Local Kubota dealer not honoring warranty

creekbend · Jan 17, 2012

JOHNTHOMAS said:
Agree with these. I'd fear the service for a forced repair with a "stupid" dealer and quite obviously this is a stupid dealer. Dealers get paid for warranty service so it's stupid. All tractors eventually go off warranty and need work, would anyone take their tractor for service to this dealer then? I think/hope not! Did I say this is a stupid dealer? Also for sure let Kubota Corp know about this stupid dealer.

My thoughts exactly.

dlauffenburger · Jan 17, 2012

I was in the Navy and had the same issue with Kawasaki dealers for my motorcycle.

Over the years i have found that if you physically go to the dealer and explain your situation to the Service Manager so he knows that you are not a local that bypassed him on a sale they tend to change their attitude and take care of you from that point on.

When i had this issue with a local Kawa dealer in Texas i called the Kawa 1-800 number and talked to the regional rep, unfortunately according to Ma Kawa the local dealerships are privately owned so even though they are Kawa dealers Ma Kaw can not force them to take warranty work.

I would go talk to them in person and if they still resist, go find a better dealer.

Ken45101 · Jan 17, 2012

I can understand a dealer who feels that someone bought out of state to save some money, especially on warranty work where they may not be making money, or even losing money on service work.

Although I've bought equipment from five different Kubota dealers, I tend to take the equipment back to the dealer I bought it from. Fortunately, I have had little need to do that.

Ken

MyJoBota · Jan 17, 2012

I am interested to know what "warrantry" work is required on the tractor and if this had a influence on the dealers statement.

TripleR · Jan 17, 2012

That is being really short sighted from a business stand point. A dealer needs to be thinking about promoting good relations for future business.

buckle97 · Jan 17, 2012

MyJoBota said:
I am interested to know what "warrantry" work is required on the tractor and if this had a influence on the dealers statement.

The dealer wasn't interested in talking about what may or may not be wrong with my BIL's tractor. FYI, we think we have diagnosed the problem as the voltage regulator on his B2920 but we are not sure.

buckle97 · Jan 17, 2012

TripleR said:
That is being really short sighted from a business stand point. A dealer needs to be thinking about promoting good relations for future business.

This was my first thought. Why would the dealer instantly want to turn away any business. If anyone were to ask my BIL about this dealer he would instantly have negative things to say about the dealer. If my BIL decides he needs another tractor, mower, etc. he wouldn't even think of going to this dealer to look around.

Grandad4 · Jan 17, 2012

dlauffenburger said:
Over the years i have found that if you physically go to the dealer and explain your situation to the Service Manager so he knows that you are not a local that bypassed him on a sale they tend to change their attitude and take care of you from that point on.

I would go talk to them in person and if they still resist, go find a better dealer.

I'll second that. The dealer looks like a "mom and pop" outfit, and it sounds like he isn't the most helpful kind of guy, but the personal touch might be worth a try. Not defending the dealer's attitude, but considering the location (outskirts of Memphis, where TN, MS and AR all meet, major interstates in all directions), they may have had their bell rung a few times by itinerant "customers", so maybe they're more suspicious than is proper. Or, maybe he's just a butt-head your brother wouldn't want to do business with. By the way, as mentioned by MyJoBota, is there anything about the "warranty work" that would make the dealer wary?

The big city Memphis dealer is just up the interstate if the local guy is hopeless.

tractchores · Jan 17, 2012

Personally dealers that do that leave a very bad taste in my mouth and even if they were my local dealer and doing it to other people I would stop using them. I've had similar experiences with other products (boats) and at the end of the day its surprising how much extra effort I'm willing to put in to not give business to a dealer that doesn't treat customers right. If they're doing that sort of thing just imagine what other things they may be up to... I'd post the dealers name up here so others don't end up with problems.

TripleR · Jan 17, 2012

buckle97 said:
This was my first thought. Why would the dealer instantly want to turn away any business. If anyone were to ask my BIL about this dealer he would instantly have negative things to say about the dealer. If my BIL decides he needs another tractor, mower, etc. he wouldn't even think of going to this dealer to look around.

I began using the dealer I now use because of a recommendation from my wife's uncle even though there was another dealer a lot closer.

We have bought three tractors and some equipment from them and sent some business their way.