Ready to Return My Kubota- talk me out of it

[inveresk]

I wouldn't pay the taxes. For all you know, he may pull this argument with every customer he deals with. Some will roll over, some not, and every time someone pays up, he makes a tidy extra profit.

Stall on this issue until he fixes your leak.

 

[Boondox]

PJW -- A customer has every right to expect perfection in a major purchase. But a dealer has every right to be given a chance to make things right. I'd compose myself, set aside the blame game (there are never winners in that one!) and tell the dealer what you've told us. How much you were looking forward to this tractor, how you'd heard nothing but great things about Kubota and their quality, the good feelings you had about the dealer that made you buy there in the first place and how you were looking forward to a long relationship with them getting regular service and buying new implements, etc. Now how this experience has cast a cloud over your warm fuzzies about both tractor and dealer. How you want to get back to your happy place and please Mr Dealer get it right this time!

Nobody can argue with how you feel. But if you want a fruitful relationship with this dealer going forward address your concerns without rubbing his nose in it. Oh, and if they mention the taxes I'd counter with "Let's deal with one issue at a time. First, let's deal with the defects, then we'll talk about taxes." I wouldn't use the tax bill as leverage, though.

Good luck! Pete

 

[HGM]

I agree with the rest, I would give them one more chance. By talking to the manager(if they truly have one) you will be giving them the benifit of the doubt. I wouldnt pay a transport fee or the taxes until the unit is "right".. Again, one thing at a time..

The mechanic in me says fix it yourself, but I know better.. If you tinker with it yourself while its under waranty, guess who owns the repair... If it ends up being a larger issue like a casting flaw and you screwed with it, it could cost allot. Its a hassle, but have them do it. If they refuse, call Kubota, fill them in and try another dealer of their recomendation. They may ask you to go back to the curent dealer so dont burn bridges yet..

 

[surfran]

I'm with Boondox approach and hold off on the overbearing mode unless this does not work. Exhaust all the nice ways first then pull out the legal innuendo's etc.

If they are a good dealership they will want to get it right to please you and keep you as a good customer.

You measure people about how they perform when things go wrong not when they are going right. Same goes for businesses and the ones that realize this flourish and the others eventually parish.

Don't give up yet, and keep the temper under control for a bit longer.

Good luck

 

[robison]

Just so you know . . . a BX is not a "motor vehicle" under the law in most states. I've been an automobile dealer in Massachusetts 20+ yrs and I'm pretty familiar with the rules about stuff like this.

So the lemon law doe cars does not apply. The product is covered by a warranty, and they might choose to take it back, but not under that law.

Also . . . the dealer is under no obligation to pick up your unit for warranty service, even if it is only a week old. The law is clear on that point, too, so anything like that is goodwill.

Carmakers (at least high end cars) may offer roadside assistance and towing in warranty but that's a manufacturer goodwill program, not something mandated by law.

 

[Trev]

Well, I can certainly sympathize.. it isn't always obvious when buying if you can expect decent support.

I bought my JD from a local dealer.. later found a much better dealer and simply took all my work to them from that point on.

Suggest you do the same, if possible. The new dealer has no problem with the fact that I didn't purchase there initially.. I explained that I didn't even know they existed, having just moved to the area, but they treat me like a favored customer. They even have a guy who lives near me, so for most problems he just stops by on his way to or from work, and that has worked out just fine.

Do you have some alternative dealers to whom you can tell your story and see if they are willing to jump in and make things right for you?

Best,
Bob

 

[cp1969]

All this over a silver-dollar sized oil leak?

FWIW, the confrontational, angry customer routine rarely works in matters like this or any other situation in which YOU need SOMEONE ELSE to do something for you. Well, it will if you're George Bush, but most of us don't wield that much power. When you don't hold punitive power over the other person, you need to figure out a way to make that person WANT to help you. Yelling at them is usually not the way to do that. You will make a name for yourself at the dealership, however....you'll be known behind your back as "that a-hole with the BX".

Give them a chance to make it right.

 

[pjwbx2230]

I have told these guys that I came to them because I had warm and fuzzy feelings about the dealership. I have told them that I bought the tractor because I had read and heard great things about Kubota. I told them how happy I was when I initially got the tractor. I then let them know how extremely frustrating these last three weeks have been. Explained that I just want my tractor to be in proper running order. "all this over a silver dollar sized oil leak"- the tractor had run for three minutes or so and the hydralic fluid had run out to that degree. In about eight minutes, there was a spot large enough tha I had to use oil dry on my driveway. This is a serious problem which, originally, was discovered when the FEL was running balkily, due to lack of fluid. It was sent back, dealer had it for over a week, returned it, proclaiming it "good as new" (and I was happy), then yesterday- the same exact spot that was leaking before they took my tractor for a week was still leaking. I am being as cordial as I can but believe I have a right to express my level of frustration and the degree to which it is affecting an originally happy relationship. Anything else would be less than honest.

 

[btolle]

I don't blame you for wanting to vent your frustration. That's one of the things this forum is great for. When we feel we have been "burned" we can come hear and gripe about it and have some sympathetic listeners.

I bought a brand new Honda motorcycle on a Saturday afternoon. Went by my Mother in Law's house to show it to my wife who was over there visiting. When I tried to leave it wouldn't start, dead battery. Got out the jumper cables and charged the battery a while and finally made it home. I was feeling pretty upset by then. The dealership had already closed so it would have been Monday before I could have taken it in and I had to be a work Monday.

I decided to try to at least take a shot at diagnosis myself. Alternator was not charging but following a wire I found where the wire from the alternator was not connected. Plugged it in, alternator started charging, problem solved.

I tell the story for a couple of reasons:

1. I feel your pain because I have been there/done that.

2. It might be worth a shot at trying to tighten the fitting (if you haven't done so already) and if that doesn't work disconnect it and see if you can see what the problem is. It might be something you can fix yourself in 10 or 15 minutes.

If it is a bad flare job on a line fitting maybe you could take the line to them , have them re-flare it or give you a replacement line, and reinstall it yourself.

When I got my new B7510 it developed a small hydraulic leak on one of the loader lines, I just tightened it a bit and it stopped. By the way, since then I have been clearing woods and have pulled on the hydraulic lines with branches and developed 2 or 3 leaks where the line twisted and came loose just enough to leak. I figure that is what the toolbox under the seat is for, to carry a crescent wrench, pliers, screwdriver, and rag. When I spot a leak I just jump off and tighten it and continue on my merry way. Hydraulic leaks are a way of life with tractors.

I suspect that the absence of the tractor for a week and a half is more frustrating than the leak itself. Doiing it yourself will eliminate that frustration.

Good luck with it and don't "throw the baby out with the bathwater".

Bill Tolle

 

[rpeter]

About the taxes….. I would check out the laws in your state. In PA you do not pay tax if you tractor is for farming. Could be that they turned in the original paperwork with the state saying there was a farming exemption and are now going to pocket the money. Or maybe they just did forget, either way it does not give you warm fussy feelings about the dealer. Hang in there you will be having fun with your new toy sooooon!