Mahindra - grown too big too quickly in USA?

[Clyde]

I first heard of Mahindra approximately 3 years ago, and the posts on this forum were generally praising their new Mahindra tractor. Quite recently, the posts have turned to legitimate troubles with the tractors, terrible Mahindra support, and Mahindra's unwillingness to even respond to emails, calls, and letters.

Mahindra came into the U.S market with both guns blasting. Grandiose promises of service, fantastic warranties, 0% financing, and an apparent decent product. Any "mom/pop" that had a few bucks to floorplan a tractor in their front yard and a 1/2 ton pickup with trailer to deliver the tractor became dealers. Things appeared to be going great for MahindraUSA.

What in the heck happened in those short 3 years? I talked to a fellow just last evening that called to ask how I liked my 4500. He wants one too and talked to two dealers about buying one. They would like to sell him one but the dealers - at least around here - can't get a 4500 to sell him. Obviously Mahindra is selling tractors like crazy yet.

I cannot imagine anything more irritating for me than to be broke down and I can't find someone to listen at Mahindra. If this is the territory rep's job - then they need to put more reps out in the field and given the power to handle my problem expeditiously as possible. I don't care if they have to FedEx or whatever the part to me and swallow the costs themselves. Warranty is just that and not my problem!

I have been a great P.R. man for Mahindra up to this point but lately, just reading the complaints here, I have to reexamine my stance on their products and service. I hope to shout that someone from Mahindra reads this forum(I'm sure they do) and has an emergency meeting to reasses their priorities real soon.

Wake up Mahindra and get your head out of your buttcheeks! There is nothing more that the competition loves to hear than mumbling from the bowels of the Mahindra ship coming across the ocean with another load of cargo containers.

 

[Tim_in_IA]

Maybe were just not saying enough positive about our Mahindras and the negatives are winning out. Kinda like in politics, you only here when something is going bad.

I'd like to say that I am a new mahindra owner, I've had great dealer support, and anything that was wrong they have changed out. My tractor came with the wrong bucket and that was easily corrected for free. I had some initial issues with my backhoe and those were all fixed quickly for free. I went 17 hrs on my first 17 gal tank of fuel, trenched 250' with the backhoe, removed a small hill with the bucket, all no problems.

I'd also like to say that I was down at my dealers last week and John Deere had ordered 2 Mahindras for themselves! You're right, Mahindra is growing fast! And the competition is taking notice. I've seen great responses from many dealers in this forum and I've had great luck with my local dealer. When you are purchasing something this big and expensive do the research and see if you are buying from a good reputable dealer. I was just lucky that I had got parts from my dealer for my IH equipment beforehand so I knew they were good people.

I think it is far to easy to vent online about problems and get off track. We are here to help each other, but while it may sound negative at times it is a great example of collective learning.

Need a good dealer? Check out Glawall, New England Tractor, Franzen's in Monmouth IA, (my dealer), etc ..... Sure there may be some bad ones, but there sure are some nice people out there doing good business.

Here I am having a terrible good time on my 6500 4WD.. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[fish_wisperer]

i just got a 4500 2wd this march,,,just curious how yours has been and how many hours you have and so on. plus i have a post noone has answered about the primary fuel filter. do you have to pull the starter to get the bolt out to replace that copper washer on top?

 

[Clyde]

Tim - you are absolutely right in your views towards Mahindra. Unless you are experiencing problems, as long as you have great dealer support, you can only base your Mahindra ownership on your own dealings.

Negativity is a disease that a lot of people, unfortunately, have come in contact with. Indifference is just as contagious however with terminal results if not caught early enough. My point is that Mahindra is suffering from indifference. Whether that can be traced back to poor top management , trained staff manning the phone lines, or unaccountability for promises or statements of the Mahindra staff, it will lead to their demise if not caught NOW!

You are I are fortunate to have tractors that have performed up to our expectations. I use mine in my business and it gets worked hard but not abused. If the hydraulic bypass won't lift a stump out of the ground, I don't back up 10 more feet and give it a running start. That statement has nothing to do with any other prior posts or problems. It is a tractor and I expect more out of it than my F350 diesel trying to pull stumps.

I read the problems in this forum in the past 1 month and the frequency of problems is picking up. Many of the tractors are approaching the 2 year ownership mark. I try to put myself in the seat of the guys with problems and wonder what would happen to me if it were me. If you can't turn to the manufacturer for answers and action - whom? It is terrific that we have dealers like Glawall and Franzen's but how do they get results? Glawall for one has been a consistent advisor to this forum and has even helped me out with ideas.

Every bad report in this forum wipes out 10 "atta boys" and inevitably reduces the value of my machine. I'm not trying to start a war here but after being on this forum for the last three years - there is a resounding problem with Mahindra and it's lack of interest, communications, follow up, and trying to resolve problems after the purchase.

