John Deere reducing dealerships

Cowabunga

Member
Location
Ceredigion,Wales
Asked a rep what the price of a machine was earlier in year.after 6 weeks I’d heard nothing so mentioned it on here,amongst other things.I got an abusive txt saying I never answer my phone,untrue and he could not contact me.I’ve got an account at company so they know all my details.when I asked why he did not txt me,email me or call in or indeed call the landline he told me under data protection I need to give permission for all these things.what a load of bullpoo.after what I hear locally I’m suprised he is still there.probably get another txt now from him.in fairness he is no differant to others I occasionally encounter.
nick...

The trouble with bullshitters that lack the skill [unlike skilled bullshitters like the legendary Alan Rogers of Riverlea], is that they are unaware of how ridiculous they sound to savvy prospective customers.
 

Cowabunga

Member
Location
Ceredigion,Wales
I was told once that once a deal has been agreed you should ask how there going to pay for it
A lot of people would take that as a insult
It has to be asked, but in a non-condecending matter-of-fact kind of way. One assumes these days that it will be on finance, but certainly for used machinery a very significant proportion of sales are cash sales.
 

Cowabunga

Member
Location
Ceredigion,Wales
It could well be that in the long run you’ll have to go or should I say expected to go to your dealer for buying tractors and machinery much as in the car trade. I appreciate you’re not going to rock up at their door with a load of potential trade in goods for valuation; that will be done remotely or by on farm visits. You don’t get your 4x4 car dealer driving up your farm road to ask if you are ready to change. I am not criticising either buyer or seller behaviour but I do see a time when habits are changing. Look at what’s happening in the retail sector and the high street right now. Change is rapid and has been influenced by the mobile devices we all have and the new business’s that have set up on line sales channels. Farming is not immune from the world around it. Sorry about the long response to your post. See you at the virtual Doe Show??!
Reps on the road doing cold calls cost money in terms of wages and travel. While it used to be the case that every farm had their own machinery to do everything and there were far more commercial farms, which meant that a relatively high number of cold calls resulted in a positive lead or sale, that is no longer the case relatively speaking. So less reps are employed to cover larger areas which means less cold calling. At busy times the reps may be very busy just answering phone enquiries and following them up as positive leads with a high degree of certainty of a deal. Sometimes that pressure can be overwhelming, especially if many deals are on the go and can't seem to be wrapped up, which sometimes happens. In that case the odd enquiry can, due to circumstances, slip through the net I'm sure. Technology should enable reps to be more organised in this respect than ever before but it is not often used as effectively as it could and very many dealers could benefit from sales training specifically on information gathering, organising quotes and following up and concluding a deal successfully. It sounds to the layman like basic stuff but everyone in the trade knows that it is very far from being easy and I believe that specific sales training on techniques and technological aids would benefit many dealers greatly as well as their customers who should have a far better experience as a result.
 

db9go

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Buckinghamshire
Reps on the road doing cold calls cost money in terms of wages and travel. While it used to be the case that every farm had their own machinery to do everything and there were far more commercial farms, which meant that a relatively high number of cold calls resulted in a positive lead or sale, that is no longer the case relatively speaking. So less reps are employed to cover larger areas which means less cold calling. At busy times the reps may be very busy just answering phone enquiries and following them up as positive leads with a high degree of certainty of a deal. Sometimes that pressure can be overwhelming, especially if many deals are on the go and can't seem to be wrapped up, which sometimes happens. In that case the odd enquiry can, due to circumstances, slip through the net I'm sure. Technology should enable reps to be more organised in this respect than ever before but it is not often used as effectively as it could and very many dealers could benefit from sales training specifically on information gathering, organising quotes and following up and concluding a deal successfully. It sounds to the layman like basic stuff but everyone in the trade knows that it is very far from being easy and I believe that specific sales training on techniques and technological aids would benefit many dealers greatly as well as their customers who should have a far better experience as a result.
I dont totally agree with what you say the best sales people i have come across are the one that sell them self.
knowing all about product comes second.
 

Barleycorn

Member
BASE UK Member
Location
Hampshire
How times have changed, we had a smashing rep from SCATS in Romsey, Hants, Colin Matthews, sadly no longer with us, used to be called ET, because he used to be able to sniff out any deal going in the area, and got straight in there! Lovely bloke, died far too young.
 

quattro

Member
Location
scotland
It has to be asked, but in a non-condecending matter-of-fact kind of way. One assumes these days that it will be on finance, but certainly for used machinery a very significant proportion of sales are cash sales.
More than likely financed, but the 0% package is something you would have mentioned when selling the tractor
 
More than likely financed, but the 0% package is something you would have mentioned when selling the tractor
I dare say a lot of reps dealing with known customers know the lie of the land before settling foot on the farm.
One rep who I have bought several tractors off over the years was telling me some years ago how at one end of his territory the first question asked by the farmer was what finance package is available whilst at the other end it was a blunt how much, the implication being that the only way some could buy was on finance whilst for others it was how deep did they need to dig into their pockets.
 

thesilentone

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cumbria
In the good old days ! A statement now, that has little meaning.

