[tweivoda]

I have mixed feelings about using the lower price of a dealer, other than my local dealer, to force the lower price. I must admit I have done that. But as a veteran of 45 years of John Deere tractor buying I have started to move away from that.

I always ask my closest dealer, which I do most of my business with, for the price. But lately I've gotton pricing that seemed a little disappointing given the amount of business I've done with them. So, I checked with another dealer with whom I've done business with in the past only to find a much better price. Now I have the option of going back to the first dealer and ask them to match or beat the competing dealer. Here's my dilema.

Do I reward the dealer with whom I do the most business with, parts, service, customer referrals, for beeing a little lazy and quoting a price that doesn't reflect my loyalty or do I reward the dealer who was able to give the better price typically over the phone. Now I suppose dealers are accustomed to being used by customers to push their local dealer to a better price so perhaps I shouldn't make a big deal about it.

SO here is my case in point. I asked my closest dealer for a price on the new Frontier 1164P (pull type hybrid) snowblower for my John Deere 2038R. I was given essentially the list price with the claim there is very little mark up and that the Frontier snowblowers are going to be in short supply this winter. This was of course 6 weeks ago before summer returned to Minnesota. I went to a competing dealer and was given a price of about $600 less. I never went back to my other dealer because frankly, I was a bit irritated. The list of tractor purchases from them is large along with a long list of parts, accessories, service business. ets.

Perhaps the first dealer would have matched or even beat the second dealers price but I didn't feel that he deserved the opportunity. Now don't get me wrong. The first dealer does a very good job with service on my equipment. They should given my purchase history. They also have gotten numerous referrals from me for purchases from other customers. And I am certain I will purchase other products in the future. I just wasn't willing to reward them with the deal on the snowblower. But, because I had the very pleasant experience with dealer #2, I may be tempted to wander, some say cheat, and do more business with them.

Some will say just going back and forth amongst different dealers is part of the game we all play. Perhaps they are right. I just feel like I should reward the guys who give great pricing up front. Just my opinion of course.