Alamia vs dealer

[TJLC]

I went to my local echo/shindawia dealer today. I took along price sheets I got from alamia.com and showed him what I was interested in buying.(Shndawia eb630 backpack blower and Echo hc1500 hedge clippers.)He looked at the prices from alamia.com and said HE couldn't even buy them that cheap. I want to stay loyal to him. Should I just pay his higher price. I'm afraid if I buy from alamia.com and need service he might not be as receptive as if I would have purchased from him. Price differences are: hc1500 alamia $225.00, dealer $259.00 eb630 alamia $435.00 dealer $499/00. Is this enough to really worry about? As always, thanks for any help.

[Cutter1]

eb630 is $399 on alamia!!! I'm sorry, but money is money. My dealer sells so much stuff I could take it up there and he wouldn't know if he sold it too me or not. I'm buying my small equipment on line from now on. Tell your dealer you so an add in the paper and bought it used. My dealer is good and really helps me out, except for labor and very little on price of small equipment. He is driving around a Lexus. Enough said, I'm going with alamia.

[Edited by Cutter1 on 10-17-2000 at 07:54 PM]

[TJLC]

Cutter, I just looked at alamia again to double check. Eb630 is $435.00 not $ 399.00.I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's what it said. Thanks

[Keith]

Screw it. Buy from Alamia. MSRP on the 630 is $499...he isn't coming of the price at all. That tells you what he thinks of you. $435 is still a bargain with shipping included, provided you are not in Colorado.

[OBRYANMAINT]

i disagree wholeheartedly

the dealer needs to make money to be in business
the mail order house can buy in volume and sell for less they do not have as much overhead to run their business

i came from a bike shop background,same exact scenario what we did was put the bikes bought from our store first and the department store bike or "mail order" when we got to it also the bikes purchased from our store got a discounted labor rate we were rewarding the customer so to speak

i will always support my local business as they also support me yes i price shop and look to see what i can get it for but usually buy locally talk to you dealer and explain to him your view, hopefully you have a good relationship with him, and i am sure he will show you his side i do not doubt that he WILL want you as his customer AND can provide service and loaners when you need them

reality is-- if and when any machine breaks down your not making money and lost efficiency so whats 40, 60, even 100 dollars when you go back and he fixes you on the spot or gives you a loaner for free and you finish the day on time

you would not like it if he stops selling to you because you only buy one machine at a time!

the local dealer is not supposed to be the enemy, price shop yes but do it locally or you may have to fix it yourself next time

[jaclawn]

Cost difference on the mentioned hedge clippers: $34 more locally.

Cost difference on the mentioned blower: $64 more locally.

Average life of hedge clippers= 3 years?
Average life of blower= 3 years?

That is about $11 per year more to purchase the clippers locally, and $21 pre year more for the blower.

Now, what if one of your mowing customers asked you about lets say, fertilizing her lawn. Average fert job=$60x5 apps per year. $300 per year.

What if you quoted her $60, and she came to you with a quote from one of the "big boys" that was a few dollars lower and wanted you to lower your price? If you do, fine. If you don't and she goes with the lower priced guy, fine. Now, if she goes with the lower priced guy, and she has a problem, and asks for your advice, how willing would you be to help her out? After all, you are essentially doing the same thing at the dealer.

I had this same situation. A customer went with one of the "big boys" for fert, because they were cheeper. When she had a problem with weeds and asked for advice, I responded "Most of the lawns I fertilize are relativly weed free, Why don't you ask the "big boy" about your weed problem".

[TJLC]

Thanks for the responses. I have always believed in dealer loyality. I was just comparing prices. My dealer has bailed me out on more than one occ. I will buy from him for this reason. Like someone said what's a little price difference. I understand he is in business, like me. Again, thanks.

[geogunn]

tjlc--I think you are right to buy locally, under these circumstances. now if your dealer was a total pri**, then....

GEO

[Skookum]

I believe in buying locally as well. But, I found that dealers are like any other business or supplier, same as us, if you can not compete, get out of the business.

