3-Point Hitch Do you know Brian Faulkner at Kioti - or his manager(s) ?

[PetersenRockFarm]

I can see why they might not be too interested in covering it being out of warranty.
being said...
I would have a 3rd party mechanic look at it to determine what went wrong at the dealer shop to cause all that damage.
Its just between you and the dealer now.

Aug 1 2020 11:30 AM EST update.

Just back from dealer. I poked my head in to the Powersports owners (corner) office and I said good morning, asked if he knew what the next steps were with my tractor.... he said he doesn't know what's up with my tractor and to go talk to the service mgr... this is the part where just a TAD bit of compassion for the 6 week and 3 days of lack of progress would have been a nicety. Nope, just told to go talk to Kit, the service mgr. ok, off I went.

Ok, on to the service manager. He and Brian Faulkner from Kioti apparently went through several basics to see if they could get the arms to raise (they are in lowered position now and unable to raise them at all - again - this was NOT the problem when I brought it in. Supposedly the service manager put in all three valves (original plus the two 'new' replacements they received) and none of them enabled the arms to raise (when tractor was brought in original valve did enable raise/lower of 3 pt arms). I said I need to get this tractor out of here, he said where you going to take it? I said another dealer. he says, "well they are just going to have same problem dealing with Kioti now...and besides you can't move it because the arms are stuck in down position". I say, "oh, you can't raise them with a chain or something and hold in place to get it on a trailer" ? .. I get the shoulder shrug... ok, you get the gist.

The dealer, Powersports, is closed Sun & Monday (and no technicians work on Saturday, Sunday or Mondays) Brian Faulkner from Kioti says he will see if he can get someone from Kioti (a regional Service mgr???) to go there and see what he can see/do, etc. No definite arrival day or time.... "Hoping for Tuesday"

I left saying I will be there when they open Tuesday morning. Now I am off looking for a guy named Jerry (SP?) from Millinocket, Maine apparently he is the new kioti regional service manager who will be the go between on site. I'll scour internet to see if I can find him.

Cheers folks. Til' Tuesday

thanks all for the comments and support,
Erik

 

[RickB]

Claiming a tractor is immobile because the lift arms are fully lowered either demonstrates a level of ignorance that should preclude him from tractor service management or suggests that he suspects you are stupid enough to believe him.
Again, GET THAT TRACTOR OUT OF THERE.

 

[PetersenRockFarm]

Claiming a tractor is immobile because the lift arms are fully lowered either demonstrates a level of ignorance that should preclude him from tractor service management or suggests that he suspects you are stupid enough to believe him.
Again, GET THAT TRACTOR OUT OF THERE.

I'm hoping he doesn't consider me an idiot, then again look where I am with this situation I didn't want to start an argument about whether the tractor could be moved or not knowing the end result would not be "ok, let's roll 'er up on to a trailer right now" He said this is Kioti's probem now, and they have to get here to fix it, he is moving his tech's on to other tractors that need work....(no comment there) I have lined up access to a trailer so I'm ready to roll come Tuesday if need be.

Profile Powersports, Kit, Service Manager says no technicians are in today so can't move tractor anyways... so it sits until Tuesday morning when I will be there before they open to see if this guy "Jerry"(SP?) Kioti regional service manager is there as well. I will just leave it be until Tuesday morning.

Yes, I agree Profile Powersports is completely incompetent and has zero customer service ability. I'll take ownership of not screaming sooner, yup, my bad.

thanks,
Erik

 

[justman777]

Typical small dealer problems all around. It doesn't help that Kioti's dealer support network is....poor. I've had my tractor in for about 6 weeks now and my dealer has had zero response from Kioti corporate to a hydro pump warranty replacement request. I trust what I'm getting from my dealer, as the response I've had from Kioti customer service has been very poor. They definitely need to up their game in this category.

 

[rademamj1]

I sure hope it's not Kioti Corporate that's the nonperforming entity here, because that gives my future tractor purchase a major rethink. I can live with service variability within the Kioti dealer network, by simply finding a dealer with good service. But if Kioti Corporate really is not supporting their dealership network, it becomes a far more serious issue.

 

[justman777]

I sure hope it's not Kioti Corporate that's the nonperforming entity here, because that gives my future tractor purchase a major rethink. I can live with service variability within the Kioti dealer network, by simply finding a dealer with good service. But if Kioti Corporate really is not supporting their dealership network, it becomes a far more serious issue.

Several others have had issues with their dealers getting corporate support. One person having challenges is unfortunate, two is troubling, but several is a trend. Even if they're going through a major expansion and have shifted responsibility and phone numbers, that shouldn't make a lick of difference to a consumer. It's not our concern. We simply want to be able to reach someone on the other end when we're having issues and get a response. Kioti corporate has shown repeatedly they are incapable of doing that.

Of course, if you never have any issues with your tractor, you don't have anything to worry about.

 

[PetersenRockFarm]

Several others have had issues with their dealers getting corporate support. One person having challenges is unfortunate, two is troubling, but several is a trend. Even if they're going through a major expansion and have shifted responsibility and phone numbers, that shouldn't make a lick of difference to a consumer. It's not our concern. We simply want to be able to reach someone on the other end when we're having issues and get a response. Kioti corporate has shown repeatedly they are incapable of doing that.

