clfalpacas
New member
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2006
- Messages
- 12
- Tractor
- 5740C w FEL
Below is a letter I'm sending to Ted Wade at Montana. My next machine will NOT be a Montana.
Montana Tractors
Attn: Mr. Ted Wade, Vice ChairmAN
4635 N Thompson
Springdale, AR 72764
July 18, 2008
Re: Poor management & deficient customer service
Dear Mr. Wade,
I leased a Montana 5740 a couple of years ago and had been generally pleased with it until recently. The old views of poor customer service after the sale being the key to future success seem to have been lost on your team.
About a year back, I had to replace a fuel tank when the front tire picked up a 1 diameter stick in a pasture and punctured the tank. Better design might have better protected the tank from such a hazard. The replacement, in addition to being overpriced for a plastic tank, also had a small leak in it just below the filler neck. I wasn稚 impressed, but I sealed the leak and moved on.
Yesterday, while cutting grass, one of the hood hinges snapped. Plastic parts in high vibration areas will do that, I suppose. But the ultimate insult came when I contacted a dealer about a replacement hinge. I was called back and told the price of the hinge was $5.00 but that I would have to pay $10.00 to have the thing shipped to either the dealer or to my home. Moreover, it was going to be next week before the part arrived. For a part that can be sent via US mail (priority post flat rate) for about $4.80, I must assume that Montana is in such dire financial straights that it must soak its customers for every dollar possible including outrageous shipping on parts that SHOULD be on hand at a stocking dealer! I must also assume that Montana isn稚 terribly interested in quick response to their customer痴 needs.
The final blow came later today when I asked my wife to contact someone on the management team at Montana by phone to discuss these matters. She was told that no one was available to take the call. She left her number and was told that someone would call us back shortly. True to recent poor management form, no call was received.
I致e personally directed at least 5 people to Montana to consider their next tractor purchase. I know of two who actually did buy Montana machines. That level of support is now ended. I知 more inclined to do everything possible to direct people away from your company because of your poor customer support. After being promised owner痴 manuals that are readable and a multitude of hype about Montana growth and customer service, I知 thoroughly disenchanted. I値l surely consider ANY tractor on the market EXCEPT Montana for my next acquisition, and will make that fact known to as many agricultural buyers as I can.
Sincerely,
Kevin J. Wray, President
CLF Ranch
Elk County Kanasas
Montana Tractors
Attn: Mr. Ted Wade, Vice ChairmAN
4635 N Thompson
Springdale, AR 72764
July 18, 2008
Re: Poor management & deficient customer service
Dear Mr. Wade,
I leased a Montana 5740 a couple of years ago and had been generally pleased with it until recently. The old views of poor customer service after the sale being the key to future success seem to have been lost on your team.
About a year back, I had to replace a fuel tank when the front tire picked up a 1 diameter stick in a pasture and punctured the tank. Better design might have better protected the tank from such a hazard. The replacement, in addition to being overpriced for a plastic tank, also had a small leak in it just below the filler neck. I wasn稚 impressed, but I sealed the leak and moved on.
Yesterday, while cutting grass, one of the hood hinges snapped. Plastic parts in high vibration areas will do that, I suppose. But the ultimate insult came when I contacted a dealer about a replacement hinge. I was called back and told the price of the hinge was $5.00 but that I would have to pay $10.00 to have the thing shipped to either the dealer or to my home. Moreover, it was going to be next week before the part arrived. For a part that can be sent via US mail (priority post flat rate) for about $4.80, I must assume that Montana is in such dire financial straights that it must soak its customers for every dollar possible including outrageous shipping on parts that SHOULD be on hand at a stocking dealer! I must also assume that Montana isn稚 terribly interested in quick response to their customer痴 needs.
The final blow came later today when I asked my wife to contact someone on the management team at Montana by phone to discuss these matters. She was told that no one was available to take the call. She left her number and was told that someone would call us back shortly. True to recent poor management form, no call was received.
I致e personally directed at least 5 people to Montana to consider their next tractor purchase. I know of two who actually did buy Montana machines. That level of support is now ended. I知 more inclined to do everything possible to direct people away from your company because of your poor customer support. After being promised owner痴 manuals that are readable and a multitude of hype about Montana growth and customer service, I知 thoroughly disenchanted. I値l surely consider ANY tractor on the market EXCEPT Montana for my next acquisition, and will make that fact known to as many agricultural buyers as I can.
Sincerely,
Kevin J. Wray, President
CLF Ranch
Elk County Kanasas