Dealers: how does mahindra do it and why do we pt up with it?

[BlackOps]

sorry ben a mahindra owner for many years now - max 25 fel and midmower.

the dealer i called 50 miles away when i was curious to find out more was rude and told me to go to their website which didn;t have anything on it. OK... so i found someone else about 40 miles away but seemed like a part-time dealer as such. Took me 3 attempts to meet with him and talk tractor. He tried to sell me a tractor model i did not want and he had in stock and he tried to sell me a back mower/brush hog unit which i did not want. he had no real staff as such and did not kow much about mdmwers or even putting a fel on it. ya that's right.

but he chased one down for me and the price was ok so i went with him. then he went out of business.

the first person i had to play a lot of games re: help and parts that never came in and i had to chase a part down at bill's in TX - got it 3 days later that the dealer said took him 5 weeks and nothing. called the mahindra rep which took days and he kind of blew me off too and never wanted to chase down the issue with the dealer and his slipshod service. WTF!!!???

actually chewed me out because i wanted to get my tractor working to use it.

now i see there is a new dealer 1 1/2 miles away from me according to the mahindra website so i called and after 10' on hold got hing up on. called back and no luck. emailed the guy and he tried to help but he never answered one question for me. he has nothing in stock and probably has not had any ever, and the service guy is leaving this friday so no service tech. love the tractor but WTF is it with the dealers and mahindra. no one around here to help with servicing or fixing an issue here or there. one expensive paperweight eh?

this is a sad state of affairs.

end of rant.

 

[Solitary Man]

Lesson learned?

 

[jeff9366]

WTF lessens my interest.

 

[Have tractor did travel]

You can have service, price, quality, but you can't have all three. I think you got the later two.
I've been very happy with Kubota dealers in 3 different states, as I've moved around.

 

[Hay Dude]

Our local Mahindra dealer went under a few years ago. Buddy of mine about 40 miles away bought one. I suggested Kubota, his wife was in charge of the budget. Mahindra won.

 

[fried1765]

Our local Mahindra dealer went under a few years ago. Buddy of mine about 40 miles away bought one. I suggested Kubota, his wife was in charge of the budget. Mahindra won.

Some folks just do not appreciate experienced advice!

 

[Hay Dude]

Some folks just do not appreciate experienced advice!

Even from ”some guy that just cuts grass”

 

[notaz3]

It happens with Kubota also. I've tried contacting numerous dealers in three states and none of them want to return calls or email much less give out a price. It took camping out at the local dealer until salesman came back from service and lunch for me to order my tractor.
The problem might be with over demand and no supply.

 

[Hay Dude]

It happens with Kubota also. I've tried contacting numerous dealers in three states and none of them want to return calls or email much less give out a price. It took camping out at the local dealer until salesman came back from service and lunch for me to order my tractor.
The problem might be with over demand and no supply.

I gotta tell ya, I rarely have the problems described above with Kubota dealers (nor AGCO, Deere, CNH)
Sorry you did.

 

[sea2summit]

You can have service, price, quality, but you can't have all three. I think you got the later two.
I've been very happy with Kubota dealers in 3 different states, as I've moved around.

I thought I was the only crazy person that moved my Kubota. Four states and counting…opposing corners of the country even!

 

[sea2summit]

It happens with Kubota also. I've tried contacting numerous dealers in three states and none of them want to return calls or email much less give out a price. It took camping out at the local dealer until salesman came back from service and lunch for me to order my tractor.
The problem might be with over demand and no supply.

Lot of truth in this. The market also, not many folks are going to drive long distances for tractors they can’t drive home.

 

[3Ts]

I thought I was the only crazy person that moved my Kubota. Four states and counting…opposing corners of the country even!

3 states here - From Florida to Maryland to Texas.
The dealer I bought it from went out of business shortly after I bought it. So no dealer support, however, it hasn't needed much and parts are available on-line or thru other dealers that are much father away. Still running 35 years later.

 

[shooterdon]

I don't think it is only Mahindra dealers, even though my local dealer is next to useless. He treated me like crap and I was ready to spend over $35k.

I have had poor experiences with the local JD.

Some folks here poo-poo those of us who shop dealers as well as equipment and who prefer to buy new so we have a decent servicing dealer.

Your experience is not unique and a lesson to others who try to save a money or pick the closest dealer.

What is puzzling is why dealers do not care. After purchasing my tractor, I spent almost another $15k buying stuff from my LS dealer. He is one of the really good ones.

