Met with 5 or 6 Kubota Engineers from Japan today, they listened and asked questions

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Steve Barlow called and asked if I'd talk with some Engineers from Kubota Japan today and I told him, sure. There were 5 or 6 and an English speaking lady in Steves office when I got there. Not a big office but big enough. One had a form and asked me several questions and asked me to check some items by priority to me. Like price, comfort, implements, HP or power etc.
Talked with them for about an hour and enjoyed it. A bit of difficulty keeping track of which Kubota and in which order and uses and stuff from first to last that I've owned/own. Had to explain my needs changed as my work progressed so part of why I owned so many different machines. Was able to see some of their possible future interests based on questions (and they said so) and I was not supportive of two for sure based on my needs, use.
The gentleman that asked most questions at the end told me he was from the Mowing Division (Fs and maybe Zs but Fs for sure which made us both smile since I've got a couple of Fs) but he was asking questions concerning Kubota tractors mostly which I've had a few.
They did ask about my desire, interest, concerns about a drive over mowing deck which I told them was of no interest to me since I rarely took the decks off of any mower I had before my Fs.
They also asked about my feelings about comparable Green tractors and I told them I knew nothing about Green tractors and had no interest in them since I've owned 15 Kubotas and have been satisfied with Kubota quality and price.
Well, enjoyed meeting with them and they seem to have a genuine interest in their customers of which I'm one but I'm sure they want to make the best selling machine in order to stay in business and keep their jobs as most people should be. Customers pay the bills and salaries.
They gave me a mouse pad and this hat that's only distributed in Japan, I'll cherish it and keep it with my other Special Kubota hats.

 

[creekbend]

You appear to have quite an assortment of Kubota memorabillia. That mouse pad is a rare addition.

 

[sixdogs]

Wow--amazing on so many levels. The hat alone is worth it and congrats on the whole thing.
Having 15 Kubotas is pretty amazing.

 

[Baby Grand]

What a great experience!
Good that they were able to speak with someone who knows the hardware and really uses it, like you do.
Now, about that stack of books ... no tractor time 'till you finish your homework!

 

[TomSeller]

I'm glad you had that opportunity, but when we survey we WANT people that own a competitor's product to see what they like about it over ours. Interesting they did it that way.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

What a great experience!
Good that they were able to speak with someone who knows the hardware and really uses it, like you do.
Now, about that stack of books ... no tractor time 'till you finish your homework!

That's just one small stack, I have bigger stacks all over the house. Like to read and always have since growing up without a TV

I'm glad you had that opportunity, but when we survey we WANT people that own a competitor's product to see what they like about it over ours. Interesting they did it that way.

Who is WE?Looked at your profile to see if I could figure out who WE is but alas no information and only info is your a fairly new member. Maybe you'll post some profile info so WE can figure out who your WE is. Not sure what this means. They had no idea what I owned or didn't own or had owned when I came in to meet with them. They did seem a little disappointed that I had NO KNOWLEDGE of any other brand.Also not sure what you mean by DID IT THAT WAY??
The dealer picked me since I've bought several from him and he knew I'd stop by if I said I would and he knew I'd tell my opinion, if asked. The Kubota People had nothing to do with picking me or knew nothing about me except my name and that I had bought several Kubotas from Barlows just before I was invited into the room.

 

[sixdogs]

John, yes you have owned several Kubotas but you're also an honest guy that will give a truthful answer and knows how the machine is supposed to function, and knows why or why not the tractor features work or don't work. That's great marketing info for them.
Interesting that they visited Barlows. Any idea if they going to other dealers?

 

[TomSeller]

Who is WE?. They did seem a little disappointed that I had NO KNOWLEDGE of any other brand..

No disrespect intended. "We" is where I work, how we do market/customer research, not related to tractors. The second part of what I quoted above is why we do it that way. It does us some good to listen to our satisfied customers, but more good to listen to our critics. That's all. Glad you had the opportunity.

 

[Red Horse]

No disrespect intended. "We" is where I work, how we do market/customer research, not related to tractors. The second part of what I quoted above is why we do it that way. It does us some good to listen to our satisfied customers, but more good to listen to our critics. That's all. Glad you had the opportunity.

Agree-makes the most sense regardless of what your product is to understand what drives your competitors success-or failure.

In this internet age I don't understasnd why more manufacturers don't make use of it for surveys. As always, key to any good survey is how it is designed but there are people who are paid to do that.

 

[mccash40]

I hope you told them to improve on the $2 plastic HST fan.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

John, yes you have owned several Kubotas but you're also an honest guy that will give a truthful answer and knows how the machine is supposed to function, and knows why or why not the tractor features work or don't work. That's great marketing info for them.
Interesting that they visited Barlows. Any idea if they going to other dealers?

