hennydamule
Silver Member
I'm shopping for a BX23, and was told by a dealer today that Kubota requires you to have all warranty service done by the dealer that you purchased the tractor from. Is this true?
Dealer All warranty service at purchasing dealer?
- Thread starter hennydamule
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ByronBob
Veteran Member
Do you need to have the dealer you bought your car from do your work? Nope. Any GM or Ford or whatever will service it if it's under factory warranty. Now I've read some dealers don't want to but they can get into trouble if you complain about it.
Some other threads have touched on this subject and may be able to give you some insight into this. It's not true
Some other threads have touched on this subject and may be able to give you some insight into this. It's not true
BillyP
Veteran Member
Sounds like you need to find yourself another dealer. Now if you buy a tractor from dealer A and take it to dealer B for warranty work, dealer B may put you on the back burner but shouldn't. I did a little research in the way warranty work pays (JD warranty work though) and a dealer that would turn down warranty work is a fool.
Bob_Skurka
Super Member
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</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm shopping for a BX23, and was told by a dealer today that Kubota requires you to have all warranty service done by the dealer that you purchased the tractor from. Is this true? )</font>
I was told by a dealer that NH requires any dealer to service warrenty work. I have heard numerous stories that Kubota & Deere dealers have turned down warrenty work from other dealerships. So the dealer contracts may be different?
As for is a dealer foolish to turn down warrenty work? I suppose that might depend on the contract with the manufacturer and the allowance the dealers get for warrenty work. I think that generally the allowances are much tighter than they were in the old days and warrenty work as a profit center is probably not a possibility anymore. However, if the question is asked, SHOULD the dealer do the warrenty work, I think the answer is yes, if he wants to earn you as a customer for implement sales and future non-warrenty work.
Realistically, IF the dealer MUST do warrenty work as per a contract, then he still does not have to put a non-customer on top of his priority list. So your repair might languish in the yard for a week or two. Plus, he would not have to pick your broken tractor up or deliver free, which you might be able to work into the negotiations when you buy from a dealer.
I was told by a dealer that NH requires any dealer to service warrenty work. I have heard numerous stories that Kubota & Deere dealers have turned down warrenty work from other dealerships. So the dealer contracts may be different?
As for is a dealer foolish to turn down warrenty work? I suppose that might depend on the contract with the manufacturer and the allowance the dealers get for warrenty work. I think that generally the allowances are much tighter than they were in the old days and warrenty work as a profit center is probably not a possibility anymore. However, if the question is asked, SHOULD the dealer do the warrenty work, I think the answer is yes, if he wants to earn you as a customer for implement sales and future non-warrenty work.
Realistically, IF the dealer MUST do warrenty work as per a contract, then he still does not have to put a non-customer on top of his priority list. So your repair might languish in the yard for a week or two. Plus, he would not have to pick your broken tractor up or deliver free, which you might be able to work into the negotiations when you buy from a dealer.
Tom_H
Veteran Member
I haven't looked up what the law says, but I can pass on a related experience I had. I bought my BX2200 with FEL, MMM, grass blower, & grass catcher from a dealer 50 mi. away as he was $3000 lower than my local dealer. About 9 mos. later Kubota mailed out a written recall on the fuel tank. I called my local dealer's service dept., where the svc. mgr. told me that they wouldn't do it. I called Kubota's U.S. headquarters and was told that all Kubota dealers, in order to qualify for dealership rights, have to sign a contract with Kubota saying that they provide warranty work to any customer, regardless of where the tractor was purchased. I was told that dealers can even have dealership rights revoked for refusing to comply. They also told me that because it was a recall, I could even require the technician to come to my location. I then called the local Kubota svc. mgr. back & related what I'd been told. The guy gave me an angry lecture about losing money because of the small amount Kubota pays them, both on the repair and the travel time/gas, etc. He was sort of a grouchy ole guy to start with; I suppose he was also angry that I'd dared call Kubota and then present to him information contradictory to what he'd told me previously. In the end, he had to do it. He procrastinated a few weeks (I'm sure I was put at the bottom of the list & kept there until their schedule hit a slow spot), but it finally got done.