 

[fish_wisperer]

glaywall is great,, i reported a problem to my dealer before and after i bought it, the dealer ignored it. i made a post on hear and glaywall had the fix with part numbers , it took about 2 minits now im happy.

 

[Keith_B]

IMO, the number of problems people have been having with Mahindra are relatively small in relationship to the number of Mahindra owners.

One of the reasons I chose Mahindra was that my dealer appeared to be very competent, and I was condfident the dealer would be there for years. The common thread I see running through the Mahindra problems on this board, and there are very few, is that there is a lack of dealer support and involvement in the solution process.

I read a lot of different forums on TBN when I began shopping for a tractor, and that was the same common thread for all unhappy owners, no matter what brand they purchased.

 

[DMB]

Growing pains maybe. I've seen about four new Mahindra dealers come into this area in the last year. It sure made it easy to get a good deal when it all came down to time to buy. Nothing like having a choice of dealers to shop to foster a little price competition. My local dealer in Louisville came through with the lowest price. He delivered the unit to me with a tank of fuel and even delivered it on a Sunday since I had to be out of town Saturday. I've had no warranty claims, but I have had one problem that I fixed myself. The bolt holding the range selector lever backed out leaving me in neutral. About a five minute fix. This was on a Sunday so it wouldn't have been fixed the same day. If I'd showed up at the dealer Monday I feel like he would have handled it promptly. Is my Mahidra perfect? Heavens no. I'm very positve on it so far. Am I going to feel the same way 6 mos. or a year from now?
Time will tell, but I wouldn't have bought my 2615 if I didn't feel like it was a good choice. Also note I've seen a similar thread to this in another forum for another brand that seems to be on a quick growth curve right now.
DMB.

 

[BobG_in_VA]

Mahindra tractors, in my estimation, are some of the most "tanklike" machines I've seen in a long time. Bar none, my 6000, at its weight, does the work of a tractor with 20 more HP than its rated at. I've had it for 2 years this month and have only had one warranty item done. It was competently done and returned in good order. My complaints, as are most of the dealers, is that Mahindra field reps and office personnel don't return calls and can't be in 20 places at once. Yes, I've had quite a time with the Backhoe issue, and as a matter of fact, I was informed today by Tomball Tx that the drawbar on my 6000 is the "old" type and the hydraulic tank/PTO pump on the Bradco/Mahindra 511 BH requires the later version. I understand it was shipped to my dealer today and supposedly will be in this weekend. We shall see. We have made ourselves heard right here on this forum and I for one, appreciate all the concerns and posts that have come across with help, opinions, etc. My opinion is that Mahindra has REALLY heard what's happening out here, and I believe some of the dealers are letting Mahindra hear that old "I told you so.....!!" that everyone now and again needs to hear to keep them going in the right direction. Yeah, I'm really PO'd about the BH, but Bradco and Mahindra, up thru and including the Director of Research and Service in Tomball Tx are now involved. We shall see. I'll keep you all informed if the new fix is really the fix. I hope it is. As for me, I now feel like I'm an expert on hydraulic design....(lol)--not...More later on the BH , but I still think Mahindra makes one **** good tractor for the buck. BobG in VA

 

[YanmarFever]

I own a 4110 mahindra with 56 hrs. on it now, and I work that tractor harder than any other I have ever owned.
It has taken all the work I throw at it without a hitch, I would buy another one in a heart beat.
You think mahindra has problems? I dont think so at all,its the squeaky wheel that gets attention here. Just go over to the Newholland forum & read about the (nightmares) they have.
And mahindra has only been in the US. 10yrs.
Mine is built like a tank & Im happy /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Also the price was almost 4000 under the green & orange
Tractor Ernie

 

[mboulais]

My 4110 was picked up last night for a bad transmission bearing at 190 hrs, but I don't think that is a fair indicator of the overall quality and features of these machines. I am very happy with the tractor, and this warranty problem will be long forgotten before that tractor is retired. Like everyone else, I usually only post when I have a question/problem so you only see the negatives. It is a far better tractor than the old International 384 and Massey 333 I owned. I'm sure both of those models had there share of problems when they were new in the 50's and 60's.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Clyde, I don't own a Mahindra so let me give you an "outsiders" point of view of what I see with Mahindra.

First, they have a great selection of tractors with great features. If you consider all the different model variations, transmission choices, etc, then there is no doubt that there is going to be just about a good fit for any use. The only 2 things I see Mahindra lacking in models are a Sub-Compact tractor and a lightweight compact.

