Thinking about leaving Kubota

[DerbyRunner]

The selling dealer has an obligation to provide warranty service.

Warranty service is optional for other Kubota dealers.

This makes no sense to me.

So if I take delivery on a Kubota today, and the selling dealer goes out of business tomorrow, my warranty is at risk and I am at the whim of whether any other dealer will "choose" to provide warranty service? If that is their policy, I would certainly never buy a Kubota. But I don't think that is their manufacturer's policy.

 

[goeduck]

^^^ I also have a hard time thinking Kubota would support stranding a customer like that. I believe the dealer makes money on a warranty repair of a tractor purchased elsewhere so I do not understand doing business like that.

 

[jeff9366]

Kubota is the example because the OP used Kubota.

Perhaps the OP will relate his experience at John Deere, Case and New Holland in ALASKA.

Warranty repairs are break even for tractor dealers. The manufactures are tough on reimbursements.
Manufactures do not reimburse dealers for mechanic time at $75 to $100 per hour rather at $25-$30 per mechanic hour, varying by location.

Bear in mind we only have the OP's version of events. Seems to me OP was disappointed in not being offered discounts in Alaska and told dealer he might buy out-of-state. The dealer told the OP "fine".

Dealers are independent businesses.

National sales organizations have no motivation to sort through customer/dealer controversies.

 

[rScotty]

I'd have to see the fine print, or call Kubota HQ to check on that.

Me too. Same question.... I find it difficult to believe that only the selling dealer has an obligation to provide warranty service. Is that peculiar to tractors or to Kubota dealers? People are mobile these days; what if I move to a different state? Does my warranty lapse?
rScotty

 

[searcyfarms]

Kubota is the example because the OP used Kubota.

Perhaps the OP will relate his experience at John Deere, Case and New Holland in ALASKA.

Warranty repairs are break even for tractor dealers. The manufactures are tough on reimbursements.
Manufactures do not reimburse dealers for mechanic time at $75 to $100 per hour.

Bear in mind we only have the OP's version of events. Seems to me OP was disappointed in not being offered discounts in Alaska and told dealer he might buy out-of-state. The dealer told the OP "fine".

Dealers are independent businesses.

National sales organizations have no motivation to sort through customer/dealer controversies.

I have never heard that tractor dealers ( or is it just the kubota business model ) that dealerships do not receive reimbursement for labor on repairs under wty? Its not that way in any other business i am aware of, from electronics/autos/appliances

If that is the case I would say it would drive me to not want to deal with WTY issues either when i had a paying customer that needed repairs outside of WTY.

 

[ericm979]

I 'am not gonna suger coat it I bleed Kubota orange . However after what you AlaskaL3130 have encountered if still in biz I would call Dave's Tractor 5 hours south of you(LS dealer). My next tractor purchase I'am gonna give LS a real darn hard look . AlaskaL3130 might try checking there attitude and prices ? Might even end up with a cab model . Maybe they (the Bota dealers) need to see some blue in Fairbanks to humble em down ? Check out LS imo , and thats comeing from a Kubota fan ..............................

Dave's is a Branson and Mahindra dealer. They do ship tractors to other states. When I was there test driving before I bought my Branson from them, they were getting ready to ship a couple tractors to Hawaii.

Since they're 250 miles away I have them ship parts to me, other than the backhoe attachment I drove up there to get earlier this year.

 

[bullbreaker]

Oh ok on their website they showed LS .

 

[super55]

Sounds like your dealer is trying to stiff arm you. He has sole custody of his product for a huge area and obviously believes in it enough that if you won't go his asking price then he won't service the product. I was a former kubota owner and went to green because I felt my dealer didn't value me as a customer. I had no complaints with kubota but service/support sent me to green.

I would seriously look at JD. Not because I think their product is superior but because I believe their service/support is one of the best in the industry. I'm sure I'll get a reply from someone saying it's because they need it but I do a lot of service/repairs myself. I was able to purchase tech manuals for every item I have even a 4 wheeler that was only produced by bombardier for 4 years over ten years ago and can still readily get parts for. I am assuming the timber industry is big biz up in Alaska and JD is a pretty big manufacturer of timber equipment so parts shipments might come at faster/cheaper intervals. They can just as easily get parts for tractors as the can for a feller butcher. The one downfall is that huge inventory comes at a price. JD loves to charge a premium for their parts.

I would try and small talk with individuals using heavy equipment in the area and try to get an idea on time to get parts, dealer service, etc. Don't expect the same catering as a guy that is buying 500k piece of equipment but it should tell you as to how well they treat their clients.

 

[sd455dan]

Dave's is a Branson and Mahindra dealer. They do ship tractors to other states. When I was there test driving before I bought my Branson from them, they were getting ready to ship a couple tractors to Hawaii.

Since they're 250 miles away I have them ship parts to me, other than the backhoe attachment I drove up there to get earlier this year.

I think it is a ( Daves) LS dealer in ALASKA whole different dealer

Dave's Tractor Biz

Dave's Tractor



Dave's tractors Inc.

Branson / Mahindra tractors in Cali.

Dave's Tractor, Inc. |

 

[DerbyRunner]

National sales organizations have no motivation to sort through customer/dealer controversies.

I'm not sure I agree with that. When the engine in my Mercedes blew at 66,000 miles, the West Coast Vice President of Mercedes became involved to make sure I was treated fairly. He eventually approved that Mercedes would pay half the cost for an engine replacement. It was good business to do that.