what Ida done different on my BX buy

[70boss]

I agree with SOME of what you say, but " the customer is always right" does not apply carte blanche. It is both a privlage to be able to sell something to someone, AND it is a privledge (not an absolute right) to buy something from someone. There is a line of pickiness...which is fine, and being unreasonable. I enjoy exceeding my customers expectations in the car business, but I don't mind letting the store down the road take care of the unreasonable customer from hell, that you end up living with for years, and not making any thing on anyway. The profit margins on a $10,000 tractor are very slim, just like they are on new vehicles in that price range. Sometimes it is just not worth the aggravation, especially when the sterotypes start flying. After all, we are all human and mistakes sometimes happen. It just depends on the resolve of the customer and service provider. My post was neutral, since I have experience on both sides of the fence. Life is too short to get all worked up all the time.

 

[r0GuE]

It is not only a privilege to sell me a tractor. It is a profession. As a dealer, you produce nothing. You essentially work for me (the consumer) and for the corporation that produces the tractor.
It is NOT a privilege for me to buy a tractor from you. This is not your grandfathers WWII battle helmet, a cherished family possession. This tractor is merely a commodity produced by a large multi-national corporation. As a dealer, you are employed by the corporation to sell that product. I as a consumer am in no way employed or otherwise bound to purchase it.
I think that clearly says it. You start with nothing, borrow material, add service (or in my case, headaches and scratches), and skim profit from it.
That said,
Clearly I do not mean that a customer can come in MFing you and complaining about the shade of orange or level of armorall sheen.
It is up to you, the dealer, to determine the profit margin you need to make to operate your bussiness successfully. Once you've done that, it is up to me, the consumer, to determine which dealer offers the best value in price, tempered with my "gut" feeling on what type of service I can expect. That in itself is a difficult decision. The reason I feel so strongly throughout this thread is that I have found that there isn't much difference in treatment between dealers service (at least in my area), it's all lousy. (as I said earlier, this is not only in the tractor industry but everybody everywhere / a general statement to be sure).
I will admit that the further I go with this, the more I find myself blowing it out of proportion. My experience really seemed to rock me more out of the disrespect that I felt because of how my property was treated. The tractor wasn't ruined or anything. The problem was rather minor, and the dealer took care of me. In fact, I would probably reccomend him with the caviates that I started this thread with.
Oh well, I'm tired of this argument. I'll never change the mindset of "it's a privelege to buy the tractor".
It's so obsurd a thought that it must be a foundational thought, firmly held and not to be redirected.
I mean no disrespect, only disagreement.

Rogue

 

[r0GuE]

As for immagration of skilled labor. I am no protectionist. I have traveled the world in my profession. I have seen those who work so hard for nothing and have no way to better themselves.
I don't want to digress too far in to polotics. It's hot enough in here just talkin tractors!!

Rogue

 

[Anonymous Poster]

***The reason I feel so strongly throughout this thread is that I have found that there isn't much difference in treatment between dealers service (at least in my area), it's all lousy. ***


If all the dealers service is lousy in your area how do you know your attitude towards them doesn't play into consideration when they deal with you. You may be a nice guy but from your post you do come out sounding like someone who will never be happy unless they give you the tractor and the truck they deliver it on for free. If all the dealers in your area are lousy then how do they stay in business? Probally because most people do not find them lousy. I do think your biggest problem is your attitude and you may think that your coming across as gracious but they may perceive you as arrogant or unsatisfiable and in return are not happy to deal with you. I have no problems with my dealers in my area, some have high prices and for that reason I do not buy much from them but every time I go into the dealerships they are kind enough to answer my questions wether its about a 1950 allis chalmers B or a 1999 New Holland TS 90.

I guess what I am trying to say is that it might not be entirely your dealers fault that you are having problems with them but maybe also your fault.

 

[r0GuE]

I suppose there's no way to definatilvely prove this to you. If I seem hostile I can assure you that the hostility is borne of mistreatment not vice versa.

