Purchasing a Kubota L series. Advice on negotiating?

[2manyrocks]

For the benefit of the OP, my L2501 has regular ag tires, rears filled with beet juice, cruise, and the upgrade to the rear 3pt hitch to make it easier to attach implements. Mine didn't come with any implements plus mine is the 2501 and not the 2502. The only discount I received was the equine discount which has since been scaled back from what it was in 2022.

 

[edgarrian]

Have you tried negotiating prices on new tractors recently? They sell for very close to the Kubota price. It’s hard to get them to do more than maybe $500-1000 in price negotiation, and different dealers ask similar prices.

I haven't but I just purchased a new car. Mazda CX-5 for my wife. We test drove and then we sat in the sales persons office for 4 hours. You can bet he told me that they were not giving any more discounts other than the 1000 dealer discount. Now that info goes in one ear out the other for me. He left the office to talk to the Manager at least 5 times as I negotiated the price of the car down and my trade in. I mean some times you have to get up and just leave. You would be surprised how often they will call you the next day. Ready to deal. At the end of the day a sale means its that much more work for the service department. Which is where they make the money. Heck I've gone out of state when i purchased an excavator. When I purchased my truck. The dealer was not budging and I showed him what the another dealer was giving me for price 3 states away. He asked "Why would you do that" Bc I was saving 5500 after flight and travel back. I mean sometimes sales people need checked. Tractors really are no different. There is always someone willing to come down

 

[jyoutz]

I haven't but I just purchased a new car. Mazda CX-5 for my wife. We test drove and then we sat in the sales persons office for 4 hours. You can bet he told me that they were not giving any more discounts other than the 1000 dealer discount. Now that info goes in one ear out the other for me. He left the office to talk to the Manager at least 5 times as I negotiated the price of the car down and my trade in. I mean some times you have to get up and just leave. You would be surprised how often they will call you the next day. Ready to deal. At the end of the day a sale means its that much more work for the service department. Which is where they make the money. Heck I've gone out of state when i purchased an excavator. When I purchased my truck. The dealer was not budging and I showed him what the another dealer was giving me for price 3 states away. He asked "Why would you do that" Bc I was saving 5500 after flight and travel back. I mean sometimes sales people need checked. Tractors really are no different. There is always someone willing to come down

Tractors are different because they do less volume than car dealerships and have less wiggle room in the pricing.

 

[therrien]

The Equine discount use to be 20% and to get it you could get a free membership for the first year. I was so happy with my savings i kept the membership for a few years even though it was no longer a benefit to me. I felt I owed them some for my savings. I purchased at the end of 2021. The prices have gone crazy since then.

 

[edgarrian]

Tractors are different because they do less volume than car dealerships and have less wiggle room in the pricing.

That maybe but when I purchased my MF 1705 new in 2016 I was able to get 2100 off and a 20% discount on attachments. I also negotiated between three dealers. So I still think a guy can deal if he's willing to walk out. Search further than you might want to. Talk to several be patient and get quotes. When im negotiating. I never fall in love with what they have, never raise my voice and keep it light hearted. Once people let emotions take over. It can make you the buyer look bad (if you get worked up) and it can create a stigma between you and the dealer. Ive encountered a few sales people that were just not even willing to ask their boss. Thats fine with me. Ill move along and find one that will. For every guy getting a good deal. There is probably two or three paying MSRP. Thats how i look at it

 

[JeepHead]

I tend to agree that dealers don't deal much, especially on John Deere and Kubota tractors since they're in pretty high demand. One thing about tractors is they don't really have model years so if a tractor doesn't sell that year, they still sell it as the current model the next year with no penalty. Sure, you can usually always negotiate SOMETHING, but to walk in and think you will negotiate like you do when buying a vehicle, isn't very realistic in my experience. I'm a good to very good negotiator and didn't get much off working 5 different dealers against each other, 4 held firm on their pricing.

 

[mike69440]

I tend to agree that dealers don't deal much, especially on John Deere and Kubota tractors since they're in pretty high demand. One thing about tractors is they don't really have model years so if a tractor doesn't sell that year, they still sell it as the current model the next year with no penalty. Sure, you can usually always negotiate SOMETHING, but to walk in and think you will negotiate like you do when buying a vehicle, isn't very realistic in my experience. I'm a good to very good negotiator and didn't get much off working 5 different dealers against each other, 4 held firm on their pricing.

Back in 2005 when the L39TLB was a new model, I shopped several dealers and was only able to get a $1,000 discount plus a they tossed in a Husky 350 chainsaw. I got a discount on a box blade also with the purchase. The dealer I purchased from was bought out and dissolved by MB tractor and equipment. MB is the largest Kubota a dealer in N.E. They only give deals to large volume buyers typically.

