Call your local store back and ask for the sales manager. Tell him you want to buy a 2038 and you have most of the options picked out. Also tell him about your call from his store. I can assure you the sales manager will get this purchase done for you, and fast.

 

I hate to say it... go to the Kioti dealer where they're hungry. And likely know their product.

How can a manufacturer not know the demographic of a compact tractor and react accordingly? Either they ignore you or they have zero product knowledge. Almost as bad as a hounding thief salesperson. Most of us who walk through the door have the cash or credit for a $30-60k tractor. Act accordingly dadgummit.

Stories like yours sadden/anger me. Domestics can't compete with China, India or Korea on price. They damn well should out-compete with them on customer service. It's the one thing they can control.

Deere ought to focus on customer service not creating dealer monopolies. Which won't survive against the offshore competition.

 

Personally, I’d also call the manager and tell them exactly what you just stated here. Any business “should” be very interested in such feedback. Tell them you’re ready to order and want a sales quote written up that day. Personally, I’d be getting quotes from two dealers anyway but I’m cheap! You didn’t mention if you’re trading the 1025 but if that’s the case, have them bring you the quote and then have them look at your machine. Buyers shouldn’t have to work that hard but unfortunately, I’m in the group that feels everyone under 50 these days seems lazy and unmotivated. Of course that’s not the case but hopefully anyone reading this gets what I’m saying.

 

Man, this hits home and takes me back to my tractor purchase. Went to 8 dealers attempting to buy my tractor, none of them were interested in taking my money and giving me a tractor. The 9th one was and took my money and not kidding within seconds of me giving the guy a check, he jumped into his truck and left. I was standing in the parking lot next to my tractor watching this happen. Buying a tractor is an awful experience.

 

Same general experience with me (though only 3 dealers), and that was pre-COVID era. Has it ever been a good experience, I wonder?

 

I should also add, I went to a demo day at the local JD dealer. Test drove what I wanted and talked to the VP of Sales. Nice guy. When I said I'll take it, he handed me off to someone else and that guy would not sell me the tractor as well. I suspect that because I was a cash buyer and they make at least 20% more on financed customers on their "zero" percent financing.

 

They probably make money on the required insurance for something they finance, not the zero percent.
Not tractors, but I know guys that have bought trucks and let the dealer finance it, then paid it off after a couple of payments. They said "easier" that way.

 

I don't know this for certain, but I suspect that as soon as you submit an online request for a quote, that's now in their system for any dealer to see. Or at least for any branch of the same dealership to see. For Deere and their dealers, a bit part of having large, multi-location dealers is to reduce dealer's competing with each other, which turns into Deere competing with itself.

As for buying, I'd just tell the sales person what you want, which I think is a formal quote including availability. Be polite, but clear about your expectations and what you want. I was buying used, and in less than a day I had a written quote for the tractor plus a new loader since it didn't already have one. In contrast, I talked to my local dealer many months ago about a new 5105M. It took well over a week to get a quote, and that included me prodding them at least once. The quote was list price, and basically exactly what I got by myself online. I would have next pressed them on price, but decided not to pursue the 5M so dropped it.

I really don't think this is any different than any other business/service. It's all about individual people, how much they care, and how good they are at their job. It's a minority who are really good at what they do. And that was true 30 years ago just as it's true today. People don't just suck now - they have always sucked.

If you are not happy with the people you are dealing with, go to other dealers. But I think you will need to go in person. That's the best was to assess the person you are dealing with, and you can convey to them that you are serious. I suspect they get a lot of window-shopping inquiries via the web, so difficult for them to figure out which ones to spend time on and which are never going to culminate in a sale. Going in person, telling them you want a quote while you wait because you intend to buy the tractor, either from them or someone else.

 

If you are not happy with the people you are dealing with, go to other dealers. But I think you will need to go in person. That's the best was to assess the person you are dealing with, and you can convey to them that you are serious. I suspect they get a lot of window-shopping inquiries via the web, so difficult for them to figure out which ones to spend time on and which are never going to culminate in a sale. Going in person, telling them you want a quote while you wait because you intend to buy the tractor, either from them or someone else.

