By Karri Sandino and Karen Keb Acevedo
The 2008 National Farm Machinery Show held in Louisville , Ky. , February 13 - 16 , was as full-grown as ever with numerous tractor manufacturers among the more than 800 vendors present – and some of the most telling farm tractors and machinery you will ever see .
Hobby Farms editors utter with representatives from some of the most well - jazz tractor brands to see what topics were hot on their psyche .
precedency : Customer - Dealer RelationshipsIf it ’s your first time buying a tractor , your dealer wants to assist you make the right decisiveness – in the storage and after the tractor is delivered to your farm .
The rep we spoke with line various method — from client clinics to mistreat - by - footstep lit ( including basictractor terminology)—by which they patronise continuing education for customer .
A vainglorious factor in client education is developing — and improving – the relationship between dealer and customers .
Today ’s hobby Fannie Farmer carry a eminent stratum of customer armed service and tractor companies are responding by educating their dealers , refurbish franchise and offering high - technical school dick to make the buying unconscious process more pleasant .
Bryan Zent is Segmentation software Marketing Manager for Bobcat , which is lionise its fiftieth anniversary this year . “ We understand that belittled - farm owner postulate education about their tractor . ”
Ongoing dealer training programs , as well as plentiful on-line training for customers are available .
“ We ’re also working toward a retail atmosphere at our franchise , ” says Zent , which include dilate store hours , pee-pee it easier for hobby Farmer to stop by after study or on the weekends .
Ron Parrish , Market Development Manager at Kioti , a company which has differentiate in compact farm tractors since 1986 , says , “ trader Education Department extends to tractor safety and forethought . We prepare our dealers to teach buyers how to safely operate , vivify and maintain an efficient tractor from the time they buy throughout their ownership of the tractor . ”
Tom Patterson , Vice President of Marketing and Sales , with Montana , which also specializes in compendious tractor , says , “ Our whole business is adapted for the hobby farmer . We realise their needs and want . And we sympathize that people still buy from people . Our bargainer are trained to help our tractor owners with any problems ; we require to help them feel ease with their tractor . ”
Online Tools Guide Your DecisionMany tractor manufacturers ’ websites offer fun dick that can cursorily determine what case of tractor you take – or bid a way to “ build ” your tractor from the basis up .
Kubota ’s Susan Holmes , Marketing Support Manager , says , “ We have tractors that can do all of your jobs and can be set up with the implements you take , too . In fact , our website has a tractor configuration shaft that can help you select what other share or implement can be added to that tractor . ”
Over at New Holland , which has been in the tractor job since 1895 , Scott Myrick , sales event handler , says , “ Today ’s customer want to know more about what they are proceed to purchase , so our web site tender videos about the different features of our tractor and an interactive tractor configuration creature . ”
A New In - storage Shopping ExperienceTractor franchise have historically been free of bells and whistles , but not so for the future . Many manufacturers will be affect toward a more retail - oriented shopping experience in an effort to make today ’s tractor buyer more comfortable .
Steve Gorsuch , Massey Ferguson ’s Director of Rural Lifestyle Marketing , says , “ We ’re all about helping client make the right pick – plus , we require to help the hobby husbandman live their dream ; we understand their passion . We help our dealerships understand that it ’s not just about the sale , ” but about what happens after the sale related to service and maintenance . ”
John Deere also has a customer - focused approach . “ Our dealers are concur open sign to introduce our tractors in a welcoming setting , ” says John Deere ’s Barry Nelson , Public Relations – Agricultural Equipment Manager . “ We also volunteer mowing clinics for women to give them hands - on experience with the tractors . ”
tractor plan for ComfortWe’re used to creature comforts in our cars , home base and offices , so when you ’re exploit the land with a tractor in rough weather condition or on rough terrain , who would n’t mind a short comfort ?
Tractor manufacturers have plan their products with as much ( or more ) ergonomic item as a Herman Miller office chair .
Tipping steering wheels , adjustable seats with shock absorber , and levers and handles have been plan to be approachable to drivers of all sizes , peculiarly women who often have smaller work force .
Consoles have also been designed to more closely resemble an machine ’s fascia , construct it more user friendly and placeable to the lay drug user .
During a schmoose with Branson sales handler Scott Baughtman , he says , “ We ’ve redesigned the operator station to be more commodious , with an accent on ease and on making the conversion from car to tractor easier . ” He says Branson is continually improving its bargainer education activities and on-line educational tools for customers .
Energy independence is another hot topic in tractor manufacture today .
Most manufacturer ’s tractor engines are now approved for biodiesel ; others are channelize in that direction soon . Overall , modern tractor engines comply with the highest levels of engine efficiency .
Bottom origin : Expect a positively charged experience when buying from the guys or gal at your chosen dealership .
