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.

 

[jeff9366]

On a scale of 1 to 10, how competent are you as a tractor mechanic? Know hydraulics?


A quality dealer, reasonably close, available for coaching, is important for tractor neophytes. My kubota dealer is six miles away. I feel my local dealer continues to add value to my equipment after seven years. Dealer proximity is less important for those experienced with tractors and qualified to perform their own maintenance.

 

[Wagtail]

^^^ Just as jeff9366 said. My Dealership has been invaluable to me as a tractor 'newbie'... and I've never had to take either of mine 'back to the shop', which, for me, would be a 2 hour one-way trip. Even then, they know me by sight and name. If I have a question they will get a mechanic on the line or personally if I've simply 'dropped by' to discuss.

They value my patronage.

 

[oosik]

Fiilters, implements, oil, hardware, advice. Over 38 years I've purchased both my tractors from this dealership.

 

[Jstpssng]

The dealer I purchased my used tractor from is 200 miles away. I contacted them via email after my purchase trying to determine what if any maintenance they had done before putting it on the lot; instead of replying they sent me a $50 gift card which had to be redeemed in person. Did I mention that they're 200 miles away?

I buy filters and fluids from a closer dealer-95 miles away. Aside from that I never go in, but did get advise from them when I was having problems.

 

[RalphVa]

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?

For the JD 4010: none. Only parts, and not many.

For the JD 1025R: about 4 to 6 visits by the mechanic because it was a lemon.

For the JD 2025R: once so far to lubricate the Ujoints and to replace the PTO button.

Nearness of dealer is important just to buy parts.

Ralph

 

[coobie]

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 80ç—´ 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?

I had my tractor serviced for the 50/400 hour services.I buy my oil, fuel filter and air filters from my local dealer.I change my own oil.

 

[BrokenTrack]

The short answer is: Not very often, a few times over the years, but that is to just get parts. If I wished to wait, I could order after-market parts and save a little bit of money.

But I drive by my local dealership (5 miles away) and go to my preferred dealership (30 miles away), just because the local dealership was always trying to get me to buy a new tractor.

When are you going to replace that dinosaur and buy a new tractor, anyway?" The local dealership asked everytime I went to get parts...and I mean EVERY TIME!
"Why would I buy a new tractor, if you cannot get the parts to fix my old tractor", I would ask.

That exchange, happened several times over the years, meant they lost out on (4) tractor purchases.

 

[dougtrr2]

I bought my BX24 new in 2004. Other than consumable parts I have had to utilize his services only twice. Once was to get the seat upgrade. Remember how the original seats had you sliding out all the time? The second time was for the recall/fix of the cracking fender floor board issue.

They are always friendly and down to earth. I would buy my next tractor from him, if there ever is a second tractor.

Doug in SW IA

 

[Citydude]

Only for filters and fluids. I've been lucky as out of three tractors I've owned, they have never had an issue I couldn't fix and I'm not a mechanic by any means.

 

[MichiganIron]

I had my tractor serviced for the 50/400 hour services.I buy my oil, fuel filter and air filters from my local dealer.I change my own oil.

That's only because your dealer is completely incompetent and has no idea what end of a wrench to hold!!

Happy Easter and Stay Safe !!!!