Dealer Acceptable Distance to Dealer

Rolando · Aug 24, 2004

I need some input on what is an acceptable distance to the selling dealer in terms of service and long term relationship. I'm in a small town and the Kubota dealer doesn't seem that big, plus I want context for the quote.

The Kubota web site gives me 3 dealers: one is 10 miles, the others 35 miles and 43 miles. But if I stretch it to 60 or 70 miles I reach Jacksonville, which is tons bigger.

I know that the closer the better, but what would be workable?
BTW- Shouldn't the spell checker know the word "Kubota"?

sneaky_pete · Aug 24, 2004

Depends a lot on how much you use your tractor and how much maintenance you're willing to do yourself, IMO.

I chose to buy from a dealer that is 30 miles from me rather than the closest one (12 miles) because the dealer I bought from (Zimmerer Kubota in Ft. Worth, TX) was much more helpful and objective with purchasing advice and had better prices to boot. They also have a fleet of 16-foot trailers they will loan you for free to transport your tractor back and forth if you need to. It isn't an issue for me because I can do all of my own maintenance. Tractor maintenace is not rocket science; most anyone with some interest and a few hand tools could do it.

Pete

Golfgar4 · Aug 24, 2004

I've always felt that I would consider going within any dealer within a 1 hour drive (not interstate driving!) of my location. Of course, there are a number of factors that will influence my decision. I've always considered myself to be color blind when it comes to what brand of tractor I'll buy, so the quality of the dealer is probably my #1 factor, followed closely by price. I'm not totaly inept when it comes to doing maintenance type things, but it isn't necessarily one of my favorite pastimes. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif So I'm going to want a dealer that I can get to fairly easily. I'll have my own trailer, so I'm not concerned with the dealer picking up and delivering. In fact, I'm hoping to use that in my favor when I'm negotiating my purchase. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I guess each person has to make their own decision on what factors are most important to them. If your time is very important, then you'll probably want a dealer within their FREE pick-up and delivery range (if they have that free service). If, on the other hand, you can afford the time to take the tractor yourself, then you go out a little farther.

And of course, saving a couple $$K could make that farther dealer a little more attractive too, couldn't it? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bob_Skurka · Aug 24, 2004

I kind of go along with Garry's logic, about an hour, and dealer quality is a big deal with price following closely. I have a JD dealer about 5 miles away, but a really good Kubota dealer is only one block farther. A NH dealer is 8 miles away. Another JD dealer is under 15 miles away. Agco is about 9 miles away. The 2 best of that bunch are the NH and the Kubota dealers and both are really good top notch shops. One of JD guys deals mostly with real farmers and doesn't give a darn about us people with CUTs and shows his arrogance and crappy attitude when you ask for any help. The other JD dealer specializes in CUTs but really deals mainly with the landscape construction guys and caters to them over the homeowner types. If I widen my net to 60 miles (which is more than 1 hour by road), I pick up several more of each type of dealer, and add a couple Kioti guys as well. But I'd really not want to deal with someone 60 miles away if I could work with the guy about 10 miles away. Now if the local brand "X" dealer is being a jerk, then the next stop is the local brand "Y" dealer. . . becuase when you come down to it, regardless of the color of the tractor, 2 tractors of equal size/hp/features/etc are going to be equal in capabilities.

BUT, I looked at MY needs and then I figured out which tractors would do what I wanted. After I knew which machines from each dealer I was looking for I spoke to the dealers and did my best to compare each brand on an apples to apples comparison. I really didn't care which brand I got, because by the time it came to negotiate I knew that Tractor #1 would do the job as well as Tractor #2, which was the same with Tractor #3. So I went to the dealers and spec'd what I wanted and got my prices. I threw out one brand because of the dealership. That brought me down to 2 brands and roughly 2 equal machines. One dealer would deal, the other would not. I went with the one who would deal.

I think the big mistake many people make is that they limit their search to ONE brand. The reality is most any brand is about as good as most any other brand. One has a feature you might like and the other has something a bit different and you might like that. I think color blind buyers are probably the best. And I also think over analysing some things is a waste of time.

I also priced against the internet sellers and my local dealer was on target with the lowest price quote I got from an internet seller on the exact same tractor.

DannyD · Aug 24, 2004

My dealer is 75 miles one way, but I bought from him because of price and I like doing business there. They even have some fields to play in /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Henro · Aug 24, 2004

How will you get your tractor to the dealer if you need to?

If the dealer is far away and you want him to work on your tractor, and you need him to pick it up and bring it back...that could be an issue...and could get expensive if he needs to cover his actual costs.

If you have a trailer and can take it there and pick it up, that is a different ball game.

Actually, in two years I had my tractor back to my dealers for a warrenty repair (minor issue, at the beginning, transport free). Now have just over 2 years on the tractor,and 470 hours...no problems...

Myself, rather than use clock time, I would ask the different dealers how much it would cost for them to pick up and return my tractor if it needed service and use that number to help me decide...everything else being equal.

I guess the point I am trying to make is that if you only have to get your tractor to a dealer's every two or three years...then if he is one hour or two away, it makes little difference...

gsxr1100 · Aug 24, 2004

My dealer is in another state, about 1 hour 15 minute ride. It was worth the almost $3,000 in savings. And my dealer is much nicer and works with ya! Even Fedex's warranty items over night!

So you need to balance out somethings; savings, time, sales person being NICE, warranty items etc.