Current Incentives?

[robertwhite]

If I am reading correctly, if I was to purchase a new "L" series tractor and FEL, I would be entitled to 2 incentives, correct?

This link......... Finance Customer Rebates shows a $1,000 "Customer Instant Rebate" for buying the tractor and a $500 package rebate because I would purchase the tractor AND the FEL.

If that is the case, it just made my purchase quandry of Kubota vs. Bobcat a lot easier. I really like the Cat as it is much more "user friendly", but the closest dealer is 2.5hrs away. The closest Orange dealer is 10 minutes away.

ETA: I would be paying with cash, so the $1K still applies.

 

[robertwhite]

No one knows????????????

Any dealers care to clear up the answer?

 

[CurtisG]

It appears to read that way but check with your dealer to be sure, it sure helps in the decision making! Also consider that the Kubota will probably have a better resale/trade value down the road if you decide to do so.

Curt

 

[Spencer C]

The loader rebate is deducted from dealer cost at the time of sale, and is available with cash or 0% financing. The rebate for the tractor is ONLY available with a cash deal or standard rate financing (not 0%). Hope this helps!

 

[robertwhite]

The loader rebate is deducted from dealer cost at the time of sale, and is available with cash or 0% financing. The rebate for the tractor is ONLY available with a cash deal or standard rate financing (not 0%). Hope this helps!

So I guess I would qualify for both! $1500 off instantly is nice, then add the dealer discount (12% or more) and you can get a Grand L for just over $21K :thumbsup:

 

[rjkobbeman]

So I guess I would qualify for both! $1500 off instantly is nice, then add the dealer discount (12% or more) and you can get a Grand L for just over $21K :thumbsup:

Yeah, but only if you pay cash. If you have to finance the deal, you have to find an interest rate of 1.8% to break even. (1.8% on 21K costs you $1000 in interest.) If you have to finance and your rate is more than 1.8%, you are losing money.

Me, I would do the 0% and only get the $500 package CIR.

Now, even if you have the cash, we could talk about taking the 0% and investing the rest... but you get the idea...

 

[CurlyDave]

If someone is giving me a rebate, refund, any incentive at all to purchase their product over a competitor's, I know way deep down inside that they are not doing it because I am a good guy and they love me.

They are doing it because they know more about the market and their product than I do, and there is a reason. Could be as simple and benign as an advertising gimmick, or it could be that they know something about the relative value of their product vs. the competition.

Look this gift horse in the mouth long and hard before taking him home...

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

If someone is giving me a rebate, refund, any incentive at all to purchase their product over a competitor's, I know way deep down inside that they are not doing it because I am a good guy and they love me.

They are doing it because they know more about the market and their product than I do, and there is a reason. Could be as simple and benign as an advertising gimmick, or it could be that they know something about the relative value of their product vs. the competition.

Look this gift horse in the mouth long and hard before taking him home...

Strange idea but as long as your happy with it, OK. Seems you won't buy from anyone offering a rebate. Odd. Guess sellers don't plan on a guy like you in the market. Course they could be removing rebates from time to time for you guys.

 

[rjkobbeman]

If someone is giving me a rebate, refund, any incentive at all to purchase their product over a competitor's, I know way deep down inside that they are not doing it because I am a good guy and they love me.

They are doing it because they know more about the market and their product than I do, and there is a reason. Could be as simple and benign as an advertising gimmick, or it could be that they know something about the relative value of their product vs. the competition.

Look this gift horse in the mouth long and hard before taking him home...

I understand the skepticism, but I don't understand your point. Are you saying you will get a better deal WITHOUT the incentives? The market is real competitive because of the economy. Dealers are offering incentives to help sway you toward their brand. This is a plus-plus for buyers right now.

Taking advantage of low interest rates and/or customer "cash" incentives is NOT screwing the customer...

 

[CurlyDave]

I understand the skepticism, but I don't understand your point. Are you saying you will get a better deal WITHOUT the incentives?

What I am saying is research what you really want, and don't be swayed by an incentive. If you get one, that is great, but if you choose an inferior machine due to an incentive program, you will regret that choice for years.

