We're not just talkin', we're walkin': We gave up our Kubota dealership to deal Kioti

[wolc123]

I would think that Kubota is suffering more than any other tractor manufacturer from the rapid rise of Kioti. They would have nothing to fear if the Kiotis were junk but it sounds like they are A-ok. Loosing that Bobcat engine business especially had to hurt. At least John Deere has a firm hold on those folks who insist on an American brand regardless of the actual country of origin, and there are more and more of them every day.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Atleast they are painted the right color:thumbsup:

 

[beppington]

My brother and I are Kioti dealers in Uxbridge Ontario. We switched from dealing Kubota about 5 years ago. It was a tough decision because Kubota makes great tractors and they are a good company to deal with. After a full year of study and with a lot of help from this website we made the switch and we have never looked back. The Kioti is more tractor dollar for dollar. Our market share in our local area is over 30% in the 20 - 50 hp range. Even the big guys are noticing - not that we want to be noticed by them.

How do you know what your market share is? I'm just curious; is it from those surveys that survey companies send out? Also, I assume the big guys are JD, NH, Kubota?, but how do you know they're noticing?

And now my sub-questions : Who's your brother, MediumDog? TopDog? What's a Kioti? What did you study for a year, to make your decision? If Kubota makes great tractors & are a good company to deal with, why would you change away from them? What does "more tractor dollar for dollar" mean?

 

[JDL538]

One thing for sure Kioti has all the kabota people worried, they sure do get upset and that tells it all.

 

[crazyal]

Of course not..


We had a little rash of them on the Kioti Forum here, about a year ago.
Same story, Kioti's copying Kubota, bla bla bla.. I think it's ridiculous.

Instability of the dealerships is a valid concern, for sure, mine's been great tho, for around 10 yrs, Bassani Power Equip., a shop geared to landscapers with high end stuff. Wallace's slack has been taken up by a huge motorcycle store that picked up the line, Rusty Palmer in Honesdale PA. They're so big that the 15 or 20 Kiotis outside are definately a sideline. I don't have any tractor exp. with them, but they were great when I bought my Goldwing. They're not going anywhere..

Good luck to the OP with his venture.

You don't think it's a problem having a large motorcycle dealership with, as you say, 15 or 20 Kiotis outside that looks like a sideline?

There's a local Agway that sold Deere CUT line, maybe up to 50hp. They had 10 or so of them in a very visible but off to the side location in a field. In the front of the store they have the Husqvarna contractors line of mowers. You would drive by in the summer and see the grass was mowed all around the tractors but they weren't moving. They no longer carry JD, the nearest dealer is now 30 miles away. The point is that dealer may not go anywhere but if it's just a sideline they may drop them if they don't sell well or if Kioti corp jerks them around.

I've never been to Wallace's. But if you look at the picture it looks like what I would expect a tractor dealer to look like. Lots of tractors and the look that they not only sell tractors but tractors are their living. If I walk in the door I will have no problem having questions answered about tractors. If I have a problem with my tractor it looks like there will be someone inside that will have the answer I need. If I need a part they will have no problem finding the correct part in the parts list and could stock the part.

I'm not bashing Kioti tractors, I've read lots of posts by owners here who have proven them to be a quality product, they were on my list of brands I would buy. I personally think what we're seeing is growing pains and hope it gets sorted out. I also think, and I think Messicks talk about reports with sales numbers could bear it out, that they could be a much bigger player.

If Kioti makes a better tractor or sell an equal quality product for less it will force Kubota (and other brands) to up the bar and/ or keep prices in check. It will force the other brands to treat those who bought from them better in hopes of getting a repeat customer. If anything I hope the word makes it way back to Kioti that they really have some problems that's costing them market share.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

One thing for sure Kioti has all the kabota people worried, they sure do get upset and that tells it all.

Speaking as a neutral, objective 3rd party with no "dog in the fight"..............

What ever gave you THAT idea? NOTHING I see or hear indicates Kubota is "worried". Look at the numbers....Not Kioti ad copy, but company "bottom line".....It's not even CLOSE... and it ISN'T closing either....

 

[Dargo]

One thing for sure Kioti has all the [sic] kabota people worried, they sure do get upset and that tells it all.

I have to agree with others. As I've stated before, I think Kioti now makes a good quality tractor. Much of the price advantage is now gone though since Kioti has improved consistently over the years. I honestly think comments like yours would have Kubota executives roaring with laughter in a board meeting.

Competition is good for all of us; it keeps prices in line and forces manufacturers to keep improving their product. I'm all for having more tractor companies moving towards being top tier tractors. Still, you comment tells all readers that, at least for now, Kioti generally sells to first time tractor buyers who are 10 hour experts.

 

[5030]

I wasn't concerned at all. In fact, I'd buy a Kioty if I could find one with some substantial pto power. I can't. It's not made (yet).

I'll misspell Kioti like you misspell Kubota.:laughing:

 

[5030]

Your kidding right???
We have done more in Kioti parts business since they took on Kioti than they could even think to do in a combined 5 years!
We have sold more Bobcats in 2 months than they did all last year.
Sorry but put a product like Kioti in a motorcycle store, did Kioti no justice.
They have been with Kioti just over a year, we had a customer come by a few weeks ago looking for a fuel cap. Said he went to the Kioti dealer and he doesn't have them in stock, they also told them that they don't stock hardly any parts as they are new and are not sure what to stock

Yes we had the fuel cap in stock!

Probably tried to sell him a fuel cap for a Goldwing........

Inventory stock is a required by the manufacturer prerequisite, at least in my business. The OEM dictates base inventory levels, not the franchisee.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I would think that Kubota is suffering more than any other tractor manufacturer from the rapid rise of Kioti.

Last I heard, Kubota's share is up an average of 3-4% nationwide. Its in the low to mid 50's under 50 PTO Hp. If anyone is loosing share, its been New Holland in this transition to LS. Not trying to brand bash here, but Kioti,Bobcat, Mahindra, Cub/Yanmar, LS, etc have a combined market share thats around 10-15%. Deere, Kubota and New Holland continue to make up 85-90% of this business, its been that way for a long time and I personally don't see huge market forces that are going to change that much. (maybe Bobcat, depending on their long term commitment to the product)

Your about to see a press release from Kubota that we just sold their 1.5 million'th tractor, the 1 million mark was almost exactly 5 years ago, thats 100,000+- tractors a year. You can find the production & exports of many of the other small companies by looking at their stock reports.