South Carolina Dealers

[N80]

There are more Kubotas sold in a 200 mile radius of Charlotte, NC than any other place in the USA.

Wow! I wonder why that is?

 

[andrewj]

only one jd dealer in columbia sc that sells green tractors. they are actually in lexington at i-20 and hwy 378.

i checked there when i was shopping once. i would not buy a shear bolt from them. the greatest thing about my visit there was it eliminated me from considering a jd ever again. absolute jerks in sales and prices were sky high. pushed me straight to a kubota. i bet they never thought customers would have the chance to share their treatment will thousands of people on the internet!

i have several friends who would never buy anything but a jd. none of them even shop the local dealer...ever.

I can honestly think of over $1 million spent by friends and family (from columbia) on jd tractors in the last 6-8 years. not one was bought from the local dealer.

I like the Lexington store. It's called "Palmetto Lawn and Leisure." If you "checked there....once" sounds like you need to give those guys (or ANYONE) more benefit of the doubt/credit than that. Ever had a bad day? everyone does, maybe that was theirs.

regarding JD prices, they very well may be higher than Kubota, but sounds like you didn't stay long enough to really look at some economical models? My tractor was made in Michigan, (sorry, Indiana?) from parts that probably came from all over the world, but being made in the US was important to me.

I took the price I paid for my JD, went to Kubota and asked for a Kubota comparision price, and the Kubota was 1,000 less...of course and the Kubota machine I drove had a cheap feel to it. So yeah, I bought green. Kubota is a fine machine, not knocking them. And i would own one, but instead of popping in once, getting pissy and then leaving, I shopped for a long time. I even had Brian Elrod bring out (demo) a 790 on my property - glad he did, we quickly realized it was way too small.

I bought a tractor from Brian Elrod, and would buy from him again in a heartbeat. That guy worked his butt off to make me a happy customer and was absolutely honest about everything...Also, that is a family business and they care about their reputation. I did not spend a lot of money on a tractor (5105) and those guys know me by name when I go in there. (not because I am a big "AG" spender, but b/c they care about customers.)

I actually had a bad experience with the local Kubota dealer, (out of respect for them, I won't give more detail) and I went several times to rule out the "bad day" scenario. Basically, the Kubota guys acted like my money wouldn't spend right or something. I went back to the Kubota dealer lately (should have known better) to look for a 3 bottom plow since they have used items there that the Deere dealer doesn't carry, and the sales guy wouldn't even talk with me. I was in uniform (US Army) - not like I was dressed like a bum or anything.

Also, about the Lexington service department - super guys, helpful, very knowledgeable.

 

[N80]

Well, to be perfectly honest, I don't have time to spend with dealers who are having a bad day. And I'm not saying that to sound snooty, its just a fact. I spent a lot of time doing research and going to dealerships and I don't have a lot of time to do anything. I understand that folks can have an off day, and if there is a quirk here or an inconvenience there, well I can understand and get past that. But when I show up at a dealer with $20,000 hanging out of my pocket and they are rude and blow me off, well, they missed their chance. I don't have the luxury of giving them a second or third chance. And it happened to me. It doesn't make me mad, it doesn't make me bitter, I just don't come back. And unless I'm pressed, I don't even mention who it was. One of my partners in my office does business with that same place and he just loves them. Swears by them. Sends them customers. And I think that's great; if they treated him well, they deserve it. To go a step further, someone may suggest that I was the one who was having an off day. Could be. I may have come across as a jerk or asked questions so stupid they thought I was hopeless. But they still don't get my business and I don't send anyone to them. That's just the way it works.

In terms of JD vs Kubota. To each his own. I like both the Kubota and the JD dealerships in my locale. My L4400 specs out a tad better than the JD 990 in almost every parameter and cost $1000 less. It is all Japanese but was assembled here in the US (or Japan). The JD had a Yanmar engine and who knows where it was assembled. So the patriotism idea is a fantasy. Both companies had 0% financing but the JD offer expired just before I was ready to buy. So I could have happily gone either way. I know several of the JD sales guys and have bought implements from them. It doesn't have to be a brand vs brand issue. I deal with nice people who treat me right and have a good product at the right price. Take any one of those away and I'm not likely to be a customer. Keep them all in place and I'll be big fan and send you business. Within a month or so of joining TBN I referred a member to the Kubota place and he bought a tractor. Referred a local friend to them and he bought a tractor from them about a month later. I send folks to the JD place all the time.

 

[DVR]

andrewj,
my experience actually goes further than the one visit i mentioned. stopped in to look at trailers and attachments several times over the years.
i have also been with friends when they were shopping for a new jd tractor. same treatment. these guys would not consider anything but jd. they bought green tractors elsewhere. they would have preffered to buy local. as i mentioned before they don't consider the local dealer when buying now. they have in the past.

btw- i was not looking for advice when i got there. i had done my research, knew the southeast market prices, the exact model, options and attachments i wanted. the price comment was based on same model pricing from other dealers.

to suggest that i (or anyone) should give them more than one shot at a first impression is laughable.

which brand is better is a mute point and has nothing to do with this discussion.

i am glad to hear they treat you well. they obviously do something right. they have been there a long time.

