Bought a New L3902, turned out to be a 2019

[Hiawassee Longhorn]

I bought a new L3902 in June of '23 paid full price for it. Recently while researching parts I realized the serial number indicates it's a 2019. When I got it the seat was a bit rough looking not torn or anything just weathered as we're the oil fill caps faded as well as the trans dip stick. Having just moved to Tennessee I though that it must be been a rough winter and previous summer thinking it was probably delivered the summer of 22 to the dealership. But not wanting to complain I just turned a blind eye. Well now with this revelation I feel a bit taken. I get that they are not like cars and I would've been fine with a '22 but 4 years old seems a bit much especially when I was expecting a new tractor. I want to call them and give them an earful but I don't want to but bridges either. Thoughts?

 

[seville009]

No harm in calling them and explaining nicely what you’ve discovered and see what the response is.

The “best” thing would be you could find another new (or low hours) one from 2019 somewhere and see what they’re selling for. That will give you an idea if you paid full price or a discounted price.

While it’s annoying to have that happen, I doubt it has any real impact on the current value.

 

[Yander]

You can also look at it as you got a nice Pre-covid tractor. Everything built after Covid is somewhat suspect, if only in my mind. Yeah that would bug me to if my new tractor had sat outside for 3 or 4 years. If it was inside, wouldn't bother me at all.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Since the L3902s did not come out until 2022, I am assuming that your decals indicate that you have an L3902, I think some type of fraud has taken place.
Definitely something to question the dealer about.

 

[Torvy]

There is another possibility. The serial number calculator may just be wrong. Since the model change maybe the sequence changed. I thought there were enough changes between those models that simply rebadging an ××01 would be fairly obvious.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Changes are only obvious to a person who knows that there are changes and what those changes are.

You don't know what you don't know.

 

[HAR]

Personally, I would contact Kubota directly and get them to confirm date of manufacture, and then contact dealer While others have indicated, tractors, unlike car/truck sales, do not normally have a price depreciation each year, OEM's may discount price or have other incentives to move inventory. Kubota had a national promotion on the actual L3902 series that ended in June 2023. Did any of that apply to your deal?

This LINK, gives a hint to what changed on the 02 versions in the L series, so you can look to see if any of these features are missing on your model, if you need substance to back up your claim.

 

[mrmikey]

You can bet your bottom dollar if you trade it in a few years, they'll be saying it's a 2019 not a 2023 and can't give you as much as a '23 would be worth.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

There were no 3902s in 2019… so, this is interesting.

 

[JWR]

You can also look at it as you got a nice Pre-covid tractor. Everything built after Covid is somewhat suspect, if only in my mind. Yeah that would bug me to if my new tractor had sat outside for 3 or 4 years. If it was inside, wouldn't bother me at all.

A Pre-Covid tractor? A post-Covid tractor?

 

[JWR]

There were no 3902s in 2019… so, this is interesting.

TractorData (being the most authoritative general tractor info site we have) says the 3902 model started out in 2022 and shows a basic price of $25693 in 2023. Does not state "first delivery." I'd think that is a pretty darn new tractor. I have a few questions: 1) What reference did you use that says the serial number made it a 2019 tractor? It might be erroneous. Also it is extremely possible if not likely that PARTS of the tractor were manufactured well before 2022 and maybe 2019. 2) If you bought it new then you bought it from a dealer. Have you asked the dealer what his records show for date of manufacture? And how long it was on his lot? He should not mind telling you. 3) Quite often tractors will show on a nameplate or somewhere on the frame a date of manufacture. My older Kubotas do as I recall. Did you find any?

If it sat out in the weather for several months that would probably make it typical of new tractors purchased anywhere -- some sitting out longer than others. Certainly ask the questions (and no reason to be hesitant to ask them!) but so far I have not seen a real problem mentioned.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

People couldn't even find a tractor in 2020, hard to imagine a 2019 remained unsold until 2022

 

[Engineer42]

A Pre-Covid tractor? A post-Covid tractor?

Yeah, the post Covid tractor has three small holes in the left fender

 

[JWR]

Yeah, the post Covid tractor has three small holes in the left fender

Yuk Yuk ! I love it. And it typically only works from home.

 

[JethroB]

Kubota has a website where you can look up the date of manufacture of a Kubota engine by serial number. This might assist in dating the tractor.

Kubota Engine Serial Number ID | Kubota Engine America

Find all of the information you need to correctly identify your Kubota engine.Find all of the information you need to correctly identify your Kubota engine.

www.kubotaengine.com

 

[SDT]

I bought a new L3902 in June of '23 paid full price for it. Recently while researching parts I realized the serial number indicates it's a 2019. When I got it the seat was a bit rough looking not torn or anything just weathered as we're the oil fill caps faded as well as the trans dip stick. Having just moved to Tennessee I though that it must be been a rough winter and previous summer thinking it was probably delivered the summer of 22 to the dealership. But not wanting to complain I just turned a blind eye. Well now with this revelation I feel a bit taken. I get that they are not like cars and I would've been fine with a '22 but 4 years old seems a bit much especially when I was expecting a new tractor. I want to call them and give them an earful but I don't want to but bridges either. Thoughts?

Not uncommon, and why I never buy froom the lot but rather insist upon ordering a new unite despite dealer stock.

More than likely, the old unit had aged inventory pricing from Kubota which the dealer pocketed.

 

[SDT]

You can bet your bottom dollar if you trade it in a few years, they'll be saying it's a 2019 not a 2023 and can't give you as much as a '23 would be worth.

Bingo.

 

[JWR]

Bingo.

Don't you think that may be hard to do, given that the model did not come out until 2022? There are several unanswered questions here and they do not all lead to conspiratorial intent.

 

[SDT]

Don't you think that may be hard to do, given that the model did not come out until 2022? There are several unanswered questions here and they do not all lead to conspiratorial intent.

Generic comment.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Generic comment.

Jovial reaction regarding the state of the industry, followed by a bit of mourning for the world that was.