Dealer How often did you use the dealer after purchase

[thebmrust]

I have seen several mention the importance of a good dealer when buying a tractor.

How many of you used the dealer frequently (or how frequently did you use them) after your purchase?

In our area, we have several dealers with several different brand options. But there are some brands where the dealers are hours or hundreds of miles away. One is actually 3/4 across the country. We are looking at a refurbished used tractor... dealer/sales/warehouse is 2 hours away. (They are refurb 80痴 Yanmar with no ID on them). SOme call them gray market, the sales site says they are not... hmmmm

Anyway, what is your dealer importance scale?

 

[Roadworthy]

Grey market tractors generally have their labels printed with oriental characters. Tractors intended for sale in this country will have labels in English. If you still have doubts get the model number and check with the dealer of that brand and see if they'll sell parts for that model

 

[buck12]

Only for filters. I never understood the big deal about dealers. I have owned my Mahindra for 12 years and have been to the dealer exactly once for something other than filters and that was for a fan belt. I will need to go to the Kubota dealer in the next week or so to get supplies for the 50 hour service. I have owned my JD mower for about 16 years and have been to the dealer a handful of times for parts I could not get at NAPA.

 

[K5lwq]

The answer really depends on your ability and desire to work on a tractor. Getting parts shipped is not a big deal like it once was. I do like supporting my dealer as much as I can.

Even though I have always done my own maintenance, I most likely will let my dealer do the 50 hour service on my new Branson. They are a great bunch of guys that I hope are in business for a long time to come!

 

[i7win7]

Purchased BX2370 in 2015 went back in 2017 for a B2650. Smaller one mostly used as lawn mower bigger one everything else. Buy filters and fluids from dealer. Grapple and tree puller from different Kubota dealer. Some cheap implements from "farm type" stores. Try to visit local dealer every 6-8 weeks in case I see a new toy for my wish list. The B2650 had all added FEL and 3pt options and 1 rear remote. Only regret, dealer could have up sold me to 3 remotes if I had known about top & tilt. Couldn't think of any small implements with more than 1 hydraulic function.

 

[Jkott]

I went to my dealer a couple times since I bought mine in 2012. They came to my house for a seat recall. I took it in for a leaking axel seal under warranty. I did the other side myself after the warranty ended.

I’ve tried to buy a set of filters from them, but they had to order them because they don’t stock them and make a second 30 mile trip to get them. I’ve tried calling ahead for parts and it still got shipped to me. I just order from Messicks most of the time now, because it’s easier than ordering from my own local dealer.

They being relatively local was nice when NH had a bad choice of pin on the 3pt stabilizers bars and I was bending the bars and snapping off the brackets. I was able to show them in person the issue and make them fight NH. If they weren’t local, I’d be on my own.

If you can do your own maintenance and you buy a non lemon tractor, you will probably go back maybe a couple times. If you don’t do your own maintenance, then you really want someone close. If you have a lemon, having your dealer in your corner is priceless.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Never

 

[CalG]

never,

unless I'm looking for some implement they may have in the yard

 

[sodamo]

My Kioti and Case IH, never.
Current LS, once so far for 50hr service and 3rd remote install at same time that didn’t get installed prior to delivery.

 

[Diggin It]

My dealer is about 80 miles and not real easy to get to. But there are other businesses I can go to while there to make the trip worthwhile. They had to come and get it once, about a week after they delivered it due to a tire mounting issue. No cost to me. I've been there a couple of other times for filters and a part (warranty). They could have shipped, but I chose to make the trip.

100 miles, maybe 150 would be about my limit though.

We have to keep perspective in mind on these threads. The people that like to have their dealer close by often have everything else close by also, stores, lumber yards, gas stations, nurseries, farm suppliers, etc. ALL of those places are 20-40 miles for me, some further.