Tractor Warranty

HydroOp · Dec 9, 2011

We have an unusual (I think) situation. This past summer, in mid-July, we bought a Kubota MX5100 to use on property 3000 miles away. We only get to spend time there for a few weeks each summer. The dealer is adding a canopy, remote valves, changing tires and making a few other changes. They agreed to hold it on their lot until next June when we return.

A couple days later (probably a couple days too late!) it occurred to me to ask when the clock starts ticking on the warranty. Answer: When we signed the sales agreement. I asked to have it changed to the delivery date. Answer: Corporate policy. The dealer recommended I appeal through Kubota's Contact Us web page. Kubota failed to answer 3 separate inquiries - no response whatsoever! - which was pretty disappointing.

The dealer said he'd work it through the regional rep. Many weeks later Kubota's response was that they'd sell an extended warranty at a discount. The tractor remains unready for delivery - tires haven't been replaced, canopy is not installed, etc - the dealer said they wouldn't even start working on it until mid-December.

I don't think the policy is reasonable. (I concede that I may have the unreasonable view.) The lack of communication and this policy have put me way off Kubota. If I had it to do over...

What do you think?

seymojo536 · Dec 9, 2011

If I was you and had it to do over, I would have waited until next May to buy a tractor. Or maybe I would just have rented one for the short time I needed it each year.

sailfast · Dec 9, 2011

HydroOp said:
We have an unusual (I think) situation. This past summer, in mid-July, we bought a Kubota MX5100 to use on property 3000 miles away. We only get to spend time there for a few weeks each summer. The dealer is adding a canopy, remote valves, changing tires and making a few other changes. They agreed to hold it on their lot until next June when we return.

A couple days later (probably a couple days too late!) it occurred to me to ask when the clock starts ticking on the warranty. Answer: When we signed the sales agreement. I asked to have it changed to the delivery date. Answer: Corporate policy. The dealer recommended I appeal through Kubota's Contact Us web page. Kubota failed to answer 3 separate inquiries - no response whatsoever! - which was pretty disappointing.

The dealer said he'd work it through the regional rep. Many weeks later Kubota's response was that they'd sell an extended warranty at a discount. The tractor remains unready for delivery - tires haven't been replaced, canopy is not installed, etc - the dealer said they wouldn't even start working on it until mid-December.

I don't think the policy is reasonable. (I concede that I may have the unreasonable view.) The lack of communication and this policy have put me way off Kubota. If I had it to do over...

What do you think?

One word for you.

Cancel

TripleR · Dec 9, 2011

I think I would just cancel it and rent as needed.

creekbend · Dec 9, 2011

TripleR said:
I think I would just cancel it and rent as needed.

I agree, but perhaps the OP has already put down a substantial down payment on the tractor. He did not state, whether he did or didn't, in his initial post. In this case, it may not be refundable. Just a thought?

HydroOp · Dec 9, 2011

Canceling would be tough - we've got a lot of money into it already. I could have probably done so as soon as I was told "Corporate Policy", but, assuming Kubota wanted good customer relations I thought this would be worked out favorably.

The idea of waiting to purchase until the start of our 2012 visit had occurred to us, but, there were some very good reasons for buying at the end of our 2011 visit to the property - not least of which was 0% financing. Also, with our time in Maine so short, we wanted the tractor and modifications positively ready to go on arrival in Maine.

Renting hadn't even occurred to me; in retrospect, a very good idea.

Out of curiosity I pulled up the Better Business Bureau's complaint statistics for 2010 (most recent data):
Tractor Distributors and Manufacturers - 162 complaints
Tractor Dealers - 7,531 complaints

+1 for 2011's manufacturer count.
I have no complaints about the dealer (Wescott & Sons in Gorham)

Thanks for your thoughts on the question.

Jeff

BTI · Dec 9, 2011

If you actually signed papers on it, financing etc, it is tough to shut it down.
In this world anymore things (especially money transactions) move at lightening speed.
This also goes for warranty registration, it gets the machine "off the books" and into sold unit status.
I know it seems like an easy thing to do but with money transfers it's sometimes very hard to put the brakes on.
You bought now to reap the benefits of the year end incentives....
The down side is that your warranty starts now.....
The up side is the dealer isn't charging you to store it.....

BTI

blueriver · Dec 9, 2011

Thats just the way it is ... warranty starts when the deal is done.

DK35vince · Dec 9, 2011

I'm taking Kubota's side on this one.
Warranty starts at the time of purchase. Their offer for a discount on an extented warranty is fair.

MessickFarmEqu · Dec 9, 2011

You can't really have a senerio where warrenty does not start at time of purchase. He said she said about when a tractor goes to work just is not a workable policy. You should wait until you can take delivery to sign the papers. I'd see if they can unwind your sale and pick it up later if its that important to you. Really, you bought the best... you hardly need a warrenty on a kubota.