Thinking about leaving Kubota

[Ricn]

My neighbor vacationed in Texas last year and while there, he traded in his old high mileage truck for a new Ford truck driving it 5000 mi seeing several relatives before getting back home a month later. Some time later he needed warrantee and the local dealer, who had sold him truck one years ago told him at least a month before they could look at it because he bought it somewhere else and they were to busy with their own customers. Being irritated, he went to another dealer across town who said, sure we can take care of you, bring it in tomorrow. He got his truck back 2 days later all fixed for a $10. fee for some fluid that is not covered. Happy guy now and dealer two has him for life!

 

[goeduck]

My neighbor vacationed in Texas last year and while there, he traded in his old high mileage truck for a new Ford truck driving it 5000 mi seeing several relatives before getting back home a month later. Some time later he needed warrantee and the local dealer, who had sold him truck one years ago told him at least a month before they could look at it because he bought it somewhere else and they were to busy with their own customers. Being irritated, he went to another dealer across town who said, sure we can take care of you, bring it in tomorrow. He got his truck back 2 days later all fixed for a $10. fee for some fluid that is not covered. Happy guy now and dealer two has him for life!

Great outcome!

 

[Gem99ultra]

I moved from Texas to Georgia shortly after I bought my Kubota in Texas. The Georgia dealer nearest to me now has welcomed any and all repair and maintenance work, whether a warranty repair or not. That, I think is simply the attitude of the dealer - not corporate Kubota.

But - if a dealer, be it a tractor dealer, automotive dealer, or a washing machine dealer, told me that if I didn't buy from them I would not be getting any warranty work done there... I'd be finding another dealer, and probably another brand.

Best of luck in your search.

 

[searcyfarms]

they might be able to delay you or put you off but im sure some judge or atty would love to take that one up with parent ford since they are obligated to repair a vehicle that is still under wty. I am sure someone would get raked on that kind of attitude.

 

[Dranrab]

I lived in Alaska for several years, and it wasn't unusual for stuff to sell at MSRP up there. That part of the equation wouldn't bother me as much as the refusal to perform service or warranty work. Kubota would have something to say about the unwillingness to perform warranty work. When you sell a brand you enter into an agreement with the manufacturer. Being retired military I have a problem with the "if you didn't buy it here, we won't service it" mentality. We live in a transient society. Military especially so. A boat dealer down here on the MS Coast pulled that on me. I reminded him that there was a large Air Force base and Navy Seabee base in the area. On a final note, if your service work isn't a healthy profit center for your business, you are doing it wrong.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

they might be able to delay you or put you off but im sure some judge or atty would love to take that one up with parent ford since they are obligated to repair a vehicle that is still under wty. I am sure someone would get raked on that kind of attitude.

Sorry... but you would be wrong. Ford has very little control over their dealers.

 

[mred2]

A friend had a Ford car under warranty. He had a lot of problems. Local dealer refused to work on it. He called corporate. They had him meet with them at the local dealer the next week. Service manager said he would not work on it. He was told that they would have it fixed that day or when the corporate people left they would take the sign out front with them. The car was fixed.

 

[jeff9366]

It came as quite a shock to me as well. Not sure about the other big makers out there...

If it says SMITH/JONES/THOMAS Chevrolet on the marquis it is an independent business with a well protected by state law Chevrolet franchise.

 

[nards444]

Being confined to book hours is like bidding a job.

If I hire you to do a job knowing your hourly rate and don't require a bid you'll charge me actual hours/dollars. Being a competent mechanic and honest man I'll win.

If I hire you to do a job making you bid the cost upfront you'll pad the bid so you don't get caught short. By forcing you to eat the unforeseen I'll lose.

If you are honest, I'll come out ahead by simply hiring you to do the job. I win. But we don't know that from the start do we? Maybe you are incompetent and a stealer?? I lose.

Booking hours levels that playing field and in the long run is in favor of the customer. I win. The Dealer wins.

No i get it. But lets say an alternate change, I know it can be done in 45 mins books says 3 hours, and I get charged 3 hours. Now I also get that there flat out those job that have unforeseen circumstances. I know multiple mechanics and 90% of the time the job is done sooner than the book.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

A friend had a Ford car under warranty. He had a lot of problems. Local dealer refused to work on it. He called corporate. They had him meet with them at the local dealer the next week. Service manager said he would not work on it. He was told that they would have it fixed that day or when the corporate people left they would take the sign out front with them. The car was fixed.

Yeah, I know. Maybe you can get a Ford rep to bat for you, but more than likely... NOT.

 

[lilranch2001]

The car was fixed.
I dunno, it looks like he DID

 

[Steppenwolfe]

The car was fixed.
I dunno, it looks like he DID

Hence... " the more than likely" part.

 

[searcyfarms]

Sorry... but you would be wrong. Ford has very little control over their dealers.

i didnt mean the dealer I mean ford honoring a Wty

There are plenty of options of dealers and brands so if i get a sour taste i will move along - much like others but sadly the OP doesnt have as many options up north

 

[lilranch2001]

Hence... " the more than likely" part.

but it wasnt a NOT

 

[JLH4]

Alaska - How are you coming with your tractor search? Did you get a new tractor and if so what.

 

[Ricn]

My Kubota came from dealer One because they had the unit I wanted. My service is taken care of by another who is close by and happy to have my business they say. Dealer Two fixed a minor issue without any problems while under warrantee, something they found while I had it in for fluid changes on the hydro. I could easily have done the fluid changes but decided while it's under warrantee to have the dealer do this work. I had bought from dealer Two before and we have a good relationship. Also, the owners Son runs their repair shop and is very picky about things being right having good mechanics. Had I done the fluids myself, likely I would never have seen the warrantee issue until much later, after the warrantee expired. There are good and poor dealers in everything, some learn the hard way that good service is important helping to keep customers. In Alaska, where I too worked off and on for years, choices can be difficult and retail sellers are well aware of this and operate totally different in many ways then the lower 48. Kubota is not in the business of cutting prices much and we all pay handsomely for their products because they are good quality. even here where we have 4 Kubota dealers within 75 mile radius, prices are within a few hundred dollars. Were I in Alaska needing a tractor, warrantee and service would, I think, trump my purchase price if not ridiculously high but if it were, I"d look at another brand and also the biggest dealer available.

Ricn