Compensation plans can be as different as the salespeople they are going to. For Salem Farm Supply, the diversity and volatility of its market influenced the dealership to go with a fixed salary comp plan.
When it comes to recruiting, hiring and retaining top-level sales talent, the compensation plan can often times be the make or break part of the negotiation that will have people running to join your team or continuing their search elsewhere.
Dealers lament about the struggles of keeping salespeople focused on moving used equipment rather than just the shiny new units. A sure way to light a fire under your sales team is with compensation plans designed specifically to move used equipment — where the biggest impact exists. From withholding commission until a trade is sold to attaching bonuses to the used units, compensation plans tied to used equipment vary greatly — all with their own pros and cons.
AgriVision (John Deere) and Livingston Machinery (AGCO) detail the compensation programs they’ve developed to keep attention on used equipment — and the actions they most want to drive.
Used equipment experts agree that there’s no silver bullet when it comes to a compensation plan. There are numerous variables, personalities and ways of doing business and no single program is a panacea. But like most things, as a manager, you get to choose which behaviors you most want to drive, and also the set of challenges that go along with them.
In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Associated Equipment Distributors, we review the decline in farmer sentiment in April, which saw the Ag Economy Barometer and the Farm Capital Investment Index drop to their lowest levels since October 2024.
Since 1980, A&I Products has become a leading manufacturer and wholesale distributor of aftermarket replacement parts for the agricultural, turf, and industrial equipment markets. A&I Products' experience and expertise has greatly contributed to the company's reputation as a top supplier of quality, reasonably priced parts. Founded with roots as a small machine shop and repair facility, the company made the transition by manufacturing new parts to replace those that were identified as commonly needing repair. Throughout the 1980s, the company quickly garnered a reputation for offering quality parts at a reasonable price.
Built on 90 years of expertise, Yetter Farm Equipment leads the agriculture industry in designing effective and innovative equipment for residue management, seedbed preparation, precision fertilizer placement, harvest attachments, strip-tillage, and more.
At Machinery Scope, we believe you deserve the best risk management solutions for your investments in heavy equipment. Since 2013, we have been proud to offer extended warranty, appraisals, and inspections. Machinery Scope is a family-owned business built on our experience in farming and equipment dealerships. We understand your business and provide a personalized and professional level of customer service. Machinery Scope has built a strong warranty product with our customers in mind, offering the same professional level of service from the time you get a quote, through the processing of a claim.