 

[arrow]

I haven't but I just purchased a new car. Mazda CX-5 for my wife. We test drove and then we sat in the sales persons office for 4 hours. You can bet he told me that they were not giving any more discounts other than the 1000 dealer discount. Now that info goes in one ear out the other for me. He left the office to talk to the Manager at least 5 times as I negotiated the price of the car down and my trade in. I mean some times you have to get up and just leave. You would be surprised how often they will call you the next day. Ready to deal. At the end of the day a sale means its that much more work for the service department. Which is where they make the money. Heck I've gone out of state when i purchased an excavator. When I purchased my truck. The dealer was not budging and I showed him what the another dealer was giving me for price 3 states away. He asked "Why would you do that" Bc I was saving 5500 after flight and travel back. I mean sometimes sales people need checked. Tractors really are no different. There is always someone willing to come down

There is a 4.5% mark up on Mazdas.
Different world when l was selling. Even the lowly Neon had 8%.
It is why dealerships aren’t as generous in negotiating.
Tractors have somewhat gone the same way.
Used to be 25% and is now down to 13-17%.
Trouble there is ppl are not prone to trade in every 3 to 5 years as with cars so whatever is made on a tractor has to last a long time.
Has simply become a different world.

 

[arrow]

Back in 2005 when the L39TLB was a new model, I shopped several dealers and was only able to get a $1,000 discount plus a they tossed in a Husky 350 chainsaw. I got a discount on a box blade also with the purchase. The dealer I purchased from was bought out and dissolved by MB tractor and equipment. MB is the largest Kubota a dealer in N.E. They only give deals to large volume buyers typically.

One of the best all around saws Husky made imo.
Tuned between a 346 and 357.

 

[edgarrian]

There is a 4.5% mark up on Mazdas.
Different world when l was selling. Even the lowly Neon had 8%.
It is why dealerships aren’t as generous in negotiating.
Tractors have somewhat gone the same way.
Used to be 25% and is now down to 13-17%.
Trouble there is ppl are not prone to trade in every 3 to 5 years as with cars so whatever is made on a tractor has to last a long time.
Has simply become a different world.

I received 3800 off in my negotiating for the CX5. I traded in my 2017 185,000 for 7k Like i say for every one person getting a deal there is a lot of people paying MSRP or more. And i believe this to be more than ever as far as people paying MSRP. People are much more open to discussing what they pay. I see a lot of people not even realizing they can negotiate. It maybe a different world as far as margins but you can still negotiate. When it comes to cars or trucks. Im getting getting everything. Discounted extended warranty. Free oil changes and so on. Tractors I dont do that b/c i do it myself

 

[DC61]

I bought a 2024 TYM T654 on December 10th last year. My nearest dealer is about 40 miles away Lorena, TX. I called a dealer in Granbury, TX (2 1/2 hours away) and they beat my nearest dealer by 5K and delivered for free. My closest dealer would not budge in price.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I bought my first tractor locally even though I paid $1000 more than the next closest dealer. Over the years, I've made up that $1000 and much more by being a good customer. The prices I now get locally are the same or better than elsewhere and I don't have to travel.

Sometimes, it can pay to deal locally over the long run.

Of course this all depends on the dollars and distances involved.
YMMV

 

[arrow]

I received 3800 off in my negotiating for the CX5. I traded in my 2017 185,000 for 7k Like i say for every one person getting a deal there is a lot of people paying MSRP or more. And i believe this to be more than ever as far as people paying MSRP. People are much more open to discussing what they pay. I see a lot of people not even realizing they can negotiate. It maybe a different world as far as margins but you can still negotiate. When it comes to cars or trucks. Im getting getting everything. Discounted extended warranty. Free oil changes and so on. Tractors I dont do that b/c i do it myself

If your brand new cx listed for around 36k, the margin from invoice is $1620. If it was 42 k, the margin is $1850. All dealerships pay the same amounts for cars. That crap you hear of “ because of our buying power, we pay less and pass that on to our customers” . So not true.

So one of three things happened here. They made you think they took 3800 off with one of three tricks. They have window stickers that look exactly like the original msrp but they’re whacked thousands more. You can’t tell the difference from these stickers. 2. They showed you an amount for your trade and contacted their used car guys until they were guaranteed at least 2k more than they showed you. After all, you were there for 4 hrs So they had plenty of time to call around. 3. They added a bunch of addendums to the sticker such as anti theft, Teflon coatings, fabric protectant, window etch, etc, etc and built up the price of the car. Some places get $700-$1000 just for the doc fees. It’s just fake money built in to make the customer think theyre getting more off than reality.
I have a 22 cx5. My nephew is a manager of a Mazda dealership. He showed me photos of stickers from a competing dealership. My car listed for 36k.
The exact same car, color and everything, at the other dealership listed for 38.5k on the Maroney sticker which was a fake one of course.
No one will beat a dealership out of money they don’t wish to give up. They’re job is to make the customer think they have.
You keep doing what you’re doing. My info to you is so you don’t have to spend 4 hrs at your next car purchase.

 

[2manyrocks]

I bought my first tractor locally even though I paid $1000 more than the next closest dealer. Over the years, I've made up that $1000 and much more by being a good customer. The prices I now get locally are the same or better than elsewhere and I don't have to travel.

