Dealer Dealer Pride and Prejudice...they may not support you!

[CDsdad]

.........I will tell you what....buy your tractor and save $2000. I for one will applaud any dealer in your local area that suggests you take your tractor somewhere else for service and or warranty work. If you think for a minute that warranty work "could be a profit center" for the dealers, then you also believe in the tooth fairy. Furthermore, if I were the dealer, and you began calling incessantly trying to gain information about parts or service issues etc., I would suggest that the personnel answering the phone would treat you politely yet provide NO INFORMATION.................

I'd buy from Barlow's and save the money. And then if I had a problem, and got treated as the above suggests, I would do the following: call Kubota and tell them you have been refused service by an "authorized" Kubota dealer, load my tractor on my new trailer I bought with the $2000 I saved and carry it back to Barlow's for service, and never set foot in the offending dealer's business again.

Imagine this scenario: Kubota tractors are made by 5 different companies. All tractors are of the same fit, finish, and quality. One is cheaper than the other 4. Where will the dealers all buy from? I know that's a crazy and unrealistic scenario, but don't let some local dealer blow smoke at you. Dealers will save money anywhere they can also.

And as far as local taxes, there's a tooth fairy for you. Please. If paying taxes local assured me everything would be wonderful, why are my roads worn out and my kids in private school?

 

[pitt_md]

I bought my tractor from a dealer in WI (I'm in MN) because they had the model I wanted and no one else did. I have had no trouble at all with the dealers in my area. They seem more than happy to add the rear hydraulic valve I needed. Both dealers know my tractor came from another dealer but never bat an eye about doing work for me. I should note that I did buy implements from both dealers but not the tractor.

 

[Charlesaf3]

We deal with this issue a lot in New England, as New England dealers are usually far above 2k over priced. As a result I've bough from several states away (Messicks) and saved quite a bit by doing so. No complaints.

Frankly, even if I have to hire a local mechanic to do the work, I'm still well ahead. And the few minor things I needed while under warranty Messicks parts dept handled well. I'm not a mechanic, but I can use a wrench.

There's always a risk of a major breakdown on a complex piece of machinery, but I'd be willing to take that risk for 2k.

I'd expect the local kubota dealer to do my repair, and make money off it, if necessary. If he doesn't make money off repairs, he'd better change his business model. But I think its perfectly fair if he puts people that bought from him first in line.

And frankly, there's at least one local kubota dealer I wouldn't even trust with a warranty repair.

 

[CHDinCT]

Here's sort of an opposite story on a dealer that I did not buy my Kubota from. First off, I did shop this dealer (20 minutes away) and others in my area, and also Barlows. Long story short, I ended up buying locally but not from the nearest dealer since he only had one of the model I wanted and it was on the lot and was faded and rusted in spots. The dealer about an hour away had one in the crate and the prices were about the same, so he got my business. (I forewent the $1K savings from Barlows as I wanted some extra warranty piece of mind given this was my first real tractor.)

Time goes by and I decided to get the rear remote kit for my BX so I stopped by the closest dealer that I didn't buy from to price the parts. I'm thinking I can go to the parts counter and not have to see the owner/salesman and the whole issue of buying elsewhere won't come up, I hoped. Well, turns out the rear remote kit is wholegoods and not parts so the parts guy refers me to the salesman who's the same guy I got a quote from on my BX months earlier, plus he's the owner too. When he asks me what I'm looking for, I told him the rear remote kit for a BX. He looks at me and asks, what model do you have? So now I'm sort of embarrassed and say BX1860. I can sort of see the wheels turning in his head (I've been in this dealer for JD and Wheel horse parts for years, so he remembers me). Without making any issues of it he looks up the kit number and gives me a quote on it. I tell him thanks but I'm just thinking about it for now.

Another month or so goes buy and in the interim I buy the remote kit from Messicks for a really good price. Now I'm looking to set up a hydraulic top link. I can't find the right male quick connects for a Kubota so I go back to the same dealer, again to the parts counter. The parts guy can't figure out what I need or if they have it, so, don't ya know, he calls over the salesman/owner to help. Now I'm like, crap, he's gonna kick me out of this place for sure once I tell him what I need. So of course, he asks me what I'm trying to do and I tell him I need male quick connects to hook into my rear remotes. Guy doesn't bat an eye and proceeds to spend 20 minutes figuring out what part I need and finally finds them. The whole time he's very helpful. He even recommended a few hydraulic shops for hoses and such. I felt so bad that I bought four male QCs at $12 each for all four ports even though I only needed two for now.

Now to be fair, I've bought lots of parts for my Wheel Horse there over the years and a JD X485 I owned for less than a year, plus I bought my chainsaw there. I was there on Saturday to drop of a chainsaw chain for sharpening and we wave to each other like we're best buds. I tell you, if I'm ever in the market to trade up, I'm going to do everything I can to give this guy my business, and if not, I'm not too worried if I need to bring my BX to him for warranty or other service work.

 

[imajeepnut]

Messick...I don't understand why you would not be compensated the same for the "same" warranty work as would the selling dealer? As I understand it from another dealer....the payment is the same regardless of who performs the warranty work. "Service" work is a fair charge to the owner regardless of the selling dealer. What other expenses were not covered by Kubota during this repair?

CDsDad...You're right about the taxes! We use private schooling as well because of the slack public school system. AND....our taxes are buying proposed Judicial Center land at $40,000 per acre.....and THEN our commissioners consider converting that land in to soccer fields??! Taxes...

