They wont leave will enough alone:

[exiled]

Some farmers that brang their grain to where I work have came pretty good friends of mine. They seem to respect my opinion and everybody knows I've been trying to buy a tractor. So naturaully when the deed was done the news hit the country side. Some of my friends trade with Tri-Green just because its John Deere. They buy everything there even though they know they can get the same hydralic hose down the street for a 3rd less. Some of this has changed after how they treated me, and a very good friend flat out called the manger and told him he did'nt like what he heard and would'nt be trading with them any more. This guy has dropped $200,000 every fews years for a while on them. He spends like $30,000 a year on maintance, blades, and verious machinary. All at the same place. Neatless to say my phone has been ringing off the hook.I've been busy loading barges so I'm not real avaible. I've talked to 3 people this week from Tri-Green HQ plus the store manger. They all demanding me to let them make this right. The manger has begged me to let him come service the tractor on him. Everything they offer I tell them no. I dont want anything I have'nt paided for. I've told everybody I've talked to this week from Tri-Green I'm over it. I'm just not doing any more busness with them. I thought I have made myself pretty dang clear. Then I get home see 7 missed calls all from Tri-Green. 2 messages sumed up as to they want to service the tractor plus treat it and the loader to "DakotaShine" to make it look like it was new. and give me 2 years of warranty. The manger left his home number asking for me to call. All he wanted to say was he valued my busness and wants to keep it. I insisted he does not want my busness that much was showed in how serious they took me when they sent me on my way with a tractor that still had work grim on it. When I asked about the service he himself pretty much said I got what you'd expect from buying a used tractor.
I know this is getting long winded, but my wife is starting to nip at my heels. She's saying I'm being unreasonable about all this. I should take the offerings and run. I dont feel that way. How about yall? As far as I'm concerned I gave them way to many chances to earn my busness. 3 times in one week in fact. I dont want to be taken serious just because someone with alot of clout complains. I want to earn my own way thru my own hard work. For what ever the reason they did'nt think I was inportant enough before, I dont care what they think now cause they are'nt the only ones that sell AG-equiment. I will not trade with them again. You can say they did'nt earn my busness. "Get me once shame on you, Get me twice shame on me". Theres only one way I know how to keep from getting burnt twice.

 

[ScottK]

You earned it because you complained to the right people - their other customers. They will always treat you right now. I think you should take everything they offer. It is not free - they caused you a lot of grief and they owe you.

I've been in your spot dealing with a home builder sales person only worse - they tried to sell my house to someone else. In the end I got the house and a substantial discount.

Generally a complaint along with a request for what it will take to make it right is the proper ettiquette when you're unhappy with a company. Since you haven't told them what you want, they're throwing it at you because it is costing them lots of money. If you don't like what they're offering, tell them what you do want - a free implement? You will have their ear from now on. Clearly they and you did not know how "powerful" your word is Take it as a compliment and get the freebies.

Scott

 

[mred]

You have good friends that backed you up when it mattered. Be thankful because that kind of friendship is not common. I would guess you have such friends because of who you are. Do what you think is the right thing. My 2 cents. If you feel the dealer is trying to make this right let him. Everyone deserves a second chance. If you think it is being done for the wrong reasons don't.

 

[ChuckinNH]

There is that part of us that doesn't want anything for nothing, or anything because someone else got it for us. I have made my own way in life, and understand that very well. Your pride is a good thing, as is your desire to have nothing that you don't work for. There is a line we can cross though, and I regret the times I have crossed it myself. If we take away our own business then we have treated others as we have been treated I guess. If we use others to hurt someone that we feel has hurt us, that is different. The company you dealt with made a serious mistake, and treated you badly. Others have pointed out that mistake to that company, and it has been a real wakeup call for them. They are now very much aware of their place in the community, and how important all their customers are, and just as importantly, how connected to each other they are. In my mind, you wanted that more than you wanted to punish them for what they did to you. It takes a big man to accept an appology gracefully. You might even make some new friends in the process. Remember that the money that goes into that place circulates around your community in many ways.