Second, they have dealer issues. But so does every other brand out there. But in Mahindra's case, the dealer issue is a bigger problem than it is for the Big 3 brands because the Big 3 brands typically (not always, but usually) have established quality dealers. Mahindra, Kioti and others are fighting for dealers. In my area the only Mahindra dealer is a garden center, they are making a push into tractor and mowers, but it really is not the place you think of to buy power equipment. Mahindra needs to get into better dealerships, that is easy to say but hard to do.

Third, Mahindra seems to build a tractor as reliable as any other brand, and every brand will have problems. But Mahindra NEEDS to be more responsive. Here is the reality, Kubota sells about 45 out of every 100 small tractors sold. JD sells about 25 out of 100. New Holland sells about 15 out of 100. So combined, those 3 companies sell roughly 85% of all the small tractors sold. They should have, just using those numbers, 85% of the problems, 85% of the complaints, etc. And they may have that but I don't know. What I know is that they have large support networks to fix their problems, and that is where Mahindra seems to be lacking. If you just look at TBN, you should see a HUGE number of Kubota complaints simply because there are a HUGE number of folks here who own them. And yes, you do read a lot of Kubota issues, but for the most part they are a very low % of the total Kubota tractor population. So while there may be 10 Kubota problems for every 1 Mahindra problem, that is actually expected because there simply more Kubotas. The key that Mahindra needs to focus on is fixing the problems. Good dealers will help with that because a good dealer will get the problem sorted out quickly. Take a look at the Kioti forums. Look at all the dealer related probems people report there. I am amazed by the problems I read in their forum, with things breaking, falling off, etc. And the silly thing is that they are dealer issues. The tractors are good, but the dealer did something wrong. Now look again at the Mahindra issues and see where the real weaknesses are. It is not in the tractors. The tractors are good. It is in the support behind the machines. I can't say if they grew to fast, supposedly Mahindra is now the #4 brand in the US. What I can say is they need better support to match the quality of their tractors. Again, I'm an outsider looking in. I looked over a couple Mahindras at the dealership, I was impressed, but I won't buy one. At least not until I get a "real" tractor dealer in my area with a well stocked parts department, factory trained or certified repairmen and a good reputation in service. And I think if they had that type of dealer network, with the support they deserve from corporate, then you would not have posted this thread.

 

[Varmintmist]

I wasnt sure if I was going to respond or not, but here goes.

Before you make the call on the Mahindras, read the owning operating sections of the other brands here. There is NOT ONE that comes through squeaky clean. The paint doesnt seem to matter, they are all having problems. Some of the tried and true models that were "upgraded" by the manufactures are showing problems. I looked at that hard before I bought.

My single call to the dealer about the oddball oil filter gasket leak (ended up with the NAPA) ended with a call FROM THE FIELD REP. It was a stupid oil filter and the factory rep called me. I was kind of impressed.

As to Mahindra's being crap. Well, the dealer that I got mine from has been selling tractors and implements for at least as long as I have been driving past there, and selling the brand for at least 4 years. He is moving Mahindras off the lot in large quantities. I dont hear a lot of complaints, nor do I see Mahindras in his shop as I am going by. They are being sold and being used by folks like me, contractors, hobby farmers, and anyone who needs a CUT.

I have had mine less than a year and at the moment have a little more than 170 hours on it. Zero problems. It has never cut a blade of grass in its life. Light plowing, backblading, heavy skidding and a boatload of loader work has been its main diet.

I for one am sure as heck not going to write off the brand. I am following the 4110 bolt thing though. IMHO if it was a defect that they knew about, they better fix it. Me? I'd be lawyered up as soon as the rep said he has seen the problem before and admitted it was a Mahindra error and they said they wouldnt do anything. I would do that if it was a Ford, Deere, or Case. That 4110 is not the first machine to roll off the line with a bonehead error.

 

[PBinWA]

I'll agree with a lot of the other posters. Mahindra has grown quickly in the marketplace. In the Portland/Vancouver area I've seen them open a something like 4-5 dealers within 100-200 miles of each other. Some of the dealers opened and closed in a few months. Other dealers are placed too close together which is going to cause problems down the road as they are forced to compete with each other.

I found a dealer in my area ( Valley View Tractors in Newberg, OR ) that was relatively new to the sales arena but has a really strong tractor and heavy equipment service background.

Their customer service has been first rate. I had a loose banjo fitting and he was emailing me, phoned me and even offered to drive out on Sunday to help me. I know he has gone out of his way to help his other customers and even customers of other Mahindra dealers that are not so customer service friendly.

I've bought $3000-$4000 of implements including new Muratori tiller from them in the last few months and he has always given me great service. When I picked up the tiller he double checked all the fluid levels just to make sure that it was ready to go.