Here's what I know. I've seen 3 such threads in these 2 Kubota forums...and they are all about the same thing...Kubota dealers and how they act toward Kubota owners. The breath of fresh air is that some select dealers actually want to help and look past the petty stuff. It's a shame that there has to be such competition between dealers that it hurts the consumer. No Kubota dealer will have ALL the customers! Try your best, support all Kubota owners, and earn new business in the future by taking care of all orange owners. If in fact the servicing dealers are losing money because they didn't sell the tractor, they need to approach Kubota and, thru strength in numbers, have Kubota rethink their guidelines.

What a good opportunity this would be for someone to start a warranty/repair center to allow tractor owners to bypass the dealers altogether. I bet we would see just how much revenue "service and parts brings to the dealerships then.

In all fairness to dealers everywhere...if we here are all wrong about how the Kubota machine/model works....please advise us. If a Dealer builds in anticipated service/labor charges in to the price of the tractor...and that has to be what he/she is comfortable in accepting in a repair scenario over a period of time....then some of this reluctance to help a "gypsy" Kubota owner is understandable. But I don't feel this is the case...and as Steve Martin said...."it's a profit deal".

 

[MarkV]

Messick...I don't understand why you would not be compensated the same for the "same" warranty work as would the selling dealer? As I understand it from another dealer....the payment is the same regardless of who performs the warranty work. "Service" work is a fair charge to the owner regardless of the selling dealer. What other expenses were not covered by Kubota during this repair?t

Well this is the way I understand it. Service work may well be a large part of some dealers annual profit but warranty work rates are set by the manufacture, not the dealer, and there is not very much/any profit to be made. Guess it depends on your location and overhead. We have dealers in my rural area that operate pretty much out of pole barns. Then there are dealers in near by Atlanta that must have millions in overhead to be located where they are. An hour in the shop for warranty work does not mean the same thing to the bottom line for both dealers.

Of course the next question would be, 'if you can't break even on warranty work why not complain to Kubota?' Answer, because you want the franchise for one of the leading brands. And, doing warranty work is part of the franchise agreement.

Now if my understanding is correct, the original questions in this post are easier to understand. If a dealer has to do warranty work for customers they did not sell to, and they should as the company representatives, but they have to do it at a lose, I understand why there may be some attitude. They never said they would not do the work, they said you would have a lower priority.

MarkV

 

[pitt_md]

I am not clear as to why the dealer (Messick) would have to absorb some of the cost to repair. If the customer was never notified by Kubota and his tractor has a cascading failure because of a know problem why wouldn't the dealer be compensated for all the work?

 

[imajeepnut]

Hey Mark...are you back up my way now? Hollar at me sometime.

Service pays the same regardless of the dealer....but if a dealer chooses to have the best storefront money can buy, then I'm sure he will have higher overhead.....but the overhead stays the same no matter who's tractor he services...right? He won't lose money on my service/warranty work just because I bought my tractor somewhere else...he will just be reminded that he didn't make a large profit on me because I bought my tractor at a more economical price somewhere else. And it's just human nature with some people to hold that against you....some want it all and when they don't get it, they use whatever leverage or strong arm tactic they can to show their power. Again...to be fair...not every dealer fits this description and this discussion wouldn't apply to a sales price difference of $200 in my opinion.

How about this scenario. I own a Kubota, and my local dealer goes out of business. Now I have to find another dealer to provide service/warranty work. The logic from those who agree that only the selling dealer should be bound to provide service work would say that no other dealer should have to provide service work to that me now.....right? There really is no difference. I bought my tractor from someone else...can I come to you for service and warranty work? If the argument is "It costs me money to provide service/warranty work to you since you didn't buy the tractor from me" then what?


If you think about the whole picture....Kubota is letting the dealers fend for themselves. Capitalism. Those who have the "whole package", will survive. Those with low prices and poor service, or high prices and great service may not fare well in the long run. One should compliment the other. For Kubota to be successful, the dealers have to be successful. Give a fair price(subjective I know) and be willing to negotiate....everyone wants a little consideration and wants to feel like they got a good deal. Give great service....and that will bring the customer back. And remember at the end of the day to try and keep business - business. We all get frustrated, but we all are working to make a living for our families... and it's just a tractor. Everyone has a choice.

I know one thing...I hope to have a tractor in my stable in no less than 2 weeks! The weeds are gettin' higher!

 

[tmc2318]

someone needs to post on the best method for removing 'dealer stickers' so that a tractor is untraceable to the origin of purchase. Better yet, make up your own copy of all your local dealer's stickers (preferably magnetic) so you can slap on the sticker of choice when you pull into the dealership for service. Maybe hats too, so it looks like THEY gave you one when you purchased your tractor from them at the MSRP.

'don't you remember me?....bought this tractor from you guys 6 months ago...**** of a deal....'

 

[imajeepnut]

Messick,

I've read alot of good things about your company, and see that you participate in the forums which I think says alot for your company...that you keep up with the pulse of the community. But I do have to ask you a few things.

I'm not sure you really got scammed on the deal. Just like me, the person you mentioned might have found a better deal and he shouldn't be convicted for that. It's just business. You sell to people all over the map from what I can tell, and that speaks volumns...but again...you can't sell them all. It seems you have a good thing going.

If this person DID buy their tractor from you, and the engine hit the fan before the bulletin went out....wouldn't you still be in the same position regardless of where he bought his tractor? If not, it should revert back to the selling dealer who failed to correspond in a timely fashion, or Kubota. The customer is still the innocent person here as I see it. They carry no fault.