The relationship between O’Connors’ staff and their customers more closely resembles a partnership than a transaction.
“We get to deal with terrific people. If they weren't good, you wouldn't stay. We get well looked after,” Shepparton branch manager Brendan O’Connor said.
And O’Connors looks after its loyal customers in return, going above and beyond to provide the best possible service.
“Anyone can buy parts off us but we do have a priority support with people that get service work off us and buy the parts,” Mr O’Connor said.
“We go out of our way to support our priority support customers.”
The staff at O’Connors love to have a chat about everything that’s happening on the farm.
“They [farmers] really have a one-on-one connection with a lot of the mechanics too, so you know that they get along well with them because they know that the mechanic will go above and beyond to ensure an outstanding outcome for them,” Mr O’Connor said.
“They’re part of the program, part of the team on every farm that they go to, they are on their team.
“They often have smoko with the boys and that sort of thing, they'll invite him over for coffee and lunch. They do look after the mechanics.
“It’ a community. Probably 30 years ago every community was like that.
“But farmers are a bit old school, they still have that sort of appreciation for what you're doing.
“Even though farming has become a big business, they still have that mindset ‘now let's gather, have a coffee together and and then we'll get back to work’.”