Dealer Prep Time on New Tractor

[Paystar]

I work in the mining industry and sadly I see people that aren't interested in keeping a $187,000 a year job. And the ones that throw it away because they can't stay off drugs for their one week of work between their week off and fail their randoms.

I'd hate to see if another world war broke out, because if you can't get this new generation to go to work for that kind of money where are we going to find any willing to be soldiers and defend the country?

 

[DavesTractor]

We are a high-volume dealer. Ideally if everyone shows up to work and inbound tractors arrive timely, we try to keep ahead of the curve and have 30 or 40 (a month's worth) of tractors PDI'd and ready to go. Then all we have to do is put the package together, add ballast, implements, remotes - whatever. But even that, in the busy season can stack up and cause a few days delay. Some of you guys have hinted that maybe the dealer needs to be pushed, but if they are going as fast as their manpower can go, the only way to get it sooner is for them to push someone else back that bought before you. And sometimes a dealer can do that if that prior purchaser isn't in a big hurry, but most everyone wants their tractor delivered as soon as possible.

 

[arrow]

Your dealer is not the "normal" All the tractor and atv dealers here use the summmer students and the bottom grease monkey's to do the PDI's and assemblies.

I would hate to see what has slipped by in this case.
It is this diligence that has kept him in business since 1976.
They do not hire just anyone and if you’re a kid
(we have 3), you best have learned a hardy work ethic from your parents.
They are all great kids aged 17-19, and not one of them stands around waiting to do something.
They work hard their entire shift.

 

[Paystar]

I would hate to see what has slipped by in this case.
It is this diligence that has kept him in business since 1976.
They do not hire just anyone and if you’re a kid
(we have 3), you best have learned a hardy work ethic from your parents.
They are all great kids aged 17-19, and not one of them stands around waiting to do something.
They work hard their entire shift.

Well, my B had a wheel stud that was a different color than all the others, and a stripped bolt in the loader frame.
Luckily I go through all my stuff myself and do the services and repairs myself.

Dealers where I live are so bad I sometimes don't even use warranty on my vehicles because I literally FEAR bringing them to the dealer.

They'll always fix the issue you bring it in with, you'll just have one or two new ones when you leave.

 

[arrow]

Well, my B had a wheel stud that was a different color than all the others, and a stripped bolt in the loader frame.
Luckily I go through all my stuff myself and do the services and repairs myself.

Dealers where I live are so bad I sometimes don't even use warranty on my vehicles because I literally FEAR bringing them to the dealer.

They'll always fix the issue you bring it in with, you'll just have one or two new ones when you leave.

Sad in the gratification of accomplishment many of our species have lost.
Instant gratification and self worth measured in $ seems to rule the day.

 

[Paystar]

Sad in the gratification of accomplishment many of our species have lost.
Instant gratification and self worth measured in $ seems to rule the day.

I think that's the problem with the town I live closest too. Wages have always been on the low side for the mechanics, but the shop rates are certainly not.
So like they say, you get what you pay for.

 

[oldballs]

As a newly married young man, I soon learned that if screwing it up is the name of the game.......I can do that all by myself without any help....the beginning of my DIY life style.

 

[rockinbbar]

Might finally be seeing some movement on this.

May take delivery next week. I hope.

 

[rockinbbar]

Took delivery on a new Powerstar 120 yesterday from another dealer locally.

The 110 I had a deal on sat on the lot for 3 weeks or so, despite my need for the tractor.

Got the 120 at the same price, so I'm not exactly unhappy.

Made the deal on the 120 day before yesterday afternoon, and picked it up yesterday afternoon. Less than 24 hours after the deal was made. Not weeks with no progress...

Got out in the early morning heat and waxed all painted surfaces on tractor and loader this morning. Still hot and sweaty. But waxing keeps the brush scratches off better.

Now to get the inside outfitted with lights, and other things I use.

 

[tacticalturnip]

That is awesome! What a handsome machine as well; I know that's not a big factor in tractor purchases, but that blue is sharp.

 

[rockinbbar]

That is awesome! What a handsome machine as well; I know that's not a big factor in tractor purchases, but that blue is sharp.

Thank you! It's growing on me... I was getting tired of Case red.

 

[Powellcrazy Gearman]

Sadly or fortunately? Tractor dealers don't work as fast as car dealers

They just don’t do the volume to be efficient at anything., or enough business to hire personnel for each department.

