Purchase experience with Barlow Equipment

[pburchett]

I just wish they had put it together right so I didn't have to redo half the things they did. FWIW

I am just curious...what was wrong with your tractor?

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Dang John! 20! I was writing in another thread about the "JohnThomas" condition but I didn't realize you were up to 20!

i JUMPED OUT OF kUBOTA TRACTORS FOR A FEW MONTHS DUE TO DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE BX25d-1 last fall and bought a GEHL skid steer. Big mistake! Traded it for a new B2650 so back in the tractor fold. :cool2: Yep, over 20.

 

[BAP]

Your a little confused. Nothing stays on warranty forever and dealers do get paid for warranty work. After warranty goes off almost every machine needs some type service and that's where a dealership makes their money, service department, not usually in sales department.
The reason he sells for less is he doesn't live an extravagant life style and lives in a modest home and values how much people have had to work to earn their money. He apparently has determined an amount profit to make on each new sale and that's how he prices them, locally or shipped. I'm the locally buyer.
All Kubota dealers get the same machine for the same price on the same day when it is sold and comes off Kubotas inventory. Some times a dealer owns a new machine but not usually. Barlows gladly takes trade ins and sells (services in his large service department) lots of used machines that he does own. I usually trade my machines back to him and he has always been fair to me on the trade in price. (Around 20 buys/trades with Barlows in 12 years).

Actually, John I think you are confused. Service departments cost a lot of money to own and maintain. If a large percentage of your tractors you sell are never seen again because they are too far away, then you don't need to spend as much money on stocking and maintaining a service department to support the amount you sell. Hence, you need less margin in the sales of a new tractor. Also, warranty work does not earn the dealership as much money because they are paid a fixed amount for each job no matter how long it takes. So if you aren't doing as much warranty work because the tractor is too far away and another dealer has to do it, then you can sell for less. As far as all dealers paying the same, that is not entirely true because of shipping costs. I am sure it doesn't cost as much to ship the tractor from the Kubota factory to a dealer down the road as it does to a dealer up along the Canadian border. I am not saying he doesn't do well with his prices, but sometimes what is there fro support after the sale is worth a lot more.

 

[MarkinMass]

They can beat them because they know they will never see the tractor ever again. They don't have to have a service department big enough to handle all the tractors they sell which saves them a lot of money.

I just called Ahearn back today to see the 'best price' they could give me. The best they could do was take another $750 off my quoted price, but that eliminates the $1k gift card that I would have received after I purchased the tractor. Ahearn is still $650 more expensive than Barlows and $850 more expensive than Messicks. The funny thing is the salesman I talked to at Ahearn said the same thing about them not having to service the tractor post sale if I buy from one of those other guys. He also said they probably don't have the nice showroom or great service areas. He was sort of condescending about the low prices elsewhere and how great their dealership was.

At the end of the day service cannot be that big of a factor in the pricing of a tractor. If I back out the delivery charge to ship it to MA, then they are still +$1,400 higher than Barlows and +$1,600 higher than Messicks. On larger tractors than what I am looking at the spread is probably more. I will buy from either Barlows or Messicks and have it serviced at Ahearn. Another funny thing the Ahearn guy said was that you can get the tractor serviced anyplace, but since you did not purchase at Ahearn you will get in line and wait. I can and will do my own service, but anything broken or warranty will need to go to the dealer. If I need to wait an extra day or two, no biggie.

 

[murphy1244]

I think you will be waiting more than a day or two. More if in season with summer coming. Wish you luck all the same.

 

[MarkinMass]

I think you will be waiting more than a day or two. More if in season with summer coming. Wish you luck all the same.

Very possible, but I am just a homeowner with no real rush if there is a legitimate problem. My concern as others have stated above is if the tractor arrives with issues or assembled improperly. That's where purchasing from a local dealer would be beneficial!! Once I commit I will post my experiences (good or bad).

 

[JDL538]

Just my opinion, I would buy local for that small amount of money on a tractor..You may never need service but if you do I doubt that it would be good.

 

[s219]

Money is money, I know, but that's a pretty narrow difference in pricing for that tractor considering the two "cheaper" deals are out of state. I wouldn't have a problem paying $1500 more to buy local and hopefully get better service. Now if it was a $4000 difference, then I'd have a different opinion.

 

[ultrarunner]

Actually, John I think you are confused. Service departments cost a lot of money to own and maintain. If a large percentage of your tractors you sell are never seen again because they are too far away, then you don't need to spend as much money on stocking and maintaining a service department to support the amount you sell. Hence, you need less margin in the sales of a new tractor. Also, warranty work does not earn the dealership as much money because they are paid a fixed amount for each job no matter how long it takes. So if you aren't doing as much warranty work because the tractor is too far away and another dealer has to do it, then you can sell for less. As far as all dealers paying the same, that is not entirely true because of shipping costs. I am sure it doesn't cost as much to ship the tractor from the Kubota factory to a dealer down the road as it does to a dealer up along the Canadian border. I am not saying he doesn't do well with his prices, but sometimes what is there fro support after the sale is worth a lot more.

One would think this but when my brother wanted to buy a Kubota RTV when he was visiting me in Washington the Kitsap Dealer told him they would not sell to him as he was not local... Kitsap had them in stock... his local Dealer will order one but does not stock them.

Right now I'm in the SF Bay Area and Kitsap has ads in the SF Craigslist with pictures advertising Kubota Skid Steers... **** if I know what's going on???

SF Bay Area has go to be 800 miles away and two states.

