Buying Advice Things to look for at a dealer

[First tractor family]

I have been reading this forum for some time now and there is some great advice being given. I am new to the tractor buying experience. My family and I have recently moved out to the country. We now have about 5 acres with some woods but mainly open land. I got the go-ahead from my wife and now I get to buy a tractor! :thumbsup: Problem is I have no experience with a purchase like this. So im looking for some stories/ advice on your experience at different tractor dealers. Some good things and some bad. I know this is different than most posts but I am not as concerned about the color of the machine as much as I am the dealership behind it. Since I am new to this I am going to need a good dealer for support and advice. And I figure with all the experience on this site I should get some great advice on what to look for.

 

[bp fick]

First, first, first..... make a list of the thing you presently think/know you want to do with this tractor.

1. Plow snow? Yes, no, n/a
2. Blow snow? Yes, no, n/a
3. Cut grass? Yes, no, n/a
4. Work garden? Yes, no, n/a
5. Gravel drive?
6. Pull logs, fire wood?
7. Move dirt piles?
8. Pull trailer?

etc.

You need to have a slightly, slightly clear picture in your own mind as to whether you want to focus on having an all purpose lawn/garden/utility type tractor, aka a BX model, or a slightly more physical, taller B model type tractor, or even the more intense L model type tractor. I use Kubota's models, because this is a Kubota forum thread.

Once that fuzzy sort of narrowing down process is clearer in your own mind, then comes determining the dealership. Hopefully, you have a choice. I'd rather drive 30 miles farther to a dealer who is helpful, honest, not overbearing, well stocked with parts and supplies and so forth than to deal with a closer dealership that just doesn't cut the mustard.

I am going to assume you are a mature person, well experienced in your field of work and you know a come on salesman from an honest, helpful guy. Walk away from the former and walk toward the latter, and let your gut be your guide.

ENJOY!!!!!

 

[CBW1999]

I would make a list of ALL the things you want to be able to do now, and in several years. Remember as you complete tasks, new projects will be possible. This will help narrow down what will work now and in the future- as well as help decide if buying bigger now or in the future is the best way to go.

As you work on the list, remember to include the implements you will need to go along with the tractor. this is where the list can grow fairly big. Research as you go- learn about what different implements do and do-not do.

Once you get your "list" together, start looking around on different manufacturers web sites- see what each offers for their models. if you are able to, drive around the dealers lot and look at what is there ( I still do this...bugs my wife:thumbsup

Print out specs for several brands and models, along with your list- start visiting dealers. There is another thread that goes into what TBN'rs like to see in dealerships and sales people. There are also several very good dealers on this site that chime in once in a while (Barlows, Meesicks, Sweet Tractors to name a few).

Ask for a dealer to compare and contrast with other brands, ask specific questions. Be prepared to walk away DO NOT BUY ON YOUR FIRST VISIT!!! Do not answer if asked anything like " how much are you planning on spending" or "what payment are you looking for". Those are the evil tactics of the finance world. You may be able to afford a small payment..and they will see that you pay forever Although your budget is very important, do your research first. you may have to adjust your list of "want vs need" once you start seeing prices.

There is tons of information on this site- I have spent many hours reading and researching here. Had I known about TBN years ago, I would have done a lot of things different.

Good luck and have fun on your quest!

 

[TripleR]

I look for a well maintained facility with a good selection on the lot that has preferably been in business for a while.

Talk to some of your new neighbors with tractors to see which one they use.

Go talk to some salesmen and compare how you are treated, how knowledgeable/helpful they were and if they really wanted to do business with you.

Ask to try a tractor out; won't buy if I can't run it. If you don't know how, see how accommodating they are.

Once you pick a dealer, you should have by that time narrowed down your search criteria.

 

[Thomas]

Ask other buyers about dealership,also visits with walk/look abouts,most of all dealer attitude.

