Kubota dealers in western Washington

[WarOnBlackberries]

Late reply, but I was lurking and saw this post and had to register to reply.

I live in the Monroe area and you story is exactly like mine. Four years ago we bought our Kubota from Sound Tractor. I knew nothing about anything tractors -- I just know I had many acres, my wife's horse and a lot of learning and work in front of me. The sales guy there and the owner were incredibly helpful putting up with all my questions and helping me get want I needed to start to work our land. I had them to the recommended services as I don't have the time for that part yet -- and I'm not a tractor expert yet so it made sense.

Just over a year ago I called them up for the end of year service. Except when I dialed the number it went to RMT Equipment. I thought I had dialed the wrong number and apologized and was about to hang up when the guy on the phone told me about Sound Tractor being sold. Told me they still do service so I got pushed over the person doing service bookings. He asked me what I needed and I said "whatever is next for recommended per manufacturer -- you have the service logs since you service the tractor so just do next". The response of "oh we don't have any of that anymore -- when we got bought by RMT they moved us to a new system and none of that info was migrated over".

Strike 1.

A few weeks later, I was at the Ford dealership in Snohomish looking at trailer when someone from behind me said "hey how are you liking your tractor?" I was puzzled and confused until I realized the guy that was asking that was none other then the sales rep from Sound Tractor that help me get our tractor -- including at that time all my additional implements we had gotten over the last few years. He was no selling trailers there. Long story short, he let me know that most of the sales and service people left after RMT started treating them poorly. Seeing my experience above the story was quite believable.

Strike 2.

When we bought our first tractor it did not have any rear hydraulics. After learning a bunch over the years and wanted to do some other advanced things I needed to get them added. Gave RMT the chance to get them added. Got the quote, got the parts, had them install. One week after drop off I got a call from Kitsap Tractor saying my tractor was done. Wait -- from who? Yeah they sold during the middle of the install, and well, with the other posts on them you can see where this is heading.

Strike 3.

Since this time I've decided to starting looking at doing my own service work going forward as well as looking for a new tractor dealer. I've decided to go ahead and start moving my business to Washington Tractor in Snohomish. They seem to have a better line on implement brands (offer Frontier [of course], Rankin, etc). So far I've had a mostly positive experience -- like any place you need to make sure you sales guy is up to on the ball. Here Washington Tractor is *mostly* okay -- I'm still feeling out the sales people here and have one now that seems like he's on the ball. Only downside so far is the expected -- you're paying a premium for the nice green paint at times. But I'm kind of okay with that premium if I end up getting good service.

 

[ultrarunner]

It's an age old problem... Dealers come and go as does the staff... I was told to buy local and none of those Dealers exist now...

 

[Big Barn]

I will consider myself among the fortunate. Our farm has had an exceptional ongoing relationship with our Ford (New Holland) dealers since 1950. The head shop mechanic spent his entire career with them.

He passed away long ago ago but spent his retirement years turning wrenches for us in our shop.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Late reply, but I was lurking and saw this post and had to register to reply.

I live in the Monroe area and you story is exactly like mine. Four years ago we bought our Kubota from Sound Tractor. I knew nothing about anything tractors -- I just know I had many acres, my wife's horse and a lot of learning and work in front of me. The sales guy there and the owner were incredibly helpful putting up with all my questions and helping me get want I needed to start to work our land. I had them to the recommended services as I don't have the time for that part yet -- and I'm not a tractor expert yet so it made sense.

Just over a year ago I called them up for the end of year service. Except when I dialed the number it went to RMT Equipment. I thought I had dialed the wrong number and apologized and was about to hang up when the guy on the phone told me about Sound Tractor being sold. Told me they still do service so I got pushed over the person doing service bookings. He asked me what I needed and I said "whatever is next for recommended per manufacturer -- you have the service logs since you service the tractor so just do next". The response of "oh we don't have any of that anymore -- when we got bought by RMT they moved us to a new system and none of that info was migrated over".

Strike 1.

A few weeks later, I was at the Ford dealership in Snohomish looking at trailer when someone from behind me said "hey how are you liking your tractor?" I was puzzled and confused until I realized the guy that was asking that was none other then the sales rep from Sound Tractor that help me get our tractor -- including at that time all my additional implements we had gotten over the last few years. He was no selling trailers there. Long story short, he let me know that most of the sales and service people left after RMT started treating them poorly. Seeing my experience above the story was quite believable.

Strike 2.

When we bought our first tractor it did not have any rear hydraulics. After learning a bunch over the years and wanted to do some other advanced things I needed to get them added. Gave RMT the chance to get them added. Got the quote, got the parts, had them install. One week after drop off I got a call from Kitsap Tractor saying my tractor was done. Wait -- from who? Yeah they sold during the middle of the install, and well, with the other posts on them you can see where this is heading.

Strike 3.

