I think of a couple of things while reading these posts. I think that some of the training that these sales people get from whether it be Kubota or Kioti, could go a lot further. regarding the Kubota side, I have a couple, a
M108, A
M7060, and a BX 25 a lot of the options I now have on those tractors were basically sourced by myself, either by internet searches or from sites / forums like this. I had to tell the local Kubota parts guys about the fenders for the
M108, as well as the little bolt on toolboxes for the BX they didn't even know there was such a thing. I told them well perhaps you should put one or two into stock or perhaps pimp up a floor model tractor, If the customer doesn't see them, how can you expect them to want to buy it...it is pretty simple. I don't now if it is the fact that the probably $12.00 wholesale cost for the toolbox is going to effect their bottom line I am not sure but it surely seems so.
Granted, Kubota Canada and Kubota USA are the same "Mother-Ship" but I think do operate differently. I have mentioned to the parts guys here that Kubota has available seat covers for their tractors could you get me a couple? their response was " They do?" and that was about as far as that got.
Kubota is growing, their biggest competitors in their minds are the Big 3 with them now going with bigger Ag tractors they want in that game. Hopefully they don't lose focus on what got them there and that was their small tractor market.
Kioti: They are working hard and growing their brand, they are hungry, there is absolutely nothing wrong with their tractors, I don't bleed Kubota. I had a 60 HP Kioti bought brand new two years ago, it was a fabulous tractor heavy, very comfortable had features that Kubota didn't it worked well!! So well the thief that broke into my shop and stole it enjoyed a little too much , as in the 40 mile ride (except for the period of time it was on it's side )in high high with the front diff engaged kind of cooked everything and it was totalled off by insurance. I replaced with a Kubota for the basic reason was the nearest Kioti dealer is two hours away, compared to 20 minutes for the Kubota dealer.. BUT... once Kubota got wind I had received the settlement for the Kioti from insurance did they approach me and give me a deal a good deal on the new 7060.
One has to keep on them, and remind them of your loyalty to them and that they should NEVER forget to reciprocate that. I have had to give an occasional good old fashioned oilfield ***-chewing.... I mean take a tractor in for $1700.00 worth of service work (Loader pins / bushings, as well as FULL service, only to get unit home and upon inspection see they hadn't greased it... which is fine, I don't mind tying up one of their mechanics and service trucks to drive out to my farm and grease my tractor on their dime, or on another occasion have them come out twice on their dime to properly adjust creeper gear linkage they installed in the shop and no one bothered to take for a test drive to see how it shifted...
Eventually they will catch on to my training program.... fix it / service it / test it, make sure it is right... or take the time and expense and lost potential revenue they could be earning repairing someone else's equipment. I have more time than they have money....
My rant for the day...
Cheers!! and Happy Tractoring!!
Roger