maka & montanaman,
"...intellectually credible person" & "...it almost sounds like you said I was dumb?"
Not in any way. I do not partake in ad hominem arguments; I was addressing the logical validity of the premise.
montanaman,
"Shop supplies and fluids are not covered, but if you had a warranty claim that required all of the hyd oil to be changed, understand that if you aren't billed for it, the dealer ate it for you. The amount of time given to perform a job and the hourly rate is also determined by the Mfg for a warranty repair and in almost ALL cases, there is not enough time given and the dollar rate per hour can be half of the going rate in that shop."
I expect to be billed for everything that is not covered. When I use a physician's services, I pay for whatever exceeds my insurance coverage, and fully expect that billing process. The same is true for my auto insurance. A warranty is a type of insurance, with coverages and exclusions. I expect to pay for the exclusions. If the dealer decides it is economically advantageous to absorb those costs that is his decision. When one goes into business, all of the costs and risks are part of the decision making process. If a dealer believes that he cannot afford to provide full warranty service at the remuneration level the manufacturer provides, then possibly he should change his business model.
We have all heard the caveat about free lunches. Why should one believe that any company is in business to provide anything except value for value?
A businessman who chooses to take less than it costs for him to operate the business will not remain in business unless he is compensating in another area of the operation.
Mr. Messick,
"So the question is? Who is responsible for what?"
The contract spells that out in black and white; that is the purpose of all that small print. If it says I pay, then I reach for my wallet. If I do not educate myself to all of the details of the purchase, that's my responsibility, and my loss. I should not make the purchase if I cannot afford all of the costs involved. If the dealer eats costs because that is the nature of his business model, that's his responsibility.
MikePA,
I said: "Why should the price of service, or the availability of it, have anything to do with the price of equipment."
By this I meant that the price on the tractor should not be used as an excuse for refusing to perform under the terms of the contract.
You said: "Why should they have to take a loss on all warranty work? They shouldn't."
I agree 100%
"So that gets figured into the selling price of the tractor."
Exactly my point. And if it is not being included as it should be, why should the customer take the hit?
Again, if the dealer eats costs because that is the nature of his business model, that's his responsibility. If one premise of being a dealer is a responsibility to service everyone regardless of sales location, that is a factor in calculating whether he has the capital to support that type of business venture.
Builder,
"...there might be more "sympathy" for me..."
I do not desire sympathy. I expect the dealer to uphold his end of the contract. Nothing more or less.
It's not personal; its business.