What I believe LS is lacking and is hurting them, opinions?

[Ym155d]

Like many people on here I like to work on, wrench on...in other words fix my own equipment. I do it with my vehicles, bikes, motorcycles and kids toys. I think the lack of Service manuals and parts from LS is swaying would be buyers to go with the "BIG NAME" tractors that have been around for years. Those tractors allow a strong "used" parts selection and many service manuals to choose from. I think LS would be better served to publish and sell service manuals and aggressively market part availabilty. I want to know that if something fails I can go down and have no problem buying that part at a reasonable price and R&Ring it myself. I think they are losing a lot of customers based on the uncertainty about being at the mercy of a dealer to work on there stuff. Kind of a scary thought once that 5 years of warranty is up. Just do a search for LS tractor on Google or type in a specific part for a specific LS model tractor. I am not a marketing expert but, I know there are some important questions before purchasing a tractor especially a brand most people turn an eyebrow to when you tell them what tractor you have. Is that Chinese? Is the response I get back from most people. Next one....what are you gonna do when it breaks? I don't know what to tell them....guess I will take it to the dealer. So if most people don't even know what the tractor is....then I believe there is some serious marketing problems. Mention Kubota, John Deere, Mahindra, New Holland, and everyone knows what you are referring to. Every rental yard in America has a Kubota tractor....that is the best advertising you can get. Most rental yards are on the edge of major freeways so, their name is plastered in the minds of every 4 year old kid that has gone to the grocery store and with every Paul Bunyan would be do it yourselfer who has worked in his back yard. First, market your machine to the right folks and there is a built in reward. Treat each customer like you "really" do need them. Build a robust high quality machine that is worthy of a rental yard. Give your customers a feeling of control...I do not like taking my stuff to a dealer to get worked on. Give me access to fix my own stuff. I have had my tractor for a year now and am a little unnerved at the fact that LS seems to be more concerned with selling tractors and building dealer networks than taking care of customers...who buys the tractors in the end...we do. Let us spread the word. Take care of us, so it is positive.

 

[J F]

Like many people on here I like to work on, wrench on...in other words fix my own equipment. I do it with my vehicles, bikes, motorcycles and kids toys. I think the lack of Service manuals and parts from LS is swaying would be buyers to go with the "BIG NAME" tractors that have been around for years. Those tractors allow a strong "used" parts selection and many service manuals to choose from.

I think LS would be better served to publish and sell service manuals and aggressively market part availabilty. I want to know that if something fails I can go down and have no problem buying that part at a reasonable price and R&Ring it myself. I think they are losing a lot of customers based on the uncertainty about being at the mercy of a dealer to work on there stuff. Kind of a scary thought once that 5 years of warranty is up. Just do a search for LS tractor on Google or type in a specific part for a specific LS model tractor.

I am not a marketing expert but, I know there are some important questions before purchasing a tractor especially a brand most people turn an eyebrow to when you tell them what tractor you have. Is that Chinese? Is the response I get back from most people. Next one....what are you gonna do when it breaks? I don't know what to tell them....guess I will take it to the dealer. So if most people don't even know what the tractor is....then I believe there is some serious marketing problems.

Mention Kubota, John Deere, Mahindra, New Holland, and everyone knows what you are referring to. Every rental yard in America has a Kubota tractor....that is the best advertising you can get. Most rental yards are on the edge of major freeways so, their name is plastered in the minds of every 4 year old kid that has gone to the grocery store and with every Paul Bunyan would be do it yourselfer who has worked in his back yard.

First, market your machine to the right folks and there is a built in reward. Treat each customer like you "really" do need them. Build a robust high quality machine that is worthy of a rental yard. Give your customers a feeling of control...I do not like taking my stuff to a dealer to get worked on. Give me access to fix my own stuff.

I have had my tractor for a year now and am a little unnerved at the fact that LS seems to be more concerned with selling tractors and building dealer networks than taking care of customers...who buys the tractors in the end...we do. Let us spread the word. Take care of us, so it is positive.

Sorry, just needed a little white space for my crappy eyesight. :laughing:

 

[GManBart]

Just tell them it's a NH Boomer with different decals, and they'll understand. I've often wondered if buying a NH manual and parts manual wouldn't be a bad idea. I've been told LS is redoing their parts manual.

 

[Short Game]

I have both the repair and parts manuals for my R4010. I requested it as part of my cash deal and the dealer made photo-copies of the manuals they had. These manuals could be much better. As someone who broke in on military repair manuals, I guess it would take a lot to make me really happy.

 

[fordmantpw]

Like many people on here I like to work on, wrench on...in other words fix my own equipment. I do it with my vehicles, bikes, motorcycles and kids

That is what I saw on the thread listing page when I hovered over the title with my mouse. Just had to open it to read what kind of wrenching you were doing on your kids!

 

[captaineddie]

I just bought a new LS and had (and still have) the same concerns you mentioned. Price and the fact that I have a dealer close-by that I've known and done business with for years were the main points that helped me decide to buy my tractor. I also took into account that several years ago, I had never heard of a Kubota or Mahindra. I guess it just takes time to build name recognition and a good reputation.

 

[ozley]

With all the worry why would you pay for a LS Tractor.

 

[Ym155d]

Yeah, I have been very happy with my tractor too. My mom has a Kubota, sister too and my brother a New Holland. What swayed me the most was what you get for what you pay. The LS was the same tractor for a cheaper price. I do not like the "top secret" nature of the service/repair manuals. I would like to see an online parts source instead of "see your dealer." Had I known I would have asked for the manuals as a way to seal the deal for the dealer. I didn't think it would be a big deal to get one.

 

[Guesseral]

Yeah, I have been very happy with my tractor too. My mom has a Kubota, sister too and my brother a New Holland. What swayed me the most was what you get for what you pay. The LS was the same tractor for a cheaper price. I do not like the "top secret" nature of the service/repair manuals. I would like to see an online parts source instead of "see your dealer." Had I known I would have asked for the manuals as a way to seal the deal for the dealer. I didn't think it would be a big deal to get one.

Here try this link

Farmtrac, Montana, Landtrac, Longtrac, LS tractor Parts

They have LS Montana and Farmtrac parts

 

[LindenBruce]

Not to change the subject, but Mazda does the same thing as LS. They don't sell their service manuals to the public. And if you do find it they cost 3-4-5 hundred dollars to start. I know , I tried to find one for the GF's Mazda Protege. The manuals were prohibitively expensive. They force you to take the car to a dealer of reputable independent shop. So, has that kept anyone from buying a Mazda? Not really. B.