Supporting your local dealer, and saving money

[thirdroc17]

I needed a couple bushings and pins for the 3-point hitch, so figured, what the heck, I'm already at the dealer so why not get them? So what if the dealer charges more.

So on the way home, I checked out the big chain store just for giggles. Then did a little internet shopping when I got home.

GUESS WHAT?

The dealer had the cheapest price. I suggest supporting your local dealer. He's right there, parts on hand. Quite often, cheaper. Keep the money in the local economy.

Funny thing is, I've done some pricing at walmart too. It's very common for people go there, because "they are cheap", but I've often found lower prices at the locally owned mom and pop store down the street. You know the one, the one that went out of business because walmart sent the profits to Alabama instead of putting it back into the community.

 

[hodge]

I needed a couple bushings and pins for the 3-point hitch, so figured, what the heck, I'm already at the dealer so why not get them? So what if the dealer charges more.

So on the way home, I checked out the big chain store just for giggles. Then did a little internet shopping when I got home.

GUESS WHAT?

The dealer had the cheapest price. I suggest supporting your local dealer. He's right there, parts on hand. Quite often, cheaper. Keep the money in the local economy.

Funny thing is, I've done some pricing at walmart too. It's very common for people go there, because "they are cheap", but I've often found lower prices at the locally owned mom and pop store down the street. You know the one, the one that went out of business because walmart sent the profits to Alabama instead of putting it back into the community.

I have found that to be true, also. I bought some nice workgloves at the local dealership for a fantastic price- they had placed an order, and needed to meet a dollar amount to get it shipped. So, they ordered gloves and sold them at their cost. I typically buy hardware from them, too, for the same reason as you.

 

[bamabota]

I agree, support your local dealer!!!

 

[thirdroc17]

SO glad to hear this guys. I see so many questions of "Where can I buy online?" Sure, it has it's place, and yes, I've done it, but try to keep it to a minimum. This crap economy has really hit this state, I see dozens of empty buildings in any given town. People's dreams and lives shot because a big chain set up business just outside of town.

Buying from locally owned and operated businesses means that dollar can circulate around and around within a community and wind up supporting many. Spend that buck in a chain, and it goes to some unfeeling corporate in BFE that pays minimum wage.

Believe it or not, I'm actually restraining myself!!!!!!!!!

FYI, I haven't owned or operated a business since the corporate factory farms took over all the family farms back in... well, admitting to it being almost 30 years ago now, would be revealing my age, wouldn't it? We used to have a close dealer for most brands of equipment, most of them are gone too. That's what factory farms with a few huge tractors instead of a couple hundred family farms with hundreds of smaller tractors... but, we're getting off track. Or are we?

 

[Bluegill]

I buy local whenever possible. Have also found prices are usually better.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

I really wish I could support my local dealer more but back over the summer they sold out to a 6 dealership chain from up North with locations in Pa and Md.

I was really proud of my local dealer they did so well for themselves independently they were able to open up a second location 45 miles away in a town that sold no Kubotas so there wasn't any competition.

My guess is all this came about when a young owner purchased the original dealer from the old guy who wanted to retire and the young buck saw dollar signs and sold out. Even with the shitty economy the dealer had kept on rockin and showed no signs of hard times.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I buy about 95% of everything online, not because I have anything against buying local, there just isn't a lot local to me, most everything is 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours away from me.
I look at it this way it's money moving around and that a good thing, I run 3 companies and one is completely an online company, so it's money that's coming in comes from all over, about 50% US, 45% Canadian and 5% Australian.

 

[Bluegill]

Local to me is one hour away. Sometimes it's good to get out for a drive and
look at new orange tractors.

I also run my own business and do 85% of it on line...

 

[Lil Foot]

I love the concept of supporting the local guy, but the local dealer charges almost $20 for a can of paint & almost $23 for an oil filter…..$23 for a fuel filter & o-ring that I ordered out of state from another Kubota dealer for $8 delivered…..

 

[skeets]

Lil foot dealers around here have the same concept. Take it or leave it!
I printed out what another dealer in another state wanted for the same item plus shipping and it was much lower than his price.
The parts guy told me there was nothing he could do, so I asked to see the store manager, (owners son).
He said there's no way they can sell that item for that price, and wouldn't budge on the price.
So I did just that ordered it and when it came in I took it to the dealer called him back out and opened the box in front of him, and showed him everything, he just said a bunch of really naughty words and walked away.
I never had an issue with prices again there, cause I take in the prices from where ever for what ever I need. I don't know if its just for me or anyone but they have matched almost to the penny anything I needed. Might work other place as well

 

[thirdroc17]

Buy out of state enough, and out of state will be the ONLY option. While I can sympathize with the pricing issue, I still buy local whenever possible. Beats living in a ghost town.