Sometimes, it can pay to deal locally over the long run.

Of course this all depends on the dollars and distances involved.
YMMV

Getting service from a local dealer has more value than not getting any service from a dealer an inconvenient distance away.

 

[arrow]

Getting service from a local dealer has more value than not getting any service from a dealer an inconvenient distance away.

This is a good post. It brings to light that for service of a branded tractor, depending on the tractor company, many dealerships are obliged to take in that brand no matter where bought.
What they do not have to do is put you at the head of the line or anywhere near before they service their own customers.
The individual here who saved 5k by purchasing 2.5 hrs away, can ask for service at the closer dealership.
Pick up and delivery fees may be elevated but who cares given the off chance of having the tractor go back to the dealership.
For scheduled maintenance servicing, a dealership would be crazy not to make money on that service no matter where it was bought.

 

[edgarrian]

If your brand new cx listed for around 36k, the margin from invoice is $1620. If it was 42 k, the margin is $1850. All dealerships pay the same amounts for cars. That crap you hear of “ because of our buying power, we pay less and pass that on to our customers” . So not true.

So one of three things happened here. They made you think they took 3800 off with one of three tricks. They have window stickers that look exactly like the original msrp but they’re whacked thousands more. You can’t tell the difference from these stickers. 2. They showed you an amount for your trade and contacted their used car guys until they were guaranteed at least 2k more than they showed you. After all, you were there for 4 hrs So they had plenty of time to call around. 3. They added a bunch of addendums to the sticker such as anti theft, Teflon coatings, fabric protectant, window etch, etc, etc and built up the price of the car. Some places get $700-$1000 just for the doc fees. It’s just fake money built in to make the customer think theyre getting more off than reality.
I have a 22 cx5. My nephew is a manager of a Mazda dealership. He showed me photos of stickers from a competing dealership. My car listed for 36k.
The exact same car, color and everything, at the other dealership listed for 38.5k on the Maroney sticker which was a fake one of course.
No one will beat a dealership out of money they don’t wish to give up. They’re job is to make the customer think they have.
You keep doing what you’re doing. My info to you is so you don’t have to spend 4 hrs at your next car purchase.

We purchased the Signature Series trim. The MSRPs in indianapolis are typically above 40k. I try not to pay doc fees and if i end up doing so it 199. Look your talking to someone that understands the BS games that are played. I have a pen and paper right in front of me to keep track of what the heck is going on. Trust me. Thats not typical of a customer. I write down the MSRP and work it down from there. I have a trade in number in mind and generally speaking ill come pretty damn close to it. I mean how many people are the dealers taking for a ride in one month of everything your talking about. ITs why i keep track of the numbers bc the sales person is not on your side. Obviously

 

[arrow]

ITs why i keep track of the numbers bc the sales person is not on your side. Obviously

With an exception of at least one and l hope more. I got into the vocation to make changes.
After my logging career, l did a myriad of things. Went back to get a degree, masters, etc, etc, etc..
One of those things was to become a car salesman not for the sake of the dealership but for the sake of the ppl trying to purchase cars. I was a customer first at this dealership and l liked the owners attitude of his station in life or else I could never work there. As with the men I previously worked with, he was a no bs type of guy and did not adhere to the antics of typical auto dealerships.
Even though you were played in typical dealership fashion, ,l can only hope you enjoyed the challenge. To have kept you there for four hrs was a travesty to me.
I suggested you keep doing what you are doing and you are certainly a rarity in this regard. It is to everyone’s benefit to adhere to your method for the education.
As a result of this education and In my mind, the proper way for a customer to proceed is to go in and announce what they would like to spend to purchase their new car and/or what they would like for their trade. The dealership should then tell you if they can meet your pricing or not. No haggling ( unless the customer enjoys such), no back and forth to the manager, none of the tactics used to wear down ppl and throw water on the joy of owning a new car.
It was why l entered the profession even though some friends and family thought l was charging windmills. I tend to do that anyway if l see injustices perpetrated on my fellow man.
My customers were out of there within an hour or in about 5 minutes if we simply could not meet their pricing desires. There does exist the outlandish.
I am happy for you for your acquisition and applaud your diligence but I certainly wish it did not have to be prolonged in the way it was.

 

[tradosaurus]

I hit the jackpot on my MX5400 back in 2021. Equine Discount through Kubota was 20% including implements.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

you may want to consider getting a negotiator to go with you. You negotiate your best deal, then have your negotiator step in.

What ever he/she saves you split it with them on a percentage 50/50, 70/30 . You come out ahead either way and feel like you won.

 

[rScotty]

. ITs why i keep track of the numbers bc the sales person is not on your side. Obviously

I expect the sales person to be on both sides. We know he is working for the Dealership, but if he is not also working for me then I will simply go somewhere else. How he reconciles those competing loyalties is what makes him a salesman.

I don't mind haggling - in fact I enjoy it - but it has to be productive.

I don't believe there is such a thing as a "set price" for anything. When I was buying property the price per square foot often varied by 50%.
rScotty