A universal template for a dealer / manufacturer contract has been ‘on the agenda’ for many years says Erik Hogervorst, the President of
CLIMMAR, the pan-European trade association who represent over 19,000 farm and turfcare machinery sales and service dealers in 16 European countries.
“However, the idea has been completely rejected by manufacturers and by their European trade association,
CEMA, and so is a non-starter,” he told Chris Biddle in the latest episode of the
Inside Agri-Turf podcast.
Erik is a director of a family owned Dutch dealership holding a Kubota franchises and with specialist divisions in fork lift trucks and spraying equipment, and has been CLIMMAR President for 6 years.
In a wide ranging discussion, he was accompanied by Keith Christian from
BAGMA, the UK's representative on CLIMMAR who agreed that "once a dealer has to reach for a contract to check out its terms, its usually too late".
Erik and Keith reflected on issues impacting dealers across Europe including recruitment and training, the handling of data, the future of shows and the looming RMI (Repair and Maintenance Information) legislation allowing dealers access to servicing information for products for which they do not hold a main franchise.
They also said that the UK leaving the EU earlier this year made no difference to its participation in CLIMMAR. The association had been formed long before the EU and included Switzerland, also not a member of the EU.
Reviewing the past year and prospects for year ahead in this COVID-age, Erik said that the farm machinery market in most European countries had held up well during 2020 and prospects for this year ' look encouraging'.
He added that dealers have always taken a long-term approach and are used to 'riding the waves' of external influences on their businesses whether they be weather, the economy - or pandemic.
LISTEN TO 'Riding the Waves' EPISODE with Erik Hogervorst and Keith Christian.