Posted by Shane Krueger on (December 3, 2014)

Buying an Apparatus: Five Things to Look for in a Dealer

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Once you’ve gotten the approval to purchase a new fire apparatus, the next step is finding a dealer to purchase it from. As a matter of fact, you probably have a few in mind already. A new apparatus is a big investment, and you want to make sure you’re buying from the right company.

So when it comes time to choose a dealer, what are you basing your criteria on? Price and apparatus quality are the two important factors, but those aren’t the only things that affect your buying experience. To help you find a dealer that will provide the best apparatus for the best available price and the best overall buying experience, here’s a list of 5 things to look for when deciding on one:

1. Relatable

Some of the best salespeople in the fire industry have “walked the walk” before, so when they offer suggestions, they’re speaking from experience. If you’re ever speculating about how something might work, these experienced salesmen might have done it themselves or at least can understand the conversation and all the industry jargon firefighters use. It’s a lot easier to climb up in the truck wearing khaki pants and a dress shirt than it is with an air pack on, so look for salespeople who understand what you’re looking for.

2. Experience

How long has the dealership sold for the company it represents? Even if they’ve sold other apparatus before, developing a full understanding of a company can take years, as every manufacturer has its own specialty and nomenclature. Not only will an experienced salesperson be more familiar with the vehicles you’re asking about, but he’ll also be better at telling the manufacturer what your department is really looking for.

3. Service

Once you take delivery of the vehicle, how will it get serviced? Apparatus technicians can complete Emergency Vehicle Technician (EVT) certification courses to show credentials for emergency service repair, and it’s not a bad idea to ask the dealership to show those credentials so you know who will be working on your rig during the warranty.

4. Past Customers

Want some reviews from previous customers? Ask for a customer list and call these departments. Ask about the product and about the dealership experience they had. There might not be such a thing as “single source,” seeing as an apparatus is a collection of vendor components, but there can be a “single source contact” and that’s usually the dealership.

5. Trustworthy

Trust is one of the most important components in a buyer/seller relationship. Will the dealer show up, stay in contact, and get you information on your project as they promised? Do they really seem to know the answer or do they give you answers you want to hear? Let’s face it: you don’t spend all day researching apparatus, so you have to trust what the dealers tell you about a product. At the end of the day, you want a dealer who will help you design an apparatus that will work best for your department, not one who’s just selling to hit commission.

Next time you’re looking to purchase a new apparatus, keep these tips in mind when searching for a dealer. There’s more to buying a truck than simply finding the best deals, and a good relationship with your dealer can help provide the best possible buying experience – before, during, and after. At Marion Body Works, we take pride in the close relationships we have with our apparatus dealers, and we invite you to experience it yourself first hand.

View our online Dealer Map and find the Marion Dealer that’s closest to you!

Reasons to choose all aluminum fire apparatus

About Marion Body Works

Marion Body Works manufactures Fire & Emergency Apparatus, Commercial Truck Bodies, Aluminum Custom Cabs, Custom Engineered Vehicles, and Defense Products for customers across the country. Marion has been privately owned, family operated, and continuously operated in Marion since they were founded in 1905. Marion specializes in all aluminum products, with more experience in this area than any other U.S. manufacturer. The company’s capabilities include aluminum and steel fabrication, welding, plumbing, foam insulation, hydraulics, electrical and electronic controls, and painting.