Those calling on farms on a regular call pattern, whether they be feed, sundry items or machinery were expected. In turn they knew where a cuppa, and often lunch/tea was on the agenda.

Planning a call pattern was self managing, as new customers started up, and old one's sold up. Some time was planned for prospecting new customers, and a day a week spare for follow-ups.

With today's technology available, there is no longer a need to think, the services of a mobile phone and laptop can take all the drudgery away - if you use them !

The machinery trade, like many appears to be reactive as opposed to proactive, time is always the excuse, however with the tools available it should be easier to make time.

In the good old days, an ordnance survey map, and if needed a telephone box was the order of the day, along with a friendly face and clean pair of shoes. So, on that basis has technology become our friend or enemy ?
 

bumkin

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
pembrokeshire
The trouble with bullshitters that lack the skill [unlike skilled bullshitters like the legendary Alan Rogers of Riverlea], is that they are unaware of how ridiculous they sound to savvy prospective customers.
Allan Rogers is a legend one thing for sure he could sell stuff if he saw someone draw up he would be out of the office and talking to you all the chaps at Crymych were first class the stores the mechanicks were first-rate big Hugh ran the workshop well and would get someone out as soon as possible and they would be free with advice if you need it
 

An Gof

Member
Location
Cornwall
In the good old days ! A statement now, that has little meaning.

Those calling on farms on a regular call pattern, whether they be feed, sundry items or machinery were expected. In turn they knew where a cuppa, and often lunch/tea was on the agenda.

Planning a call pattern was self managing, as new customers started up, and old one's sold up. Some time was planned for prospecting new customers, and a day a week spare for follow-ups.

With today's technology available, there is no longer a need to think, the services of a mobile phone and laptop can take all the drudgery away - if you use them !

The machinery trade, like many appears to be reactive as opposed to proactive, time is always the excuse, however with the tools available it should be easier to make time.

In the good old days, an ordnance survey map, and if needed a telephone box was the order of the day, along with a friendly face and clean pair of shoes. So, on that basis has technology become our friend or enemy ?

Excellent post and so true. Brings back memories of my time in the supply trade when I first left college. As a rep I had an area and a call pattern. In the days before mobile phones were widely available even the office had an idea of which farm I was calling on at what time and could leave messages for me.
Back in those days, and it wasn’t that long ago, a tie, proper jacket (sports coat) and smart shoes were de rigeur. How times and standards have changed 😉
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
is there really such a think as a rep anymore ?

would anyone ever be ride enough to turn up at a farm without invitation these days ?

good old day ? bad old days more like when fools were clearly more easy parted from their money
 

Lincsman

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
is there really such a think as a rep anymore ?

would anyone ever be ride enough to turn up at a farm without invitation these days ?

good old day ? bad old days more like when fools were clearly more easy parted from their money
To be fair there was a lot more money available then, they would go to county shows, see a new MF135 and inquire the price and often order 2 there and then, didnt take many tons to pay for a new tractor in those days.
 

An Gof

Member
Location
Cornwall
is there really such a think as a rep anymore ?

would anyone ever be ride enough to turn up at a farm without invitation these days ?

good old day ? bad old days more like when fools were clearly more easy parted from their money

There’s a whole world outside the one that you live in @Clive .......
If you are a rep it’s no good waiting for the “invitation” you have to get out there and make things happen.
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
There’s a whole world outside the one that you live in @Clive .......
If you are a rep it’s no good waiting for the “invitation” you have to get out there and make things happen.

its rude to turn up uninvited in my world unless you are a very good friend or family

you make appointments in business and never assume someone has nothing better to do than listen to your sale pitch
 
Absolutely. It’s just good manners to return a call and provide a quotation if asked for one.

Ahhh but it depends..... Granted, I have never been involved with selling machinery but at some times of the year I would not be able to immediately reply, and I am afraid to say that unexpected phone calls from potential customers I have never met before do not equate to automatic 'sale!' signs in my mind because of the 'just don't pay' factor.

That said, there does seem a lot of sluggishness in the machinery world if the comments on TFF are anything to go by. Can machinery reps really be too busy to ring back or quote?
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 80 42.3%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 66 34.9%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 15.9%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,292
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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