TT brings up a good point. In person probably does convey sincerity on your part as a serious buyer and not just shopping prices the easy way.

 

Try a different dealer.
When I was ready to purchase my tractor, I went to the local dealer. Salesman was nice enough, seemed to know the product fairly well. But, the prices he was quoting me just shocked the heck out of me, all of list price and then some. I ended up at another dealer, same chain, 3 hours away. I got the tractor from them for what I thought was a very fair price. Worth the extra effort.

 

I ended up with my Deere because of my experience with my local Kubota dealer. I walked into the Kubota place with checkbook in hand to buy a BX but no one seemed to have any interest in talking to me. I went down the street to the Deere dealership and was a 1025R tractor owner fifteen minutes later. The salesman even suggested I delay delivery until the next week for delivery because there was an upcoming $500 off for cash incentive I could use then. That was 10 years ago, though, and that local Deere dealership has been bought by a chain .

 

This is why Deere ought to have the big corporate dealers for ag equipment and small dealers for lawn and garden up to 4 series.

Big guys don't give a crap about a $40k compact tractor but little guys are salivating over a $40k sale. Which is solidly what cars cost.

I shopped Kubota also and the dealer, a well known one beginning with an M, was as impersonal as a web site so off to a Deere L&G dealer I went. The salesman was laid back but accommodating and the price was exceptional for an indy. So I bought.

 

I went to a Kubota dealer when I was tractorless. They sold both Ford and Kubota tractors. The salesman was only interested in selling me a Ford and did not want to discuss the Kubotas.

 

I bought mine entirely via email until the salesman turned up with my tractor on a trailer. There are some forms to sign, but a good salesman and dealer will know how to email them and be happy to help you get that done via whatever format you like to communicate.

 

I bought my 1025R entirely through email, and just handed over a check when it was delivered to my home. I liked having all details from the dealers in writing for comparison, and to refer to later when perhaps some details might not be remembered correctly from an "in-person" visit. Recently was in the market for a new car, and emailed the 3 dealers available for the car I wanted. I was interested in buying a specific car on each of the dealer's lots (same year/model), and asked for each dealer's lowest price, indicating I was not interested in a lot of back and forth haggling. Give me your lowest price, and if I like it I will buy it. All 3 dealers declined to give me anything other than MSRP, but also all 3 said to bring me the other dealer's best price and they would beat it. If a dealer has an internet presence, they should be willing to use internet tools to do business.

 

When I bought mine three years ago after no availability for the previous year went to the local independent JD dealer, chose the unit and options, paid and set up delivery. So far, so good. It turned out to be the salesman's last day on the job. Now I had to start calling the sales manager to get the deal done. Lost paperwork, etc. I emailed my documents and worked through it for a couple of weeks until it was finally delivered a month later. I was so dang happy that I did the unthinkable - I didn't look at the VIN. They delivered a different unit. I called, emailed and have been ignored ever since. JD dealers are sucky.

 

Run, don't walk to your state agency that handles consumer fraud. Yes, you got a tractor but if the paper work doesn't match you can't prove your bought it. Best to be on the front side of that issue rather than have someone else show up and claim you have their stolen tractor.

 

I vote for the email approach-AFTER you make an initial visit to meet the person who is going to transact the sale with you. Chat with him for 10 minutes, letting him know what you are interested in, availability, options etc, make sure he at least hears your name (a good sales guy will ask for your name). Then within a day or two email him, reminding him of your meeting a day XX, and state your detailed offer in the email, that way you have everything documented as you start the negotiation process. This has worked well for me.

 

I vote for the email approach-AFTER you make an initial visit to meet the person who is going to transact the sale with you.

I agree with this ^^^^ this is the only approach IMO that lets the dealership know that you are serious. I would imagine they get a lot of the build and price email inquiries from people who are just playing or not honestly ready. After the initial meet where your wants are discussed and a preliminary price is set/agreed upon then email/text is more than enough.

