Cust. Svc.

TWINKLE_TOES · Jul 20, 2001

Tim,

This is a post by Mr. Kerr awhile back. I liked it a lot and thought it might help here. It was offerred by Kerr to help resolve a problem with an unresponsive dealer on a repair job that had gone on way to long.

<font color=blue>Get ya a pocket full of tools and go visit the dealership.Find a unit the same as yuors,pop the hood,go ta looking around in there kinda talking to yourself,pull out a screw driver and go ta pulling the sending unit off.If someone hasnt come out ta greet ya by than,pull the sucker!Fuel is gonna run so stay back!If someone greets ya before you get to the units,have a shitfit on em!!Still not happy,dont make payments for awhile and tell em why.I would call every 800 no.to kubota i could find.Try calling another dealership"nice now,treat folks the way they treat you for sure" tell him the deal and your patience being taken for stupidity.Screw em,throw em in the creek any way you can.</font color=blue>

Al (Hope you don't mind Kerr, I sure don't want to get thrown in the creek)

r0GuE · Jul 21, 2001

I'd document everything to let kubota know what happened but the big thing is to obtain satisfaction through the courts.
first step is a registered letter from an attorney. That letter should state the resolution ($$$) you are suggesting.
I have a freind who does this (actually rather often).
It ALWAYS works for him.
Good luck and "let us know"

Rogue

M. Sullivan · Jul 21, 2001

Additionally, get 3 estimates from contractors of your choice then write a draft letter to the editor of your local paper. Show the papers address and fax numbers so they know it's ready to go, and reference the company and owners names, what you have done to resolve and their response. Start it with "I'm writing to spare others the agony I've gone through." Bring them the letter, the quotes and tell them they have 48 hours to cut the check or you will send the letter and file in small claims court. $4000 is much less than the hit they will take in bad PR. Unless the guy is near bankrupt, an idiot or owns the local paper they'll pay. Good luck.

For the real adventurous types, picket their business on a sunny Saturday. One sign with 'ask me about what ABC Co. did to me' should do it, have a handful of 1-pagers describing your ordeal. My brother in law did it when he got ripped off on a wedding reception. Didn't work (almost got his #$% kicked), but he felt better!

Note: BBB is useless--they exist by business contributions, human nature not to bite the hand that pays your salary.

kokopelli2 · Jul 22, 2001

tim,
i had a similar problem with kevin. for me he, he didnt want to sell me a tractor! it seems becuase my last name is lopez. i went to fredrick kubota and dropped twice what i would have at backyard. kevin had really ruined a business that mr. richardson built up. in fact kevin had made a poor name for himself in the kubota community. you can always go to fredrick, college park, gaithersburg or timonium dealers! its really a shame that kevin owns the place now. you can also look up Mr. richardson and talk to him. he might force kevin to fix it. if you have any questions feel free to contact me. i live right down the road from backyard. here is my e-mail. slopez@hunterfan.com

Anonymous Poster · Jul 23, 2001

John is right.... the guy actually did come out to the house, AFTER putting me off and setting up times and then never showing. He came with a camera and a tape measure, he was very aloof, and saying he didn't know how his truck could have done it. But I have pictures thjat show the tire treads backing up the the very spot they dropped the tractor. He said his rollback does not have any rollers on it. That is unusual in itself because I have never seen a rollback without some sort of roller in the back, but I asked if there was anything else on the rollback that he had to take off first to get mine off, he would not answer.

It's like night and day, the way this dealership used to be, and the way it is now with the "new" ownership. If this is how they treat their customers, I'd be surprised if they are in business much longer.

The tractor came from there, the loader came from there, all my parts are ordered from there, and all my service work has been done there. It adds up. But you can bet that I will NEVER use them again... for anything!

Thanks all.... Tim

skent · Jul 23, 2001

Backyard Power is without a doubt headed for big problems if they continue to treat customers the way you and Tim have been treated. I too have had big problems just obtaining parts. Usually go to Finch Services in Hanover PA. Much farther tha BYP, but you won't spend an hour waiting for a parts man who knows his job. A dealership can only stay around so long treating people like this. Kevin and group will soon have pleanty of time on their hands. . . . .

Steve

Anonymous Poster · Jul 25, 2001

Steve,

Hey thanks! Do you have any idea how to locate Bill Richardson? I thought he was comp[letely out of the picture. What power does he still hold to be able to get Kevin to make things right? Is he still part owner or something?

I'd love to talk to Bill and let him know what an A**hole Kevin is and how he is ruining the business.

If you have any info, such as a phone numbre, or where Mr. Richardson lives, it would help greatly.

Thanks again.... Tim

kokopelli2 · Jul 27, 2001

tim,
mr. richardson must surely know what kind of person kevin is. i saw mr. richardson at the roy rogers in Mt. airy just before i bought my 2410 from fredrick kubota, he is the one that sent me there! mr. richardson has started another tractor bus. with his brother. i am not sure of the name but i bet he can/ will influence kevin. i believe mr. richardson still lives in glenlg. if i can scroung up his # i will!
steve