I guess it depends on how busy the individual is
but making an appointment is always more polite surely
John Deere reducing dealerships
- Thread starter Will 1594
- Start date
I guess it depends on how busy the individual is
but making an appointment is always more polite surely
- Location
- South Molton
Less reps ,more online . Not always good.
Use to have butcher, Baker, clothes seller.
Reps selling feed, machinery, fuel,animal medicines with enough left over to make a living on farm.
Always time for a brew, chat and a laugh.
That is certainly lacking nowadays!
You obviously don't have a very clear understanding of mental health issues if you say they have to "get out".
Pull your head out of your own ass and open your eyes!!
- Location
- South Molton
How do they make an appointment then?
Data protection means you can not contact anyone on a database via email or phone unless you have their permission?
rubbish - you are perfectly able to contact anyone by phone, email or even letter under “legitimate interest” clause, polite people contact me by phone or email and make a mutually convenient appointments
so much bullocks is talked about GDPR ....... yet most ag publishers ignored completely and no one even noticed
- Location
- South Molton
Guess?! That's very insular!
Huge differences!
Open your eyes and see that not everyone lives in the same world as a busy industrial type business.
Some people wouldn't see anyone on farm for weeks!
- Location
- South Molton
Also how do they get their mobile or email details in the first place?
- Location
- fakenham-norfolk
puntabrava
Member
- Location
- Wiltshire
For ‘’ride’’ I take it the adjective you were hankering after was rude?
Roll on the 70% cut in subsidy to bring farmers back to where they were 20 years ago,
ie hungry business people who needed to engage with people to stay in business,
not to be antagonistic to the train set owner but.
are they chained to the farm 24/7/365 ? lonely people only have themselves to blame for either making no effort to socialise or being so obnoxious one wants to bother with them
sales reps are not friends just as prostitutes are not your girlfriend ! .... they are only there for your money
- Location
- South Molton
I don't want all and sundry knowing my email address or mobile number much like the majority of ag businesses.
You really do surprise me with your insular view Clive.
If you have no experience of farming alone I suggest that you dont comment then! It shows a lack of understanding of how many farms operate.
For local communities in areas that are mainly agricultural based then the communities can be very close knit.
Friends can be reps and visa versa.
I would see many reps,mechanics, vets,nutritionists, contractors etc in the Chiefs bar on a Saturday!! I wouldn't just ignore them as it's not business!
hutchy143211
Member
- Location
- E. Yorkshire
Surely its not just about a rep being a friend or not (Though they can be) but about the personal working relationship they form with you and your business?? I know we have several reps who will call in not to sell something, but to drop a calendar in, and maintain that connection and personal relationship. We would class them as friends but as a business more importantly that regular and sporadic contact is what keeps them involved in our farming business, knowing us and our needs so that in future they can sell us the right machine for our job. That personal service is what separates them from simply ordering parts, on an Amazon for tractors and machinery surely? That's fine if you know what you want explicitly but what if you have a weird question or a bespoke need where you want to talk it through with some? Great example is we've just bought a machine and I wanted to know where its centre of gravity was, an unusual request that doesn't normally lie on a spec sheet. Though the deal had been done already the rep took his time to personally produce me a drawing with the info on to help me out. That to me is the value behind the price paid for their service and input, provided they deliver it.
I don't work in agriculture full time, I work as a consulting engineer and one of the key things that's drilled into us is that personal relationships with others, client and colleagues, is the most crucial aspect of the business. Trust, empathy and mutual understandings of others problems, concerns and goals is how you win repeat work, keep people happy and build long term relationships that benefit both the clients and your business. These win-wins are surely what all industries should be seeking, adding value beyond just an end product.
I don't work in agriculture full time, I work as a consulting engineer and one of the key things that's drilled into us is that personal relationships with others, client and colleagues, is the most crucial aspect of the business. Trust, empathy and mutual understandings of others problems, concerns and goals is how you win repeat work, keep people happy and build long term relationships that benefit both the clients and your business. These win-wins are surely what all industries should be seeking, adding value beyond just an end product.
- Location
- Cheltenham
I use my own system. I have no idea how others use theirs. At the end of the day, each to their own.
In an industry that moans there is no margin can we afford the extra layers. The “free” calendar etc ...... it all costs and all goes on the prices we pay, it’s simply not really needed these days in a lot ( but not every) case
this graph shows just how bad it’s got and whose talking the money ........ your “friends“
the green is nett farm incomes ....... the blue is our suppliers ! This is Canadian data but there is a shockingly similar Uk graph the AHDB did that I can’t find just now
our “friends” are taking the pee
this graph shows just how bad it’s got and whose talking the money ........ your “friends“
the green is nett farm incomes ....... the blue is our suppliers ! This is Canadian data but there is a shockingly similar Uk graph the AHDB did that I can’t find just now
our “friends” are taking the pee
- Location
- fakenham-norfolk
Clive,you must live in a different world to me then. Perhaps its a generational thing. I am still dealing with farmers that |I met in the YFC over 60 years ago,but times do change I will have to admit to that.
- Location
- Le Veurde, Allier, France 03320
I think I prefer your world to that of Clive’s. This industry is tough and getting tougher by the year, partly why I moved, one of a few things that still make it enjoyable are the personal relationships that we develop with our suppliers over the years. I think what is confusing this situation here is that most of us are talking about farming and farmers who are out to farm to the best of their ability first and make a living/get by second. I think @Clive is coming from the side of Agri business where making money at all costs is the name of the game. I had a couple of friends who were in partnership for years on either side of this fence, one was a farmer end of and a very good one at that and the other a money man and also very good at that. I always could equate to the former far easier than the later. I don’t think either side of this debate will ever fully see/embrace the others point of view, they are two totally different mind sets that are totally divergent.