Of course, if you never have any issues with your tractor, you don't have anything to worry about.

Yes, this is what you can only read about and digest from forums like this *before* you buy X Mfg product. I am completely blown away by the conduct of the person who answered the phone at Kioti "Customer Service" line...and I know how to behave and not behave, to get help... I was very reasonable, no swearing or anything stupid like that...and then subsequent calls were routed to voicemail when I called back...I know they have caller ID because he started answering with "Hello Mr Petersen" before I could say anything .... then I got routed straight to voicemail on calls made afterwards...

I just can't fathom a large global company that says to the guy on the front line of customer service: "it's ok, you can just ignore those calls and let them go to voicemail" instead of *talking* with the *customer* who has invested a significant amount of money in to your product to help them feel good about resolving their issue. Nope. Then add to it a dealer who is not competent either, both in resolving issues and in managing their relationship with the OEM. I've worked for small and large companies, never, ever, would you not speak with a customer to help them resolve an issue.

Everything will break or wear down eventually, the question is how will the dealer and OEM respond when that time comes, and how important is it to you? Kioti, you are failing miserably at customer service right now.

 

[fried1765]

Yes, this is what you can only read about and digest from forums like this *before* you buy X Mfg product. I am completely blown away by the conduct of the person who answered the phone at Kioti "Customer Service" line...and I know how to behave and not behave, to get help... I was very reasonable, no swearing or anything stupid like that...and then subsequent calls were routed to voicemail when I called back...I know they have caller ID because he started answering with "Hello Mr Petersen" before I could say anything .... then I got routed straight to voicemail on calls made afterwards...

I just can't fathom a large global company that says to the guy on the front line of customer service: "it's ok, you can just ignore those calls and let them go to voicemail" instead of *talking* with the *customer* who has invested a significant amount of money in to your product to help them feel good about resolving their issue. Nope. Then add to it a dealer who is not competent either, both in resolving issues and in managing their relationship with the OEM. I've worked for small and large companies, never, ever, would you not speak with a customer to help them resolve an issue.

Everything will break or wear down eventually, the question is how will the dealer and OEM respond when that time comes, and how important is it to you? Kioti, you are failing miserably at customer service right now.

From your posts, it is readily apparent that Kioti corporate is simply shirking responsibility, and hoping that you will go away.
The message for all here is very obvious!
If you buy orange, avoid Korea, and.... buy Japan!

 

[rScotty]

This may be something you don't want to hear, but here goes. I think you aren't going to have much luck on the current path.

Selling tractors and repairing tractors are two completely different businesses and run by completely different types of people. Years ago I ran a mechanical repair shop with a dozen employees where we could and would repair almost anything - from heavy equipment to washing machines. But small dealerships don't usually have that ability.

I see you are in New England - I would have thought that if any place still had independent repair shops that would be the place.

Bottom line is that the techs at a dealership are often not mechanics at all, but more likely to be technicians that replace components under warranty. Even if they agree to do the job, this job may be beyond their ability. It sounds to me like you need the more complete type of mechanical shop that can repair the 3pt assembly.

Just so you know, 3pt assemblies are all roughly the same the world over, and have been around for 50 years. They don't need a factory tech to fix a 3pt. Some 3pts are sensitive to their mechanical assemblies going "over center" and getting locked up - particularly if they have been stressed. I don't know what type of backhoe you had on there, but if it is a 3pt type rather than a frame mount then it may need the attention of a real mechanic.

If I were you I would quit trying to get the dealership to do something that they may not be able to do. Find a competent independent shop and have them go pick it up - or do it yourself. It sounds like it isn'tunder warranty anyway. BTW, the independent shop will need to have the shop manual and the parts manual for your tractor, and you should have both anyway. Roughly $100 each. So you can save time by providing those.
good luck,
rScotty

 

[AWSubie]

This may be something you don't want to hear, but here goes. I think you aren't going to have much luck on the current path.

Selling tractors and repairing tractors are two completely different businesses and run by completely different types of people. Years ago I ran a mechanical repair shop with a dozen employees where we could and would repair almost anything - from heavy equipment to washing machines. But small dealerships don't usually have that ability.

I see you are in New England - I would have thought that if any place still had independent repair shops that would be the place.

Bottom line is that the techs at a dealership are often not mechanics at all, but more likely to be technicians that replace components under warranty. Even if they agree to do the job, this job may be beyond their ability. It sounds to me like you need the more complete type of mechanical shop that can repair the 3pt assembly.

Just so you know, 3pt assemblies are all roughly the same the world over, and have been around for 50 years. They don't need a factory tech to fix a 3pt. Some 3pts are sensitive to their mechanical assemblies going "over center" and getting locked up - particularly if they have been stressed. I don't know what type of backhoe you had on there, but if it is a 3pt type rather than a frame mount then it may need the attention of a real mechanic.

If I were you I would quit trying to get the dealership to do something that they may not be able to do. Find a competent independent shop and have them go pick it up - or do it yourself. It sounds like it isn'tunder warranty anyway. BTW, the independent shop will need to have the shop manual and the parts manual for your tractor, and you should have both anyway. Roughly $100 each. So you can save time by providing those.
good luck,
rScotty

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