Local vs. Out-of-state dealers

[Anonymous Poster]

I found Kioti on the web first and got some offers from out-of-state. I then found a local dealer (30 miles away) and told him I had some quots from out-of-state and I gave him an opportunity to match price and equipment. Interestingly enough, he is reluctant to match the price even though delivery charges are running about $1.25 /mile for as much as 1325 miles from out-of-state. I will have no ill-feelings about going out of state for a good deal if he doesn't want to sell to me.

Every thing I have seen and heard about Kioti is good. I am going to get a DK45 with loader and backhoe as well as the Kioti 73" tiller. Can't wait to get the paper work tomorrow to get the ball rolling and the tractor headed this way.

Nelson in Maine
future DK45 owner

 

[Inspector507]

And if/when you need service on it, are you going to call the local dealer? It may be the one sitting out in the corner of the lot waiting til last. But maybe not. Something to think about.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I'm having no regrets on going local.Not that it's a good thing but I'm having problems and I'll be calling my dealer in the morning.I can't keep my DK35 in 4WD for any length of time,also I'm leaking hyd. fluid from one of the hoses to the loader control valve and it's leaking all over the deck.Just think what kind of answer I'd be getting from him if I'd have bought it out of state.Not that everyone has problems it's just something to think about when you make that decision.I talked to a dealer up in NH. and told him about the prices on the internet,his answer was simple,he takes care of his own customers.Needless to say I didn't buy a tractor from him but I'm sure a lot of dealers think like him.


Rick

 

[manganos]

I bought out of state. I emailed a local dealer and got a price that was well over $1900 more then what I paid and I still saved on paying no tax. I drove an hour up from me and he wanted $2300 more and that didn't include tax or the 72" RFM that I had in my price. I can see paying $500 to $1000 more total but not thousands. As far as warranty work. I'll take the defective part off and try to fix it myself. I can read a manual and all my neighbors have all the tools /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I just started looking and may be facing the same problem. Not too many dealers in the area and nobody advertising Kioti prices. My hunch is they are going to be substantially higher based on other tractor brand ads I've seen.

I am willing to pay slightly more to get it local (50 miles or so) if not I'll jump in my truck and come back with a tractor and trailer from as far as I can go round trip in one day.

I own a Ford F350 that I bought in Texas and the local dealer does my warranty work without a problem. I don't go in and advertise that I bought it elsewhere but they can see in the OASIS comp system. He still gets paid the same $$$ from Ford to work on my truck as any elses truck how do they know I didn't relocate etc. They actually have treated me very well and will be my first stop when I need another 40K truck.

They way I figure it when I get settled on which tractor I'll call the 5-6 dealers within 75 miles and see if they will match or come close to the advertised prices. Hopefully they will but if they are charging thousands more, no deal. If they want to rake me over the coals for a tractor that they probably will have to order anyway they probably aren't gong to be the best place for honest, affordable repair work. They will most likely be ordering the tractor and paying the same price for it as XYZ out of state dealer, so how is it justified that they charge my 1000's more for a tractor that the haven't had to lay out $$ for , advertise, show and keep in inventory????

If I have to go out of state I hope the dealer doesn't have hard feelings but am I supposed to pay thousands more so that they are happy when I show up for service? For that price I'll take my chances.

Have had one bad experience with a GM dealer who made a remark that they didn't sell me the van and they never saw me unless they truck needed a warranty repair(3 times). My response was that I just moved(true), that I do my own maintenance(true) and that all repairs ARE still under warranty so where else would I go.

I can understand that dealers don't make as much on warranty work but that's the price when you want to have Ford/Chevy/Dodge/Kioti, etc on the building. If they want people to come back for other repairs stop charging 2 to 3 times as much as "Joe's Auto" for regular service.

RANT OFF

 

[northcreek2624]

Nelson,I purchased a DK40 last year not only out of state but,out of the country(Canada).
I've never really had much concern about the convenience of having the dealer close by since so many dealers don't have a clue about customer service anyway.
I had one problem,a leaky loader cylinder at first start-up,I repaired it myself in a couple of hours and 75 cents for a O-ring.To me that was less hassle than taking and retuning a tractor to the dealer no matter how close.
If I were to have a big $ problem I would contact Kioti's excellent customer sevice department and be advised by them as where to take it.
It's all about saving your tractor dollars for other stuff not about falling in love with your tractor dealer.
Sorry if I offended any dealers out there but,I've only met a few car/tractor dealers in my life that delivered the kind of service that one would expect relative to the money spent.

DEALERS,SMEALERS!!..............Mike

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I am sure it will be ackward if I buy out of state, if I have to come in to my 'local" dealer for service. However, with the sales tax he has to charge and the normally higher NY pricing, a NY dealer is not going to probably be competitive with an out of state internet dealer.

I am going to try and buy local but if not when I come in for service I'll be able to honestly say " I tried you first but you were XXXX $'s more" Hard to argue with that.

 

[sendero]

I'm glad that wasn't a decision I had to confront. I did a couple online quotes and once delivery was included they were not even as good as the local dealer.

Guess it depends on where you live.

 

[Kiohio]

That's all I ask of my potential customers. Shop the net then figure in shipping, or if you get it yourself, your time and expenses to get it and convenience. Plus the fact that we will come and pick-up (50-mile radius) for nothing if you need work done, etc.
I hope that customer service is still worth something.
KO

 

[manganos]

Customer service was high on my list and I still bought out of state. I did this knowing that any minor thing I would just send for the parts and fix it myself without having to go to a dealer. I'm all for local business', but I'm not getting raped. Too bad I couldn't find a local dealer (50 miles or so) that carried Kioti. Maybe someday soon?!?!