what Ida done different on my BX buy

[r0GuE]

bx new to me: Unfortunatly, I am taking plenty of heat for my honesty as it is. I have placed this post to alert people new to this market that some dealers will treat their $10,000 - $15,000 investment like scrap metal if they are not specific in their expectations. Some dealers seem to take offense at being called to task for their professionalism. They feel that i am unfair to them and that they should be permitted to do as they please. I do not feel I am being unfair in pointing out what is occuring fairly regularly. However, I do feel it would be unfair to flame my dealer by name when he has probably no idea that this site exists and cannot defend himself.
My post is not to punish my bufoons but to alert those whose hard earned money is about to be spent that they might want to be carefull.
That said, perhaps CaseKub3 would like to post his dealerships name to save those who feel they are picky the time that would be wasted going to his shop. He doesn't want to sell tractors to them!


Rogue

 

[r0GuE]

Whoa.. You slipped one in while I was typing.
Ok, maybe you do turn a few away. Maybe rightfully so. Maybe some customers aren't worth dealing with. Certainly some dealers aren't. If you itemize what I had reccomended requesting from a dealer. You might notice that there is nothing unreasonable listed. Perhaps your mind has assigned an imaginary Rogue who is condescending in demeanor. I don't reccomend someone be condescending. I am very polite in my dealings with my dealer.
We'll call it a draw. I understand your view point. I think if I had bought my tractor from you, I probably wouldn't have had a problem. To be perfectly honest, my dealer did take care of me. But, I see in retrospect that if I had moved proactivly to explain that this tractor will be my personal tractor which I wish to run for decades rather than a unit in a corporate fleet. He may have acted diferently.
Past is past, I'm just trying to help others on the site.

Rogue

 

[Don_Curley]

Rogue,

Although I am a total newbie to all things tractors (except my "manifest destiny" to possess one), I for one appreciate your post and your positions on the subject. I openly admit that I am by nature a picky SOB, and that I value the money I have which is hard-earned by definition and practice. And yet, I believe as you seem to be, that I am innately trustful of my fellow human beings in that I initially trust and typically believe in folks and business entities until they do something that causes me to rethink that otherwise open and reasonable approach. And believe me, I have had a lifetime of being treated with respect and customer courtesy as well as quite the opposite.

Your post has stimulated some good discourse and I for one support your efforts and thoughts in general. Moreover, this is not intended to be any form or veiled slam against CaseKub3, who has also made some well considered points from the other side of the coin (although I agree, it would be nice if he definitively identified his dealership, as it sounds like a first-rate operation ... all things considered).

Don

 

[r0GuE]

Thanks for the reassurance. When I first began to look in to tractors, I found a few sites that discussed them. I was led to this site by Trescrow, who among others taught me the virtues of Kubota and tuned my needs to a BX2200 (thank God). One of the criteria that focused me on such a heavy duty "serious" tractor for what is essentially a 1 acre flat lot, was that I really wanted a machine that, with care, would last for decades. While I intended to tenderly beat my craft from time to time, I was greatly disappointed when I found so many obvious mistreatments and oversights when my tractor was delivered. I was disappointed that the person delivering it was so unknowledgeable and that the mechanic was so cavalier regarding the issues I raised.
I was amazed at the harmony of voices on this site which echoed my experiences and in some cases where much worse.
Essentially what I expected was something similar to a new car buy. It is visually and functionally (possibly anally) perfect on delivery. It is up to me if I want to race rally with it in the Baja 500 or if I want to laminate it and place it in my garage.
All that aside. My desire with this post was to return to the group (primarily the new members) what was given to me when I was searching. Especially since it seemed I had a new viewpoint to add.
CaseKub3 has valid points (from his viewpoint anyways, since none of his points are valid in the sense that the customer is always right. I don't think the saying is that the customer is always right, so long as he is an accomodating mushpie).
On a side note, I don't vend as much credence to those who don't register and participate in the newsgroup. And I give kudos to you for registering. The BX is an excellent machine. If you feel it is too much tractor for you, you are probably wrong. If you feel it is too little, you are probably wrong. (that's a broad statement, but fun to say!!).
Good luck in your search. I'm sure you (like any intelligent person), will apply my reccomendation with tact.