I know about the old, "give you a labor discount" for buying here routine. You paid HIGH to begin with of course they can give you a slight discount. They also know that the equipment will last say three years before you are spending to fix it, by which time the dealer has raised his labor rates.

He cannot buy it that cheap is BULL! If he couldn't, he wouldn't be selling it. Would you!

I dealt with a dealer for years. Found a mower I wanted about 3 years ago on the manufacture's website. The list price was given for the model. I went to but it from my dealer. He was trying to sell it without the bagger, discharge chute etc..claimed it was all accessories. Showed the printout to him he sold to me at the price he was suppose to. Funny thing was the tag where he cut the bag off the mower unit was all intact!

Have the dealer show you the price he paid.

[luckylawnboy]

Ever Herd the song by Alan Jackson, called Little Man. What is $50-$100 to become dependent on a dealer. One day you may go down,if you just bought a new Blower a couple of mounths ago, he is more likley to pull you equipmnt in right now and fix it. If you really never purchase any thing he may try to work you in, but it may be a couple of Days. Now if you are talking $1,000-$2,000 difference, well that a little different for me any ways. Don't foget were all in it togather. We all make each other go round. Before you know it this whole world is going to be ran by huge Corp. By local. is this situation.It could mean the difference between being down for a couple of hours or a couple of days.

[Likestomow]

Warranties are generally good for only 1 year. After that you pay to get it fixed anyway. My experience with Red Max and Echo have been that they take a pounding in the first year and mine haven't broken down.

The Red Max blower cost me $100 MORE from my local dealer. I will buy the next one from alemia.com. If it breaks down within the first year and I must pay out of my own pocket, I could afford to pay a charge up to $100 and still be even. BUT if it runs the whole year without a problem, I have saved money. I am willing to take that risk.

[Jim Buessing]

Yes alamia is cheaper than most dealers in most of the equipment they sell. As for Shindaiwa they are going to loose that product line because Shindaiwa requires that all dealers service the equipment before sale and must sbe sold complete. That is the reason you do not see Stihl being sold by them. Also you can get a hell of a deal especially on the Toro z-masters, they are at dealer cost plus they throw in the shipping!!

[little green guy]

Man my dealer told me he would give me a shindawia 6300 for 430.00, almiana can't even beat that. I wonder if this guy realy makes money? I paid 560.00 for my redmax at another dealer. I wanted to get another redmax put he only carries shindawia so for that price looks like I'm getting a shindawia. =)

[bob]

Get it at the cheapest price you can find! I bought my Redmax 2 1/2 years ago at a local dealer. He swore he wasn't making any money on the deal-$525. Never again. I buy all my Shindaiwa equipment from my friend Walter. He gives 20% off the suggested retail price! EB630- $400.

[scottlawns]

i always thought alimia was cheap until i found russopower.com they are by bar the cheapest and they are in chicago....they have there 11 horse billygoat leaf loader for 1,429 no where else has it cheaper than 1750

[Dave]

[QUOTE[B]

He cannot buy it that cheap is BULL! If he couldn't, he wouldn't be selling it. Would you!

NO thats not bull.Most if not all Manufactures and Distributers base the price tag on how many the dealer buys at one time,my dist for example,min20 machines,one price 20-40 another price,40 to 60, 60 to 100, 100to150,150 or more
so alamia is really laying out some cash,because there is a big difference in price per quanity,and yes shindawia from what they tell me there won,t be any more online sales in the near future.

[Cutter1]

I looked. The eb630 was at $399 a few weeks ago. Must of went up do to the season. Sorry for the misprint.

[landscaper3]

Im sorry to say this but we are in business to make money. So saving money wherever it may be is making us money. I by equipment from the lowest price person BUT I buy all my accesories (blades,oil,plugs,tires ect)at the local dealers.

[gusbuster]

I've bought from Alamia before and have been very happy. They do pretty well when they screw up. Two points I want to make that I haven't seen mentioned.

