Dealer Hours - What Should They Be?

[larryinalabama]

I guess Im a little different, if I go into the dealer I want to be reconized and serviced wheathe its a 10$ part or a 400$ trimmer. Its easy to get stuff shippped from the cheapest internet dealer.

I had the worlds best dealer when I had my business in So California. He was I think Korean not that it matters other than the comminaction barrier. We really worked togeather I would drop of blades to be sharpened, in return if I was in a buind he would take care of what I needed. He could rebuild a 2stroke carburator in 3 to 5 minutes, the first couple of times he looked at me real hard beause of the price, but I was glad to go back to work.

Now that Im in bamaland I reapir all my stuff my self and have backups, the dealers here for the most pard have gone out of busineess or oder parts from the same suppliers that I would order from.

[JCLawn and more]

Ok here is how it is with my kubota dealer. I walk in and I get the guy ahead of my who trying to find some odd part off something he does not even know what, and then 20 min later I get up to the counter and I tell them I got a order in. The guy at the counter yells back, bill did we get that shippment in this morning? Ya we did, I don't know where sue put it and she left for the day. 10 min later he finds it in the back. So now its taken 40 min of my time to pick up a $3.00 part. So now it cost me $40 of my time with the employee in waiting in the truck. Why not do the pickup thing but in store what all I have to do is pick up my part, write my check, and hand it to the person running the counter and my oder has my recept and everything so I can be in and out in a matter of a min?
Posted via Mobile Device

[yardguy28]

one thing that gets me about my dealer is I feel like sometimes since I'm solo I don't get taken seriously.

I expect the same treatment as the LCO's with crews and hundreds of accounts. my accounts are just as important. and it's harder for a solo guy to catch up if behind than an LCO with multipul crews.

[retrodog]

My hours are 8 to 5 and 9 to 2 on saturday during cutting season, then 830 to 5 during off season. I put my personal cell phone number on every mower that goes out of here. I encourage a phone call even before the guys show up so i can have the part in hand when they come in. I have 2 employees, me and a mechanic. If i have a customer that has to have a part at 10pm or else i will make it happen. My hours are very flexible in the season. We fix mowers as they roll in and try our hardest not to have overnite as my room is limited. This plan has been hard on me, but using this technique i became the largest volume bad boy dealer for 2012. I was an lco, and i try to be the dealer that i dreames about
Posted via Mobile Device

[herler]

Omg all these people are playing around with hours, the reason I haven't been to a dealer...
I don't need them, my mowers don't break down when they are open and if they do they don't have the part, then three days later I can just order the dang stuff myself, that's assuming I don't already have it stocked because I keep more parts than most dealerships so either dealers are open 24 hours 7 days a week and I can call one at 12:45am with a stupid question to which they have the answer or that is the end of this discussion.

They want my business...

[jrs.landscaping]

Originally Posted by yardguy28

one thing that gets me about my dealer is I feel like sometimes since I'm solo I don't get taken seriously.

I expect the same treatment as the LCO's with crews and hundreds of accounts. my accounts are just as important. and it's harder for a solo guy to catch up if behind than an LCO with multipul crews.

You're a businessman, who do you cater to, the customer paying you 10k per year or the one paying 1k per year?

[jrs.landscaping]

Originally Posted by JCLawn and more

Ok here is how it is with my kubota dealer. I walk in and I get the guy ahead of my who trying to find some odd part off something he does not even know what, and then 20 min later I get up to the counter and I tell them I got a order in. The guy at the counter yells back, bill did we get that shippment in this morning? Ya we did, I don't know where sue put it and she left for the day. 10 min later he finds it in the back. So now its taken 40 min of my time to pick up a $3.00 part. So now it cost me $40 of my time with the employee in waiting in the truck. Why not do the pickup thing but in store what all I have to do is pick up my part, write my check, and hand it to the person running the counter and my oder has my recept and everything so I can be in and out in a matter of a min?
Posted via Mobile Device

Some dealers have bins for their regular contractors. Parts are already billed to their account and waiting on the shelf after the contractor calls them in. On the hours I like 6-6 or even 7-5, if something breaks the day before the earlier we can get parts or service the better.

[32vld]

Every one says open longer hours.

When you are solo or running your own truck with a crew you have the incentive to mow sun rise to sun set. Mowing season is six months long so you want to make all the money you can because you as the business owner gets the lion share of the profits.

They forget that the employees at the shop are not the business owner's. They do not have the motivation to work sun up sun down 7 days a week, and will not get compensated to do so.

Yes a business owner can be open 12 hr days mon - sat simply by putting people on a three day shift. But will the volume of business be there?

I think a business only needs to be open 8 - 5 M - F. One evening late hours and Sat for the home owner.

Why? Let me say the old phrase, because you fail to plan for an emergency does not make it an emergency for me.

You know a mower's belt lasts 4 years why not order one to have on hand when the mower becomes 3 years old? No more complaining that the A hole down the road never stocks nothin'.

When your mower takes a dump and goes down you would not need instant service if you planned.

Why did you run your last mower into the ground beyond repair or trade in a still ok working mower. If you know that mower should of lasted your 5 years buy it's replacement at 4 years of use. Now you are left with a good back up mower.

Same said for hand helds.

[GritCity_Nick]

Originally Posted by herler

Omg all these people are playing around with hours, the reason I haven't been to a dealer...
I don't need them, my mowers don't break down when they are open and if they do they don't have the part, then three days later I can just order the dang stuff myself, that's assuming I don't already have it stocked because I keep more parts than most dealerships so either dealers are open 24 hours 7 days a week and I can call one at 12:45am with a stupid question to which they have the answer or that is the end of this discussion.

They want my business...

I understand what you're saying. Like Retrodog, I was an LCO. My dad had a small company and had me and my brother out cutting way before we were employable by law. I'm just trying to get some feedback from Lawnsite guys like you. You seem to have things figured out pretty good. Most of the companies I service aren't on top of it like that, so that's why I turn here....Thank you for your input!

[A1 Outdoor Services]

Ours all open at 8. wish they would open at 7