Comparison LS ranked best tractor supplier.

[tjkubota93]

I looked at LS and the local guy basically had a rinky-dink operation and wanted sticker price.
2 local Kubota guys were offended when I called and asked price on something they didn't have and quoted sticker "if" they could get it.
Kubota an hour away said I will look and call you back. He looked for an hour and called back $3000 less than the other 2 idiots.

 

[DK35vince]

I doubt they are worried about Mahindra just yet -- Kubota has over 50% market share in the US, Deere is #2, and *everyone else combined* is a distant third.

Where are you getting those numbers?
How current are they ?
I'd like to see it. Can you supply a link.

 

[daugen]

If I were at TYM, Snapper or a few other low scorers, I'd be concerned. Impressive how well LS did with parts availability. They seem to "get it" and don't seem to be taking anything for granted. There are two LS dealers along the Route 95 corridor here but nothing within almost two hours of me.
For a full line mfg, John Deere seemed to do well.

I read the LS website. I'd say they accomplished what they set out to do:
Our Commitment To Excel With A Strong Dealer Network

About LS Tractor We understand your level of satisfaction in purchasing a tractor is in large part based on your experience with the dealer. That’s why we strive to select dealers who are as committed to providing exceptional customer satisfaction as we are. Our dealers are an extension of our company so we provide them with very high levels of personal support. As a result, they receive in-person, hands-on support from our expert service technicians and can directly contact our CEO to resolve any issues or to suggest improvements.

 

[PJSprog]

I read the LS website.

Me, too ... and I wish they would update it to reflect their current offerings. The XR3037 has not been available for some time now, unless you can find an unsold one somewhere. They stopped making them last year, replacing them with the 3135. Yet, the 3037 is still there, as are others I suspect have been since discontinued or replaced. So there's one area LS could improve - website updates.

 

[roadhunter]

My closes LS dealer is over 2 hours away (out of state) and part of a used car dealership in Rapid City.

Next closest is 4.5 hours away, also out of state in Ft Collins, CO.

There are at least 4-5 JD dealerships within 2 hours.

 

[roadhunter]

Where are you getting those numbers?
How current are they ?
I'd like to see it. Can you supply a link.

I've ween plenty of people make claims like this but never did they actually provide any proof.

Reminds me of the guys from California who make claims about how they support the feds, but if you ask for proof they never have any and claim you are derailing the thread even though they are the ones who made the statement.

I have no doubt that LS, Mahindra, etc are alright machines but the poor dealer network will always hurt them. Selling tractors form used car lots, motorcycle dealerships, marine dealers, etc.. is not the same as a full service tractor dealer with implements. I can see them being popular in some areas but as far as big farming areas I doubt they will do much as the other brands are so much more popular and I've never seen a real farm operation with LS tractors doing the work which makes sense as the biggest machines they make is not even 100 hp. That might work on little 40 acre farms back East but not for farmers who run much larger operations.

 

[cford36]

Me, too ... and I wish they would update it to reflect their current offerings. The XR3037 has not been available for some time now, unless you can find an unsold one somewhere. They stopped making them last year, replacing them with the 3135. Yet, the 3037 is still there, as are others I suspect have been since discontinued or replaced. So there's one area LS could improve - website updates.

I just purchased a XR3135HC. When I was looking my dealer mentioned the 3037 but said it was only a couple of hundred dollars more for the 3135. When I spoke to the factory rep 2 years ago at the Louisville Farm Show he said they would be available until they used up all the engines they had. If people like myself are going with the 3135 instead, they might still be available. That was the impression I got from my dealer.
But in general I agree that overall they could improve their website and dealer locator.

 

[DK35vince]

I've ween plenty of people make claims like this but never did they actually provide any proof.

So have I.
I've been seeing these same figures thrown around on this site for well over a decade and have never seen any proof, let alone any current figure proof.

 

[PJSprog]

We actually bought ours from the assembly and distribution center in Dubois, IL. I went there looking for a 3037, and the guy who runs it told me he'd just shipped out the last one a few weeks earlier, and couldn't get anymore as they were no longer making them. That's how we ended up with a 3135. This was in August of last year. I'm certainly not disappointed with the XR3135HC, though.

