sticky's.

[TClawn]

terry,

I think that it would be a good idea to post some stickys that answer reccuring questions. for starters people are always asking the msrp's of machines, they are also always asking for the width of the deck, how much trim side, etc.
other's feel free to add your own.

I think that it would make it alot easier on you if some sticky threads were posted answering these common questions.

respectfully chris.

[eXmark]

Ya there are some advantages. I really need to figure that sticky thing out.

The MSRP's are a tough one. As a company we've alwasy taken the stance that we would never post our complete price list for a variety of reasons.

There are a couple regarding blades, baffles and new products that I need to sticky but pricing. I'll work on that this week as well.

Thanks

Terry

[TClawn]

well, I don't see much difference between somebody starting a thread and you telling them the msrp, or having a thread preposted that all they have to do is scroll down. either way they find out the price. with the sticky it's just less work for you.

I know exmark takes the stance that the dealers set the price of their machines, so why don't you just have a paragraph at the top of the sticky saying that these prices are ONLY the manufacturers SUGGESTED sale price. the actual price is set by the dealers.

[eXmark]

TC,

You are correct there isn't a lot of difference but there is some. For now our policy is to not publish our MSRP however we do still want to be as open with information as possible as we can without violating this policy.

Pricing is a funny thing. It can vary greatly from region to region based on geography mostly. As an example it costs more to ship machines over the Rocky's than it does to ship eastbound. Also Different regions will have certain models that are big sellers but other models may not sell well at all. As an example if we still offered the now discontinued Explorer I am confident we would still be selling several in the western half of the US, Canada and anywhere that the long pine straw is present. This unit didn't sell well many other places. In the areas where it was a "hot" model you would often find it selling at a premium. In the areas where it maybe wasn't as popular you could often buy one at a discount.

The MSRP can be identical to the dealer’s asking price or it can be radically different. While we believe that every machine we build is worth the MSRP (some maybe worth a little more) we do not want anyone to think that we want to in anyway try to control pricing at the dealer level.

The practice of not giving out MSRP's at all can be seen in other industries as well.

While the system we currently have may not be perfect it is in our opinion to balance the wants, needs and desires of our dealers, distributors, landscaper professionals, share holders and management............besides, it's really improved my typing skills.

Terry

[TClawn]

then maybe don't publish the msrp's but it still would help if you posted some other common questions as a sticky. like total deck widths and stuf that we don't see in the specifications but we still need to know.

[eXmark]

I agree, especially on items like blades, baffles and some those other common items.

Thanks for the input it is always greatly appreciated.

Terry

[splatz100]

while you guys are talking about price what is the MSRP of a 19/48 Lazer Hp??

It is on sale for 5,999 at my dealer

[65hoss]

I got one for you. Post Fred's home & cell number so we can get all the time. That should be worth a Sticky.

...oh, don't laugh Dustin...your next.


haha

[Soupy]

I disagree and think that we have every right to know what the MSRP is. I don't want my dealer screwing me. I think I would worry more about what we (the end user) thinks then what the dealer wants. Who is more important?

I seen this thread because I came here to find the MSRP of your mowers :) . I was just at Hustler's forum and they have the MSRP listed. I wanted to compare the two.

Oh well, I guess I have to put some work into this. To bad you can't just tell me, instead of making me work for it. I was always taught that if a customer has to work to hire you, then you most likely won't get hired. I was taught that you have to make it as painless as possible for the customer to want your product.

I can understand hiding something you think is unfair or that the customer won't like. I do this myself. My hourly rate would give a customer a heart attack, but the job rate seems just fine to them.

[eXmark]

Splatz

The MSRP for the 44/19 is $6599.

Thanks

Terry

[eXmark]

Soupy,

For the most part we are extremely open to customer suggestions and a huge number of your suggestions are put into practice here by changing the way we do business or by changing our products.

Pricing has been and will always be a touchy subject. One of the reasons we don't like to post our MSRP is for the reason you mentioned you don't post your hourly rate. Please also remember that we've never said we will not give out our MSRP. We've always given out pricing information when asked. We've simply chosen not to list our complete price sheat on the internet. I'm sure most of you would be uncomfortable posting your complete pricing structure on the internet as well.

All that being said I sorta forgot to make an important point. We feel we offer the best "value" in commercial mowers. We are not the most expensive and we are not the least expensive but bang for the buck we are sitting pretty good. That means features and quality.

It is difficult to communicate features and value on paper. You can do it but our literature would be 80 pages long with fine print and nobody would be able to read it. It's important to us to get any potential customers into a dealership where they can see, touch and feel the difference and better understand what makes and Exmark and Exmark.