 

[RollingsFarms]

the only issue I'm having with my local Kubota AND JD dealers is they're both high. I don't mean by a couple hundred $$$ either, I mean by a MINIMUM of at least $1,000 easily....or at least compared to other prices I've seen people buy the same model tractors I'm considering. They won't deal and I've run out of tricks to "talk them down", they're firm on their price even when I show them a printed out page of a price from what someone else paid for the same tractor. both give great service though so I'm trying to convince myself if it's worth spending the extra money at home or save it and buy elsewhere(even out of state if I have to). I guess I should have considered buying about 3 years ago because it seems prices were about $3,000 less overall. I will eventually give every dealer that I know of in the state of SC a chance to give me their lowest price, however long that takes me. I'm looking at JD, Kubota, MF, and NH(in that order).

 

[HayDR]

Where I am located we have 4 Kubota dealers in 30 miles of me. If I extend the range to 100 miles then add another 10 dealers. You can purchase a Kubota for $500 over invoice.

 

[N80]

RollingsFarms, it has been two years since I bought my Kubota so I'm sure things change over time and I'm sure things vary between models. But when I bought my tractor, here in SC, I got the lowest price anywhere between Columbia,SC and Hendersonville, NC. And it was lower by a fair amount than the next lowest 'bid'. And the place where I purchased it came down several times in response to bids from other dealers. In addition to that, I never saw a lower price on an L4400 quoted here on TBN except for one 'quote' that was not in this region and was never confirmed. The guy I referred from here on TBN drove down from northern Virginia to buy here. At Hendersonville Kubota, there was a guy who had driven down from Conn. to take advantage of the lower prices in this region.

I guess maybe things have changed. But, I was also buying an 'economy' model, the L4400. The higher end models may have less wiggle room. However, the dealer indicated to me that the margins on the basic machines were actually much smaller than those on the fancier tractors. You may already know where I got my L4400, but if not, PM me. I do know that at least one other SC TBN member was not satisfied with the price he got there, but he has since bought a Kubota somewhere.

I also like James River JD here in Rock Hill. Might be worth a road trip.

 

[HayDR]

RollingsFarms, it has been two years since I bought my Kubota so I'm sure things change over time and I'm sure things vary between models. But when I bought my tractor, here in SC, I got the lowest price anywhere between Columbia,SC and Hendersonville, NC. And it was lower by a fair amount than the next lowest 'bid'. And the place where I purchased it came down several times in response to bids from other dealers. In addition to that, I never saw a lower price on an L4400 quoted here on TBN except for one 'quote' that was not in this region and was never confirmed. The guy I referred from here on TBN drove down from northern Virginia to buy here. At Hendersonville Kubota, there was a guy who had driven down from Conn. to take advantage of the lower prices in this region.

I guess maybe things have changed. But, I was also buying an 'economy' model, the L4400. The higher end models may have less wiggle room. However, the dealer indicated to me that the margins on the basic machines were actually much smaller than those on the fancier tractors. You may already know where I got my L4400, but if not, PM me. I do know that at least one other SC TBN member was not satisfied with the price he got there, but he has since bought a Kubota somewhere.

I also like James River JD here in Rock Hill. Might be worth a road trip.

I know about Doc Moore, Kubota dealer in Hendersonville, NC. He also sells Fire Engines.
According to JD the #1 JD dealer in sales in SC is V&V Equipment in Williamston, SC

 

[andrewj]

It is all Japanese but was assembled here in the US (or Japan). The JD had a Yanmar engine and who knows where it was assembled. So the patriotism idea is a fantasy.

patriotism a fantasy? well I guess it's easy to find yourself believing this if you laid down hard earned money for something that is Japanese made, not to fault you since I have no problem with Yanmar, Kubota, Toyota...they are fine products. (right now I'd love to find a used little yanmar to play on!) Chinese products on the other hand may not get the saem broad brush acceptance from me, and I have to be more discriminating. On the patriotism comment, I am trying (hard) to hear where you are coming from, and to hear the thought while ignoring yoru choice of words, but I will always try to make a decision that comes down on the side of giving my money back to America. When everyone starts believing that is a fantasy we'll be in trouble.

Aren't some Kubotas assembled in the US? I actually thought some were?

 

[Gizmo36]

I don't buy anything from V&V .they have one in greenwood too. I drive all the way to Ridgespring. Drive past the one in greenwood going to get parts.I would take my book in with me to get parts for the 2520 70hp .go back when it would come in have a part for a cut tractor ever time.I have Two Yanmar go in ask for something to go on it .they want even talk to you. I still have two JD .I would like to slap the taste out of there mouth.