I suppose I could have filed a complaint with Kubota re. the type response I got from the local svc. mgr., but I figured once the warranty is expired, I have to negotiate with this guy on my own, so I didn't. Too bad some of them are this way. I'd guess that some tractors sold by my local dealer end up far away needing svc. elsewhere in just the opposite situation, so it would seem that it all comes out in the wash. Maybe the sales and service departments in some places operate pretty independently of each other and maybe each has to show a certain bottom line profit to the owner. This is just a guess. Seems like they'd realize that courteous svc. would attract loyal customers.
You might give thought to these issues: If this was your local dealer, was he trying to bluff you into buying from him rather than someone else because he has a higher price? If he was lying about this (I'd think apparently he was-or on the other hand maybe he doesn't know his facts correctly-that'd tell you something about him too), will he also be dishonest re. other things if you do buy from him. You might possibly call Kubota U.S. headquarters & ask re. their current contract policy. Then, depending on how you feel this'd work, go back to the guy & see how he reacts when you relate what they told you (He migh back off, or he migh blow up; either way you might get some insight to the guy's character.) Is there another dealer not too far away who can provide service/maintenance for you? Good luck with your decision.
I suppose I could have filed a complaint with Kubota re. the type response I got from the local svc. mgr., but I figured once the warranty is expired, I have to negotiate with this guy on my own, so I didn't. Too bad some of them are this way. I'd guess that some tractors sold by my local dealer end up far away needing svc. elsewhere in just the opposite situation, so it would seem that it all comes out in the wash. Maybe the sales and service departments in some places operate pretty independently of each other and maybe each has to show a certain bottom line profit to the owner. This is just a guess. Seems like they'd realize that courteous svc. would attract loyal customers.
You might give thought to these issues: If this was your local dealer, was he trying to bluff you into buying from him rather than someone else because he has a higher price? If he was lying about this (I'd think apparently he was-or on the other hand maybe he doesn't know his facts correctly-that'd tell you something about him too), will he also be dishonest re. other things if you do buy from him. You might possibly call Kubota U.S. headquarters & ask re. their current contract policy. Then, depending on how you feel this'd work, go back to the guy & see how he reacts when you relate what they told you (He migh back off, or he migh blow up; either way you might get some insight to the guy's character.) Is there another dealer not too far away who can provide service/maintenance for you? Good luck with your decision.
LGinIA
Silver Member
Per Kubota's corporate web site:
How To Obtain Warranty Service
To obtain warranty service under the terms and conditions of the Kubota Limited Warranty, you must deliver the product to an authorized Kubota dealer, along with proof of purchase. Kubota recommends that you take your equipment to the dealer from whom it was purchased for the warranty repair. If that is inconvenient, it may be taken to any authorized Kubota dealer. However, the dealer’s own customers may
have priority.
How To Obtain Warranty Service
To obtain warranty service under the terms and conditions of the Kubota Limited Warranty, you must deliver the product to an authorized Kubota dealer, along with proof of purchase. Kubota recommends that you take your equipment to the dealer from whom it was purchased for the warranty repair. If that is inconvenient, it may be taken to any authorized Kubota dealer. However, the dealer’s own customers may
have priority.
5030
Epic Contributor
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I would not get your bloomers in an uproar about warranty work or even the possibility of a warranty problem. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
I have had 5 Kubotas and I have never had a warranty related problem.
Kubota repairmen are like Maytag repairmen. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Run the snot out of it. Maintain it according to the owners manual with the correct service intervals, give it a bath and a greasing every 50 hours (FEL-10 hours) and enjoy it. It won't let you down. If it does, it'a a fluke.
I have had 5 Kubotas and I have never had a warranty related problem.
Kubota repairmen are like Maytag repairmen. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Run the snot out of it. Maintain it according to the owners manual with the correct service intervals, give it a bath and a greasing every 50 hours (FEL-10 hours) and enjoy it. It won't let you down. If it does, it'a a fluke.
