Purchasing a Kubota L series. Advice on negotiating?

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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

What you state is very truth laden.
If the sales person is working for the customer, then she/he is also benefitting the dealership.
There are “sales talk techniques” they teach at seminars but I wasn’t one for technique as much as l was for openness and needs based assessment.
Why make what should be a pleasantry, derisive and antagonistic and yet, that happens all the time.
It is simply human nature to get as much as possible if you’re selling and giving as least as possible if you’re buying.
Just get educated on product pricing and go in with a pleasant and respectful request of purchase amount.

 

[rScotty]

I figure that the salesman and I both want the same thing, we both want me to buy their tractor.
So since we have the same goal, that puts us on the same team. Now we can get down to making it possible.

 

[arrow]

I figure that the salesman and I both want the same thing, we both want me to buy their tractor.
So since we have the same goal, that puts us on the same team. Now we can get down to making it possible.

So my tractor lists for $22,500.
What figure is your request for purchase?
You’ve discovered that there is a 13% margin on this tractor.

 

[rScotty]

So my tractor lists for $32,500.
What figure is your request for purchase?
You’ve discovered that there is a 16% margin on this tractor.

First of all I am going to begin with splitting the margin down the middle - half to each. Now we can start in on the fun part of haggling over the all-important little extra things.

Having taken care of basic list price for the tractor by splitting the margin. What kind of discount can we do on attachments and options? I want several attachments and a list of options all the way from remotes to chain hooks. In the WholeGoods price list I see cost of most upgrades, so I have an idea what they cost you. I'd like to see the salesman throw in things that cost the dealer little or nothing, and in return we can work on that shared margin.

How about...
Extended warranty? There is a high profit item - I'd like be able to buy that reasonably.
Oh, almost forgot. What about the parts and shop manual...I'd like one of each, please.
BTW, who pays for delivery?
Do you have a preferred customer discount? If so, I'd like to buy filters and such at the dealer instead of online.

Oh.... Who does pay for hauling during warranty? I have to say that is pretty much non-negotiable on my side. If it has to come back to the dealer for warranty work I figure haulage is part of the warranty.

So where are we now? Are we getting close enough to talk cash vs finance?
rScotty

 

[arrow]

Well sir, I can abide with all your desires. You have a 7 yr warranty, l will be happy to give preference purchaser designation. Warranty work will provide free transport with availability of a loaner tractor if necessitated. I will give you price breaks on all ancillary implements of your choice.
Please accept this tractor service manual disc along with this nice ball cap. We have in house financing that you may compare with any of your outside finance choices.
We can agree on the price of $20,775 which includes no additional delivery charge. This is the figure we would establish any financing with before any down payments that
are considered by you.
Is there a particular day and time you would accept delivery should you decide to purchase our product?

 

[edgarrian]

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.

I Certainly wish it was like you are saying. Now I enjoy good bantering back in forth. All the times I have gone through the finance department. That seems like it takes awhile even after everything has been agreed upon. I believe I was i there for an hour but we were also talking. Total time of the dealership was 4 hours. It included test drive, both my wife and i drove. Id say negotiating was 2hrs maybe a little longer. there are some places that do the know haggling and prices are what they are. Carmax i believe does this

 

[edgarrian]

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.

Dont get me wrong when it comes to sales people. I have walked out. You can tell the ones that dont want to sell you a car or negotiate the price. From what I can tell IM typically getting pretty good deals. Ive purchased out of state before and honestly that seems to go smoother. Other than flying to get the vehicle it wasn't bad. But sales profession is like any other profession. There are bad apples there as well. Sometimes you end up dealing with that person. Its a part of life really. I think its great you are not that way. But if someone came in and didnt haggle and said I want purchase this car. How would you do it? Did you sell the MSRP and give them "dealer discounts"? Or did you give them the bottom number?

 

[arrow]

Dont get me wrong when it comes to sales people. I have walked out. You can tell the ones that dont want to sell you a car or negotiate the price. From what I can tell IM typically getting pretty good deals. Ive purchased out of state before and honestly that seems to go smoother. Other than flying to get the vehicle it wasn't bad. But sales profession is like any other profession. There are bad apples there as well. Sometimes you end up dealing with that person. Its a part of life really. I think its great you are not that way. But if someone came in and didnt haggle and said I want purchase this car. How would you do it? Did you sell the MSRP and give them "dealer discounts"? Or did you give them the bottom number?

This is a great question.
It is, because it separates procedural sales tactics that either emanates the predator or the cooperative.
I’m not here to be predatory toward ppl. I prefer to lend joy as opposed to consternation.
Based on that wiring, the first thing I’d do is to discover why they want this car. Needs and wants sometimes oppose each other and I’m not about to put anyone on a financial ladder for the sake of a sale.

I’d always give ppl a discount. I’d tell them how much l could afford to give and why. I was always fair and expected the same.
Some simply have chips on their shoulders toward sales ppl but l never remained a target of their toxicity and would simply relate that perhaps the way we did business wasn’t a fit for them.
They’d either leave or purchase and the dealership kept their reputation as a straight up and fair place of business.