If you don't buy something that doesn't come with free shipping, some of the cost savings are gone. The only advantage is if you’re out of state, no sales tax. What are you going to do if you need the machine NOW? The Shindaiwa trimmer I use is only $43 cheaper at Alamia than my local dealer. I'm going to wait here in Ca. for 4 days for a machine I need now. Also, a dealer makes more money on repairs and parts than selling a machine @ above 10 % cost.

What are you going to do if the machine is broken or becomes defective? Guess who pays the FULL cost of transport back to Alamia??

Just some things to consider..:D They do have good prices to warrant the risk however..
John


[Edited by gusbuster on 10-18-2000 at 04:36 AM]

[jasonp]

It doesnt matter to me because i checked the prices with my dealer and all that i have checked so far is the same , but i would still go with the cheapest.

[SMB]

DEALERS! I have thought about buying from alamia.com in the past, and I believe I'm gonna get my Shindaiwa from Harold, (The really nice guy at my local dealer)! That's where we got our Bob-Cat and they sell Toro pro 21" wbs too..... If I want something, I want it TODAY!

[steveair]

hello,

my feelings are who cares about the dealer. With the savings in sales tax and the savings in price, it seems like the best way to go.

There are dealers everywhere near me, so service is not a concern. If something breaks, I can usually just take it to one of the dealers and say I bought it somewhere else. They seem not to care the least where it was purchased.

When I have bought from a dealer, It seems like everyone else services/charges the same as they do, even though they sold it to me.

Maybe in a area where there are only 1 or 2 dealers in the entire county, I would have some concern, but not a problem in more urban areas.

I am going all internet purchases from this point on, unless it is something that can't be found but at a specialty store.

steveair

[carlsmower]

to let you all know the shindaiwa eb-630 blower cost the dealer $389, wow he'll make $100 dollars on the sale, take off shipping, set-up, and gas how much didi he make, take off minor repairs he does at no charge, the dealer really doesn't make all that much, what is your profit margin for your lawns, if the dealer sold you the unit in a box he would make 22%. the dealer is not out to screw you (at least most of them) buy local and save in the long run.
josh

[crew]

I bought two of those blowers earlier this season from alamia and i would do it again.
I spend alot of money at my local dealer, nothing says I have to spend it all there. He is a reasonable person and a buisness man. He knows the value of money and does not spend his foolishly. Neither do I. If he resented the fact that I saved 150.00 on two blowers, tough s**t!
He and I both have to adapt to a changing world and this little internet thing is changing EVERYTHING, even the power equipment world.
Save the money and change dealers if you dont get the service you deserve.

[HOMER]

Why can't the dealer buy from Alamia?

Homer

[Keith]

crew, that was very well said.

Why do you have to buy from one dealer? Why should he or she resent you shopping elsewhere? They are not loyal to one store themselves. I am sure they eat at more than one restaurant.

If they drop everything to get on your problem, then maybe you have the perfect dealer and you shouldn't look elsewhere. But if they drop everything for you, it may be my stuff that is getting dropped. At least that is the way it has worked for me.

Also, here is a list of my experience buying from local dealers recently. Maybe you can see why I chose to deal with out-of-otown dealers. (I'll keep it short and incomplete)

1. Grasshopper 721- dealer shuts doors within a year.

2. Kees ZTMax - long established dealer closed within a year.

3. Exmark walkbehind- dealer still there, but if you don't do $50,000 a year in business, you are second class.

4. Shindaiwa LE260 edger- established dealer sells out, new dealer loses Shindaiwa.

5.A dealer I am very loyal to for several years. I have spent a large amount of money at his shop. I buy one item elsewhere and now I am on his $hitlist.

[Richard Martin]

Keith said:

<i><b>3. Exmark walkbehind- dealer still there, but if you don't do $50,000 a year in business, you are second class</b></i>

I have the same problem with my local Exmark dealer. One week I buy my new Exmark mower, Shindaiwa trimmer and Velke there and it's "Anything else Mr. Martin? Would you like a free debris bag to go with your new mower?" and two weeks later when I drop it off to get an engine oil leak fixed it's "What's your name? Okay, drop it off around back and we'll call you when it's done" and then they never call me. Five days later I call them and they say "Yeah, that was done yesterday, you can come and pick it up".