 

[Torvy]

Good point Shooterdon . Another thing to take onto account! I think it is very useful to find out things like how long your dealership has been there. Same ownership? Same franchise? How about the lead mechanic? Look at help wanted signs. If they are always looking for employees (relative to local norms) and are not doing so to expand, maybe look elsewhere.

I cannot speak to modern tractor brands, but in the old days it took more than a checkbook to get a franchise from better manufacturers. The 'independent' dealers can well and truly sully the name of an otherwise good make.

Does anyone have any insight into the modern makes and their franchisee expectations?

 

[Have tractor did travel]

Sea2, While living in Virginia, I bought the tractor (used) in Massachusetts on our way to Canada. Left Canada and worked it in North Carolina, then to Alabama, Arkansas, back to Canada and now, again, Virginia
Where is the "left" coast of Georgia ?

 

[BlackOps]

well i was interested in kubota; however, the owner was jerk and knew notta and could care less about the sale and the only salesman they had just keptincreasing the price over a 3 day period so i said forget it. and deere did not impress me for my needs. so...

i could not build one myself i had to buy. i figured i'd get some wise guy replies.

 

[Hay Dude]

well i was interested in kubota; however, the owner was jerk and knew notta and could care less about the sale and the only salesman they had just keptincreasing the price over a 3 day period so i said forget it. and deere did not impress me for my needs. so...

i could not build one myself i had to buy. i figured i'd get some wise guy replies.

Dealers are important, but the personality of the salesman or the dealer? Not so much. (You got jerked around on price, that’s a deal killer for me, so I agree). Yeah sure it’s a few steps you have to go through with sales department, but soon the tractor will be home, then you are dealing primarily with service and parts departments
I got connected with a dealer and a specific salesman who is a bit “different” sort of aloof and lacking some social skills. I questioned those who referred me to him.
That was 10+ years ago and I understand why they suggested him. He’s very knowledgeable and helpful and stands by his product. He has good ideas and suggestions. He has sent customers to me.

I guess what I’m saying is, if there’s a specific brand or model you want and the salesmans aftershave smells funny, it ain’t a big deal- especially if they have good support and you really like the tractor.

 

[Have tractor did travel]

Torvy, I can't speak to tractor dealerships and their manufacturer connection, but I can sure speak to dealership/manufacturer relationships in other businesses.
Today, in any market, every good equipment dealership has a tractor line - the good lines. John Deere, Kubota, Case. So if a manufacturer new to the market is looking for a dealership, it has to choose from someone who wants to get into the business (remember 95% of new businesses fail within 5 years), or try to convince a "Kubota" dealership (for example) to take on it's line. What the late arrival manufacturers have is the runts of the litter from which to choose.
Then there is the "salesman" issue. Many have written of issues with no call backs, no knowledge, not caring. If you're a good salesman, you want to associate with a dealership that has inventory, good service, and will be around for years - again, look at the name brands. If a man's looking for a job, a few square feet of floor to stand on, selling an off brand brings in the pittance each week - which may be all the "salesman" is worth.
I much prefer to buy used from the owner - then I don't have to deal with fools that have reached their level of incompetence.

 

[Hay Dude]

Torvy, I can't speak to tractor dealerships and their manufacturer connection, but I can sure speak to dealership/manufacturer relationships in other businesses.
Today, in any market, every good equipment dealership has a tractor line - the good lines. John Deere, Kubota, Case. So if a manufacturer new to the market is looking for a dealership, it has to choose from someone who wants to get into the business (remember 95% of new businesses fail within 5 years), or try to convince a "Kubota" dealership (for example) to take on it's line. What the late arrival manufacturers have is the runts of the litter from which to choose.
Then there is the "salesman" issue. Many have written of issues with no call backs, no knowledge, not caring. If you're a good salesman, you want to associate with a dealership that has inventory, good service, and will be around for years - again, look at the name brands. If a man's looking for a job, a few square feet of floor to stand on, selling an off brand brings in the pittance each week - which may be all the "salesman" is worth.
I much prefer to buy used from the owner - then I don't have to deal with fools that have reached their level of incompetence.

Yeah I always prefer a solid used tractor at about 1/2 the price.

 

[EddieWalker]

This is why I'm very nervous about Mahindra. I'm hoping to buy a used cab tractor in the near future and the Mahindra 105P sure has a lot to offer for the price. But they seem to age quickly and I don't have any confidence in the different dealers that have been here. Some have been around for awhile, others only last a year or two.

Branson is the worse I've encountered.

Case also scares me because of the issues I've had finding parts for my Case Dozer.

Everyone I know who has Deere and Kubota have told me that the dealers have been great.

I'm leaning heavily towards Kubota.