Why don't more dealers offer parts and spares online, eBay etc?

[Pheasant Surprise]

Just bought some bits off eBay for the lawnmower and went and fetched some other parts off the local machinery dealer.

Why don't more dealers offer online? Is it the cost of setup/training, are they're restricted by the franchise or just can't be arsed?

Seems like a lot of them are stuck in 1950 and missing a lot of business.

 

[Cowabunga]

I suspect that it is a very time consuming and costly exercise, fully populating an on-line catalogue of different brand's parts, spares and accessories, never mind keeping it all up to date and the prices correct.

Its relatively easy to pick a few dozen special offers in comparison.

It also requires a comprehensive and probably expensive shopping program with checkout and payment facilities. It can be done, of course it can. I suppose it will have to be done from now on, as more and more companies offer the service.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

It also requires a comprehensive and probably expensive shopping program with checkout and payment facilities. It can be done, of course it can. I suppose it will have to be done from now on, as more and more companies offer the service.

A lot of them appear to use the same stock keeping/point of sale software too. Don't know what it's called but it doesn't appear very .com friendly.

 

[Stewartry hill]

It's too easy for the customer to price the goods

 

[Tractor_dealer]

Www.parts4tractors.co.uk work in progress

 

[sleepy]

A lot of them appear to use the same stock keeping/point of sale software too. Don't know what it's called but it doesn't appear very .com friendly.

Ibcos Gold

 

[john432]

In these times of austerity, we as customers need to haggle and Google more, often the trade price is about 40% of the retail price.

 

[Cowabunga]

Ibcos Gold

That's the one. Very unfriendly and most dealers seem to use a DOS version. My goodness!
It has its good points but I would be very surprised if it could be used to automate an internet retail shop.

 

[sleepy]

That's the one. Very unfriendly and most dealers seem to use a DOS version. My goodness!
It has its good points but I would be very surprised if it could be used to automate an internet retail shop.

I did laugh when I saw on their website that their idea of a mobile app was basically a dos terminal emulator

 

[Steevo]

It's amazing how many firms still run DOS based software.

 

[Cowabunga]

It's amazing how many firms still run DOS based software.

Some, maybe most of them seem to have been brainwashed into believing that DOS is more stable or 'safer' and more reliable. But come on! We are approaching the third decade of the 21st Century, where huge retail corporations like Amazon dominate. I'm sure that Amazon don't run the business with DOS from the 1980's.

 

[Recoil]

Bought some genuine fuel filters for my tractors off ebay delivered cheaper than my dealer sells them for. It's a half hour trip to my dealer and a pain to take time out of the day. Ordered in the evening when I can't do a lot outside and delivered in a couple of days. It's useful for parts you don't need straight away but not so good in emergencies.

To be honest the miserable f**ker at Ted Hopkins in Brecon doesn't want to sell you the parts he has in stock anyway.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Some, maybe most of them seem to have been brainwashed into believing that DOS is more stable or 'safer' and more reliable. But come on! We are approaching the third decade of the 21st Century, where huge retail corporations like Amazon dominate. I'm sure that Amazon don't run the business with DOS from the 1980's.

Now imagine if Amazon virtualised the shopfront for Kramp, Vap, Sparex etc.

 

[Storeman]

DOS from the 80's? That's modern! Many of the big financial institutions run all the business software on IBM AS/400 mainframes, most of the software being written in COBOL. The cost to convert to something more modern makes them keep the old iron ticking over.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

DOS from the 80's? That's modern! Many of the big financial institutions run all the business software on IBM AS/400 mainframes, most of the software being written in COBOL. The cost to convert to something more modern makes them keep the old iron ticking over.

As/400, MVS etc is rock solid (unlike DoS) and if they don't need to move from batch to real time then they sweat the asset, until the support costs get uneconomic.

 

[Steevo]

Surplusstockworldwide website was aimed at this I think. You list your parts, they put them online and then you get enquiries that way. Worked for me once, but too many POA to make it worthwhile.

 

[Steevo]

Now imagine if Amazon virtualised the shopfront for Kramp, Vap, Sparex etc.

It could revolutionise stock holding. Imagine dealers carrying no stock, and instead "Sold by Franks Curtis. Fulfilled by Amazon."

Other dealers (though not quite as good...!) are available! [emoji854]

 

[Jim B]

Unfortunately as I understand it, IBCOS have almost monopolised ag dealers with their Gold software. It's very old fashioned, and very expensive with yearly licences for each PC/laptop, but pretty much all seem to run it? Many manufacturers produce "stock tapes" to update parts stock, and every time this is produced IBCOS charge dealers to update it.

Not sure what alternatives there are? Shame there's not more competition for such software.

Furthermore, many dealers buy their PCs from IBCOS at more than market value. If they buy elsewhere it apparently costs more to get Gold installed and licensed than it would if IBCOS supplied the machine, so any saving on buying elsewhere is lost ? In addition many dealers seem to have their website/email all supplied by IBCOS at more than the usual market cost? Even setting up email addresses seems to cost.

 

[Rabbit]

I rang our local New Holland dealer for a price for a tractor part on Friday. He told me he'd ring me back on Monday with it.
Have they not even got instant access to a price?

 

[Cowabunga]

I rang our local New Holland dealer for a price for a tractor part on Friday. He told me he'd ring me back on Monday with it.
Have they not even got instant access to a price?

Its a bit of a faff when there are customers waiting on the counter.

They might also be looking for cheaper alternatives. For instance, a water pump for a NH skid-steer with a 2 litre indirect injection engine is £650 on NH system. I got the same part about a year ago, through eBay, from America for £35 + £38 shipping plus import duty and VAT to clear customs. They hit me hard on duty and it cost me about £100 + VAT. My dealer didn't try and find an alternative, probably because they make 30 to 40% on the retail price. But they lost a sale so made nothing. If they had offered an alternative for £250, I'd probably have swallowed the pill and bought. There's no incentive for storemen to try and save us money, so if you do find one that does go that extra mile, give him and his company all the support and custom you can. Unfortunately there are so many farmers today that if given an inch, they will take a mile and pee on them as well.