 

[ctmike]

I support my "local" (1 hr. away) dealer so that I'll continue to have a local dealer. I also do the same for my BMW motorcycle even though that dealer is also an hour away.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Dealer prices are just insane they make a nice profit on mark ups. Early summer of 2013 I needed a drive belt for my Landpride finish mower. My local dealer wanted 90 bucks plus had to wit a week for the belt to come in.

I went online to the Landpride site got the part number and went to NAPA and got the same exact belt for 30 bucks and walked out the door with it in hand. I say same exact belt because there are not but to rubbler belt manufactures in the US, Gates is one and I dont remember the other.

SOOO I can't always support the local dealer with prices like that when NAPA has it for less then HALF PRICE of the dealer and NO waiting.

 

[thirdroc17]

It's not Kubota, but the other brand in my signature. Various belts for them can run $30-$50 and more. The "same" belt can be bought at the local auto parts store for five bucks.

I tried both, after all, I am on a budget. For $30, the belt will last 20 years. For $5 it'll last one, if I was lucky.

Some people think $5 a year is cheaper than $30 every 20 years. Personally, I'm not that fond of changing belts.

Sometimes you get what you pay for.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

thirdroc17,
I get your point about buying local!
But should I quit buying from the 10 plus Michigan businesses that I buy from now?
I also buy quite a few things off EBay that come out of Michigan should I stop buying from them too?

 

[cabu]

I guess it is more a mixture. Sometimes a deal is just too good...

But if you ignore your local dealer and all the others will also, there will be only a few big owns left and then it is a long ride to get to a workshop if you really need help. And they will dictate the price because you have not really a choice.

Buying at your locals is an investment in the future!

carl

 

[Benhameen]

I try to but local when I can, something's aren't always available, so I'll buy online.

I window shop online to get a good idea of what items are selling for, then take the info to the local business. I completely understand how margins and mark ups work but sometimes they're a but excessive. It really comes down to how well the local business's. are willing to work with me. I'll even pay more if I feel like I'm getting a deal, 10% off say, attitude of the person I'm dealing with goes along way too. Also, I have a tendency to be loyal to the businesses that I like to deal with.

So If given a "deal" I'll return, they can potentially make less margin on numerous items over time or make a one time sell at their full margin.

I'm not a business owner but it seems to me that I'd rather make a little less and turn my money rather than sit on it.

Just my two cents of course.

 

[Bluegill]

When I needed around $1200 worth of Kubota parts to rebuild the front end of our L3750, I checked around on line then went to the dealer, he gave me a 10% discount, no shipping & no sales tax for farm use, ended up a bit lower overall.

 

[Kubota_Man]

Here is what happened when I bought my BX and Big Tex trailer

BX: I went to the 3 near by (40 miles, 80 miles and 120 miles away) and got quotes for everything I wanted (My wife was in an agreeable mood) and started to question my options. I seen an ad from another dealer that was 350 miles away and called him and gave my wish list to the salesman/owner with in an hour he emailed my a quote that was about $2,000 less than the other 3. I took that quote to the other 3 and all of then said we can't touch this.

Big Tex: there is only one dealer locally. I got a quote from them and afterwards called Big Tex and they referred me to another dealer 375 miles away. I called them up and after adding my options my trailer it was the same as the base price from the local dealer who was unwilling to work with me.


So for the time and gas to drive 375 miles to pick up my trailer, then drove another 100ish miles to pick up my BX, then the drive of 350 miles home. I saved around $2,000-$2,500. I also had a mini vacation with the lovely Wifey-Poo. It was well worth the trip to me.

I have used my local dealers for service and parts though.

 

[BotaDriver]

I think ours has a policy to be the highest prices period. We bought a 3800 and RTV400 and they won't even do 10% off of full SRP of all items....fluid, filters, etc...

We do the wise thing and buy from the cheapest online retailer for our products.

They set their prices, we choose who to purchase from. Capitalism at its finest. Must be some time of emotional attachment to their parts on their part.....that or they think the dust on their products contains gold.