Rogue

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Don, I am sorry, I meant to tell you where I worked last night, but had sat long enough at the 'puter already. 1st let me say that we are a friendly dealership who welcomes customers, I in NO WAY meant to make it seem that customers were not a valuable commodity (obviously I like a fat wallet!). My views are from conversations with the rest of our sales department, and the actual results of sales gone bad, they may represent a defacto practice, but they are strictly my views, not those of Kubota, or Goodrich Implement Inc. in Johnson City, NY
Rogue, OK...it's a draw!!!! Hope you have good luck from here on out with that BX, and feel free to e-maile me ; CaseKub3@msn.com if I can ever be of help!

 

[Bird]

CaseKub3, I think you're right in calling it a draw; you're both right. There are a few dealerships of the type Rogue described (in fact I know of one in my area), but fortunately, I think they're in the minority. And I've had enough experience in retail and repair businesses to know there are customers whom you simply cannot please and whom you do not want.

Bird

 

[Don_Curley]

CaseKub3,

I appreciate your follow-up post, but there's really no need to apologize. As I said, you made some perfectly good points from a dealership point of view, which can certainly be as valid as those counterpoint thoughts from a consumer vantage. And Bird is correct ... you and Rogue were both right. And although I do try to be reasonable, I am sure my pickiness has probably caused someone on your side of the fence to think I may be more trouble than I am worth at some point in time.

Anyway, I do feel it is admirable that someone from a dealer takes the time to stay in touch with this type of free-flowing board ... and it does take a certain amount of integrity (and perhaps guts) to stick your neck out and express your opinions ... even if they run counter to someone else's position. So I for one applaud your taking the time to join in on the conversations as I think it is healthy to get as many perspectives as possible on any given subject. I also want to thank you for your helpful and informative posts on my BL4690A backhoe thread.

Don

 

[70boss]

Interesting post... I am not in the tractor business, but I manage a large car dealership and we sell thousands of vehicles each year. Sometimes when you are in the business, you lose sight of the fact that for each individual, the car/tractor buying is a very major event in their lives. Since we " in the business" use, and work around new stuff everyday, we lose some of the emotion of the purchase. On the other hand, I can relate to Casecub concerning the desire to NOT sell a vehicle to some people. In my experience, the people who pay the most, are the happiest customer. Happy with theor vehicle, happy with thier dealer, overall...completely satisfied. The grinders, 10 dealership shoppers, etc. they many times think someone else got a better deal. Some people cannot recognize a good deal.
Rogue, I understand how you feel. I recently bought a B7500, and I bought it from the dealer that stayed incontact with me for 11 months. The unit was delivered with a 3-4 inch scratch on the hood. He told me about it, and wanted me to see it. The scratch is still there, and I will probably live with it, o fix it myself. But it looks like he is going to do the 50 hour service for free....that is the plan anyway. 14 hours on the clock, and the machine works great. Have fun with yours!!

 

[r0GuE]

That is pretty much my point entirely. The dealers loose sight of who their customers are and what their customers desire. I don't mean to make enemies here but I'll be blunt. IT"S YOUR JOB!!
Your job is not just to front some paper, rip out a tractor from a crate and buss it to my home.
Your job (even if it's hard) is to make me happy. I pay your bills. I am the customer. Don't like providing good service to some people who are difficult? Then it's time to find a line of work that does not involve customer service. A dealership should be defined by customer service. That's why large corporations supply through dealers. I don't want to go on a rant again, but quite frankly, I'm sick and tired of dealers complaining about customers who are picky about their 10 thousand dollar + machines. If you don't want complaints, unpack the machines with care. Touch up what needs touched up. Send back what needs sent back. Buy some damned paper towels rather than cleaning the dip sticks on your filthy pants.
I swear to God I just can't get past the simple fact that the customers always right. I use it in my line of work. If the customer expects reasonable care, give it to them.
Perhaps I shouldn't have even put the onus on the consumer in my post. Perhaps I should give some ideas to dealers on what a reasonable (picky does not mean I am unreasonable, it means I am picky) customer might want. A little reminder to those who forget that tractors cost about a years worth of disposable post tax income.

Rogue

 

[RPM]

This might strike you as really coming out of left field - but here goes.

I think this is a great case for immigration. The US as a whole is at the point where some people in some service jobs just don't seem to care. They believe they have the right to the job - not that they are there to serve the customer (and be paid for it).

I'm all for encouraging more immigration to bring in some <font color=blue>skilled</font color=blue> folks who would really appreciate the work. It's good for the country as a whole. Would either make your buffoon get smart in a hurry or would get him replaced.

Maybe this is too off topic ...