Kubota Parts, Still Waiting......

[markcg2000]

Tim,
What was the part you were waiting on? If it was for the loader only, could you have had the dealer remove the loader until the part came in; least that way you would have been able to mow, right?


mark

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

rogue,

Don't blame you a bit. These machines are not cheap. If you bought a new car and it arrived all scratched up and dented, you'd have a fit. But, I must say you guys are scaring the heck outta me on this parts situation.

Wife says "Buy a 'Bota'". (This is only because we looked at em at a home show and the 'Bota dealer talked to her and told her about the tractor while I drooled and shivered at the price. Almost sold her one on the spot!) Don't think I'll take her to the lot with me, unless I decide I want a LITTLE bit /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif more tractor than we discussed.

How wide spread is this parts situation? I've read the threads about under stocking and trying to fix the situation. How about some long time owners listing out some of their repairs?
Then, I'll have a better idea of how this might affect me. You. US!

SHF

 

[r0GuE]

Here's how to deal with the parts situation.
Wait till you need a part (that's a biggie!)
Call/e-mail as meny dealers as necessary till you find one.
Order it to be sent.
I have NO DEALER LOYALTY!!!!
This is the situation we deal with in the cycling world all the time. Local shops carry NOTHING high end. They expect me to come to them and they will order it and mark it up. I can order it MYSELF from a discount catalog and save a ton over what they would charge me. Heck, you might even save sales tax.

Rogue

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Ever go out with a metal detector looking for treasure, only to find cans, nails etc?

It's getting to be kind of like that with car/truck/tractor/computer...dealers and manufacturers. But don't give up, and don't assume (I know it's hard not to) that the next mechanic or dealer will be the same. There are good people out there, you just have to somehow bump into them, THEN HANG ON FOREVER!

Sometimes a great mechanic and/or shop will have no customer skills. They'll do expert, economical work on your tractor, save you $$$ on prevention, tips, doing such and such while it's apart, but they will forget to order parts or go on vacation and never call you.

And vice versa, some places have excellent people at the front counter but Harry the Hammer in the backroom. (Apologies to any Harrys reading...) They'll call you every hour to tell you what else they found (that Harry broke) etc.

I've watched my new Chevy truck fall off a service lift by an in-a-hurry idiot, had an engine blown up by a dealer (later proved but not to my financial benefit) and a host of other things to horrible to depress you all with. Still I keep on smilin'... Because I have run into some excellent contractors, mechanics etc. What would be cool is to start my own place and then go pay that great mechanic, and that honest salesman, and that great customer person etc etc and put them all under one roof!

I know the feeling about the paint, I bought a 30K plus Kubota, they chained it down and gouged the hell out of it. No more care was given then I would give if I was hauling scrap to the metal processor. The guy that delivered it didn't even know how to work the transmission on the baby Kubota we also bought. GRIIIIIIND.

Duh.

Most of the time when I am too tired or busy or there's too much junk under my hoist and I let someone work on my stuff I regret it terribly. I don't know why this keeps happening.

Computer businesses are even worse.

I see that Apple Computer is trying to expand their market share by opening up a few retail stores.

I've been using Macintoshes since before they were called Macintoshes (Lisa).

Replaced 3 of them a couple of years ago, one developed a problem a month or so out. Called for help. I'm pretty good but this had the dealer and me stumped. I called Apple.

"What is your Customer Service Warranty Number"

I answer then "We find no record of that to authorize assistance"

I say why not trace the serial number. I give it to them.

"Sorry that is an invalid number"

At this point I offer to take a picture of the serial number plate, or have the dealer call them, or whatever.

"That would not help if the number is not valid"

Fortunately I was able to call in with one of the other "warranty" numbers from one of the other computers and get a friggin' question answered.

I wonder how many people are getting rich getting free technical help for bogus Macintoshes, compared to the people that will never deal with them again.

I like the operating system that Apple uses in the computers among other things, but there are a lot of people who feel "Love the Machine, Hate the Company". I was about to take a vacation to Cupertino California (Apple's Home) and make a scene that would require intervention of the swat team! Maybe some media exposure would have helped them.

Quite frequently, on this board and a couple of others I walk by, I find people willing to help, just TO HELP! I try to return this by sharing of my small knowledge and experience.

