What did you say???

[copperhead1967]

Ok, got the voice mail from tha Kubota dealer that my BX22 was fixed. I called them back and asked what the bill would be. The nice lady said $4585.
I said "excuse me"??? "Who authorized that ? I was quoted $2700".
She says let me get your file. I said fine.
I asked if any other parts where needed and she said "No, just the Hydrostatic unit ($1500) the rest is labor". "It took 38 hours to swap the hydro". She then proceeded to quote a long list of parts that needed removed to complete the repair.( I've torn the tractor down to almost the halfway point of the repair to change the hydro cooling fan AND put it back together in around 4 hours myself.) And that was after a few pesky carraige bolts where removed.
I've seen post here with other owners completing the swap in 11 or so hours. WT* gives here?
Oh, and to top it off Bob the mechanic who quoted me the repair "no longer works for them". I can see why if it takes him that long to do what a novice can do in 11 hours.
I have to call back tomorrow when the owners in.......... stay tuned because this is going to be good.

Anyone have a shop rate labor manual or know where I can find one for Kubota?

 

[flynifr]

In 38 hours you could tear it down and hand fabricate the parts as you put it back together. Something is VERY wrong. That repair alone is half the value of the entire machine. I'm anxious to hear your outcome.

 

[crazyal]

Wait to talk to the owner and tell him you were quotes $2700. Hopefully they will either show why the $2700 was wrong or will honor the price.

 

[Chilly807]

I generally try to get a written quote for that kind of stuff, it's nice to have something to lay on the counter when this happens.

Sean

 

[copperhead1967]

In 38 hours you could tear it down and hand fabricate the parts as you put it back together. Something is VERY wrong. That repair alone is half the value of the entire machine. I'm anxious to hear your outcome.

My thoughts exactly.

Machine is probably worth 7-9 K. As it sat it was a useless hulk of metal in the yard. So a $2700 one time expense on a paid off tractor or 15K for a new one with a payment book = pay the $2700.

My thought process with the 2700 estimate was this....1500 parts, 1200 labor and some sort of guaranteed repair from the shop.......vs..... me doing work, 1500 parts and no guarantee it would fix the issue = have shop do work.

My thoughts on the 4500 repair would be .....1500 parts, I do the repairs and still have 3000 for other parts that may need fixed.

Not once was I called about the labor running into excessive overrun. Now if they would have called and said they found part xyz was bad too and it cost xxx to replace I'd have made an educated decision. But to find out no additional parts where needed and the mechanic no longer works there.... all sorts of red flags go up.

I figure two thing happened....the tranny wasn't bad and they needed additional parts and don't want to admit it.... or they are having me pay for Bob's "last mistake".

 

[newbury]

Most shops I deal with have some boilerplate in their "wild A guestimate" that says if the cost is going to be more than x% more call. And X is often 10%. Did you have anything like that?

 

[rswyan]

Oh, and to top it off Bob the mechanic who quoted me the repair "no longer works for them". I can see why if it takes him that long to do what a novice can do in 11 hours.

Nah ..... Bob probably knew his stuff and was the one was that was going to do it ...... the really scary thing is: who the heck did they replace him with ? (.... and was the goober that was working on your tractor .... )

 

[Ductape]

Was your estimate in writing?

 

[TRR]

I've had a Kubota shop quote me a price and then charge me many times more than the quote. I try not to deal with them anymore than I have to. My tractor came without a ROPS many years ago so I had them put one on recently. The parts ended up double what they quoted and the labor (as they put it - a 15 minute job) was for 3 hours! And to top it all off, two of the bolts are stripped and the rest were not even finger tight!!!!!! This is the 1st time I've had them actually do work on my tractor and it will be the last time as well!

 

[copperhead1967]

Nah ..... Bob probably knew his stuff and was the one was that was going to do it ...... the really scary thing is: who the heck did they replace him with ? (.... and was the goober that was working on your tractor .... )

You know I never thought of it that way....maybe Bob was not making them enough money...... so he had to go......bet Bobs replacement is employee of the month after this job.


No written estimate, my mistake, maybe ....but the way it works is you drop off the tractor and they call you when they diagnose the problem. I remember years ago dealing with a major repair on something and they wouldn't start work until I signed Their estimate to keep everything on the up and up. this time no paperwork was signed and only a verbal between me and Bob. So guess it boils down to this .... What idiot would spend 5 K to fix a 7-9K tractor???? Must be me....

 

[crazyal]

Most states attorney generals have a consumer protection agency. If the dealer is not willing to budge I would give them a call (usually they will ask for a letter detailing everything that's happened). If they get involved it will put pressure on the dealer to play nice. Remember, since 'Bob' is gone they also don't know what Bob told you so they are also kind of stuck (it's hard to say you told Bob to do the work when they can't have Bob back them up). Besides if it ever went to court Bob may have to come in and tell his story. If his termination was not a happy one the dealer is going to cave much quicker to avoid him coming in and saying "yup, $2700 was what I quoted".

 

[LD1]

It my be worth researching your state laws regarding this matter.