A hydro walk behind is a great example of this. Virtually nobody ever looked a price sheet and said that they wanted to drop and extra $1,000 on a hydro over a gear drive just because. In fact they have just the opposite response. Once you get someone to take a hydro for a spin or demo one for a period of time most come back saying that yes a hydro is better than a gear drive and test it is worth the extra investment. On paper the hydro didn't look like such a good deal. In reality it has more value.

On paper most manufacturers have difficult standing up to the lowest priced machine on the market. Once you really start looking at the machines, running them and investigating them it's pretty clear that the best "value" is seldom found in a price sheet.

I hope this helps. We simply feel that getting customers into the dealership to see what makes an Exmark different is the best way to serve our current customers and future customers.

Thanks

Terry

[TClawn]

terry the reason you mentioned above is probably why I didn't buy a turf tracer hp. the dealer did have ANY exmark walkbehinds in stock so I couldn't drive one around, feel it, touch it and observe the quality of cut.

is there a madatory dealer inventory?

[ztoro]

Pricing has been and will always be a touchy subject. One of the reasons we don't like to post our MSRP is for the reason you mentioned you don't post your hourly rate. Please also remember that we've never said we will not give out our MSRP. We've always given out pricing information when asked. We've simply chosen not to list our complete price sheat on the internet. I'm sure most of you would be uncomfortable posting your complete pricing structure on the internet as well.


I wouldnt be uncomfortable posting my pricing structures. if there were various circumstances why the number I posted could be different I would note that with an astrerik(spell ?)

As you mentioned above the shipping could change depending on location I think a little note that states shipping rates may be different for different locations.

If there are any other reasons, besides shipping, why the price would be different in another location for me I would feel a little bambuzzled as to why someone else is getting a better deal....
I would hope buying in quantity would not be a factor, because it would only make the bigger dealers even stronger and the smaller dealers weaker....

[eXmark]

Ztoro,

Actually there are many reasons why prices can vary greatly. The biggest one is that we can not and do not want to control pricing. In some regions loaner programs are a big deal in others they are not. Dealer open houses, state landscape organization support, legislative support there are a ton of reasons why prices vary but this probably isn't the best place to cover all of them. If you've ever taken any horticulture classes or landscaping classes at your local trade schools, colleges or universities chances are your dealer/distributor had something to do with it. Many donate time, money and even equipment.

Just remember this that pricing structures vary for a variety of reasons. It's not because somebody is being "bambuzzled" or because somebody is getting rich. I've yet to meet a rich power equipment dealer. You are fortunate that you are dealing with small business people (power equipment dealers) that are working on your behalf. Most dealers understand the struggles you go through because they go through the same struggles. Dealer Y charges more for is services than Dealer X in some cases but that's because they are providing a service. This is no different than your business. Some you you charge more for what you do simply because you are worth it. You put forth more effort, take your time and do things right when someone else simply does a quick mow, blow and go.

Thanks

Terry

[Soupy]

Just read the threads. Your customers are asking you for something they feel is important.

[eXmark]

TC,

Yes there are requirements. Often however our ability to supply can't keep up with demand. When this happens nobody has a walk behind on the showroom floor.

Thanks

Terry

[ztoro]

Ztoro,

Actually there are many reasons why prices can vary greatly. The biggest one is that we can not and do not want to control pricing. In some regions loaner programs are a big deal in others they are not. Dealer open houses, state landscape organization support, legislative support there are a ton of reasons why prices vary but this probably isn't the best place to cover all of them. If you've ever taken any horticulture classes or landscaping classes at your local trade schools, colleges or universities chances are your dealer/distributor had something to do with it. Many donate time, money and even equipment.


Thanks

Terry

My comments about pricing were related to MSRP. obviuosly some people get better deals than others..

If I was in Washington and got an MSRP for a TTHP 52 for X and then in NJ and got a MSRP of X+$150.. I would assume shipping rates are different. If there was a huge difference in MSRP I would be a bit skeptical.......

Ztoro,

This is no different than your business. Some you you charge more for what you do simply because you are worth it. You put forth more effort, take your time and do things right when someone else simply does a quick mow, blow and go.

Thanks

Terry
I dont think you can compare my labor fees and the MSRP of an EXmark Z.


The only thing that seems Fishy to me is that a company would have more than one MSRP for the same machine(with the exception of shipping it to different destinations)

[eXmark]

Z toro,

Fortuneately you there's no need to worry about that. The MSRP is the MSRP and that doesn't change for any reason other than human error.

Thanks

Terry