Repair lead times

[Rebeldad1]

haying season really bogs down service as well

 

[sandyc]

One of the reason a lot of folks learn to repair their tractors and equipment.

 

[SDT]

RickB, My tractor is still in my local shop at 35 days now they just today pulled it in to look at it today. Again, forgive my ignorance here. I do have some questions. Does this kind of long lead time happen often with tractor repairs? Do customers who rely on their tractor for their livelihood have a spare tractor for when the primary is out for 4-8 weeks? I'm really at a loss that this is to some extent normal. If you can go 4-8 weeks without a tractor you really don't need a tractor in the first place.

I am really asking these questions because I don't know. The closest thing I can compare to is boating and 3 weeks was my all time max.

It is important to understand that the job of your dealer's service manager is to maximize the profit produced for the business owner(s) by the service department. Your convenience is well down his priority list.

Leaks, routine maintenance, etc., are tasks best reserved for early winter.

SDT

 

[jhendric]

It is important to understand that the job of your dealer's service manager is to maximize the profit produced for the business owner(s) by the service department. Your convenience is well down his priority list.

Leaks, routine maintenance, etc., are tasks best reserved for early winter.

SDT

While to some extent I believe your statement to be accurate most businesses in this day in time have come to understand happy customers lead to long term sustained profit. My convenience may be the very thing that pays the tractor man's bills when his business is not booming and I need a new tractor.

 

[SDT]

While to some extent I believe your statement to be accurate most businesses in this day in time have come to understand happy customers lead to long term sustained profit. My convenience may be the very thing that pays the tractor man's bills when his business is not booming and I need a new tractor.

I , too was naive.

SDT

 

[nybirdman]

I just had mine serviced ;oils and filters....other parts are in short supply/long lead time.My delivery guy said he waited 8 weeks for a water pump gasket for his tractor.

 

[sandyc]

Oh, during harvest season the emphasis is on commercially used equipment. Not unusual to see field repair going on at midnight. Talk about sleep deprivation for the field mechanics!

 

[JimRB]

My hay making neighbor bought two new John deere tractors a few years ago to replace the ones he had gotten a few years prior. Not big ones. I am guess 75-200 HP. Not really sure on the size but one little one and one big one with full cabs, 4WD, loaders. One acted up and was dead or intermittent dead. Mechanic was supposed replace a sensor that required a lot of shop time. Mechanic lied and did not do it. Farmer returned tractor as a lemon and got a new one. Dealer replaced the sensor and fired the mechanic. Anyhow you have a customer that is willing to spend $50-100,000 grand every few years, or farmers that buy big tractors, combines and spraying rigs, is going to get more attention then the homeowner that buys a little/tiny tractor every once in a while and is not losing money when the tractor is down. That said my cousin buys used tractors, combines and such. The dealer gets to him as fast as he can given that every other 600-1000 acre farmer is also trying to work the fields. I have seen the same thing when I had a little 50 hp tractor clutch fail. One dealer said a few months. Found another shop that did it in a few weeks. No hard feelings towards the first shop. They just take care of their best customers first who need the equipment to make money.

 

[jhendric]

Got it, I'm going to have to learn to be patient and do more myself. This sure seems like a market opportunity though

 

[RickB]

Industry experts 20+ years ago predicted a shortage of service technicians in the future. Guess what? Here we are. Finding, hiring and keeping qualified technicians is the #1 challenge at most dealerships and independent service centers.