I bought local and soon after the Kubota Dealer closed down... then the Kubota where I bought parts and supplies dropped Kubota... Alameda and Contra Costa County California.

 

[dstig1]

I am just curious...what was wrong with your tractor?

I posted it all earlier in the thread. They completely hosed up the rear remotes. Crossed plumbing, controls all hosed up, it was a major PITA to fix, at a time when I needed it to work NOW (that was why I bought new). They also did not torque a front wheel correctly and it ended up trashing the wheel before i caught it (I'll cop to not watching close enough, but that isn't the root issue on a NEW tractor). I also asked them to set the rears wide and they left them narrow. Loaded rears are fun to swap around at home. The loader control has been very glitchy since I got it, too. I realize it is not direct like my old one (cables now), but it still doesn't seem right. I'm still living with that one... I can only assume that they slapped it together like everything else and it needs work. Just haven't had time (maybe in 3 or 4 years I will...) Basically a bunch of rookie assembly mistakes caused by inattention, I'm sure.

I saved a bunch of money ($3-4k?) vs local and the sales process went well, but the assembly really stunk. They ended up sending me a service manual for free as a comp. I should have asked for more with all that went wrong.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

And then there are stories like this from another Kubota TBN forum. You may pay your local dealer more for that expected great service and get this. Happens.........I purchased a new kubota Kommander zero-turn mower (ZG127E, 54 inch) in February 2014. The unit ran great the first spring/summer. I use it mainly for mowing the 2 acres around our house and for cutting along the fence lines on our 40 acres. The second season (2015) I began to experience a similar problem to you - that is after mowing for an hour to an hour and a half, the mower would begin to surge and slow down as if it wasn't getting a steady supply of fuel. Then, if you tried to stand up and step off the unit, the mower would just shut down (as if you hadn't set the safety brake). Then you would have to wait for some time before you could get it started again. The dealer I had purchased it from was no help (very poor service and parts group), so I finally trailered it to a more distant dealer in April of this year before the "mowing season" started. He diagnosed the problem as an engineering group flaw with the fuel switch/line coming out of the fuel tank. Apparently the opening is way too small so any debris or contaminant will cause a fuel flow problem. Additionally the brake switch was defective. The replacement of the brake switch (under warranty) solved that problem. Cleaning out the fuel line solved the other problem.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I guess that I am lucky. My local dealer just delivered a new Workmaster 50 to me after I traded in my old New Holland 1720. They are a multi line dealer with Kubota, New Holland, and Mahindra including Bush Hog and other brands. I purchased a Stoll front end loader for my 1720 from them several years ago and was impressed with the price and service. They must be doing something right. The past two weeks he's sold three Workmasters and several balers. One out of state due to price. They have a very good service and parts department. I got an excellent deal on my purchase. Hopefully I will not need their work for warranty on the 50 but if I do I have no concerns that they have the expertise to repair it. I drive right by it every day going to work. They are 2 miles from where I am employed. My wife hates it.

 

[JMER817]

Ask for some in store credit from the Local dealer to get you closer to the difference. Example, $500 credit gives you $500 to spend but only costs the dealer maybe $300 depending on their markup. It quarantees you coming back in as well. A win win situation.

 

[zin01]

I contacted them 2 weeks ago and got a return email about 7 days ago saying that the guy was out due to health problems. I emailed him back saying that I understood and I do but how long does it take to get a quote?

 

[MarkinMass]

I contacted them 2 weeks ago and got a return email about 7 days ago saying that the guy was out due to health problems. I emailed him back saying that I understood and I do but how long does it take to get a quote?

I called and asked for Brady, I didn't email. He wasn't in at the time but called back later that same day. Price was very good, even with shipping to MA. Area dealers around here won't come close to Barlows or Messicks.

 

[danisiri]

Does Messick sell online? Their website says they can't sell Kubota over the web.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Does Messick sell online? Their website says they can't sell Kubota over the web.

Things change so what one did yesterday they may not do today or the other way around. This looks like a question that should be directed to Messicks on their on line or on the phone. If they do, you'd surely want to know about delivery, yes/no/cost.

 

[Monster5601]

Take this anyway you like. My Kubota dealer (also a personal friend) told me a while back, at least a year ago, Kuboa was going to crack down on dealers that sell out of their area using media like the Internet.

 

[ultrarunner]

It's funny because I wanted to buy a new Kubota RTV for my Washington place and the dealer said he could not sell to me as I had a California Driver's License... told him I don't walk around with the deed to my home so I left.

I get back to California and the same Dealer that would not sell me a new Kubota was throwing pop-up ads for used Kubota Skid Steers and Mini Excavators...

I called the Dealer a little steamed about what I had experienced and the owner's son said they can sell all the used equipment they want anywhere without restriction... but not new...

Few things rankle a customer more than having your business turned down...

Thing is in my part of California my country and several neighboring counties have no Kubota Dealers... Nada...

 

[MadMax31]

Take this anyway you like. My Kubota dealer (also a personal friend) told me a while back, at least a year ago, Kuboa was going to crack down on dealers that sell out of their area using media like the Internet.

There are a few consistent Dealers I see advertising on Forums or Youtube. Big Reds, and a NH dealer in OK. Messicks does great youtube vids, but they never push their products only mention if you feel they could help you to call them. I just ordered a BX23S from Barlow, whom Ive never heard of until I joined OTT. There are definitely Deere dealers who advertise and price on the web. Like Mutton and a few dozen others. Brady beat the local 3 shops, by more than $3000. If it was a grand, Id pay the local guy, but 3000?