Squirming Salesman

viking65 · Mar 5, 2005

I was at the local John Deere dealership this morning at the parts desk to pick up a new top link for my tractor. The parts desk happened to be within earshot of the compact tractor salesman. A couple was talking to him about about a 4115 and a few other JD compacts. They also revealed that they were looking at Kubota and Kioti. The husband really liked the Kioti CK, he was hitting the JD salesman with the weight advantage, more features, and significant cost savings over the JD.

The JD salesman was having a tough time responding...."Kioti is not in the same class as John Deere"...."There are no local dealers" (there is a well stocked Kioti dealer 15 miles from the JD dealer)...."I'm not sure how long Kioti will be around"...."no parts availability"..."Kioti is really not a top tier tractor"...."Kioti's are made in Korea".....

I have looked at the Kioti's several times and I know they are great tractors, just to big for my needs at present. I have a sub-cut now. I thought this was hilarious I wanted to this on TBN as soon as I got home. I thought that the Kioti forum might have fun with this /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif.

GRUMPA · Mar 5, 2005

Believe me thats not all that uncommon. When I was looking for tractors about a year ago I got the same line from the salesmen. I even told them I was getting my info from here at TBN and they all bashed the site saying that people didn't know what they were talking about and they did since they are a dealer (Yeah Riiiiiiiiight). Even now I'll call them up for a price on an attachment and first thing out of their mouth is what kind of tractor is it. All the time they are saying that since they sell only top line equipment since mine is an imported tractor if anything ever fails with the attachment the warranty may be void. And he started to recite from memory that the major manufacturers stated in their warranty that their equipment is only covered if it's used on like the big3 tractor makers. Hence I have most of what I need shipped in.

KiotiJohn · Mar 5, 2005

Not unusual for someone to do when they can't justify the price their trying to extricate from an unsuspecting buyer. Thanks for the post. John

cag · Mar 5, 2005

Viking the same thing goes on up here has a matter of fact I had a sale Rep really getting pist off at me just for mentioning KIOTI it was actually pretty entertaining LOL... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif...cag

Bob_Skurka · Mar 5, 2005

I was talking to the owner of the local Kubota/Case/Cub dealership recently and gave some compliments to both Mahindra and Kioti and the dealer just started talking the "party line" just like your John Deere dealership did to the guy near you. When I had a similar conversation with my sales rep the New Holland dealership, he walked me over to show me their new line of Branson tractors. It is obvious that some dealers believe the Korean made tractors are garbage while others realize the truth and see them as quality products that are strong competition. I think when more of the Korean made units offer more versions in HST then there will be some major changes in the sales rankings of the major tractor companies. And I think that day is coming very soon.

Dargo · Mar 5, 2005

How about this; one of my JD dealers told me that he was looking into possibly purchasing a Kioti franchise. Now that doesn't sound much like a slam. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

GerardC · Mar 5, 2005

( How about this; one of my JD dealers told me that he was looking into possibly purchasing a Kioti franchise. Now that doesn't sound much like a slam. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif)

To be totally honest, I don't think that it will be long before KIOTI is considered by society as one of the big three tractor manufacturers out there. Rome wasn't built in a day. As dealerships become more strewn about, so will the KIOTI tractors on peoples properties.
As they say,"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em". Gerard

JayC · Mar 5, 2005

To be totally honest, I don't think that it will be long before KIOTI is considered by society as one of the big three tractor manufacturers out there. 

I'm afraid with that distinction, the prices will also reflect it. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I was looking at a Kioti ad in the Michigan Auto-Rv magazine and the dealer had a CK20TLB for $15,000 and a CK30HST with FEL for $15,000. I think those prices are very good. The CK30 SS with FEL was $14,000. Made me want to hop in the car and head to the dealer, even if it is 93 miles away. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif But alas, I'm not in a position to be seriously looking yet. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

One thing I noticed if the ad, was for the CK20 they stressed the point that it isn't a SubCUT. Guess they get a lot of remarks about it, too. I thought it was a TBN thing. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

GerardC · Mar 5, 2005

I'm afraid with that distinction, the prices will also reflect it. 

Your probably right. BUT, the good thing about that for us would be that we knew and bought in at the right time /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. Only time will tell /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif. Gerard

KiotiJohn · Mar 6, 2005

( I was looking at a Kioti ad in the Michigan Auto-Rv magazine and the dealer had a CK20TLB for $15,000 and a CK30HST with FEL for $15,000. )
Yes, those prices are very good, and they're also not supposed to be in any advertisement. Kioti doesn't allow pricing to be done in any advertising. This goes back to my point that MSRP should be allowed on dealer sites, and Kioti's site so that there's a fairer playing ground, but for this dealer to be advertising prices like this is unfair to all the dealers who follow the rules. John