Keep the faith in people (no matter how hard it gets)...

del

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Yeah, I've been that route. "Oh, we'll have to ORDER it. It'll take a few days." Two weeks later "I dunno, we haven't had a delivery. I'll have to check." Six weeks after that you get what you could've got immediately if you'd only been willing to drive an hour.

What I'm trying to get a handle on is how often these things are breaking and how long it takes to get parts as a general rule. I've got another thread going about repairs. Taking a sort of grass roots poll.

I feel sorta the same way you do about dealers (for anything) and don't have any one in particular that I work with. If somebody looks too busy to help me, I go find another. So, rather than have any specific dealer, I keep several of them on a "nodding" aquaintenance basis.

SHF

 

[r0GuE]

That's the same thing I do... I try to keep all the buffoons on a freindly level. "Gee guys, I don't know what I'm doin wrong, but every time I look at the hydro fluid level on my new tractor, the level is barely touching the bottom of the stick." "I guess I'm not as smart as you (buffoons) but could you have one of your technicians (goons) add a quart or two?"
"maybe after he's done throwing that rusty chain over the hood of that new BX over there!"
Sighhhhhhh...
It takes a hell of a machine to stand up to talent like that.

Rogue

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

rogue,

That's why I started the repairs thread. I want to know what to expect and what I can and can't fix. Especially in the engine department since I seem to have a penchant for throwing rods. I'm getting REAL good and ripping stuff down and stuffing it back together. Most of the time it even runs. Honest! The dealers I do work with on a regular basis all think I'm a nut, but dang it, I don't like getting suff back and having something else break 3 days later. My wife's car came back from getting a new cat put on (dealer recall deal) and less than a month later the transmission went out. Seems all the bolts in the tranny pan had come untorqued. ALL the bolts. Not one or two. Next time, recall or no, I do it or it doesn't get done.

SHF

 

[gordon]

Over time it happens no matter what the brand name is. It can happen with a tractor or a car. A single part which you take for granted should be in stock isn't even in this country.

Now comes the customer / dealer relationship. This is what my dealer has done a couple of times for me. When the tractor could't be fixed in a timely manner he has given me a loaner tractor. This was very smart on his part. It kept me happy and I still could get my work done. Also instead of bad mouthing him I talk very highly of his dealership. But like any dealership it has it's short comings, no dealer is perfect each and every time.

So this is something that you might bring up to your dealer. A loaner until your tractor is fixed. It's not to much to ask for. Talk to him and tell him your feelings about whats going on. If the owner doesn't know what's happening in your case, you should certianly make him aware of it.

Can't say about pricing from other dealers you know why? Because I feel that this dealer bends over backwards for me. He knows that I spend a good deal of money on the tractor and on implements as well. Getting pricing now on a new rotary cutter. When I bought my L-4310 who do you think I went to. Of course alot of dickering was done on price and when it was said and done he beat the best internet price and then some.

When I worked at an R/V dealership the customer always came first. We would really go all out to make the customer happy. Did we drop the ball sometimes--yes--did we make up for it in other ways yes. Our C.S.I. rating spoke for itself with the number of happy customers. When I put in my notice that I was leaving the boss was not a happy camper. Becuse it's not only hard to get a good mechanic in this day and age. But one that cares for the customer and accepts no less than 100% before it leaves the bay. Well I have not left there completly, I still teach the techs there half a day a week.

Gordon

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I have a feeling the Kubota's are like my 18 year old Ford NH (I hope). It has never seen the inside of the dealer's shop and most of the things I've done to it service wise beyond maintenance are things I caused myself. That doesn't mean YOURS will be like that but I think the odds of a good experience are in our favor. JD, NH, Yanmar, Kubota, Cub Cadet, they all seem built well.

del

 

[r0GuE]

StoneHeartFarm
Take (dealers experience x parts instock) / (how much free time their repair department has + how much beer repar guy drank last night). Then throw it all out the window because the only one who gives a [censored] about your tractor is YOU!
So buy the shop manual and read.
Don't worry Trescrows,... I don't recomend this on aircraft. I just do fuel and oil on my (rented) plane.

Rogue