 

[rScotty]

Well sir, I can abide with all your desires. You have a 7 yr warranty, l will be happy to give preference purchaser designation. Warranty work will provide free transport with availability of a loaner tractor if necessitated. I will give you price breaks on all ancillary implements of your choice.
Please accept this tractor service manual disc along with this nice ball cap. We have in house financing that you may compare with any of your outside finance choices.
We can agree on the price of $20,775 which includes no additional delivery charge. This is the figure we would establish any financing with before any down payments that
are considered by you.
Is there a particular day and time you would accept delivery should you decide to purchase our product?

Nicely said. Next time I'm in a tractor buyng mood you can bet I will be stopping by to see you.
rScotty

 

[arrow]

Nicely said. Next time I'm in a tractor buyng mood you can bet I will be stopping by to see you.
rScotty

Scotty,
I was in rural mountainside Colorado 6 months ago.
You have nice farmers markets. I also xcursioned out to the house where they filmed Woody Allen’s “Sleeper”. It went up for sale while I was there.. asking a mil 3.
Sure, stop in. It’s only about 2300 miles.
Would you be expecting free delivery?

 

[edgarrian]

This is a great question.
It is, because it separates procedural sales tactics that either emanates the predator or the cooperative.
I’m not here to be predatory toward ppl. I prefer to lend joy as opposed to consternation.
Based on that wiring, the first thing I’d do is to discover why they want this car. Needs and wants sometimes oppose each other and I’m not about to put anyone on a financial ladder for the sake of a sale.

I’d always give ppl a discount. I’d tell them how much l could afford to give and why. I was always fair and expected the same.
Some simply have chips on their shoulders toward sales ppl but l never remained a target of their toxicity and would simply relate that perhaps the way we did business wasn’t a fit for them.
They’d either leave or purchase and the dealership kept their reputation as a straight up and fair place of business.

Well that is refreshing to hear. To be honest the sales person that I talked to buying my tractor was really easy to get along with. The deal didnt take long at all. Sadly they are moving to small engines and mowing. They are getting out of the tractor sales business. He said their numbers were consistently going down. Now I could have purchased from his competitor that was probably 1.5hrs away. I believe it was around 500 more off than what i was getting from the guy I was talking to. So i didnt feel the need to buy from the other company

Honestly my dad seems to have chip on his shoulder when he deals. Which is how i learned but my approach is vastly different than his. For example when i purchased my new truck in 2019. I had done most of the negotiating through email b/c it was out of state. The truck was going to be there when I went to sign for it. Well as I was in sales persons office he said it wasn't there yet so I was being light hearted and said well i guess thats another discount on the extended warranty. So when I talked to the finance guy. He said he was worried I was going to get really upset. I said no. **** happens but I still want that discount. He gave it me and I received the truck 2 days later. So I think being kind gets you much further in life than being a hard ass. I was actually working about 3 hrs away for a few weeks so it wasn't a big deal. We all make mistakes. Heck they were willing to help me out with a hotel stay if i needed it.

 

[arrow]

Well that is refreshing to hear. To be honest the sales person that I talked to buying my tractor was really easy to get along with. The deal didnt take long at all. Sadly they are moving to small engines and mowing. They are getting out of the tractor sales business. He said their numbers were consistently going down. Now I could have purchased from his competitor that was probably 1.5hrs away. I believe it was around 500 more off than what i was getting from the guy I was talking to. So i didnt feel the need to buy from the other company

Honestly my dad seems to have chip on his shoulder when he deals. Which is how i learned but my approach is vastly different than his. For example when i purchased my new truck in 2019. I had done most of the negotiating through email b/c it was out of state. The truck was going to be there when I went to sign for it. Well as I was in sales persons office he said it wasn't there yet so I was being light hearted and said well i guess thats another discount on the extended warranty. So when I talked to the finance guy. He said he was worried I was going to get really upset. I said no. **** happens but I still want that discount. He gave it me and I received the truck 2 days later. So I think being kind gets you much further in life than being a hard ass. I was actually working about 3 hrs away for a few weeks so it wasn't a big deal. We all make mistakes. Heck they were willing to help me out with a hotel stay if i needed it.

There are price reasons to purchase elsewhere when pricing is overwhelmingly differentiated.
I’ve had ppl leave me for $50 but what they thought they were getting didn’t pan out including ppl l knew whose spouse didn’t know me.
At the time, we got $450 for a two axle brake job.
I would see some of these ppl later and they would ask if $1150 for their latest job was a good price at the dealership they bought at.
I would always say they did marvelously. Why break their hearts.
A dealership who undercuts every other dealership in sales makes their money in service. A dealership will make their money one way or another.

It is evident to me that you are kind, level headed person. You deserve to be treated with fairness and with above board sales methodology.
It is probably why you get what you want.

