Prep time?

newtattoobob · Oct 19, 2004

Well almost two weeks ago I pulled the trigger and ordered a L3400 with fel from my local dealer. I thought I was getting a fair deal and they got the tractor shipped to them the next day. My question is, how long should it take to prep a new tractor that is still in the crate? Does anyone else think it is ridiculous that the dealer has had the tractor for going on two weeks and still hasn't taken it out of the crate? I have called about every other day and they keep telling me a couple more days but I drive by I still see it sitting outside their shop in the crate. Has anyone else had a dealer take this long to prep their tractor? Thanks Bob

ronjhall · Oct 19, 2004

Bob
My Kubota took about 7 days to be deliver.
I did have an experience with my JD Mower. Dealer picked it up Monday morning to do some warranty work. When I called on Thursday, it had not been looked at yet. My question was why pick it up if your not going to work on it. They returned it Friday morning. Then picked it up again 2 weeks later. Two days later they had it back.
It depends on the work load at the time that your tractor prep is scheduled. Quite often getting customers machines repaired that are being used for harvest this time year have priority.

frank_f15 · Oct 19, 2004

BOB really depends on the dealer and his workload at the time. but 2 weeks does seem a tad long. some dealers will have one man dedicated to just prepping new machines as his first priority.

DmansPadge · Oct 19, 2004

I would think 2 weeks it about 1 week to long. Maybe the shop is very busy or short on mechanics. I think I would go to the shop and talk to the service manager and remind him how much money you just spent with them and how long your tractor has been sitting there.

newtattoobob · Oct 19, 2004

The dealership I used is a large one, they have a whole seperate building for new preps and a mechanic that does just preps all day long. Tomorrow I think I will try to get ahold of the service manager to see exactly when it will be done and why it has sat there for almost two weeks without being touched. Thanks Bob

v8dave · Oct 20, 2004

Don't call, go down and handle it face to face. Don't rant and rave. Just quietly insist they state a date that the tractor will be delivered. Don't offer a date, when they ask you when you need it, say last week. Then repeat the question.

newtattoobob · Oct 20, 2004

Today I went down to the dealership and talked to my salesmen face to face, and he still cannot tell when they will even start on it. So I walked back to the garage and talked to the tech and he says he might start on it Saturday and if he does then I am looking at next Friday for delievery. That will be three weeks that they had it on their lot. I will be going back on Friday to make sure they are starting on it. The thing that is most upsetting to me is no one will tell me for sure when it will be done. When I ordered the tractor the salesmen told me that as soon as it was on the lot that it would only take a couple days. The next day they had the tractor on the lot and almost two weeks later they haven't even started. Thanks Bob

frank_f15 · Oct 20, 2004

( So I walked back to the garage and talked to the tech and he says he might start on it Saturday and if he does then I am looking at next Friday for delievery. )

It does not take a week to prep and deliver a tractor! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif someone is jerking your chain for some reason, in my estamation. If it was me(and i know its not) i would tell them to keep it and go elsewhere. But i am an old ornery cuss.

DmansPadge · Oct 20, 2004

There is no excuse for that. I talked to a buddy of mine today who used to work for a Kubota dealer in Texas... he did prep work. I will say that their shop is probably smaller than the one you are dealing with, but he told me he would put on a loader and any other thing else he needed to and it would be delivered within 3 days of getting the tractor. I think I agree with frank f14... I would think about telling them to just refund me whatever you put down and I'll take my business elsewhere. (I think that would get them moving... I really wouldn't want to have to do that!)

Going down to the shop day in and day out will be better than calling 20 times a day. Play hardball... remind them how much you are spending with them and that there are other dealers that would give you satisfaction.

Good luck.

Ursushorribilus · Oct 20, 2004

Bob, I'm new to the tractor world, but you are definitely getting jerked around. If this is indicative of their overall service pattern, then you are in for alot of future frustration. Make some noise, face to face, with them, and don't think of them as your friends, because they're obviously not. If they were committed to you in a professional dealer/client relationship, as they well should be, they would at least give you the courtesy of an explanation, and be proactive in giving you that explanation instead of making you chase them. Good luck...Tony