Thanks for all the feedback, folks - I've narrowed it down to two dealers.
First, I've eliminated the CA dealers from consideration - all four I contacted were way higher in price. I even contacted a couple in more rural areas, where the cost of doing business should be less. And the odd thing - all of them were competetive on implement prices, just not tractors.
Even if my primary use of the tractor were in CA, I can't say I'd buy locally - we're talking about a $2-3K difference between the CA dealers and Oregon/Washington. Yup, you read that right...one is even selling his vineyard lease returns for $1K more than I can buy new in OR and WA. For about $200 in gas and trailer rental fees, I could go fetch one from up north.
Anyway, here are the two dealers I'm considering:
- Mid-Valley Tractor in Eugene OR. I've been dealing with John at Mid Valley (one of the two owners), and he's been incredibly helpful over the phone. He's had a bunch of recommendations, all of which have been backed up by feedback I've read here. He FAX'ed me a no-nonsense price sheet, that contained all Kubota tractors and configurations, as well as implements he sells. Made it a piece of cake to price things out on my own as I work through the myriad of options. Pricing is excellent, from what I've read here - Kubota stuff is basically 15% off list.
- Sunset Wire Rope in Port Angeles WA. Nobody recommended these guys, but I'm considering them since they are very close to my WA property. They are not a huge dealership, selling tractors is not their only business. However, they were responsive and helpful on the phone, and a good friend of mine who lives in PA has been very happy with them with non-tractor business he's had with them over the years. Pricing was higher than Mid Valley by about $800, and they don't sell any of the brands of implements I'm leaning towards. However, I'm not opposed to buying the implements elsewhere.
I called two other dealers recommended here - Moen and the Issaquah dealer. Both were very helpful, but slightly higher in price than Mid-Valley. Not by enough to rule them out if I lived local to them.
Hoping to make the move before the end of the year - I'll post back when it's a done deal.
First, I've eliminated the CA dealers from consideration - all four I contacted were way higher in price. I even contacted a couple in more rural areas, where the cost of doing business should be less. And the odd thing - all of them were competetive on implement prices, just not tractors.
Even if my primary use of the tractor were in CA, I can't say I'd buy locally - we're talking about a $2-3K difference between the CA dealers and Oregon/Washington. Yup, you read that right...one is even selling his vineyard lease returns for $1K more than I can buy new in OR and WA. For about $200 in gas and trailer rental fees, I could go fetch one from up north.
Anyway, here are the two dealers I'm considering:
- Mid-Valley Tractor in Eugene OR. I've been dealing with John at Mid Valley (one of the two owners), and he's been incredibly helpful over the phone. He's had a bunch of recommendations, all of which have been backed up by feedback I've read here. He FAX'ed me a no-nonsense price sheet, that contained all Kubota tractors and configurations, as well as implements he sells. Made it a piece of cake to price things out on my own as I work through the myriad of options. Pricing is excellent, from what I've read here - Kubota stuff is basically 15% off list.
- Sunset Wire Rope in Port Angeles WA. Nobody recommended these guys, but I'm considering them since they are very close to my WA property. They are not a huge dealership, selling tractors is not their only business. However, they were responsive and helpful on the phone, and a good friend of mine who lives in PA has been very happy with them with non-tractor business he's had with them over the years. Pricing was higher than Mid Valley by about $800, and they don't sell any of the brands of implements I'm leaning towards. However, I'm not opposed to buying the implements elsewhere.
I called two other dealers recommended here - Moen and the Issaquah dealer. Both were very helpful, but slightly higher in price than Mid-Valley. Not by enough to rule them out if I lived local to them.
Hoping to make the move before the end of the year - I'll post back when it's a done deal.
