Long Arm Rep/Dealers and the Differences?
 

Just curious - I have a friend who is a long arm rep for one of the big long arm companies...and then there are dealers. What do the rep's get for ... being rep's? I'm just curious. I think she was being polite and knows I'm looking for a used long arm, so she wasn't really pushy, but what do they get for being a rep? A part of the commission if I buy from her brand? What motivation is there to sell to me? Just curious - I'd like to shop on an even playing field if ya know what I mean? Understanding the intentions of all parties involved!

Thanks for anyone who can answer this for me!

I would think the reps would be paid by a company to sell these machine, etc. to shop owners. I don't think they usually sell to individuals. That is the way it works in our business. Everyone needs to make a buck and shouldn't be knocked down so they can't make a living. Just my 2 cents worth.

OH no I wasn't knocking anyone down!! So sorry if I came accross that way!!

I just was wondering because someone I know is a rep and I spoke to her about a long arm but I didn't realize that reps just work with shop owners - if that is how it works. I asked her if she was the person to speak to and she said yes but didn't refer me to a dealer immediately so I assumed she was selling them to the general public!! I also wanted to do something for her for giving me so much of her time as I was interested in buying used and didn't know if she would benefit at all from that...so basically she was volunteering her time and that was very kind of her!

Another reason I wanted to know is because I am shopping around and want to know when talking to someone what their part is so I fully understand who I am buying from. I have dealt with a somewhat shady dealer so far and I really question his honesty - so I want to have an idea of what motivation someone who is LESS than honest might have as well! If a rep isn't making a huge commission while a dealer is, in my mind maybe they have reason to be more forthright. Not that every dealer is shady, but one that I have dealt with in my shopping outright lied to me so I want to know who I'm talking to, know what I mean?

So sorry if I offended anyone!

The reps I'm familiar with are the sales people, and they sell to the general public as well as to shop owners (in some cases, they ARE shop owners). They aren't two separate jobs.

Longarms aren't generally sold to shop owners for resale (at least not the brands I'm familiar with). I think the rep's work with/under the dealers. Dealers may have a large territory and can't go to every show, so their reps "represent" them (hence the name) at the shows and demonstrate the product. I'm sure they are paid.

Pumpkinpatch, you didn't come across as knocking her down, at least to me. When my husband and I were young and bought our first house years ago, I asked the same question of the real estate agent who was representing us. How do you get paid for your work? I thought it was a fair question - if the agent gets paid a percentage of the purchase price, then how is it in her best interest to negotiate a lower price for us? That means a lower commission for her. The agent did some verbal dancing until I reassured her that I had no problem with getting paid for her hard work. I wasn't being mean and nasty, I was simply trying to understand the process.

I would ask the rep how it works in her industry. Simply say what you've said to us. You understand she deserves to get paid for her work, but how does she get paid? Is it commission-based? Salary? Referrals? You feel that she took the time to educate you and you'd like to return the favor by hopefully spending money in her direction. When my husband and I are out shopping for expensive items but want to think about the purchase overnight, we always ask if the sales person who has been helping us is on commission. If they are, we make sure we get his/her business card, especially if they've been very pleasant and helpful. That way if we decide to make the purchase, they will get the commission.

I do the same thing. If the salesperson takes the time to answer all my questions they deserve the commission.

I said this is how it works in our business and it does. The reps are from the manufacturer/ or manufacturers and paid by them. The person that sells to individuals or shops, etc. - is called a Salesman. We are distributors, we talk to reps all the time, trying to get us to stock the products they sell for manufacturers.

Thank you! This is EXACTLY where I was coming from - but maybe I didn't word it as well as you did here. :) I also want to know that if I decide to buy a used long arm from the dealer she works with if she will get paid for it at all - because she was so kind and helpful I WANT her to make some money! Also, I realize, that she took time to help me even though she was fully aware that I may not buy a new machine, and she didn't have to do that. I'm talking to so many different people from different long arm companies I want to know who it is I'm talking to and what their part is - just as you said I want to understand the process! :)

Thank you all so much for your help! :)

We do the same thing or vise-versa. The last car we bought was used from a major dealership. We looked at the car and tried it out. When we were negotiating the deal the sales guy we were talking to flat out lied to us. It was over a very minor thing but we walked away. We came home and talked about it a couple days. It was a very good deal, so we called the dealership back and ask to speak to a sales person other than the one we had talked to a couple days prier. We then talked to a very nice saleslady and made the sale over the phone. We even got a better deal than the guy was giving us.

We had the car almost two years and every year they call on my husband's birthday and have been very good to deal with. We will be looking for a pickup in a few months and will go back to that dealer.