IslandTractor
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2005
- Messages
- 17,101
- Location
- Prudence Island, RI
- Tractor
- 2007 Kioti DK40se HST, Woods BH
Well, I finally got a direct response from Kioti Customer Service and the rep provided me with a useful update on the loader repair program. I reviewed a number of issues with him and told him I would post a summary of the discussion.
First, the letters have not yet gone out to customers. The reason is that Kioti discovered (apparently after sending the letter to dealers) that there were some wrong size/type bolts in the first batch of repair kits (all 2000 kits ). This is in the process of being rectified and the appropriate replacement bolts as well as an additional 2000 correct kits are "on the water" and expected in about 2 weeks. Presumably they will send the customer letter once they know the appropriate kits are in hand.
Second, there is ongoing discussion at Kioti regarding extension of the repair window beyond April 30. Obviously they need to change the date because of the delay in getting the kits out but they are also apparently reconsidering the overall time period to make it easier for customers and dealers to comply. The flip side of this is that they set the deadline initially to insure that dealers/customers did not postpone making the repairs so I suspect they will still have some deadline.
Third, there has been discussion at Kioti about accommodating customers who want to install the repair kit themselves and just have the dealer order the parts for them. As you can imagine there is concern at Kioti about liability for incorrect installation etc but I got the sense that they were likely to approve such an option perhaps with a signed waiver of some sort.
Bottom line is that we should not expect letters to go out for up to a couple more weeks. They already have thousands of letters prepared and stuffed in envelopes but it is likely they will need to redo those before sending due to the above mentioned timeline and program options changes anyway.
First, the letters have not yet gone out to customers. The reason is that Kioti discovered (apparently after sending the letter to dealers) that there were some wrong size/type bolts in the first batch of repair kits (all 2000 kits ). This is in the process of being rectified and the appropriate replacement bolts as well as an additional 2000 correct kits are "on the water" and expected in about 2 weeks. Presumably they will send the customer letter once they know the appropriate kits are in hand.
Second, there is ongoing discussion at Kioti regarding extension of the repair window beyond April 30. Obviously they need to change the date because of the delay in getting the kits out but they are also apparently reconsidering the overall time period to make it easier for customers and dealers to comply. The flip side of this is that they set the deadline initially to insure that dealers/customers did not postpone making the repairs so I suspect they will still have some deadline.
Third, there has been discussion at Kioti about accommodating customers who want to install the repair kit themselves and just have the dealer order the parts for them. As you can imagine there is concern at Kioti about liability for incorrect installation etc but I got the sense that they were likely to approve such an option perhaps with a signed waiver of some sort.
Bottom line is that we should not expect letters to go out for up to a couple more weeks. They already have thousands of letters prepared and stuffed in envelopes but it is likely they will need to redo those before sending due to the above mentioned timeline and program options changes anyway.