What should I do?

houstonscott · Apr 6, 2011

Here we go. I bought an LS U5030 in the last week of March 2011. I paid cash and arranged for delivery on the 30th of April. Deal was signed and money has exchanged hands. There was never any discussion of an LS rebate program. Now today a get a form that the dealer used to apply for a rebate to LS for 2k on a U5030 with loader, what I bought and wants the rebate to go to him as part of the deal. Needs my signature to recover rebate. What should I do? Seems like the LS rebate is mine. He sent me the form to sign so he could recover the rebate. If this was disclosed up front I would not be questioning this but it was never mentioned at the deal making part of the sale. What should I do?

HS

Cutterhead · Apr 6, 2011

Tractor yours, rebate yours. Seems pretty straight forward to me. While there are times when a manufacturer will create rebates for their dealers, the fact that the deal needs you to sign the form makes it pretty clear that the rebate was meant for the end user.

avatar · Apr 6, 2011

I agree with cutterhead, if the rebate is for the dealer you probably would never known there was such a thing.Having to sign it should make it yours, if not tell your dealer you will sign it if he will split it with you.I just took deliver of a 4020 on Monday and also paid cash for it and there was no mention of a rebate...Lets us now how it all pans out..

houstonscott · Apr 6, 2011

The rebate says R, U, and P Series $1400 or $2000 with LS loader. So you should get a rebate too.

HS

rocknrod · Apr 6, 2011

I think you made your best deal with the dealer.
If you did not see the rebate coming back to you in the deal, its his.
Honesty today is rare. :thumbsup:
And what goes around comes around - Ask me how I know.

magicheater · Apr 6, 2011

My question would be: Did the dealer know in advance of the rebate and not tell you? Hope you like the tractor.

houstonscott · Apr 6, 2011

That's my point, I was not aware of a rebate. If the dealer was not aware at sale I think rebate is mine. Had I been told part of the deal is that the rebate comes back to dealer fine, I would sign in second. But this was not disclosed at the transaction and the rebate form and signing should have happened then. I have asked dealer to explain why the rebate was not disclosed at sale of tractor. I guess he will respond tomarrow. I feel like he was counting on this for the price he sold at and didn't realize it required my signature. Don't know how others who have paid cash didn't report about rebates. Only makes me think other dealers were not honest and some how got rebate, don't know how they submitted without buyer signature on form.

HS

I have no memory · Apr 6, 2011

Most likely the rebate was included in your price initially. It would be concerning, to say the least, if he didn't know about it. Most prices I've gotten from dealers they say there are rebates but that is part of the price they give me. I have gotten a rebated price even when the rebates haven't taken effect yet. I have never gotten a rebate check from a tractor manufacturer or even had to sign paperwork on it so that is kind of weird. So, don't get woked up about it the stress isn't worth it. Your dealer will probably say he knew about it and it was part of the price. If you have your doubts you can call other dealers for pricing or post your deal on here and I'm sure someone can say if it's a good one or not.

I have had to sign forms that my state requires that lets them send a letter to my wife telling them what I bought and how much it was. To me that is hilarious and sad at the same time.

LittleBlueTractor · Apr 6, 2011

houstonscott said:
Here we go. I bought an LS U5030 in the last week of March 2011. I paid cash and arranged for delivery on the 30th of April. Deal was signed and money has exchanged hands. There was never any discussion of an LS rebate program. Now today a get a form that the dealer used to apply for a rebate to LS for 2k on a U5030 with loader, what I bought and wants the rebate to go to him as part of the deal. Needs my signature to recover rebate. What should I do? Seems like the LS rebate is mine. He sent me the form to sign so he could recover the rebate. If this was disclosed up front I would not be questioning this but it was never mentioned at the deal making part of the sale. What should I do?

HS

For me this doesn't pass the "smell" test. I haven't been able to find the offer, but I suspect it's for your paying cash in lieu of 0% financing through LS Tractor or something. In any case, it seems to me like the dealer SHOULD have told you about it if he was counting on getting it as part of the deal. I really can't think of a good excuse for the dealer not telling you about it other than he didn't want you to know about it. I totally agree with your sentiment. It's really sad that this has ruined the whole "getting a new tractor" process for you. I'm the kind of guy that would seriously consider asking for my money back over this kind of thing and looking elsewhere, even if it cost me a little more and I had to get it from further away. There has been a breach of trust in your relationship with your dealer over something that wouldn't have been a big deal if he had just told you about it. You might want to post something up in the "Buying/Pricing/Comparisons" forum to see what they have to say about it, even if it is a bit of airing LS Tractor "dirty laundry". Probably can't expect too many dealers to pipe-in, even if they don't agree with what your dealer did.

crankshaft21 · Apr 6, 2011

I would have a talk face to face with that dealer. Something don`t smell right about that. When I bought my montana in 08, after we settled on the price, the dealer told me I would get a $2000 rebate. The rebate came to me. I paid cash too. To me, its easier for someone to lie over the phone or e-mail than face to face. Thats why I would go see him in person.

houstonscott · Apr 6, 2011

Not sure what I am going to do, want to remain positive. Frankly I am confident that the price for a new tractor with the capabilities of a U5030 will never be sold cheaper again. Prices are going to go up. We are just the beneficiaries of a very nice product coming into the market during a tough economic time and with a glut of choice in the market. When prices raise people will not believe what we payed for such a nice tractors. To be realistic it would cost me 10K to move to a Kubota/JD/MF that is 3.3L, 4600 lbs, and over 57hp.

