wallace now wears white

[Wayne County Hose]

It was not our choice to give up Kioti but it was our choice to pursue Bobcat after we received our letter from Kioti.

I live in Rick's area. Rick is taking the high road. I have a real good idea what happened. Rick probably won't say too much for a couple reasons. #1 is that he has integrity. #2 is that certain people are probably watching this. I won't spill the beans, not my place. All I can tell you is that Rick got screwed, royally. Usually if you follow the money, you find what happened. My opinion, someday, Kioti will approach Rick and ask him to again, sell their line. I base this opinion on the history of the area I know, all I can say. Hopefully, Rick tells them he shoots every third salesman and the second one just left.

Andy

 

[bp fick]

Not totally accurate. Kioti does not sell tractors to Bobcat.

Kioti is the USA arm of Daedong. In 2007 Bobcat was sold to Doosan (a South Korean Company). Doosan struck up a business relationship with Daedong (Daedong markets tractors under the Kioti brand name in the USA). Daedong now sells tractors to Doosan (Doosan is now the parent corporation of Bobcat). Doosan markets the tractors under the Bobcat name in the USA.

Doosan Infracore Completes Acquisition Of Bobcat, Utility Equipment And Attachments Businesses From Ingersoll Rand

Hope that explains it a little better.

Don

Sorry. Yes, of course. Daedong, the company, (known by their Kioti tractor here) sells tractors to Bob Cat.
My point was simply that some folks are still somewhat aghast to find that a company would, in the end, be found with their products being sold under a couple different name plates, seemingly in competition with themselves. These companies don't see it that way, but as widening their market penetration and maximizing their production capability.

 

[Mousefield]

Sorry. Yes, of course. Daedong, the company, (known by their Kioti tractor here) sells tractors to Bob Cat.
My point was simply that some folks are still somewhat aghast to find that a company would, in the end, be found with their products being sold under a couple different name plates, seemingly in competition with themselves. These companies don't see it that way, but as widening their market penetration and maximizing their production capability.

That's why you have Ford/Mercury or Chevy/GM. I purchased back in the late 80's and another in the early 90's two new Mercury Lynx; they are the same as the Ford Escort, only sight cosmetic changes and of course the name.

 

[bp fick]

That's why you have Ford/Mercury or Chevy/GM. I purchased back in the late 80's and another in the early 90's two new Mercury Lynx; they are the same as the Ford Escort, only sight cosmetic changes and of course the name.

Sort of. Mercury is a Ford line. It is more like the little Mitsubishi D-50 truck that both Mitsubishi built and sold and Dodge just sold. Nuance, but slightly different. Bottom line is that Kioti (Daedong) has both a factory and a dealer network, while BobCat has no factory, merely a dealer network. Again, this is not unusual in this business. LS makes a bunch of people's stuff is now trying to build their own dealer nework. Big names like New Holland and Massey do it too.

Bottom line is that if Wallace "moves" from Kioti to BobCat, the equipment is basically the same, he's happy and we are glad for him that it worked out.

 

[Baranx4]

It's really sad what happened. They got shafted and now his local customers got the shafted also. Kioti brought in a motorcycle, atv dealer as the "new" local dealer. They don't even list Kioti on their website, you have to hit their drop down menu and search to see anything Kioti and then it's file photos. That doesn't make me feel to comfortable if I need warranty work.

Needless to say, I can't blame Rick and Amy for this one. Kioti raised their prices while people aren't buying. Let's face it if you can get a JD or other big name tractor that's equiped the same for the same money which one are you buying? People still don't know the kioti brand.

Last year I looked into a new DK75 and DK90 and it turned out they cost more than a new JD5101E. While the 5101E is considered a stripped down model it still offered more than the kioti. We ended up passing on the gas lease so the extra money wasn't there.

While I'm happy with my Kioti so far, dealer support and availability played a big role in my decision in purchasing my tractor. Now I can choose between a motorcycle dealer selling kioti and driving out of state to the next nearest dealer. Looks like my next tractor won't be Kioti orange.

 

[Frankie D]

Since you mentioned warranty work I just had to comment and probably seek a little advice concerning my problem with my DK45. Several years ago I purchased a 35 DK from Rick Wallace and was happy with the machine, the service etc. I stopped by Wallace Tractor about a year later and Rick showed me a DK 45. We promptly struck up a deal and I was in or on my second brand new Kioti.

