Wits end with my Kubota dealer

[oosik]

My M6040 was on the lot - so only a two day wait and it was suckin dirt on my 80A. It was brand new when I got it in 2009 and I've only had one "dealer involvement" - the service tech appeared - unannounced - one day and put a heavier step bracket on the tractor. Some kind of "step bracket recall". Otherwise - nada.

 

[check]

My M6040 was on the lot - so only a two day wait and it was suckin dirt on my 80A. It was brand new when I got it in 2009 and I've only had one "dealer involvement" - the service tech appeared - unannounced - one day and put a heavier step bracket on the tractor. Some kind of "step bracket recall". Otherwise - nada.

My dealer has been great. I only took it for service twice, and each time everything went smoothly. Last time, they said they were busy, and so they might not be able to do it for a couple weeks, but then they called me about three days after I dropped the tractor off and said it was ready.

Again, service is not high on my list for choosing a tractor/dealer, because my 2009 Kubota never needs service! The two times that I took it in were for the complete fluid change service, because I was too lazy and did not have the time to do it myself.

They are also really friendly and accommodating at my dealership, and show me around anytime I want to look at a bigger tractor.

 

[wagne223]

Last year it took my dealer 5 weeks to put my L2501 together.

The hold up was the rear remote valves.
The parts were backordered.

Unfortunately, the poor communication is becoming typical in all industries. People in general just dont care.

My personal process is to email on Monday and call on Thursday every week asking how things are going. Always being polite. They will usually tell you what item is holding up the build.

Keeps you on their mind.

I know they should update the customer, but it is just not going to happen. I find it less stressful and keeps my anger and frustration down if I just contact them regularly.

The problem with cancelling is you have to start over at another dealer and they will probably have the same hold up.

It would be rare for a dealer to have a tractor already set up the way you want it.
Seems strange to me but I guess a lot of customers buy tractors without T&T.

 

[oosik]

When I bought my Kubota in 2009 - I ordered it without hydraulic top link. Because the tractor would have to sit at the dealership waiting for the top link to arrive. Might just as well be at my place - doing work. Fit Rite top link is not a difficult instal - as a matter of fact - I would not even class it as an instal. It sure as heck is a lot easier, faster, cleaner than a change over from rear blade to chipper - on my tractor. I hope to tell you - one of these day I'm going to get REALLY impatient and bust a hand on the rear blade/chipper change over. If I didn't enjoy using that chipper so much.........................

 

[SDT]

You need a different dealer.

SDT

 

[shooterdon]

And you wonder why dealerships fail. This dealer gets nothing until the sale is made AND the product is delivered.


Walk into most dealers around here and I see a lot of BS'ing and time wasting. Time that could be used to update customers on the status of their orders or repairs. Maybe the employees look busy when the owner shows up...but I doubt it. And if the owners do not care, the employees will not either. It used to be called "management by walking around". There are dealers I will never buy from because I sense their people do not care. If they do not care enough when you are buying, they will care less when you need service or help.

 

[Gary Fowler]

My local Kubota dealer's sales staff is about the same as the OP's. When I was looking at buying, (no particular brand in mind) I went to all the dealers within 100 miles. Kubota dealer was too busy to talk, he had to get a sale ready to ship. I left my name and number and the size tractor I was looking for (50 HP). Never heard from him, called him twice and no return call. I ended up at an LS dealer who had my purchase ready and delivered the next day. He had to go to another LS dealer 75 miles away to pick up the tractor I had looked at. I wanted to deal with this dealer since he was a lot closer and he had no problem with going 75 miles north to get the tractor and then delivery it for free.
I never did hear from Kubota.

 

[Coyote machine]

First tractor buy. Went looking at what I thought was a Kbota dealer, turned out to be a Kioti dealer. Had never heard of Kioti. He showed me what he had, spent a lot of time with me, explained how I could get all kinds of features from the factory for way less money, etc.

I slapped down my card and told them to deliver to my house the next day with a backhoe attached. They did, and gave us two free Kioti hats too. No questions asked. I later bought a BB, Woods Hog, and a upgrade to a 4 cylinder 40 HP unit the next year, then a Mechron. In each case he had the tractor or UTV delivered free to my house the next day. No wait, everything in stock, no BS or run around waiting on pieces. Fully stocked dealer, friendly family business; know and call me by name whenever I show up.

Lots of brands are resting on their butts while those who are ready to do business are doing just that.
I spend my money where it gets the attention of the people wanting a slice of the pie. YMMV.

 

[atsah]

OP, I would never put up with that, I would call the owner and see if he or she wants to sell a tractor or not. That's a lot of money to spend on one purchase in a place that apparently couldn't care less..

 

[sixdogs]

Could this no call back thing be some sort of sales tool or marketing gimmick and done on purpose?