Internet Tractor Purchase

   / Internet Tractor Purchase #1  

WillingtonPizza

Bronze Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2000
Messages
75
Just about ready to by a new tractor (b2910 or b2710). I went to the dealer that is by my house and was not impressed at all with there knowledge or there pricing. I was considering buying one from Carver. Has anybody had any past experience with them good or bad? I am conserned about the distance ( I live in Connecticut ) because of some posts I read about steering problems. If some one know another dealer that is reasonable distance (less than 3 hours drive) where I can get a good price I would appreciate it.
 
   / Internet Tractor Purchase #2  
WillingtonPizza,

I addressed the questions you are asking in my 10/18 post in the "B2710 price hunting near Connecticut" thread in the Kubota Pricing forum.

Glenn
 
   / Internet Tractor Purchase #3  
Wpizza:I live in N.C.,looked around a lot prior to purchase and have done all my business with Carver since.Bought both a B2710 and a B2910 from them and have nothing but good to say about them.They ship tractors all over this country and even if you had a problem (which is unlikely) any Kubota dealer is obligated to service the product.If you want More info about my experience with Carver.e/mail me and I'll be glad to provide details.Dan.
 
   / Internet Tractor Purchase #4  
No doubt, a good dealer close by is an asset for any tractor owner. However, it is somewhat misleading to suggest that any local dealer will refuse to service equipment not purchased from his (or her?) dealership. Like car dealers, boat dealers, airplane dealers, etc., any authorized dealer is qualified and obligated to provide service for the lines of equipment they operate under franchise agreements with the manufacturer. They make money from it, besides (!).

I would suggest to any tractor owner who receives any such refusal to provide service, or poor service, to directly and immediately contact the manufacture's Director of Dealer Relations by phone or fax. I am sure the dealer will change his tune. These franchises are worth millions to the dealers, and, believe me, the manufacturer can definitely put enormous pressure on dealers. No manufacturer will allow such treatment of owners to continue.

Carver Equipment is not the only dealer to ship tractors, but Steve Carver is arguably the number one Kubota Tractor Dealer in the world, in terms of service. He has been called "The Dealer's Dealer" and several times named "Dealer of the Year" by Kubota Tractor Corp. Hundreds of owners sing his praises. I have yet (5 years on this and other tractor boards) to hear of any tractor owner or buyer who was mistreated by him in any way. Granted, he cannot fly from NC to AZ to change a piston. But he appears to treat every one as "his customer", whether they buy or have bought from him or not. And, he and his service people provide extraordinary service to Kubota owners all over the US.

My .02 cents.

BobT.

A Indiana Boy
 
   / Internet Tractor Purchase #5  
P.S. There was a thread a while back from someone who bought a Kubota Tractor from Carver Equipment, and had it shipped to California (2,700 miles away). You really ought to read that thread. Quite a "customer service" story. Maybe somebody can dig up the like to the post.

BobT.

A Indiana Boy
 
   / Internet Tractor Purchase #6  
I went and dug some of the old posts out of the archive:

--------------------------------------------------
By Steve L on Tuesday, November 23, 1999 - 07:23 pm:

I recieved my new Kubota L3010 w/loader and backhoe from Carver Equipment on Monday 11-22-99, two days ahead of schedule. The machine arrived exactly as ordered with .9 hours on the meter. I had requested that the tractor be delivered wired for 4 extra lights. It arrived so but without the lights. I met the semi flat bed at a local truck stop and transfered the tractor on a roll back type flat bed. The truck driver was a hell of a nice guy who called me a few times while he was on the road to let me know where he was. He said he could have gotten rid of my tractor 100 times on the way out. The trip was 2700 miles. I have to say it was a pleasure doing business with Carver Equipment and Steve Carver. These people were very professional, informative, and genuine. I was a little reluctant at first to buy over the internet, hell, I called the local police to make sure that the business actually existed. The lady dispatcher told me that she have been in Dunn, North Carolina for 20 years and that Carver was there when she arrived. Oh, the 4 extra lights, they were home when I arrived with my new tractor. UPS had brought them earlier in the day. Well I gotta go now my new tractor is still running.
Sincerely,
Steve L

--------------------------------------------------
By Mac on Monday, November 29, 1999 - 07:23 pm:

Glad to hear you had a good experience with Carver- have heard nothing but good things about them. Enjoy!

--------------------------------------------------
By Richard Smith on Monday, February 7, 2000 - 09:59 am:

I have had a very good experance with Carver also. I have an old 235 and I wanted to add a rop to it. Well my local dealer said that they were not avaliable. Steve at Carver not only got one for me. he got it for me at a discount. Thanks Steve and your whole crew.

--------------------------------------------------
I live in California and just bought a 4310 from Mike at
http://www.kubota-tractors.com .......in Kentucky!
Talked to Carver I agree with the site, but he didn't have the product when I needed it. Mike was the best sent e-mails on a regular basis, photo's about every other day. The price beat all my locals guys by thousands.
And ya at what I saved if I need major repairs I can pay to have someone come to me to repair it.
My local dealers took three weeks to even give me a quote..by that time my tractor was on the way.

--------------------------------------------------
I bought a 4200 from Carver Equip Dec, '98 via the internet. I've praised them here before, and the passage of time and experience has not altered my opinion--I would buy from Steve Carver again, and I'm 600 miles/only a keyboard/only a telephone call distance from him.