A short time after working my new DK 45 it began jumping out of gear. I returned to Wallace and they replaced a fork in the shifter and it worked for a while. After a few more hours the main transmission began jumping out of gear, I returned to Wallace and the main transmission was torn out and a littany of parts were put in the transmission to get it back up and running. I've had the machine back to the shop 3 tmes for the jumping out of gear problem. I have 600 hours on the machine, about 5 months left on the warranty and my dealer is no longer a Kioti dealer. Any suggestions outside of hauling it to one of the fine Kioti dealers in another state? I have to agree with the earlier post when the writer said, "Rick and Amy got screwed and the local customers got screwed" of which I happen to be one. Why Kioti and Wallace parted ways I have no idea, but I'm not really interested in footing the bill for a repetative problem that Kioti needs to address. I hope no one misunderstands. My dealings with Rick and Amy were nothing but pleasant They were fair and as helpful as they possibly could be. I really like the Kioti tractors, but I have to say maybe I should have gone to JD or New Holland where dealers have been with their manufactures for a long time. Any suggestions would certainly be appreciated.

It's really sad what happened. They got shafted and now his local customers got the shafted also. Kioti brought in a motorcycle, atv dealer as the "new" local dealer. They don't even list Kioti on their website, you have to hit their drop down menu and search to see anything Kioti and then it's file photos. That doesn't make me feel to comfortable if I need warranty work.

Needless to say, I can't blame Rick and Amy for this one. Kioti raised their prices while people aren't buying. Let's face it if you can get a JD or other big name tractor that's equiped the same for the same money which one are you buying? People still don't know the kioti brand.

Last year I looked into a new DK75 and DK90 and it turned out they cost more than a new JD5101E. While the 5101E is considered a stripped down model it still offered more than the kioti. We ended up passing on the gas lease so the extra money wasn't there.

While I'm happy with my Kioti so far, dealer support and availability played a big role in my decision in purchasing my tractor. Now I can choose between a motorcycle dealer selling kioti and driving out of state to the next nearest dealer. Looks like my next tractor won't be Kioti orange.

 

[bp fick]

Just my 2 cents, and that is all it is worth.

I have had a few vehicles like you describe over the years. Personally, after a half dozen warranty trips on the same issue and with said warranty about to expire, such a vehicle would be sold down the river. End of story.

The reason I have a car is so that my wife can reasonably expect to drive it where and when she wishes. The reason I have a truck is so that I can do the same. The purpose of a tractor is to be a tool. Without the assurance that any tractor would be consistently reliable to do work in a timely fashion, when I need the snow plowed, the garden plowed or grass mowed, why do I have this tractor again?

Sounds harsh perhaps, but I've lived a few years and life is far to short to have such a tractor, over the longer haul, warranty or no warranty. When you get lemons, you ...... Well, you know.

Here's to hoping it works out for you. All the best,

 

[sweettractors]

Since you mentioned warranty work I just had to comment and probably seek a little advice concerning my problem with my DK45. Several years ago I purchased a 35 DK from Rick Wallace and was happy with the machine, the service etc. I stopped by Wallace Tractor about a year later and Rick showed me a DK 45. We promptly struck up a deal and I was in or on my second brand new Kioti.

A short time after working my new DK 45 it began jumping out of gear. I returned to Wallace and they replaced a fork in the shifter and it worked for a while. After a few more hours the main transmission began jumping out of gear, I returned to Wallace and the main transmission was torn out and a littany of parts were put in the transmission to get it back up and running. I've had the machine back to the shop 3 tmes for the jumping out of gear problem. I have 600 hours on the machine, about 5 months left on the warranty and my dealer is no longer a Kioti dealer. Any suggestions outside of hauling it to one of the fine Kioti dealers in another state? I have to agree with the earlier post when the writer said, "Rick and Amy got screwed and the local customers got screwed" of which I happen to be one. Why Kioti and Wallace parted ways I have no idea, but I'm not really interested in footing the bill for a repetative problem that Kioti needs to address. I hope no one misunderstands. My dealings with Rick and Amy were nothing but pleasant They were fair and as helpful as they possibly could be. I really like the Kioti tractors, but I have to say maybe I should have gone to JD or New Holland where dealers have been with their manufactures for a long time. Any suggestions would certainly be appreciated.

If Kioti would do the right thing, they should replace that complete transmission before it goes out of warranty. From your history, something in there is not copesthetic? Ken Sweet