Dealer relationship more than just good buys

All we need now are warm sunny days and a light shower of rain every night, then harvest will be easy for everyone -- yeah right!

History tells us that it's never that simple and invariably the Law of Sod or Murphy will apply: if things can go wrong they will. When it does go pear-shaped – a mishap or a breakdown – the key consideration is getting going again and ensuring machines and more importantly men are not standing idle.

At these times the need for a good relationship with your local dealer will be paramount.

We all know that since the internet arrived we've been able to wile away endless hours buying online items we didn't know we needed. If we're smart; we can even save a dollar or two on the local retailer price – as long as we remember to add in freight costs, import duty if applicable and countless other charges like MAF, fumigation, port charges and local freight if the purchase is a big lump.

We also know of a number of 'will-fit' companies that offer parts for popular ranges of farm machinery, be they ploughs, harrows or hay equipment. They claim to offer fantastic service and in reality they may do. They sell parts 'suitable for' particular brands on a high volume/low margin basis and are not even vaguely interested in slow moving parts for the same machines.

But back to the 'suitable for' markings – these products are not the same as original parts because that would be akin to poking a copyright lawyer in the eye with a stick. Suitable normally means not quite the same, so make sure you allow extra time to 'make' them fit, while you wonder whether their quality will see them lasting as long as originals.

The aftermarket supplier will claim these products are the same or better quality, and that they can offer cheaper parts by taking out the middleman. "That's great news," you say -- until you realise you might need that middleman.

Before you buy cheaper blades, give the franchised supply chain a thought; he'll supply the same original blades for maybe just a few dollars more.

He also backs the product that you will have signed a big cheque for by keeping slow-moving items on the shelf – complex gearboxes, mainframes or even whole mower beds. It's likely they've been there for years gathering dust, waiting for the day you walk in and say: "I don't suppose you've got one of these have you."

That same franchised dealer or importer will usually open during night or day to get you out of the poo and probably he'll do it with good grace, not remarking that he has noticed you no longer buy many consumable items from him.

Neither will he mention that he is likely to keep those parts many years after the machines have gone out of production and that on cold winter days he sends his staff to training events to ensure you will get the best advice and service when you come in.

So by all means try to buy wisely, but remember the old adage, 'it's not worth skinning a flea for a penny and breaking a sixpenny knife doing it'.

With that in mind, have a fruitful harvest. I have to go now; the postman's been and there are lots of offers to look at.