Kubota subcompacts are no longer the obvious king of the subcompact hill.

[cphilip]

They and John Deere will continue to lead mainly because most people in the market are unlike most of us here at TBN. They go with what they recognize. They don't explore all the options. These two have become recognized in the market place and that is well established. The rest of us tend to do a lot of research and are open to other options. We still might feel more comfortable with a Kubota or a JD anyway. But then again, we might explore the options and find what we think is a better option or better value. But we are not the norm. If the rest of the pack wants to gain and get their product out there they are going to have to spend money marketing to that other customer. We are already pretty up on what is out there. Most of the new home owner, large property owner, weekend rancher is not.

 

[crazyal]

The way I see it is that the lesser brands (and when I say lesser I mean in sales numbers) have always tried to offer their products for a lower price, adding an attachment or two into the price, and/ or a longer warranty to try and attract buyers. They also try to bump up numbers (like lifting capacity). It's all about marketing. Kubota and Deere can ask a higher price because they are well known in the market and they have a large dealer network. There's a reason why Mahindra is always pushing the "we will loan you a tractor if yours is broke" in their ads. It's not that their tractors break more often, it's to try and let a potential buyer feel less worried about having a rare failure and waiting months because the part needed is in a shipping container coming from India vs the Kubota dealer ho can get almost anything the next day. Kubota took decades to make this market what it is and the name it has. Their customers are rewarded with a higher resale value. In the end Kubota won me over because I liked the features, I like how it feels, and I like that they make their own engines. If I was going to buy a new tractor today, I would look at every brand before making a choice, like I did almost a decade ago. Of course back then most of the lesser brands didn't have much of a track record as there pretty much wasn't any 10 year old used tractors around of their brand to see how well they held up. I local guy in town has a B7000 that he says he bought new in 1975 that he's still using today, that's a great selling point for Kubota.

 

[Grandad4]

If they are smart, Kub management will not be hitting the panic button about BX sales. There is a much larger and more long-term game at stake. Kub has made huge investments in both acquisitions and new in-house products, indicating it has some major objectives involving the ag and construction markets. This make sense in terms of diversification, and should be a more important priority than starting a competitive battle with other subcompact brands entering the market.

Actually, with a compact/subcompact US market share hovering somewhere around 50%, Kub has other things to think about too. Vertically-integrated competitors - like Kubota - often have significant cost and production advantages over brands that sell fewer units or don't actually make what they sell. The tractor business is probably a profitable cash-cow for Kub. Anti-trust regulators dream of finding dominant producers who use their production and cost leverages to aggressively drive out the competition. So, rather than going all-out to respond to increased competition, a businesses may choose to pull its punches somewhat so it is less likely to become entangled in unfavorable regulatory oversight.

I would argue that being conservative with their CUT and SCUT business makes sense and they should even welcome healthy competition from other makes.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

As a dealer, Kubota has never been in a better position competitively now as we are with the BX80. We've just got a whole ton of features with very useful benefits for like a $200 price increase. The fit and polish on the current product is fantastic, and the lead on the other tractors in the market is as obvious as its ever been.

A note started this thread about Kubota 'heavy discounting' with the $99-129\mo pricing on BX. Kubota did not cut pricing to do this, no extra discounts where used. Its a combination of a 0/84 rate that's not often used, and putting a lid on dealer margin. The margin left is fairly typical for a place like us, but its tight for some dealers who maybe in high-cost states. The only reactive thing I can think of was the bump in warranty from several years ago.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

^ where's the like button?

 

[tractorshopper]

Yes, what Messick said. I literally traded my BX2370 for a BX2380 and drove past the Massey dealer to do so. The new features are great and I disagree about them not doing anything new in the SCUT market. They are still reinventing and updating with the times. SSQA loader is easy to switch out for my grapple. The new design with the loader valve on the fender. New easy on/off hydraulic disconnect. New drive over deck. One heck of a machine and make my life easier. The only think anyone has that they don't is the 3PH control.

The Massey is a fine machine as are the others. In my area, Deere won't even talk to you unless you're willing to pay MSRP. And frankly, I don't think it is as good of a machine and the Kubota is a decent amount less. Can I buy something cheaper? Sure, but I prefer the Kubota for it's features at it's price.

 

[Teachu2]

If Kubota is not the obvious king of the subcompact hill, please tell me - who is the new king of the subcompact hill? I had to look up who the MF dealer is here, and it turns out to be where I bought my Kioti. I've never seen a MF SCUT there on display or on the lot. In fact, I've never seen a MF SCUT in person, anywhere. There are at least 4 BXs on my street, including the newest purchase there. If my terrain was a little less challenging, I'd probably have one. It lacks the ground clearance required in some of my troublesome spots.

Kubota certainly appears to be the dominate SCUT in my area, with at least triple the market share of any other brand. If someone around me buys a new SCUT, the chances are it will be a BX. The CUT market seems much more level, by comparison.

 

[TheMan419]

For me MF was a no go for two reasons. Lack of a near by dealer being the main one. Secondly I sat on the GC and my head was taller than the ROPS! I am 6'7" so I kinda try things on.

The JD 1 series and the NH Boomer 24 did not have that problem. I cannot remember which Orange tractor I tried out in the same range as those two but it did not have that problem either.

Nice that there are so many brands to choose from. You can find one that does what YOU need it to do. If I were to buy a second larger tractor I would again re-evaluate the brands and see what was out there, not just go buy another blue one.

 

[sixdogs]

For me MF was a no go for two reasons. Lack of a near by dealer being the main one. Secondly I sat on the GC and my head was taller than the ROPS! I am 6'7" so I kinda try things on.

The JD 1 series and the NH Boomer 24 did not have that problem. I cannot remember which Orange tractor I tried out in the same range as those two but it did not have that problem either.

Nice that there are so many brands to choose from. You can find one that does what YOU need it to do. If I were to buy a second larger tractor I would again re-evaluate the brands and see what was out there, not just go buy another blue one.

On the 6'7" thing, some Deere compacts used to have ROPS with a removable top portion so you can add a ROPS extension to. There are bolts that hold the upper portion on and you just unbolt, slip in the extension and bold back up. Can take a pic if need be.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

As a dealer, Kubota has never been in a better position competitively now as we are with the BX80. We've just got a whole ton of features with very useful benefits for like a $200 price increase. The fit and polish on the current product is fantastic, and the lead on the other tractors in the market is as obvious as its ever been.

A note started this thread about Kubota 'heavy discounting' with the $99-129\mo pricing on BX. Kubota did not cut pricing to do this, no extra discounts where used. Its a combination of a 0/84 rate that's not often used, and putting a lid on dealer margin. The margin left is fairly typical for a place like us, but its tight for some dealers who maybe in high-cost states. The only reactive thing I can think of was the bump in warranty from several years ago.

I wish you would call the only Kubota dealer near me here in NM (at least 300 mile radius) and tell them to be competitive. When I was shopping last year for a SCUT, I went to them first. Best price was only $250 less than the local JD dealer. Both of which were $4500 more than what I paid for my LS (which I drove 550 miles each way to pick up). When it's time to go bigger, which will happen in the next couple of years, I surely won't be going to them.