I did tell them about owning a BX2350 and since I'd owned other Kubotas knew that it was WRONG with the jerk in revers and traded out of it real quick. No verbal response but some knowing looks and head nods. I don't know if they are going to other dealers. Was really just the man off the street with a request to attend the night before. Well I am one of their customers. I taught Marketing for several years at a Ky College. There are many methods of research and one is to obtain info from current owners and their satisfaction. Others can be very extensive and take days to weeks to do. I wasn't going to give them to many hours, no days or weeks for sure unless they fly me first class to Tokyo.:laughing: I felt their survey was spot on for their objective and other companys with other colored tractors probably need to do surveys of why they are losing customers or not getting them. Seems Kubota isn't as concerned about losing much to other Companys and I don't think they have much to be concerned about either. :laughing: They did want to know about my feelings concerning the drive on deck that another Company has. Told them it didn't mean anything to me but I believe that is in their sights./B]

I hope you told them to improve on the $2 plastic HST fan.

I did mention the plastic fan and there were some nods of understanding and looks of concern. I may remember later other bits of conversation.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Agree-makes the most sense regardless of what your product is to understand what drives your competitors success-or failure.

In this internet age I don't understasnd why more manufacturers don't make use of it for surveys. As always, key to any good survey is how it is designed but there are people who are paid to do that.

Kubota has always sent me a survey after purchasing a Kubota. Covers many aspects of Dealer, machine, etc, etc, etc. I can do it on the internet and usually do or mail it back which I never do. Surprised your Green Company (See you own Green and NO ORANGES) doesn't do that.

 

[hawkeye08]

JohnThomas, glad you had this opportunity. They got information from you about a variety of tractors and mowers, while if they had picked me, I could only tell them about one. If you get the chance to go to Japan ever, try and get a factory tour. I had an opportunity back in 2000 to spend a week in Osaka and working at the Hitachi computer storage factory. We (10 other engineers were also there) were treated very well. Other than the long plane ride, it was a great experience. I still have the factory hat somewhere from that trip.

 

[art]

John, yes you have owned several Kubotas but you're also an honest guy that will give a truthful answer and knows how the machine is supposed to function, and knows why or why not the tractor features work or don't work. That's great marketing info for them.
Interesting that they visited Barlows. Any idea if they going to other dealers?

They visit with dealers that move a lot of their inventory in the class of equipment they are working with. They will be in PA/NY area within the next week.

 

[art]

I hope you told them to improve on the $2 plastic HST fan.

Selling different brands opens up a whole can of worms when equipment is involved. Comparing manufacturer's I'd rather worry about a transmission getting warm over a stick getting into a hydraulic oil cooler that is leaking out the fluid needed to drive a tractor to where it could be worked on!

 

[sixdogs]

This kind of thing is why Kubota already is the big dog in the compact tractor market and why they are making inroads into the utility and larger class tractors. They are a first class tractor and first class business people.

 

[TomSeller]

This kind of thing is why Kubota already is the big dog in the compact tractor market and why they are making inroads into the utility and larger class tractors. They are a first class tractor and first class business people.

You got that right.

 

[jcummins]

I did tell them about owning a BX2350 and since I'd owned other Kubotas knew that it was WRONG with the jerk in revers and traded out of it real quick. No verbal response but some knowing looks and head nods. I don't know if they are going to other dealers. Was really just the man off the street with a request to attend the night before. Well I am one of their customers. I taught Marketing for several years at a Ky College. There are many methods of research and one is to obtain info from current owners and their satisfaction. Others can be very extensive and take days to weeks to do. I wasn't going to give them to many hours, no days or weeks for sure unless they fly me first class to Tokyo.:laughing: I felt their survey was spot on for their objective and other companys with other colored tractors probably need to do surveys of why they are losing customers or not getting them. Seems Kubota isn't as concerned about losing much to other Companys and I don't think they have much to be concerned about either. :laughing: They did want to know about my feelings concerning the drive on deck that another Company has. Told them it didn't mean anything to me but I believe that is in their sights./B]


I did mention the plastic fan and there were some nods of understanding and looks of concern. I may remember later other bits of conversation.

You missed the opportunity!!! You didn't ask about the desire to test out new equipment for them on your proven testing grounds...being a very experienced Kubota operator and owner.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

You missed the opportunity!!! You didn't ask about the desire to test out new equipment for them on your proven testing grounds...being a very experienced Kubota operator and owner.

I was afraid they'd do it and send truck loads of tractors and I'd never get caught up on my reading. :laughing:

 

[Herkypilot]

Another well documented problem is the jerky 3pt hitch on the L's and MX tractors. There are many posts on this site regarding this.