--------------------------------------------------
By Robert on Wednesday, July 21, 1999 - 09:02 am:

I too recently purchased a B2710 from Carver Equipment and found them to be good honest folk that are knowlegeable about their products and provided me with excellent service.

--------------------------------------------------
By CarlMiddleton on Saturday, July 17, 1999 - 09:25 am:

I recently bought a B2710HST w/front end loader from Carver Equipment in Dunn, NC. I can truthfully say it was more difficult buying an automobile from my local dealer than it was buying a tractor from a dealer 650 miles away. Even though I have never met Steve Carver or Bobby Parker, these guy's treated me like I wanted to be treated. They were very attentive and responsive to all my questions. Even on holidays and weekends, these guy's were answering my e-mails. To me that's service!

The tractor was delivered and packed by a professional carrier who also went over the details of the tractor and front end loader with me before returning to NC. The carrier didn't have to do this but it was well appreciated.

I've got 16 hours on my new machine and it had what I consider a minor problem with a hydraulic leak. The service department at Carver was on top of it and I had a replacement part in 2 days. I wish I can say that about my local JD dealer.

Don't be afraid to buy on the Internet. Just make sure the dealer will support you after the sale. I feel comfortable with my purchase from Carver Equipment and I believe they will be very attentive to all my tractor needs, today and tomorrow.

--------------------------------------------------

BobT.

A Indiana Boy
 
   / Internet Tractor Purchase #7  
I would have no concerns about buying a tractor over the internet if I found one that I wanted that way and a dealer I felt good about, but the one thing that really anonyed me about Carver equipment, and why I will never do business with them (despite all the good things that people say about them here), is the Non-Disclouse Agreement you are supposed to sign before they will even tell you what something costs...

I emailed them for a price on something (can't even remember what it was) and what I got back was a document that I was supposed to sign that forbid me from telling anybody how much I paid for something, or even how much the quote was going to be for...now of course, I am sure I could have signed it, and ignored it and told anyone and everyone whatever I wanted anyway, but the simple fact that they would even ask you to swear not to disclose such classified secret (i.e. the price), was offensive to me....I can just imagine walking into a store to buy a can of coke and having to sign a legal document that swears me to silence before they will tell me how much it costs...complete foolishness in my opinion.

If someone is a honest dealer, selling things at a fair price, than tell people what things cost, and let them do what they want with the information.

Just my two cents.

Anyone else find these NDA's ridiculous and have you ever encountered them anywhere else? (I haven't).

Good luck.
 
   / Internet Tractor Purchase #8  
Will, before I bought my tractor last year I spoke with all the local Kubota dealers, there are 4 within 60 miles or so. I also emailed Mr. Carver a good bit. He was excellent. I was really impressed with his help and service. In the end I went with a local dealer. They, Goss Tractor, had about the same price as Carver, and in GA we don't have sales tax on farm equipment. In the end the tractor was cheaper than what Carver could sell it for.

If my local dealer wasn't so good then I would have done business with Mr Carver. I've been reading this board for a year and a half and have seen very few negative posts. He is a good man to do business with.

As to getting service work done, it's like owning a pick-up. If you buy a Dodge any other Dodge dealer will service it.

As to ejb's post, I agree with him. I didn't like having to sign the agreement to keep Mr. Carver's offer secret. I also believe that Mr. Carver has the right to ask a customer to sign the agreement before he will give them a quote....I just don't think it's good business.
 
   / Internet Tractor Purchase #9  
I just bought a new 2710 from Carver Equipment that was delivered the 10th of October. These folks were super to deal with and their price was several thousand less than the local dealer. I happened to be in Raleigh NC on business after I had ordered my tractor but before it was delivered and took a ride down to meet the folks at Carver Equipment. I can assure you that they are real people... Steve offered to pull one of his mechanics off the job he was working onand spend some time with me to give me some hands-on instruction on how to use the tractor and implements I was buying. They also handled a bizarre request from me to modify the controls of the backhoe with no fuss. Delivery to my door in MA was when they said it would be and the tractor was indeed full of fuel and ready to work.

I've been quite pleased with my internet purchase. If you have any specific questions I'd be happy to answer them.




Bill
 
   / Internet Tractor Purchase #10  
See if the price difference is really that different.

New Hampshire has been observed to have seemingly high prices for Kubotas, but when I got quotes from Carvers, they were not enough lower to be worth the hassle. A few hundred dollars on a multi-thousand dollar purchase is not enough to me to risk new product mess ups. I seem to be the guy who always get the tractor with something minor wrong or missing and being able to go back to the local dealer is nice. Plus, the relatonship that establishes does help down the road.

Peter
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

2015 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA DAY CAB (A51222)
2015 FREIGHTLINER...
2000 PETERBILT 357 6X6 DAY CAB ROAD TRACTOR (A51406)
2000 PETERBILT 357...
2003 GMC C5500 DUMP TRUCK (A51406)
2003 GMC C5500...
2022 CATERPILLAR D4 LGP CRAWLER DOZER (A51242)
2022 CATERPILLAR...
NANCE UNDERGROUND CONDUIT BOX (A50854)
NANCE UNDERGROUND...
2017 Ford F-550 Ext. Cab Valve Maintenance Truck (A50323)
2017 Ford F-550...
 
Top