Farewell from TractorSmart !

[tractorsmart]

Greetings,

I am Ronnie Bowman the “TractorSmart.com”
Although I have exchanged email with many of you this is my first public posting in a forum like this.
Since 1999 I have strived to have TractorSmart be a provider of Kubota parts for those that wish to do business on the Internet.
During these past seven years TractorSmart had become a quite popular site among Kubota owners on the Internet.
There a quite a few thousand of you spread across all 50 states that have done business with me and I appreciate it.
I thought this was a win situation for the customer, Kubota, and TractorSmart.
My thirty years experience with Kubota tractors was used in freely helping everyone that came to the site seeking information.
The online shopping cart was to give you the ability to order parts any time day or night.
Or to be a knowledgeable customer when you walked in the door at the local dealer and were able to obtain a part quickly because you were educated with what you needed before you arrived.
In order for TractorSmart to succeed the supply of parts had to be delivered in a timely matter, a fair price, and a fair charge for shipping.
Any interruption in any of the three above conditions would you might say close an online store.
Kubota today Feb 7th, 2006 announced changes effective March 1st, 2006 that adversely affect they way parts business has been conducted online.
It was by the good grace of Kubota that shipping cost was not a big factor in online sales.
That is now gone.
As I rely on the Internet business from TractorSmart as my only income it is clear that I will have to seek other employment to now survive.
I am certain your local dealer and the Kubota customer support people will be happy to fill the void.
It has been an experience of a lifetime for me. To think a farm boy with no formal education was able to develop TractorSmart, obtain an internet client base of thousands of customers and help so many people.

Thank You All!

Sincerely,
Ronnie Bowman

 

[Sully2]

Well dont THAT just flat SUCK!!!

 

[SkyPup]

Ronnie, I am sorry to hear that.

But I must tell you how great an asset you and your services have been for us and have been greatly appreciated. A couple of times you have virtually SAVED US when we experienced an equipment failure right in the middle of an important project.

I wish you the best of luck for the future and like I said, am very sorry to hear this happening as your serivice was FIRST CLASS , something highly appreciated and likely not to be repeated by anyone else anytime soon...

 

[KubotaSteve]

Whoa, this is a bit early for an April fools joke isn't it? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
I really hate to see it go. I know you saved several hundred dollars if not thousands with your outstanding knowledge.
I remember walking into one Kubota Dealership and asking them a couple of questions and then referenced the part number I had gotten from you and they looked dumbfounded. Needless to say I went to another dealership to buy my new machine.
I wish you well in all your future endeavors.

At least check in here frequently on TBN to help answer those tough Kubota questions.

 

[DmansPadge]

Like the others.. I hate to hear that. I purchased several items from you some time back and I was really pleased. I had just got my first Kubota and must have asked you tons of questions and they were all answered accurately and friendly.

Good luck Ronnie and keep in touch on TBN.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Kubota today Feb 7th, 2006 announced changes effective March 1st, 2006 that adversely affect they way parts business has been conducted online. )</font>

Just an FYI that what he is talking about is a change to the drop ship rules for parts. In the past it had been that Kubota would drop ship any parts order for $5, thats why a few places advertised $5 shipping on any order (Kubota lost $$ on this big time). Thats now ended and its going to be how most other companies work where dealers need to stock items to be profitable. The end result of this will be good for the customer as its going to force dealers to have more items on hand instead of relying on Kubota.

 

[rswyan]

Ronnie,

Sorry to hear of this ...... really appreciated having you there and the outstanding service you delivered.

Best of luck in whatever new endeavor you undertake ..... judging by the success of TractorSmart there is little doubt in my mind that you will do well.

rswyan

 

[Jimbrown]

Well I for one would stillbuy from you even if I had to pay UPS. It is just too far to a dealer for me. Over 100 miles.
Good luck and I hope you can put it back together.

 

[TommyT]

Sad news. My local dealers are closed on Saturdays (!) and I will now have to take time off work to buy Kubota parts.

TractorSmart was fast and convienent.

I miss TractorSmart!

 

[slowzuki]

I too will miss tractorsmart as my dealer is not up to snuff on their parts and doesn't like me for buying my tractor at another dealer.

I believe it will be a loss for the customer.

 

[MadDog]

Sorry to hear about that Ronnie. Hope the arrangements worked out satisfactorily. Best of luck to you in the future.

 

[moweraxle]

Good luck Ronnie from Larry at Mower Deck Axle Co.,LLC
We have purchased 100's of anti-scalp wheels and axle bolts from you for up-grading with bushing and grease fittings.

 

[JoeR]

Good luck Ronnie! I was just getting ready to order parts for my 50 hours service on the new tractor. Shipping prices wouldn't have stopped me either. My local dealer doesn't carry SUDT.

Take care,

Joe

 

[cheesehead]

Judging from the response on this thread, why not re-evaluate the business case. It sounds like there are people who'll pay extra for good service and convenience.

 

[SkyPup]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Judging from the response on this thread, why not re-evaluate the business case. It sounds like there are people who'll pay extra for good service and convenience. )</font>

You got that right, what we do NOT want to pay for is crummy unprofessional service!

 

[149owner]

Ronnie,
Thanks for helping a lot of us by answering our questions and selling parts at a reasonable price. I was also putting a list together of parts to order for my BX2200 but will now have to find another dealer in this area that doesn't charge list price for everything! I wish you well in your next endeavor. Your service will be greatly missed. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[woodster300]

I too have bought from Ronnie and was very happy with service and also will miss what Ronnie broght to all of us

Don't know if this would help but if we all send letters to Kubota complaining about it might help

Marc
New Hampshire
BX-23

 

[chuckcoug]

This sucks. I just purchased from you in the last week. Your service was great. What makes me nervous is most dealers in California have kids that are working in parts that have never even been on a tractor. I found many of the parts they told me I needed were wrong. I found this out because I order the manuals from you.
I wish you the best. Maybe you can find a way of doing this part time. Then you can increase your shipping prices and see if you lose that much business.
I find I am always willing to pay more if I know the person on the other end knows what he is doing.

 

[littlediesel]

Ronnie, I am saddened to hear your story. I have purchased many parts from you over the past several years and you have provided customer service that I have not experienced in my 50 years of commerce. I can not believe this is happened and you have my heartfelt sympathy.

Ronnie, maybe you are not utilizing the best talent you posess, the knowledge and art of customer service. You could teach this lost art of customer service to many business owners and probably do better than operating Tractorsmart. You could definitely teach many Kubota dealers on importance of customer service.

Also, I would pay a premium to continue doing business with yourself. This is how strongly I feel about customer service and courtesy.

You are a man of great talent and there is a business world in desparate need of your talent.

Thanks for the memories and I wish you the best.

Faye Properties, Inc.
Jon Spinosa

 

[rdsaustintx]

Tragic news.

As I posted in another thread last week, you have been the "go-to" guy for all my parts.

Happy Trails,

Russell in Texas