That was a pretty cool place, too. It's a working farm run by a father/son. Father was a green tractor saleman for 30+ years, became disenchanted with them, and started selling LS. He liked the company so much, he opened an assembly and distribution center on their property. It's a good-size metal building surrounded by everything from engines on frames in crates, to loaders and cabs in crates, to fully assembled tractors. A veritable sea of blue there.

This is an older pic from Google. When we were there, the whole area to the left of and behind the silos was full of larger XU & P series assembled tractors.

 

[lilranch2001]

The Bobcat dealer I bought my tractor from picked up LS after Bobcat tractors died
They are selling a ton of them

 

[antlers125]

Not surprised at all of the survey. After searching & talking to multiple dealers, I ended up driving 300 miles to purchase a LS. Price difference was substantial, nearly 30% . My LS dealer even negotiated warranty service due to distance.

 

[roadhunter]

Not surprised at all of the survey. After searching & talking to multiple dealers, I ended up driving 300 miles to purchase a LS. Price difference was substantial, nearly 30% . My LS dealer even negotiated warranty service due to distance.

So it's 30% cheaper and the still the best tractor?

Very seldom have I seen the cheapest be the best at anything, especially equipment..

 

[lilranch2001]

I would think it all depends on how much more expensive the different colored paints cost

 

[cford36]

Not surprised at all of the survey. After searching & talking to multiple dealers, I ended up driving 300 miles to purchase a LS. Price difference was substantial, nearly 30% . My LS dealer even negotiated warranty service due to distance.

That's why they sell at "sticker price" as someone else complained. Already priced reasonably to sell. I like not having to walk away several times trying to negotiate.

I am very happy with my LS and my dealer.

 

[antlers125]

Being that LS has been making tractors for 20+ years under other "Quality" names such as New Holland & Mc Cormick we can rule out that they are cheap made. I would think that is has more to do w/ other brands being "Over priced".

So it's 30% cheaper and the still the best tractor?

Very seldom have I seen the cheapest be the best at anything, especially equipment..

 

[roadhunter]

Being that LS has been making tractors for 20+ years under other "Quality" names such as New Holland & Mc Cormick we can rule out that they are cheap made. I would think that is has more to do w/ other brands being "Over priced".

I never mentioned "cheap made". Another poster suggested they were 30% cheaper (I assume he meant retail pricing). I simply pointed out how unlikely it seemed that a product was 30% cheaper and of higher quality than the competition. If true that's an amazing bargain.

 

[atsah]

I never mentioned "cheap made". Another poster suggested they were 30% cheaper (I assume he meant retail pricing). I simply pointed out how unlikely it seemed that a product was 30% cheaper and of higher quality than the competition. If true that's an amazing bargain.

If they are anything like the quality of a NH TC35DA or 45DA there is a reason for the 30% difference, We bought the 35 and 45 a few years back, Weakest tractors I have ever operated. My little GC put the bigger tractors to shame. A friend of mine also bought one and wished he never did, I hope the LS is a better tractor than the NH was, The engines and the way they produce hydro power seems to be terrible. IDK how many times we brought those tractors back to the dealer but it was enough to trade them quickly for Deere's..

 

[DK35vince]

If they are anything like the quality of a NH TC35DA or 45DA there is a reason for the 30% difference, We bought the 35 and 45 a few years back, Weakest tractors I have ever operated. My little GC put the bigger tractors to shame. A friend of mine also bought one and wished he never did, I hope the LS is a better tractor than the NH was, The engines and the way they produce hydro power seems to be terrible. IDK how many times we brought those tractors back to the dealer but it was enough to trade them quickly for Deere's..

I thought the TC series New Hollands were made by Shibaura.

 

[atsah]

I thought the TC series New Hollands were made by Shibaura.

If they were it's news to me..

 

[DK35vince]

The TC series to my knowledge were made by Shibaura.
Some of the later model Boomer series were made by LS.