 

I bought my new tractor online and the dealer didn’t put a John Deere thir function. They instead put a wr long with hoses and the mechanic zip tied them to the hardlines for the bucke. So make sure that you insp the tractor before you sign the paperwork . I didn’t take a look until the next day and John Deere didn’t do anything about it.

 

You know what you want so drive to a couple of dealers or look at their online inventory to see if they have one in stock. If more than one dealer has the tractor in stock get quotes from both.

THEN if your closest dealer is one of the one's that has it take the lowest quote to them and ask if they will match it. That way IF it needs any service you will be at the closest dealer where you bought it.

If you buy the tractor from a dealer further away you should plan on having to take it to that dealer for service.

 

I purchased my 445 from a 99% ag dealer, but also purchased a 9600 combine the same year. The price of the combine was good, the price of the 445 was great!

Decades off the farm, I purchased my 2025R from R&S (Fond du Lac). This location is L&G + Compact Tractor. No large Ag equipment (they have other locations for that). My sales rep was very experienced (decades of experience), very knowledgeable, very helpful, and delivered the tractor himself. At delivery, he spent about 90 minutes as he demonstrated removing and installing the FEL and MMM, then walked me through the process as I did it a few times. He talked about proper ballast, looked at the hill in my yard and recommended wheel spacers (already on their way at that point), He insisted on a ballast box as part of the purchase (I did not already have one). I had wheel and suitcase weights to put in it and on the wheels. After the sale I have had 2 small warrantee issues (fuel tank neck rust, 3-point sway bar bolt snapped) and both were handled very professionally and easily with great service from both the sales rep and the parts counter.

I make a point of buying all of my supplies (oil, filters, grease) from the dealer. Their prices are reasonable, they have what I need in stock, and are very easy (and pleasant) to work with. I live at the intersection of four dealership groups (between my home and office 53 miles away) so I have a choice. The other dealerships have been good to work with in the past too.

If a dealer will not treat potential customers like customers should be treated before the sale, I would not expect them to be better after the sale. If I am buying a tool for a few hundred dollars, I am not too concerned, but at tens of thousands of dollars (compact tractor) I am concerned and want service. I also treat people how I expected to be treated which really helps.

 

Gosh. My dealer experience was awesome. I called them up and asked for sales. Told the salesman I wanted a quote for a new 1025R with specific options and that I wanted to come operate one in person. He said come on over anytime, so I did. We sat down in his office, did the paperwork and he let me know he didn't have one without a backhoe but would be getting one in. We walked out to the showroom and he let me pick out a shirt and two hats. Handed me a spare key and said he'd be in touch when the machine arrived.

The afternoon before delivery I stopped by to look at my new machine. It was exactly what I asked for and already sitting on a truck waiting for delivery in the morning. Next day, it shows up clean and shiny and full of fuel. Tire pressures were good, fluid levels correct, fresh grease evident around the zerks and pins, it was ready to use. I signed the final docs and that was that.

Reading some of these other stories, I guess I should consider myself lucky! 🍀

 

I have decided to buy a second tractor. I’ve done my reading and video watching. Th e family CFO is on board. The money is ready. Adding that to my ten years of 1025R ownersip and 2000 hours of seat time I have decided what I want to buy, which is a 2038R with what I’ve decided on options and accessories. I’m old and don’t have the patience (or bladder capacity) to go through a lengthy dealership visit. I want a quote, someone to take my order and money, and order the package.

So I did the www.deere.com build and price. I selected my local dealership and requested a quote. The next morning I was called by a young salesman, who obviously to me, had no real knowledge about compact tractors. He was even reading to me from a 1025R spec sheet. I was not able to obtain anything even close to a quote from him.

Now what should I do? Ask another dealership? There is another dealership about 25 miles away (same chain) versus my local one that’s 8 miles. And a third chain dealer that’s about 25 miles in a different direction). I have no faith that my local dealer’s sales guy will even order the right tractor.

What M said is what I would recommend.