When I was doing my tractor shopping I found the big three dealers in my area to either be indifferent to my needs and they did not want to work with me to meet my needs. They seemed to just want to push out the CUTs and Sub-CUTs as fast as they could and weren't really interested in special ordering anything for me.

My main point is that it is going to be hard for Mahindra to get established in this market. I suspect they have spammed the country with as many new dealers (poorly qualified in many cases) as possible. Now the corporate smarty pants are either sitting around and saying "What have we done?" and dealing with the fires as they break out OR the corporate smarty pants are sitting back and waiting to see which dealers succeed and which do not (i.e. Survival of the fittest).

I don't think the lack of availability of a particular model is something to judge the success of a company on. Apple computer routinely under produces their most popular computer models and I believe that they still turn a profit. The last thing you want to do is to have too much inventory and not enough demand. I suspect that the model of tractor your friend is looking for is very popular in your area and the dealers do not want to do the foot work to chase down one that is too far away from them.

Finally, IMO the Mahindra 7520 is probably one of the best looking tractors on the market. I love my 2615 and it has done everything I've asked it too but if I had more money than sense I think I would by a 7520 and just park it in my back yard to drool over. I might start it up every once and a while and play with the cool headlights too.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Keith_B_]

The reality is that there are a similar number of crappy dealers by percentage of all brands, including the big three.

A dealer going to bat for you makes a huge difference on those rare occassions where there are problems. Most tractors sold today are relatively trouble free, but all mechanical devices are prone to have problems with parts failures.

 

[JoeinTX]

Like many above have said, the dealer can make a big difference in the way you view your tractor. A bad dealer simply amplifies any problems you have with the equipment, even if the are not unusual, while a good dealer can patch up a less than desirable experience and make your purchase seem better than it actually may be.

Honestly, I have run across very few actually "bad" pieces of equipment. I mean by that stuff that has absolutely no use or value whatsoever in either the intended or a secondary use. For example years ago my dad bought a spring-loaded manual t-post driver, I don't know if any of you have ever seen one or not. Essentially, it had a large heavy duty spring inside which was supposed to basically drive the post into the ground by itself after the first drop by hand. Well, it didn't work worth a darn in our hard, dry ground....it would just sit and bounce a few times on top of the post with little result. For us, it was a bust......but for someone in sandy or wet ground it may well have worked like a charm and saved a little back pain for them. Moral I suppose is that two seperate people can have two different experiences with the same equipment and real story is in the use.

 

[musa_marketing]

We have grown very quickly and continue to do so.

Are we perfect, certainly not but we are striving to deliver exceptional customer satisfaction. An independent survey indicated 98% customer satisfaction with our tractors...an amazing statistic considering it is a mechanical machine.

When problems do arise, we try our best to solve them in a way that satisfies the customer.

If you have a specific issue, please let me know about it and I will see what I can do to help.

 

[KENB]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( We have grown very quickly and continue to do so.

Are we perfect, certainly not but we are striving to deliver exceptional customer satisfaction. An independent survey indicated 98% customer satisfaction with our tractors...an amazing statistic considering it is a mechanical machine.

When problems do arise, we try our best to solve them in a way that satisfies the customer.

If you have a specific issue, please let me know about it and I will see what I can do to help. )</font>

Check out 4110 broken-bolts update (from skipmarcy). He could use some help. I don't know the guy, but I read those posts and believe he needs some assistance.

 

[SteveCornell]

musa_marketing,

Glad to see someone from the company here on the forums, please stick around!

I'm picking up a new 2015 HST tomorrow /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I spend a lot of time on other forums (woodworking, trucks, etc.) and it really means alot to have someone within the company participating !

Steve

 

[BobG_in_VA]

Welcome! Where are you located?? BobG in VA

 

[DMB]

I know you're not perfect, don't expect you to be, I can't say in my tractor search I came across any brand that was perfect. My 2615 has 13 hours on it now and I've done some pretty hefty jobs with it so far. I moved my 69 Road Runner which is engineless and front suspensionless into the garage with it using the loader and a chain to manipulate it around to the door. The driveway is not paved yet so I had to back in the garage, then lift it up and over the threshold leaving room to get out, then get behind it and lift and push it in. I do have a frame with casters on the front of the car so it rolled great once on the concrete, but it only tried to dig in the fine textured gravel. The loader and chain solved that problem. I could not have done this job without the 2615 and ML106 loader. I was impressed how well it handled the job. I gave my local dealer's card to friend looking for a tractor to care for 9 acres and about 400 feet of driveway. I tried a little mowing today. It has rained a lot here recently. The R4s turned to mudballs quickly in the bare spots. Oh well, the sun is out, I'll try again later. musa, I'm pretty pleased with my 2615. Hope to hear inputs from you. DMB.