 

[rockinbbar]

They just don’t do the volume to be efficient at anything., or enough business to hire personnel for each department.

There's tractor dealers around here that do huge volumes. Especially those who have all the dealerships in a certain geographic area.
Around here, any John Deere or Case dealer within 200 miles are all owned by the same company. Each of them kinda has the market cornered, so to speak. But they have lots of employees and large inventories as well as service depts.

I think the volume of tractor sales in some areas are pretty high due to the amount of agriculture in the area.

Personally, I prefer to do business with family owned dealerships.

 

[CaptPat]

Dealers I've been talking to recently are quoting between 1-2 weeks for prep and delivery. I don't provide any money till delivery, which tends to keep them focused on completing the PDI and delivery process. Since I don't rely on a tractor for my livelihood I can be flexible with how long it takes to deliver. What really p#@ses me off is when a dealer says delivery in x days which really means 3-4x days.

 

[arrow]

They just don’t do the volume to be efficient at anything., or enough business to hire personnel for each department.

Really?
that's what you think?
It has "zero" to do with that.
Lot boys at auto dealerships don't even check if there is oil in the car.
They just take the plastic coverings off, wash and maybe wax the thing, then it's done and is why you can drive away "in minutes" as someone posted earlier.
A tractor has about 92 other things that should be done for a proper pdi.

 

[Shorty 13]

So I made a deal on a new Powerstar 110 New Holland last week. Good deal, and I trust the dealer.

I asked him if I could come in the first part of this week now, and pick up my new tractor?

He said that was a service dept question, as the service dept is a bit backlogged now. But to call the service mgr. and tell him what I wanted done to the tractor, and see how long the wait is.

Okay... So I called the service mgr., and he took down what tractor and what I wanted done. (Just tire sealant added, really.) I asked him when he could get that out for me?

Ummm... we have a stack of tractors to make ready that are already sold. Maybe a bit more than 2 weeks.



Really? This is the 3rd piece of equipment I've bought at this dealer. I never had to wait before. I know it's all labor related. Getting someone to work, or show up for work. Or even getting qualified help of any sort. But it's really pretty disgusting to have to deal with this. Time is money.

Anyone else having these issues? It's a first for me.

Tell the dealership that if it takes that long to add tire sealant that you don’t want to wait that long and to refund your money so that you can go to another dealership to do business

 

[rockinbbar]

Tell the dealership that if it takes that long to add tire sealant that you don’t want to wait that long and to refund your money so that you can go to another dealership to do business

Actually I did just that. I bought a new Powerstar 120 and just picked up a new Powerstar 75 today. From when I made the deal to taking delivery was one day. Tire sealant added. I had not signed papers on the tractor with my old dealer. I don't sign or pay for anything until I can take delivery.

 

[just_Dave]

Really?
that's what you think?
It has "zero" to do with that.
Lot boys at auto dealerships don't even check if there is oil in the car.
They just take the plastic coverings off, wash and maybe wax the thing, then it's done and is why you can drive away "in minutes" as someone posted earlier.
A tractor has about 92 other things that should be done for a proper pdi.

that's because pdi is done at the rail yard by people that is the only thing they do all day long on thousands of cars.

 

[arrow]

that's because pdi is done at the rail yard by people that is the only thing they do all day long on thousands of cars.

All they do is check for body damage.
A rail car can hold 12-15 cars and at different levels. Cars from container ships can amount to 8500 units at a time and many of these are protective wrapped.
As the cars come to the rail ramp to be loaded (mostly in big cities and with Union Pacific doing most of the hauling), they are given a visual once over and I suppose you could call that a pre delivery inspection.

 

[just_Dave]

All they do is check for body damage.
A rail car can hold 12-15 cars and at different levels. Cars from container ships can amount to 8500 units at a time and many of these are protective wrapped.
As the cars come to the rail ramp to be loaded (mostly in big cities and with Union Pacific doing most of the hauling), they are given a visual once over and I suppose you could call that a pre delivery inspection.

they actually have a garage at our rail yard, all fluids checked, manuals, paperwork moroni stucker installed etc bubble wrap stays on and transport mode still active, but everything else is done per manufacturer. car haulers pick them up drop at dealers. dealer looks for damage peels bubble wrap off disables transport mode and parks the car maybe a bath. this is according to multiple car hauling friends who have been doing it for 20 years. I can't say all areas all car brands are the same but dealers do very little here, I can easily see small locations few dozen cars not but our port sees thousands.

have heard some cool stories as well.