Why is it such a hassle?

[GC1710]

Visited a few dealers after hours to look (sit) on a few scuts. Did some online research. Picked a Massey GC. Went onto tractorhouse and equipmenttrader, found the best deal within 300 miles. Called the next day, was honest and asked for a little more, was thrown in a 48” bush hog....deal closed the very next day. Now I buy my oil and stuff at the local MF dealer and told them straight up how they didn’t get my initial business, everything is good, especially the 5 year powertrain warranty.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I did, thanks. I have actually only visited one dealer. It was a Branson dealer in the North Texas area. It was such a positive experience, that I almost certain I will be purchasing a tractor from them. However, I am trying to due my due diligence and pick the tractor that will best fit my needs as well. I filled out a 'receive a quote' from another Branson dealer in the area. That was more than a week ago. I still haven't received a quote, but at least I have gotten a half dozen or so spam e-mails from them that all start out with, "Hi there,". Not a great way to win over a customer.

I have had a couple of good e-mail exchanges with LS dealers. One is about 75 minutes away, and the other over 2 hours. The positive Branson dealer is well over an hour away too. I am pretty much limited to visiting one dealer every Saturday, and sometimes that is tough to fit in. I am busy during the workday, and don't have the time to spend on the phone. Much of my tractor gathering sessions consists of online searches in the evening. With limited time, all I would like to be able to do is get a general ball park figure for what I want, so I can at least determine if it is in my interest do drive an hour plus each way to look at a tractor. Is that too much to ask?


Chances are that I will be extremely happy with either an LS or Branson.

Got any heavy equipment dealers closer to you? They may have tractors too.

 

[dougtrr2]

I have recently decided to purchase a tractor for a new home we are building on 5 acres. I never knew there were so many different brands. With so much competition in the market, you would think companies would want to make the process as easy as possible.

Why then, is it such a chore just to get a quote from many companies? A starting point should be readily available on their websites. Some dealers have made it easier, and some harder. If I e-mail you with the specific tractor and attachments I want, what is the deal with the 20 questions and endless e-mails? I would argue that I shouldn't have to e-mail you at all. If I am shopping for a house, I know how much the owner is asking before I even go to see it. The same applies to a car.

Due to this, I have naturally gravitated toward a Branson and LS dealerships near me. Both of them have been extremely helpful and have priced out several options for me. At this point, I am 99% sure I am going to buy one of the two.

Also, why do tractor dealerships close down so early on Saturdays? For working stiffs, like me, I don't have any time to shop for a tractor during the week.

You're trolling us, right? You start by stating you didn't even know how many different brands of tractors there are. So without even being aware of how many brands there are you are somehow able to know all the available options with all brands and come up with a specific tractor. You complain that they are asking too many questions. Did it occur to you that they are trying to make sure you get the right tractor for your application. If you don't like the emails, pick up the phone or show up for a face to face conversation. I worked at a big box store. Many times I had customers come in asking for specific items but when we talked and I realized what the project truly was we were able to come up with better alternatives, and in some cases their original request would have ended in disaster.

Good luck with your purchase.

Doug in SW IA

 

[Maharaja]

The phone is your friend.
Some sales people are great some are not.
I shopped three brands and 7 dealers before I bought my Kubota.

 

[dodge man]

Depending on the size and type of tractor your getting there are as many or more choices for options and attachments then buying a car or truck. My experience is that tractor salesman tend to be less pushy then car salesman also. Use this board to learn some things and you will be a lot happier with your purchase.

 

[ultrarunner]

Like most things... it is a process.

A process you can spend little time or a lot of time.

In my case... I had the need for a tractor but was not in tractor country... had no friends with tractors... etc.

I grew up around the car business... a buyer that knows what they want makes it easier all around...

I try to make it so the only unanswered question is price... in other words at X amount of dollars you have a sale...

 

[TJSlice]

In my continued search, I was on another manufacturer's website when a chat window popped up. I started a conversation with salesperson, and she was extremely helpful. She took all my information and suggested a good starting point for one of their tractors. She said she would look for the exact tractor at a dealership near me. The next day, she e-mailed me and told me she had found it, gave the dealership my contact information, and said they would contact me.

