogs]

You know, price is not really that big a part of the equation. It matters, sure but you also need a dealer to ask questions of and to buy parts from and eventually have tractor and other work done.

When I bought an $18,000 Kubota --cash-- a few years ago I knew exactly what I wanted and I knew what others sold it for. I wanted to buy local so I called my local dealer, identified myself and said what I wanted to buy. I asked how much it would cost and he gave me the retail price. I explained I could buy from an hour away for a certain price and, while I didn't want him to match that price, wanted to know what he could do. I paid $500 over the other guy to stay local. I bought $1200 of dealer options at retail and gave the set-up guys a tip. Still, there was a stigma attached as I actually dared haggle and compare for a price.

Later, I had other work done on other equipment. Maybe $5,000 worth of labor. Introduced other buyers that paid more than I did. Gave Christmas goodies that were never acknowledged. That stigma was there and I was a second class citizen. Then bought another new tractor from them with less haggling. Still the stigma.

And so, they failed recently and they were a great bunch of guys. I'm sure they blamed the other dealers for cutting their margins when in reality the market had changed. Tractor and most equipment is now so "commoditized" that it really is a best-price issue unless the dealer gives the service and attention. God made man but the internet (and Colt) made them equal and the toothpaste is out of the tube. It ain't going back.

Just my errant rant for dealers to smarten up and think forward and try to stay in business. I hated to lose that guy but I'm sure he gave away a boatload of deals waiting for retail. Oh well.

 

[westbrooklawn]

I was through Kinston a few weeks ago and the Kubota dealer on hwy 70 is closed also.

On the positive side, Musgrave Equipment Company in Goldsboro (also on Hwy 70) has added Kubota to their Mahindra line. I bought my 2810HST there 6 yrs. ago. Owning it and interacting with Anthony and his staff has been a good experience, no complaints.

I hate to hear that about the Kinston store... I bought a Husky 359 from them a few years ago... they were good people. Glad to hear that Musgrave has picked up Kubota... hope they do better with it than they did with Kioti. Anthony and Bob are good to deal with... it's a little far for me, but they may still become my new "Kubota dealer".