Since this time I've decided to starting looking at doing my own service work going forward as well as looking for a new tractor dealer. I've decided to go ahead and start moving my business to Washington Tractor in Snohomish. They seem to have a better line on implement brands (offer Frontier [of course], Rankin, etc). So far I've had a mostly positive experience -- like any place you need to make sure you sales guy is up to on the ball. Here Washington Tractor is *mostly* okay -- I'm still feeling out the sales people here and have one now that seems like he's on the ball. Only downside so far is the expected -- you're paying a premium for the nice green paint at times. But I'm kind of okay with that premium if I end up getting good service.

What are you doing with your Kubota? WA Tractor would not be a good option for service on your K. Take a look at my previous post on Jennings Equipment It is a long haul (mostly freeway) but may be you best bet if you have a trailer. I use them and it is a 40 mile one way for me. I am not enamored with Kitsap,just up the road, on their service philosophy. Jennings caters to the farm community and has a big well trained shop. Looks like Kitsap is expanding. Sales is their big thing, best Kubota prices in the area.

Ron

 

[WarOnBlackberries]

What are you doing with your Kubota? WA Tractor would not be a good option for service on your K. Take a look at my previous post on Jennings Equipment It is a long haul (mostly freeway) but may be you best bet if you have a trailer. I use them and it is a 40 mile one way for me. I am not enamored with Kitsap,just up the road, on their service philosophy. Jennings caters to the farm community and has a big well trained shop. Looks like Kitsap is expanding. Sales is their big thing, best Kubota prices in the area.

Right now the tractor is used for.. well... everything. I started with just mowing our pastures trying to deal with the scourge that are backberries, I've since gotten a box blade, roto tiller, pallet forks, pendulum spreader. I quickly learned that the tractor can make so many whole day jobs take about 15 mins. The funniest was my wife spending 2 hours trying to get a flower bed in shape and then asking for me to help. Five mins later after just backing up the tiller to it and dropping it in for 15 seconds the job was done.

I'm not suggesting you should have your Kubota serviced at Washington Tractor -- they won't do Kubota stuff anyway. For me I'm going to (attempt) to learn to do it myself -- but business wise, including next larger tractor I'm planning on getting I will probably be using them. I don't have a trailer yet (it's on the list of many things, including dump trailer, manure spreader, larger tractor, larger mower, and maybe haying equipment.)

Side note, can totally agree with the Issaquah Kubota avoid -- they are nice people and seem to want to work with you but their prices are insane. The last implement bids I got from them implied they stuff had to have been gold plated or something.

 

[oosik]

I must be very fortunate. Same dealership, owned by the same family, for the 38+ years I've had tractors. They have been just great all the way around.

 

[frogpond]

Waronblackberries, thanks for passing on your experiences. I have gone to Washington tractor in Snohomish for stuff relating to Stihl and to the JD lawn tractor we have, and they've been okay. However, when I needed a major piece of engine work on the JD, they were pretty expensive and long wait time. Instead, I took it to an independent repair guy in Granite Falls, who did a fine job for about half the price. Randy's Small engine service. I will ask if he works on bigger tractors, but I kind of doubt it. And of course, it won't help for warranty service.

 

[WarOnBlackberries]

I was in there again today for a part pickup and was asking for advice/questions etc and they recommended that I take a trip to the WT store in Mount Vernon as they are more Ag focused and had more part options in stock. I guess they consider what I'm doing starting to be small time ag (pasture management, manure spreading, with the possible eye to playing with haying the fields.)

Need parts for my new implement that has a Cat2 top link hole and need a pin that's Cat1 in the middle but Cat2 on the ends. Or a Cat 2 hydraulic toplink that I can fit on to my Kubota and quick hitch (Cat2 on one end Cat1 on the other -- or maybe just a bushing for the Cat2 on the back of the tractor?) I dunno, I'm still learning how this all works.

Will take a small trip up there this weekend to take a look and feel them out.

 

[frogpond]

It will be interesting to hear the result. I'm thinking about adding a tractor about like yours...although we would use it non-agriculturally (is that a word?), for moving logs and rocks, pulling stumps, dirt work, etc.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I was in there again today for a part pickup and was asking for advice/questions etc and they recommended that I take a trip to the WT store in Mount Vernon as they are more Ag focused and had more part options in stock. I guess they consider what I'm doing starting to be small time ag (pasture management, manure spreading, with the possible eye to playing with haying the fields.)

Need parts for my new implement that has a Cat2 top link hole and need a pin that's Cat1 in the middle but Cat2 on the ends. Or a Cat 2 hydraulic toplink that I can fit on to my Kubota and quick hitch (Cat2 on one end Cat1 on the other -- or maybe just a bushing for the Cat2 on the back of the tractor?) I dunno, I'm still learning how this all works.

Will take a small trip up there this weekend to take a look and feel them out.

For your 3 point bushings; I found that the Land Pride (now owned by Kubota) has the solution. Go to the web site and down load there manual for each implement like yous as well as their 3 point quick hitch. Match up all the pieces and get from Kubota dealer. I buy the longest ones if an exact match on length is offered and cut to fit.

Ron