BillyP--
let's just say that I have a LOT of experience dealing with Kubota warranty issues, and you are WRONG to say that a dealer would have to be a fool to turn down warranty work. Warranty work generally pays flat-rate book time, which is VERY unreasonable under most circumstances, as it assumes machine has been cleaned/degreased, technician has done the same job before and is familiar with all aspects, all tools are laying out within arm's reach ready to go, all bolts/fasteners will simply undo with no stripped threads or tapping necessary, and that customers will bring in their unit for service. NEWS FLASH: very few customers are equipped to return a tractor to the shop. Equipment brought in for warranty work is nearly always in need of cleaning before it can be worked on; parts generally must be researched and ordered, and parts will often be wrong for whatever reason, then you return parts and get more wrong parts, and well, I guess you see my point! Warranty work pays, yes it does, but it pays only what the manufacturer deems appropriate and it often is less than half of what a dealer actually would get paid for the same job for a walk in customer. Not to mention that all parts used on warranty jobs are reimbursed by Kubota at DEALER NET, with no profit allowed for the dealer whatsoever!
coonboner /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
let's just say that I have a LOT of experience dealing with Kubota warranty issues, and you are WRONG to say that a dealer would have to be a fool to turn down warranty work. Warranty work generally pays flat-rate book time, which is VERY unreasonable under most circumstances, as it assumes machine has been cleaned/degreased, technician has done the same job before and is familiar with all aspects, all tools are laying out within arm's reach ready to go, all bolts/fasteners will simply undo with no stripped threads or tapping necessary, and that customers will bring in their unit for service. NEWS FLASH: very few customers are equipped to return a tractor to the shop. Equipment brought in for warranty work is nearly always in need of cleaning before it can be worked on; parts generally must be researched and ordered, and parts will often be wrong for whatever reason, then you return parts and get more wrong parts, and well, I guess you see my point! Warranty work pays, yes it does, but it pays only what the manufacturer deems appropriate and it often is less than half of what a dealer actually would get paid for the same job for a walk in customer. Not to mention that all parts used on warranty jobs are reimbursed by Kubota at DEALER NET, with no profit allowed for the dealer whatsoever!
coonboner /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
BillyP
Veteran Member
coonboner
As I stated in my previous post, my knowledge was JD warranty work. It's also the customer that's responsible to get the tractor to and from the dealer for any warranty work.
JD pays the servicing dealer for cost of warranty parts plus 10%.
Labor is paid at the dealer's hourly rate plus 15%.
JD goes by JD's flag hours. The dealer said sometimes it takes longer for the mechanic to do the work than JD says and sometimes it doesn't take as long. They love to do warranty work and they get paid the next day.
As I stated in my previous post, my knowledge was JD warranty work. It's also the customer that's responsible to get the tractor to and from the dealer for any warranty work.
JD pays the servicing dealer for cost of warranty parts plus 10%.
Labor is paid at the dealer's hourly rate plus 15%.
JD goes by JD's flag hours. The dealer said sometimes it takes longer for the mechanic to do the work than JD says and sometimes it doesn't take as long. They love to do warranty work and they get paid the next day.
BillyP hit it on the head for me.
My local Kubota dealer (not where I bought from) was a jerk and he did not look happy when I said will you service my BX22 if I need it; when I was in buying a qt of hyd fluid. Then the question comes,"did you buy it here..."? I said no and gave me the typical line of BS. So i said are you refusing to service a warrenty BX22? He quicky said no but I have to take care of my customer first. Then the looong winded typical lines of the usual.
So after about 5 minutes of the talking that was no going anyware, I said thanks and never walked in even again.
Just some FYI here, this is why I never bought my BX22 here. He was over $2,500 MORE then the price I bought it for delivered to my house, enought said.
Most dealers will have plenty of people to work on your tractor ASAP.
My dealer ships parts either overnight if I need them or 3 day priority. The guy [Jim Crane] is amazing at Emerich Sales.
My local Kubota dealer (not where I bought from) was a jerk and he did not look happy when I said will you service my BX22 if I need it; when I was in buying a qt of hyd fluid. Then the question comes,"did you buy it here..."? I said no and gave me the typical line of BS. So i said are you refusing to service a warrenty BX22? He quicky said no but I have to take care of my customer first. Then the looong winded typical lines of the usual.
So after about 5 minutes of the talking that was no going anyware, I said thanks and never walked in even again.
Just some FYI here, this is why I never bought my BX22 here. He was over $2,500 MORE then the price I bought it for delivered to my house, enought said.
Most dealers will have plenty of people to work on your tractor ASAP.
My dealer ships parts either overnight if I need them or 3 day priority. The guy [Jim Crane] is amazing at Emerich Sales.