HS

SixHoeBob · Apr 6, 2011

I would think that LS has the details of the rebate program in writing. The program details would explain who should receive the rebate. Ask the dealer for the document. If he won't produce it, demand it from LS.

LittleBlueTractor · Apr 6, 2011

houstonscott said:
Not sure what I am going to do, want to remain positive. Frankly I am confident that the price for a new tractor with the capabilities of a U5030 will never be sold cheaper again. Prices are going to go up. We are just the beneficiaries of a very nice product coming into the market during a tough economic time and with a glut of choice in the market. When prices raise people will not believe what we payed for such a nice tractors. To be realistic it would cost me 10K to move to a Kubota/JD/MF that is 3.3L, 4600 lbs, and over 57hp.

HS

I understand -- it would be stupid to give it up if it's really a good deal regardless of the dealer's indiscretion, BUT I'd want to call around a bunch to be sure my price is as good as I thought. I also agree with crankshaft21, you need to ask the guy to his face what gives and let him know how disappointed you are and give him a chance to explain. It's very common for dealers to quotes prices including rebates, so that's nothing new. But not saying anything about it until after the deal is done breeds distrust. In the end it's your call on how to handle this. Besides, being down here in Houston may give me options you don't have. Good luck!

houstonscott · Apr 6, 2011

I have the document in my hand, they emailed it to me to sign and send back. It has there signature on it. I could sign this now put it in the mail to LS and get the rebate now. I could post the document on the forum but I don't think I am going to. It's the LS cash rebate in lieu of sponsored low rate financing form. Terms and conditions are on form. There are two boxes to be checked, one returns rebate to dealer for applied to purchase price, one is directed to customer. The dealer has checked the box for him already. Document says program is in effect from 01JAN to 31MAR. Anyone know about this.

HS

HS

milkman636 · Apr 7, 2011

If the guy was trying to shaft you out of two grand he probably would not have sent you a form to tip you off. He could probably muster a reasonable copy of your John Hancock if he was dishonest. Since his price was 10k below the competitors tractors, I'm thinking he deserves the benefit of the doubt that this rebate was factored into the math. If he looked me in the eye and said this very thing, I personally would be satisfied and hand him the signed form to mail back.

If you did the homework to know that your price is genuinely good, than it shouldn't matter that there is one more form to sign to help the dealer that gave the deal.

Dirty pile · Apr 7, 2011

I bought mine 2/11/11, don't know anything about a rebate, nothing on my sales slip...and it's literally a little 3x5 sales slip...like you get at a diner. Bought it off site, so it's all they had.

joemd11 · Apr 7, 2011

I bought my R3039 on 3/26/11 and never heard anything about a rebate. I don't think I ever gave my dealer my email address so anything sent to me would arrive via snail mail. We shall see.

houstonscott · Apr 7, 2011

Got a call from dealer this morning. He explained the rebate was only in effect for the U, P series during that time. The U5030 was only the second one sold so they were not used to putting in that form to recover the discount they offer in sale price. So clearly they thought they would recover rebate in selling at the price I bought the tractor. I'm going to sign it and let them recover rebate. They were clearly embarrassed about having to call and explain. My sales receipt looks like I bought a bag of feed from the feed store too. LOL. I guess that how they do tractors, I like getting into rural America, its cool. Anyway I'm happy and will put up pictures when it's delivered on the 30th.

HS

LittleBlueTractor · Apr 7, 2011

houstonscott said:
Got a call from dealer this morning. He explained the rebate was only in effect for the U, P series during that time. The U5030 was only the second one sold so they were not used to putting in that form to recover the discount they offer in sale price. So clearly they thought they would recover rebate in selling at the price I bought the tractor. I'm going to sign it and let them recover rebate. They were clearly embarrassed about having to call and explain. My sales receipt looks like I bought a bag of feed from the feed store too. LOL. I guess that how they do tractors, I like getting into rural America, its cool. Anyway I'm happy and will put up pictures when it's delivered on the 30th.

HS

To quote the Bard, "All's well that ends well..." Glad to hear he (the dealer, not the Bard) cleared it up for you.

MY final receipt was a bit more substantial -- the stamped "PAID" loan application from AgriCredit. Took a whole 6 months to pay off my S3010!

Cool -- looking forward to pics!:thumbsup:

Sublifer · Apr 7, 2011

FWIW my dealer had me sign the rebate form when I was signing everything else. He called it a dealer rebate and it was already figured into my price. I think LS needs to fix this rebate program. If its a dealer rebate then either don't get the customer's signature on it or put it on the invoice as a line item. If its a customer rebate then the form should also be available online, course they would need to update their website for that...