 

[leonz]

I have been reading this forum for some time now and there is some great advice being given. I am new to the tractor buying experience. My family and I have recently moved out to the country. We now have about 5 acres with some woods but mainly open land. I got the go-ahead from my wife and now I get to buy a tractor! :thumbsup: Problem is I have no experience with a purchase like this. So im looking for some stories/ advice on your experience at different tractor dealers. Some good things and some bad. I know this is different than most posts but I am not as concerned about the color of the machine as much as I am the dealership behind it. Since I am new to this I am going to need a good dealer for support and advice. And I figure with all the experience on this site I should get some great advice on what to look for.

If you want to find one the issue is simple!!


Is your dealer willing to tell you if you are making a mistake and lose a sale rather than a customer, he will not hesitate in answering you period if you know nothing about tractors!!!!!

 

[First tractor family]

Well we have made some initial visits, I should have clarified. We have narrowed down to a tractor similar in size to Kubota's B series ( Leaning towards Kubota but not locked into it ) Between 25 and 30 hp with loader and deck. Wife said I have to hold off on my backhoe for now, ( I've been bringing home extra flowers to try and sway her mind ). Sorry I didnt clarify all this earlier. So we are to the stage of figuring out where to buy the machine. Thats why I was looking for things to look for in a good dealership to start a relationship with. Great advice on selection though.

also where are the posts that already address dealer experiences? Where can I look them up?

 

[TripleR]

Well we have made some initial visits, I should have clarified. We have narrowed down to a tractor similar in size to Kubota's B series ( Leaning towards Kubota but not locked into it ) Between 25 and 30 hp with loader and deck. Wife said I have to hold off on my backhoe for now, ( I've been bringing home extra flowers to try and sway her mind ). Sorry I didnt clarify all this earlier. So we are to the stage of figuring out where to buy the machine. Thats why I was looking for things to look for in a good dealership to start a relationship with. Great advice on selection though.

also where are the posts that already address dealer experiences? Where can I look them up?

There are a lot of posts on how well people were treated by Barlow's.

It would help if you filled out your profile, so people would know where you live and so on.

 

[DiezNutz]

Wife said I have to hold off on my backhoe for now, ( I've been bringing home extra flowers to try and sway her mind ).

If you really want a BH, now might be the time to get it, as it will never be as good of a deal in the future. Especially, if you're eyeing up one of those 0D/0% deals, you can finance the BH for free along with the tractor; can't do that later. Something to consider.

 

[johnrex62]

I have to say that Attitude was the biggest factor that won my business.

I showed up to window shop at 11am on a Saturday and they close at noon. My dealer took the time to answer my obviously novice questions and his smile never left his face or voice. He never asked my budget or payment target. He focused strictly on what I wanted to do and what my property was like. He recommended a range of models and suggested which would be minimal and which would be big enough for future growth. He did this all while still dealing with other customers buying parts and window shopping. He was able to make everyone in the shop feel like they were being helped even when he asked them to wait while he handled someone else for a minute. He answered the phone while I was sitting with him and told a customer that if they were ready to come over he would wait for them until they got there. It was almost noon when they called.

I got to watch him handle part sales, returns and exchanges of parts. I saw him deal with multiple customers and extend his hours well after closing on a Saturday to allow customers a chance to shop. All of my followup calls and negotiations on price were friendly and unrushed. He returned calls and honored his promises on the phone without any hesitation.

My first "problem resolution" occurred right after delivery. The contract for financing he sent out had the wrong price on it ($500 too high), I called him to see what had happened and he apologized as soon as he understood what he had done and corrected the price to what we had negotiated, even though nothing was in writing. It took all of 2 minutes to work out the only problem I have had so far.

I would recommend evaluating a dealer by how they treat people, how they deal with customer problems and how willing they are to work with people who have service issues. Don't be afraid to talk to the customers in the service or parts departments and find out what their experiences have been. People who are in the midst of a problem are usually very happy to badmouth the product, dealer, mechanic, etc. Take their venom with a grain of salt and recognize their praise as something to really take notice of.