$300 Holy Cow

[CJBOTA]

I have a B2920 and it has been absolutely wonderful. However, I just experienced my first disappointment with Kubota. I accidently broke one of the front head lights. I was stacking wood up high with the loader and a piece slid off and broke the lens. Anyway, I called my local dealer and I hope the parts guy made a mistake, but he said the replacement part was $300. Holy Cow $300, it still makes me dizzy. There is no way this lens could cost more then $ 50 to mass produce. So double the cost and that's $100 tops. If it did cost $300 then it should have not broke. Thanks for letting me vent but holy cow I still don't feel better. Holy Cow $300, can this be possible?
CJ from Ohio

 

[BigD23]

Sounds like a LOT CJ...Have you looked online for prices? eBay? Good luck and keep us posted.

Don

 

[Harvest Moon]

My neighbors lens has been broken for about 6 years because it cost something similarly amazing. What a scam.

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

Get a second opinion....so to speak... Call or Send an email to Messicks. They are quick to respond ( I was suprised how quick I got an EMAIL response from a Dealer, especially from the parts department. Its easier for me to order from them than to drive to my loacl dealer...

Good Luck

 

[CJBOTA]

Are you recommending I get a second opinion about my headlite or my heart attack. Thanks, I'll give Messicks a call....CJ

 

[don716]

It must be GOLD plated.You have any pics?????????

Donny

 

[argeaux]

That's messed up. It's a shame you can't fabricate crappy plastic parts like you can metal parts.

What I would do is contact Kubota corporate....ask them to make the problem go away. If they refuse, then hit every online forum about tractors and make everyone aware that they're going to get butt-raped if they crack a headlight bezel. In the long run it'll cost Kubota a lot more.

 

[dodge man]

Have you priced one of those things for a car. They are pretty expensive also. Just because its a tractor doesn't mean it should cost less. They have to make a bunch of these parts, stock them for years, and hope someone buys them.

That said its a rip off. All headlights for cars up until the early 70's were a standard round style. Cost less then $10 to replace. Then they added square ones, still pretty cheap. Then sometimes in the mid 80's they opened the door and the automakers could use what ever they wanted. The bulbs cost more than the old round headlights cost. If you break a lens, then it gets really pricey. My entire points it thats its more about apperance then function or saving the consumer money. They want the sleak look. So when you break one, its bucks to replace.

I'm not saying its fair, but its just the way it is. Its not like your tractor needs a sleek front end for aerodynamics, but more to make it look cool.

 

[IH3444]

New Holland has similar insane prices for their lights....Massey seems to be the most reasonable tractor when it comes to lights. Why in the world these newer tractors are stream lining their lights is nuts. They are tractors.

 

[CJBOTA]

If it was just a crack I wouldn't worry about it, but I actually have a hole about the size of a quarter. Although the bulb didn't break. I feel better for venting ang getting your support. Sometimes I think it's just me when things don't make sense. I am glad to hear other folks say it's rediculous. I am certainly going to be more careful in the future. I am going to call messicks today and see what they say. Thanks all.....CJ from Ohio

 

[savageactor7]

Farm equipment doesn't benefit from the 'economy of production concept'. Suppliers are always changing lines from one limited production item to the next.

 

[InlineDieselFan]

I have a broken headlight, dented hood and skewed hood, grill, and guard under the hood. bent everything back the best I could with a little force and a hammer and called it good. My tractor is a tool and the cost of fixing that tool was so much I about choked to death.

BTW wait until you somehow wind a stick through all of the guards and punch into the radiator, $400 later and a lot of bad words. I did fix that.

Any brand of tractor parts are spendy, but that is sort of the price you pay to play. I only fix what I need to on my tractor.

steve

 

[FrogLick]

I certainly understand your desire to keep your tractor looking nice and in good repair, but for $300 I'd buy a roll of heavy duty clear tape to keep the water out of the housing and spend the other $295 on something else.

 

[Danno1]

.

Well, I'd go just a bit beyond the duct tape.

For $300, I'd get some 1/16 Lexan, cut out the proper shaped patch, and glue it in w Devcon Plastic Welder.

.

 

[Tig]

My dealer (in Canada) once mentioned that assemblies are cheaper than parts. I wish I had paid more attention so I could clarify. In my case I needed front rims. The rim ordered as a "part" was more expensive that the rim ordered as an "assembly" even though they were the exact same thing.
I hope this makes enough sense for someone to corroborate.

 

[ray66v]

The production cost for a repair part is almost nothing, because the cost of producing the part, has usually already been budgeted to be covered in the manufacture and sale of the vehicle.

They do include costs for: materials, packaging, warehousing, inventorying, multiple shipping costs, middle man, and retail markups.

I Have considerable experience in the auto repair field. A While ago, when I looked up a lot of the parts prices on my compact tractor, I found they are roughly 2 to 3 times what a comparable automotive part would cost.

The shippers, middle men, and the retailers, need their profit on the parts to be able to exist. But I can't help but feel the manufacturers, at least in better economic times, are profiteering on our misfortunes.

 

[Brahmus]

Haha, i did something similar on the headlight of my L4240. Near the same price but was $100 cheaper through messicks I think. I needed up plastic welding the mounting brackets back but had to pay $20 for the bulb!!!! She's been running like that with no issues cept for that small crack in the back.

 

[phyxer]

If it were me, and I'm sure it will be sooner or later, I'd just put it on the list of things I MIGHT fix/replace IF I ever decided to sell the tractor AND I thought it would help me make an equitable (for me) sale.

Troy

 

[argeaux]

I'm not saying its fair, but its just the way it is.

It's only "the way it is" if people put up with it.

 

[PeterK]

I have 3M ScotchCal lens protectors on my vehicles. It goes on clear and is fairly thick but nearly invisible at 5 feet. This place sells it in bulk and might be what you need. (cost $25 for 1 fllot x 6 incles) suvlights.com 3M Paint and Lens Protection Film (clear & yellow)