I know in the auto business, at least in my state, if the total bill is going to be more than 10% higher than the quote, they HAVE to get authorization FIRST, otherwise they have to eat the difference if the customer knows his stuff.

If you have similar protection in PA, 2700+10%=$2970 is the MOST i believe they are entitled to.

And it shouldnt matter wether the quote is in writing or not. If it is not, and they wont budge, and ya wanted to play hard ball with them, wheres the proof or signed papers that even said you authoorized the repair in the first place. You could go in there and say " I didnt want you to fix the tractor. I just wanted a diagnostic. Bob knew this"

But either way, I am looking forward to see what the outcome is after you talk to the owner. I am sure he will make it right. And if he wont, I wouldnt loose any sleep implementing the method I just described above.

 

[copperhead1967]

It my be worth researching your state laws regarding this matter.

I know in the auto business, at least in my state, if the total bill is going to be more than 10% higher than the quote, they HAVE to get authorization FIRST, otherwise they have to eat the difference if the customer knows his stuff.

If you have similar protection in PA, 2700+10%=$2970 is the MOST i believe they are entitled to.

And it shouldnt matter wether the quote is in writing or not. If it is not, and they wont budge, and ya wanted to play hard ball with them, wheres the proof or signed papers that even said you authoorized the repair in the first place. You could go in there and say " I didnt want you to fix the tractor. I just wanted a diagnostic. Bob knew this"

But either way, I am looking forward to see what the outcome is after you talk to the owner. I am sure he will make it right. And if he wont, I wouldnt loose any sleep implementing the method I just described above.

I see your point on "hey i just wanted it diagnosed". Or I just wanted the fluid changed. But I wouldn't be able to sleep. Just not raised that way.

I did talk to the owner just now. He did the "let me call you back after I dig into it" routine. Came back with an offer of $3688. Rusty bolts, took longer.... yada yada. I almost went for it.... but stayed the course.
I did find out Bob was the service manger of 9 years and just came in and said he "had enough" shortly after taking my tractor in. HMMMM
I countered with the 10% higher point, he went on with "rusty bolts", asked me if i wanted a trade in, I said "not with a payment book attached".

Back to "rusty bolts"....I said did you know it was a 2004 when you gave the estimate? Shouldn't you expect rusty bolts?? Long pause... so I kept talking. I mentioned I had done work on it and know what it takes to remove the sheet metal and ROPS, tractor forum guys can do this hydro repair in 12-16 hours ....without air tools.
Back to Bob not here anymore... I said "not my problem"....Then stumped him with ... "When do you decide to call a customer with or without a written estimate on overruns"?
"If you say $2700 at what point do you call or just leave the meter running"?
More silence.So I added "I never heard anyone doing business that way and that it was poor way to treat customers"

At this point I figured I was at the upper hand . Told him I had 3000 budgeted adding 10% on to quote. ( I believe this is fair and what I really expected the bill to be, knowing theres always something added on, never is it less ) He said he "would lose money".

He's going to dig some more and call me back Saturday or Monday.... I'm holding firm on the $3000 number, so where $688 apart, and I went up $300 already.
I did mention after I got the tractor back up and running I was going to start shopping for a Mini-excavator. Which I have been kicking around....just not at the buying stage yet. I was close to pricing one, until this happened. Maybe in the spring. See if that sways him any more. He may decide a lifetime customer is worth more than a one time customer.

 

[hizoot]

copperhead...after this treatment, this dealer would be off my list when looking for that mini-ex.I realize you may be trying to open his eyes to the fact that you are not just a one time customer.
Could be one of the reasons Bob quit....ethics.

 

[copperhead1967]

Yeah I know, my thoughts too.
Maybe Bob said "Boy this guys going to be PI##ED, I'm done with this place".

I was just appealing to the owners greed, I have no intention on buying from this dealer or having work done there again. I never said I was shopping his lot.

After all this I still think Kubota is a good product, I treat my machines like a tool and expect stuff to break once in a while. I don't mind paying to have something fixed or buying parts to do it myself, which I do most of the time. I just hate being treated like a sucker. Remember when companies dealt square with people ?

 

[jakell2010]

Who's the dealer,,,?

 

[bigbull338]

you just got hammered by the dealer an the shop.im thinking they lowballed their figures so they could get the job an really hook you.sounds to me like they left the labor charges out.thats 1 reason i try to know as much about the repair an parts as the machinic does.

 

[copperhead1967]

I'll hold off on the dealer name until this runs its course. the estimate was 1500 for parts and 1200 labor. The parts was retail price for other dealers so everything else seemed in line.

 

[crazyal]

If you have a need for the tractor and can't wait too much longer then the dealer kind of has you over a barrel but it doesn't sound like you need it so I would let him think about it. Shop labor is something that he can eat depending how busy he is. Parts have a markup and can only be discounted a finite amount. So he should be able to come down to $3k. I guess it really comes down to how much he values a customer, right now I'm not sure if I would want to loose a single one.

 

[Logan]

Call the Sheriff, you've been robbed...