Well, decision made, wish me luck. I went with the Bison NB80-240 HD with 2 hydros (tilt and angle). Saw some good reviews, it's heavy (about 900 lbs) and seems to be built well from everything I read and what I can see.
Now for the rant.. You know, I just don't get tractor dealers. I called about 3 different dealers for Woods/Rhino and Frontier, including one place where I've done some business before, and you know how many people called me back? I won't spoil it for you.. Anyway, I eventually did get someone on the phone at 2 dealerships, gave them the info, they talked to me about what they had on the lot (basically nothing) and then both said they'd get back to me with timing for a delivery from the factory. That was a week ago. I've been calling and chasing these guys across 1/2 a dozen dealers for a week, and have 0 quotes, and basically have gotten 0 information from them about why their blades are better and/or what I should be buying for my area.
During that time, I called a few online vendors, including EA. EA was fantastic, they answered the phone, talked to me about their blade, what made it better, what would work for my tractor and my use. The only reason I didn't go with them, they are so far out on lead times I wouldn't see the blade until spring, and I need it this winter to do the trail work that I've got planned. But just a first class sales experience, and, after hearing their pitch, they probably have the better blade than what I purchased (at a slightly higher price, to be fair). Then I found Bison, reached out to their distributor online, and had a call within the hour. Got'em in stock, yes, it should work great for what you want to do, no, you don't need the bigger model, although we have them in stock too if you wanna go totally bulletproof. Good experience; responsive and able to talk about their products well.
The one local dealer who did get back to me is the same place I bought my Baumalight tree cutter (Brushcutt). And man, what an experience that was. I needed to have Baumalight call the dealer for me to get him to call me back (we don't sell them). Basically knew nothing about Baumalight at all, what they sold, what the applications were. And then getting the item? I got tired of waiting and finally called them "Oh yeah, we've had that here for a week, wondering who it was for". <banging head on desk>. Look, I get it, I'm not spending 100's of K a year in implements/tractors. But I've probably spent close to 100K over the course of the last 3 years. And nearly 100% of that has been online (including Craigslist) because I can't get anybody to call me the heck back from a dealer. Even my tractor, I test drove it at one dealer, started the deal process with them, and then.. Dark. Couldn't get a call back. Didn't do the final paperwork.. So, I called Kioti and asked them if they could please find me someone to sell me an NX tractor. They did, and that deal was made 100% online, never met the guy until he rolled up with the tractor behind his truck. And these aren't the discount dealers, the place I bought my Baumalight, if I wanted to call them out, would all be seen as the "premium dealership". Nice offices, big inventory, big yards.. Just nobody to return a phone call..
I want to buy local guys, I really do. But man, it's hard work.
/end rant