It's been over a week, and still no contact from the dealer. Yesterday, I received an e-mail from the company rep asking how the dealership was doing. I told her I had not heard from them. She again got in touch with the dealership, and said they would be contacting me soon. Still nothing.

I could easily pick up the phone and call them, or I could just decide that this dealership probably would not be helpful if I have any problems in the future with my tractor.

 

[Diggin It]

It's been over a week, and still no contact from the dealer. Yesterday, I received an e-mail from the company rep asking how the dealership was doing. I told her I had not heard from them. She again got in touch with the dealership, and said they would be contacting me soon. Still nothing.

I could easily pick up the phone and call them, or I could just decide that this dealership probably would not be helpful if I have any problems in the future with my tractor.

I would send that Rep another email saying exactly that .... you feel you cannot trust that dealer.

 

[atsah]

When I am about to spend a considerable amount of money I take a couple of days off and get it done, email, chat, phone calls, Not for me.. These guys get tire kickers all day long on the phone and emails all night long..

 

[ultrarunner]

When I email for a quote it is precise with Manufacturer Numbers as I did with my factory order BMW...

It is great now that many sites let you build your tractor...

Someone that knows exactly what they want has done all the hard work and reduced the equation to price and availability...

Problem is too many are vague or only a general idea at best... these can take endless hours back and forth and then when they have it all sorted out will buy 2 hours away because they saved a couple of hundred... seen it happen.

 

[inode]

I knew I wanted a particular brand of tractor and had already researched used prices for the model I wanted. I wanted new and used the low hours "used" prices as my baseline. One particular dealer in had me super competitive quotes in email and was more than helpful. In fact, I was planning to buy from them. I had been told by several to buy where you were going to have it serviced as it made all the difference in the world. I therefore contacted my local dealer and he came within $500 of the other dealer's price. For me, it was worth the money to buy local and know I had a dealer in my court should I need help with something.

 

[Swampcollie]

I did my shopping at the state fair. Probably 15 different dealers there. I had thought I would buy a deere since that is what i had been using for 40 yr. However i found the kubota dealer to be best able to answer my questions and best know his product line plus he was 30 mi from where i wanted the tractor. My total shopping time was about 4 hr. And they have been great since the sale.
Bottom line: state fair is a great place to shop tractors and they usually have a good state fair price subsidized by the manufacturer.

 

[ultrarunner]

The county fair did have several dealers... Kubota, Deere and New Holland and then none.

I asked the Kubota Dealer and he said not many tractor buyers around here... 2 years later they were closed... totally closed.

Eleven Million people in 9 counties and the pickens are slim...

The dealer closer to my brother is family operation... has a fair amount of stock...

Thing is when we were looking for a Kubota RTV... he had 4 assembled and said all 4 were sold... had two more getting checked out/assembled and said those were probably sold... so not a one to even drive around the lot... we ending up driving 150 miles and bought a nice used one that he had sold new...

In the car business, we always had inventory and demo models... if we didn't it was a simple matter to get a dealer trade... I don't think tractor dealers work together so much unless same ownership.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Welcome to the country. Close early on Saturday, closed on Sundays. Close at 5 pm during the week.

I got quite a bit of attention at my dealer visits, but then I had done a LOT of research prior, knew the specs, knew what I probably wanted and didn't want, had some semi-intelligent questions, and I think all of this proved I was a serious buyer and not a looky-lou. Or maybe I just had some good dealers around. Now that I think of it, the local JD dealer was different, or should I say "in-different."

 

[Maharaja]

I shopped a bunch of dealers by phone. Shopped four in person closer to me. The New Holland dealer did the best demo but other issues steered me clear (dealer issues).
One Kubota dealer who I visited was nice, I wanted HDC12 he said no need and hardly ever sales 12 speed. Why pay $3000 more for 4 more gears. I said doesn稚 that option include other features. He said nope just 4 gears. I said are you sure, gosh I seem to recall more features with 12 speed, nope.
I bought elsewhere as he was either stupid or a liar. HDC 12 has higher hydraulic flow, hydraulic wet disc brakes (versus mechanical) and 540e. I think that he didn稚 want to have to find a 12 speed. And I didnt pay an additional $3000 for the option.