 

[edgarrian]

There are price reasons to purchase elsewhere when pricing is overwhelmingly differentiated.
I’ve had ppl leave me for $50 but what they thought they were getting didn’t pan out including ppl l knew whose spouse didn’t know me.
At the time, we got $450 for a two axle brake job.
I would see some of these ppl later and they would ask if $1150 for their latest job was a good price at the dealership they bought at.
I would always say they did marvelously. Why break their hearts.
A dealership who undercuts every other dealership in sales makes their money in service. A dealership will make their money one way or another.

It is evident to me that you are kind, level headed person. You deserve to be treated with fairness and with above board sales methodology.
It is probably why you get what you want.

Yea I have heard people over paying for brakes as well. I do that sort of stuff myself but there have been times where I didnt have the ability. So I went to midas. Keep in mind this 15 year ago. Maybe more. But they wanted 600 for front brakes. I asked him to print off the line item for services charged. They were charging 40 just to bleed brakes as well as some other ridiculous charges. I was able to get the price down to 400 which in my head is still a lot. People dont understand it removing the wheel and then 4 bolts. It really easy. If someone asked on the forum if a service is to much. I dont have problem with saying yes or no but if the deed is already done and they are asking if they were took. They already know the answer so like you said. Why break their hearts.

thanks for the solid words. It would be great to deal with a person like urself most of the time

 

[arrow]

Yea I have heard people over paying for brakes as well. I do that sort of stuff myself but there have been times where I didnt have the ability. So I went to midas. Keep in mind this 15 year ago. Maybe more. But they wanted 600 for front brakes. I asked him to print off the line item for services charged. They were charging 40 just to bleed brakes as well as some other ridiculous charges. I was able to get the price down to 400 which in my head is still a lot. People dont understand it removing the wheel and then 4 bolts. It really easy. If someone asked on the forum if a service is to much. I dont have problem with saying yes or no but if the deed is already done and they are asking if they were took. They already know the answer so like you said. Why break their hearts.

thanks for the solid words. It would be great to deal with a person like urself most of the time.

That’s just what my wife says…..I’m good for most of the time..

 

[tradosaurus]

I Certainly wish it was like you are saying. Now I enjoy good bantering back in forth. All the times I have gone through the finance department. That seems like it takes awhile even after everything has been agreed upon. I believe I was i there for an hour but we were also talking. Total time of the dealership was 4 hours. It included test drive, both my wife and i drove. Id say negotiating was 2hrs maybe a little longer. there are some places that do the know haggling and prices are what they are. Carmax i believe does this

And then there is Tesla where I bought and financed my car online within 30 minutes. Maybe Tesla will start selling tractors?

 

[arrow]

And then there is Tesla where I bought and financed my car online within 30 minutes. Maybe Tesla will start selling tractors?

So far, the electric tractor has not taken off bigly.
We tried one at the dealership but its largest limitation was shortened work time in cold weather.
Hard work such as skidding trees also cut into its efficacy. The price was about the same but for less work capability.
I think the compact tractor platform doesn’t provide the actual physical space for the good size battery these really need for cold climates and heavy work. They have electric bulldozers but those batteries are quite large being about 4 times the size in your car.
As battery tech advances, maybe at that point but the electric tractor certainly has its place for the average homeowner imo.

 

[edgarrian]

And then there is Tesla where I bought and financed my car online within 30 minutes. Maybe Tesla will start selling tractors?

EV tractors have a long way to go . Lets be honest so do EV vehicles. I wonder if EVs allow for negotiating. Id imagine not b/c everyone sold is a loss except tesla vehicles

 

[tradosaurus]

EV tractors have a long way to go . Lets be honest so do EV vehicles. I wonder if EVs allow for negotiating. Id imagine not b/c everyone sold is a loss except tesla vehicles

I wasn't serious about EV tractor. Concerning EV's, it depends upon how you define "long way to go".
Personally I'm to the point now that I won't own anything but an EV.

 

[arrow]

Personally, I think EV technology is already antiquated. There is something else on the horizon and this EV stuff is just a temporary Stop gap measure for some people to make money with right now.
It’s introduction just hasn’t been handled correctly no matter how many commercials they try to make to shove it down on throats.
As with anything else, it fits in some people‘s lifestyles and with others, not so much.

 

[edgarrian]

Personally, I think EV technology is already antiquated. There is something else on the horizon and this EV stuff is just a temporary Stop gap measure for some people to make money with right now.
It’s introduction just hasn’t been handled correctly no matter how many commercials they try to make to shove it down on throats.
As with anything else, it fits in some people‘s lifestyles and with others, not so much.

The only Manufacturer making money on EVs is Tesla. It took them 13 years turn a profit. In my eyes 13 years of losses doesn't mean the company as a whole is profitable. Brand recognition has really helped Tesla stay a float.

I hope you are right about EVs being a Stop Gap but if you look at everything the Department of Loans was approving. It was Battery Manufacturing, Solar manufacturing and so on. I dont think its a stop gap considering how much the loans office was loaning out to get the EV market going.