When I say that all dealers are like this, it comes from multiple peoples references. I only have personal experience with the one. And as I've said, it really wasn't all that bad. I know that I am not inducing this service because I didn't have the problem with the dealer until my tractor showed up. I did not have any issues with my dealer until the 17 year old kid dumped the tractor off and it had scratches and dings and wrong fluid levels and stickers on it that I mentioned I'd rather not have.
I said ABSOLUTLY nothing in this post about wanting something for nothing. I paid slightly more for my tractor at the dealer I bought it from because I felt his demeanor was better and that I would get better service. I did not bring out all of my points that I mentioned in the start of this post prior to my purchase. I would have never thought that I needed to. That is why I made this post, to alert others that they MAY want to think about their expectations and verbalize them if need be.
Arrogance you say? I suppose you might get that because I took some time to choose my words carefully, but I am not arrogant. I'll never convince you of this, nor do I wish to expend any more time trying.
I think that the dealers that spoke up in this thread say it all for me, they admit (to their credit) that it is easy to forget that the customer looks at the tractor (especially when brand new) as more than just a shovel or hammer.
The fact that I get the resistance I am seeing just reinforces my proposition that nobody cares what the customer wants and will quickly throw blame on a customer with issues.
If it makes you feel better about yourself and/or the service you provide as a dealer, then knock yourself out. I'm a horribly person who wants everything for free. If you don't keep your eye on me, I'll kick your dog. What can I say.
I could not have described the conditions of my predicament any clearer. If you still think ill of me then so be it. I didn't write this thread to argue about whether I'm too picky or not. i wrote it so that the young kid shelling hard jack for his tractor can mention to the salesman that he'd rather have the tractor strapped and not chained. etc. etc.



Rogue

 

[70boss]

Robert...Amen... I'm with ya'. What strikes me as funny, is that I think Rogue thinks I'm a tractor dealer...NOT. I actually, as part of my post relayed a very similar situation to his....a scratched tractor at delivery. So you say the problem was really minor...ok..thats good...and that the dealer did want to correct it and make it ok...sounds even better. So then you think it's OK to sterotype, generalize and put down "all dealers", and the "17 year old buffoon". Whats wrong with being a 17 year old ( probably not the case if he was driving a company truck) who brings out your tractor? Here is an angle for you... did you pay the full price for the tractor? Probably not. So why in this case do you expect the full service? I negotiated a great price, and the dealer was really sick about telling me about the scratch on my B7500, but guess what, 14 hours on the clock and there are a couple other "beauty marks" to match. Think about that, discount price, discount service. I was amused by your first post at the similarities to my own delivery experience. But like others, turn sour by the rhetoric. Okay..nuff said, back to tractors and such.

Rob
AKA "70boss"
the 29 year old who is probably to young to own a new Kubota tractor, 63 acres, 2 houses, a big shed, lots of stuff, over 15 classic mustangs in the last 9 years, .....oh yeah, no I didn't win the lottery, I work my A#$ off EXCEEDING my customers expectations in the car business.

 

[r0GuE]

I didn't call the 17 year old a bufoon, I called him a kid. He was genuinly concerned though unknowledgeable.
I don't care if your a dealer or not, I'm speaking to the dealers.
You were amused by the original post, good, clearly I tried to be humorous, some find the content in a humorous format to be arrogance.
As for discount tractor, discount service, I wish I could have bought it with no service. Most of my problems were born at the dealer.
rhetoric:
Yeah, I'll admit I'm tired of it too, but I find it impossible not to argue on the issue of customer service.
The irony to this unending post is that in fact, I am now reasonably happy with my dealer. Though I really hope I never have to take the tractor back to them for any reason. They are good people but they lack care for details.
I am also very happy with my tractor (BX2200)
I do agree that it has all been said here and its time to talk tractors again.

Rogue

 

[DarinRay]

AKA "70boss"
the 29 year old who is probably to young to own a new Kubota tractor, 63 acres, 2 houses, a big shed, lots of stuff, over 15 classic mustangs in the last 9 years, .....oh yeah, no I didn't win the lottery, I work my A#$ off EXCEEDING my customers expectations in the car business.

NO IT'S ABOUT TIME....29 YOUR OLD MAN SHOOT I'M 24 AND AM GOING TO BLOW YOUR DOORS OFF BY THEN. Now if I meant all that don't you think that would sound arrogant like your too young post? And no I'm not 24 just for the point. And no that wouldn't just be confident that's arrogant with a capital A. So let's see Mr. to young to have all you have let's all try to be more thankful for what we have and not just talk tihs. Sorry I had to vent.....Attitudes

Darin

 

[70boss]

If you post what you feel, you shouldn't have to apologize. If people think I'm arrogant, so be it. Very confident and proud, yes, arrogant, sometimes yes. The point wasn't to brag, I don't do that usually unless I am talking about family. I was just venting over some gross generalizations about dealers, customer service, and younger people in general. Thankful?? Now you make assumptions about things you don't know, why would you think I am not thankful...just doesn't make sense.
I did get a kick out of your post though, for a minute I thought I'd have to pick the brain of a 24 year old to get a few pointers. Oh well, a missed opportunity.

Rob

 

[DarinRay]

In my post I stated, " let's all try to be more thankful." Not you aren't thankful which I wouldn't know like you said. But anyway this is getting waaaaaaayyyyyy away from tractors. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif BTW I am 1 year your elder so respect me /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Like stated many times in this forum time is too precious to waste on arguing at least for me it is so for myself I call a truce.

Darin