 

[exiled]

There is that part of us that doesn't want anything for nothing, or anything because someone else got it for us. I have made my own way in life, and understand that very well. Your pride is a good thing, as is your desire to have nothing that you don't work for. There is a line we can cross though, and I regret the times I have crossed it myself. If we take away our own business then we have treated others as we have been treated I guess. If we use others to hurt someone that we feel has hurt us, that is different. The company you dealt with made a serious mistake, and treated you badly. Others have pointed out that mistake to that company, and it has been a real wakeup call for them. They are now very much aware of their place in the community, and how important all their customers are, and just as importantly, how connected to each other they are. In my mind, you wanted that more than you wanted to punish them for what they did to you. It takes a big man to accept an appology gracefully. You might even make some new friends in the process. Remember that the money that goes into that place circulates around your community in many ways.

Chuck what you said is very true and I agree. I'm all for my community, and I would take a simple apology very gracefully and be did with. I dont wont them punished. Our community has other outlets for me to buy from. And I had to drive 45 miles to get to that dealer and theres other Tri-Greens around me. From the start I justed wanted to let them know they lost my busness. The cliche is you dont know what you got untell its gone. Well its gone. I dont want to take anybody with me thats not my doing.

Yes I have some very good friends. Not patting myself on the back. I made these friends in a market thats very dishonest. I have cometted myself to our customers and our company. I would take nothing for my friends. I have learned more from them than any service that I have given them.

You guys that think I should accept the offerings, I understand what your saying. I just cant do it. I know I could never look at them in the eye and busness with them again. Kinda like catching an employee stealing from you. You can never trust or look at them the same way again. Oh it would be nice to bleed 'em then enjoy the fruits. I have to look at myself in the mirror in the morning brushing my teeth then again at night.

 

[NuBota]

You have an interesting dilemma - you want to be treated as a good customer - not that "jerk" customer that can make waves. At the same time, you have an outstanding grievance that needs to be addressed

I think I would treat it like any dispute - let them apologize and make amends. If it seems sincere then maybe give them another chance (maybe they have learned a lesson... ). The true test will be how you get treated if/when you go in for warranty work. Otherwise, accept the apology, let them make the current issue right, and then never deal with them again. Well, deal with them as long as you need to in terms of this transaction - but give another place your "new" business. You can still give a negative opinion of the place if asked.

Either way, you are not sacrificing your principles by having them make your current transaction "right".

 

[exiled]

You have an interesting dilemma -
Either way, you are not sacrificing your principles by having them make your current transaction "right".

Thats the thing. It can never be set right. I do not believe in time travel so we're not going back. They can not change how my tractor looked when I showed up to take it home. After being told he would have it ready by 1st thing in the morning. If I'm over looking something please brang it to my attention.

 

[ScottK]

Here's another way to look at it. Do what your wife tells you to do. Most of us probably have to do that everyday anyway.

Most companies have a "customer is always right" and/or "satisfaction is guaranteed" type of policy. They are obligated to make it right when they know they have an unhappy customer. You don't have to forgive them. Just let them try.

Imagine if Deere finds out how much business they might lose because they didn't sell a clean Deere machine? Deere may come down on them much harder than you would expect if they don't make it right. They are not #1 worldwide for no reason.

 

[putt_putt_green]

Seems to me there trying to make ammends is strictly from a financial standpoint. They are only offering you good service now because they are losing money because they treated you badly. They dug the hole, let them smother in it. I'm sure they'll recover from this and learn a good lesson. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[CurlyDave]

There is another problem here.

By not accepting Tri-Green's offer, your friends are being inconvenienced by changing their dealerships and business patterns.

Plus, when word gets back to your friends that Tri-Green tried to "make it right", but you were obstinate, their opinion of you may change for the worse.

Essentially, you weren't treated right because Tri-Green thought you were a little guy, but now they are offering up an apology and compensation which will cost them something.

I think you should swallow your hurt, and your pride, and accept Tri-Green's offer. And, let your friends know about it. Goodwill has a way of coming around time & again. But, if you are obstinate, you will end up hurting yourself in other ways.

A big man knows when to bury the hatchet, a petty man knows how to keep a grievance alive.

Dave

P.S. I have a few friends and a few business relationships which started off with incidents similar to the one you describe, ways in which I felt I had been wronged. Most of the time, if the people on the other side were willing to take a step toward me, I would take a step toward them. On a personal basis these are some of the best friends I have today, and in the case of businesses, I have gone back time and again because they started to treat me much more honestly and with respect.