 

[bxowner]

I have to agree... since you mention the Bobcat seems more "user friendly" to you than the Kubota, it seems that you might be leaning toward the Kubota only because of the 5% or so difference in the price - justified only by the incentive. Yes, the dealer's a longer distance away, but really, unless you're a commercial user, that shouldn't be a huge factor compared with day-to-day enjoyment of using the equipment. I'm not trying to poo-poo what may be upward of a $1500 discount, but simply reiterating CurlyDave's point, which seems to be not to be moved only by a discount. I'm sure the Bobcat dealer would meet you at least half-way if s/he knew they were going to lose a sale to a factory discount.

Mostly, I'm curious what you feel are the more "user friendly" features. I don't view this site as people debating, but rather, helping see different perspectives, so I'll offer this point of view. I recently purchased a Kubota B2920 over the comparable Deere model, after looking at everything else on the market (including Kioti, which had really, really attractive discounts and rebates). For me, it came down to the price. Now that I've had it for some time, there are certain things that I think really are better on the Deere and probably would have justified the $1500 or so in difference (i.e. electric PTO, position control and better foot positions for frequently changing between moving forward and back). I've made my choice and am sticking with it. But, you're not constrained by hindsight (at least not yet!). Hope you end up with the machine you want the most.

Finally - aren't many Bobcat models the same as Kioti? Have you checked out their incentives?

 

[robertwhite]

Mostly, I'm curious what you feel are the more "user friendly" features. I don't view this site as people debating, but rather, helping see different perspectives...

That's the easy part. Bobcat offers many features as standard that other makers offer as upgrades or not at all. I decided the CT235 was too small and will go with the CT335. Standard on the CT335 are a fully adjustable and thick as a Cadillac suspension seat. Kubota gives you a hard slab to sit on. BC offers standard tilt steering and cruise control. Tilt steering on a Kubota? Not. The first time I sat behind the wheel of a Kubota L, it struck me odd as to the steering wheel placement at such a flat (horizontal) angle. The BC has a joystick control just as their machinery (dozers, skids, etc) do and its placement is right where it belongs, at the users arm length. MUCH beefier frames (albiet making the machine heavier) with greater lifting capacities and a bunch more.

As yourself and others have said, incentive alone should not sway a decision. Bobcat is offering $3K on the CT335 which is double the Kubota incentive. Resale value is not a huge factor to me as if the tractor works as advertised, it will be in my barn for quite a long time. BUT the fact of the BC dealer being so far away and the Kubota dealer being just down the road still plays in my mind. So I am still thinking long and hard.

Finally - aren't many Bobcat models the same as Kioti? Have you checked out their incentives?

Yes, Kioti offers pretty much the same tractors, but a Kioti dealer is even further away. :laughing:

 

[TripleR]

The features or lack thereof mentioned quickly moved me from the L to Grand L, but of course they cost more. Kioti/Bobcat were not an option due to lack of dealers/support.

As mentioned by others, resale value can be important, but I wouldn't place it above everything else and may be pretty much non existent if you are going to stick with the same brand.

 

[crazyal]

I don't know about the loader discount but the $1000 back is if you don't take the 0% financing. In other words Kubota knows that they are going to have to wait for their money if you finance it and is willing to give you money off so they can get the bulk of it without a wait. Car dealers are always doing it.

Secondly it's rare for a company to lower the price of an item of this size. Nobody likes buying a car, tractor, etc. and then a newer better version comes out and it costs less. A way around that is to offer discounts or incentives to stay competitive when markets turn down.

I decided on Kubota because every dealer (all brands) near me were too expensive. I was able to order a Kubota for a large discount. The only Kioti dealership is the third one to pop up in the last three years. How long they are around for is anyone's guess. Deere was just priced too high, paint color shouldn't justify a higher price. NH dealers were the best around here. They were in business to move tractors. I did like the Kubota over the NH and when I found a lower price the decision was made. BC was never really a choice since the only dealer is very new compared to 5 NH dealers and 4 Kubota dealers.

I adapt so ergonomics means less for me. I almost prefer a different feeling between pieces of equipment. Nothing is exactly the same but if they are close I find it easier for me to get more into what I'm doing and less what I'm using leading to minor mistakes.

I know people like other brands and if they are happy then that's all that should matter. I'm sure I could have been happy with any brand. The differences really weren't that large and none was perfect.