Your Experiences with IH Parts Dealers?

I stopped in at mine (near Sparta, MI) several years ago. As I waited for about five minutes, the two guys behind the counter shot the bull with each other without even acknowledging me. I figured they didn't need my money, and walked out.

I finally decided to give them another chance a month or so ago. There was one customer ahead of me at the counter. He was plenty hot because he had called ahead to make sure his parts were in, before making the LONG trip to pick them up. When he got there, you guessed it -- no parts!

I figured I would order a minor part (priced at about twice what it should be) to see what kind of job they would do. That was on a Saturday, and they told me the part would be in the following Friday and they would call me. Well, that Friday came and went -- and then some -- and no call. (If they're waiting for me to call them, they're in for a long wait. I can easily substitute a reasonably priced part from another vendor.)

Two questions:

1 - How have your dealers behaved (good, bad, ugly)?

2 - Are there any dealers in/near western Michigan who are on the ball?

Billy

Compare to another IH dealer near me that won't even order parts for anything pre 66 series without cash up front. They send their customers with H-M-Cub-400-560 needs to us as they can't be "bothered" with this old stuff. Too many B.T.O.'s buying grain carts and planters from them instead.....

Our local parts guys are really good. We are a big farming area so they need to do a good job or they will lose business to Mother Deere ;o)

I deal in Cub Cadet parts with Hollingers in Mountville, now there is the best dealer I've ever dealt with for anything. They have bent over backwards to help me out on more than one occasion.

Last year, I was interested in getting a new lawn mower. Stopped out to the local Case/IH "superstore", and inquired about a new Cub Cadet priced about $7000. Since I wanted to trade in a Farmall C w/ Woods mower, nobody could do anything until they looked at the Farmall...which they would do "next week". Well, next week came and went, no one came to look. After two weeks, I called..."we'll be out tomorrow" was the answer. Waited another week, still nobody showed up.

Decided to call a another dealer about 30 miles away. Told him about my trade. He came the following day and looked at the "C" while I was gone, called me in the evening, and we made a deal. I taped a check to the ol' tractor, and he delivered the new mower and loaded up the "C" on a Saturday while I was at an auction. To this day, I have not met him face to face, yet received better service than with the local IH dealer!

I'm sure the STX450 buyers get priority; but, I feel every potential customer deserves the same respect.

• Hobby farm

Depends a lot on who is behind the counter, everyone wants to be waited on by the one person they think knows what is going on. Usually, there are some new people who need some help and patience.

Years ago I worked as a counter man for an electrical wholesale supply place. Having been on both sides of the counter I'm more understanding of some of the situations parts people face. Not an excuse for poor customer service but I can assure you the first few weeks on the job were a trial for the customer and me!!
I still have lots of friends from the electrical contractors and customers I served back then but it took some time and lots of effort on my part to get what they needed and learn the lingo.

The third one works with me on everything very well. They will order parts for me either on stock order (no additional freight) or special if I want it bad enough to pay extra shipping. They will set parts out for after hours pickup, and will put it on account or I can put a check in the box when I pick it up. They will check on construction equipment parts for me to see if they can get them in and save me 70 miles a round trip. They have sent parts direct to me and billed it on account. I have no complaints with them except one of the parts guys isn’t the newest tool in the box or the brightest bulb on the tree but is the son (maybe co-owner now) of the owner. He tries, just lacks knowledge and experience that a parts man really needs.

It’s not only CaseIH, I’ve had Deere parts people make me so mad that even a trip to the closest town (10 miles) wasn’t enough incentive, I’d drive 25 to get better service and less lip…

Good parts people (I know one lady that knew Deere stuff inside and out) are hard to find. When you find one, buy them a beer if you get the chance…