 

[inode]

I forgot to mention that I also checked out some other local dealers and had them price me what I wanted. The sales rep couldn't answer my questions (I knew more about options/features than he did). He also had no brochures and it took him a week to get me a quote which was more than I was willing to pay. He had three strikes against him which made me wonder what service I would get when I needed it. Moving on...

If you're going to sell anything, at least put some time into understand what you're selling. An informed buyer will walk out if you appear unintelligent about your product line.

 

[MiserableOldFart]

Just a few years ago, there were several places online where you could actually order and buy a CUT directly from a dealer, and have it shipped to you for a stated price. They have disappeared. I really, truly mistrust the secretive pricing information, and the games being paid. It all points to a very high markup overall (without pointing the finger of blame at any particular step along they way.) Years ago there used to be lots of small dealers, many small towns had several. Now they are centralized mega-dealers, like big box tractor stores. That didn't happen by accident, but by the direct actions of manufacturers.
Now, for many CUTs, even the specs are hard to find, and when published, need to be taken with a grain of salt. It's very frustrating. At least when you go into a car lot you have some point to start out with - a sticker price. It seems the tractor manufacturers want the customer to be perpetually off balance so they can get the most out of them.

About 10 years ago I went to a Kubota dealer and looked around for a while. They had a "sale" going on. I went in and asked to talk to a salesperson, and was told I had to make an APPOINTMENT! Needless to say, I walked out and never went back.

 

[wagne223]

It was not a hassle for me.
I knew what I wanted so I emailed LS dealer, Kioti dealer and 2 Kubota dealers.

Both Kubota dealers responded within 2 days with quotes that were within $100

No reply from LS or Kioti so I called them. LS got a voicemail, I left a message.

Kioti, pleasant sounding female took my info and said a sales person would call back.

Never heard from LS or Kioti again.

Meanwhile, I emailed with the nearest Kubota dealer a few times, sent in the credit app, they gathered up my attachments and accessories. The rear remote valves took 3 weeks.

They call when it was ready and delivered the next day. First time I saw the sales guy.
He came with the delivery guy. I signed the papers, handed him the down payment check, he did his delivery demo and left.

I never had to go to the dealer.

Granted.....this is a family owned dealer that has been around for decades and I know 2 people personally that bought from them. So I really did not need to check them out.

 

[MiserableOldFart]

I really get upset when people don't respond to emails. I know there are people shopping and comparing prices and they don't like it. Too bad - it's called a competitive market. When I don't get a response to an email, I generally don't bother to contact the dealer again. If you aren't going to answer emails, then don't have a "contact us" email. Easy peasy. These are highly technical products, and again, the manufacturers keep changing models and specs to make the situation ever more complicated. I find the whole thing very stressful and idiotic. Look, most dealers don't even have any kind of price tags on the machines in the lot. Some do, and kudos to them, but nobody likes to get the feeling they are going into a major purchase without even a hint as to what the dealer expects to be paid, except for word of mouth. It's annoying enough with a car, when they do have some kind of price posted, but you know they'll sell it for less. In this case, you're pretty much blind, except for the kind of quote you get from the websites. Kubota's at least lets you see some kind of a price for what you want, but the others generally leave you hanging for something as basic as a loader, which probably 80% or more of the people in the market for a small tractor want. Again, there used to be sites where you could configure and order a tractor for a set price, but they are gone. I blame the manufacturers for that, and for all the secrecy about what a machine costs. Again, Kubota is somewhat of an exception on that score. Add to that the scarcity of dealers now, and the huge distances between two dealers of a particular brand, and you have a situation that is just plain wrong. We had one dealer in town who was authorized for White, New Holland, Kubota, and a couple other brands. That kind of dealer doesn't exist anymore. We had John Deere dealer in town, but they lost their dealership because Deere wanted only big box stores. No competition. Price secrecy. Apparent ripoff??

 

[ultrarunner]

The multi line dealers seem to be fading...

We had a huge dealer the sold CATIPILAR and DEERE... now it is CAT

When I was tractor shopping... the Dealer carried New Holland and Kubota... kept steering me to New Holland and basically wouldn't discuss Kubota... later I find out they were dropping New Holland and wanted to liquidate New Holland inventory.

Up in the Gold rush country a Dealer I liked had both Deere and Kubota... I was told it was causing issues and soon they would have to let one go...