My first summer with Kioti (So far not good)

[MotorSeven]

Good grief, it sounds like hacking into the CIA:laughing: I'm glad things are moving in the right direction and yes Kioti needs to make some changes in their CS structure.

 

[tnmike]

After all the trouble you've had you deserve a new tractor. If you get one I will be truly amazed.

I am not defending Connie but you can best believe that a secretary would not last long with her current mode of handling customer relations unless she had been directed by management to do so. I would blame them more than her.

 

[JoelD]

Unfortunately in today's corporate culture sometimes easier to keep poor performing employee than to go through legal process of dismissal and replacement.
i would be as mad as you are and your frustration is totally justified
if new hydro fixes problem then i would be comfortable you are good for long time, if it does not then i would pull together all your documentation into a nice tidy bundle research lemon law find a nice similar example if you can and fight for new machine

good luck,
joel

 

[Ductape]

Is it financed through Kioti ?

Might be time to let them have it back.

 

[madmax12]

Very recently, mahindra marketing started posting in the mahindra forum, even PMing/emailing existing customers. And there are 3 dealers involved in the posts, at least one of which has recurring contact with the highest levels in the company...

If kioti (all brands) started logging in here, and they started to see that people from all over the world are on this site, perhaps all the brands would move much more quickly in problem solving and/or tractor swapping.

The poster who decided not to buy the kioti product after speaking with Connie, suggested sending kioti his thread link. I think he's on the right track.

Perhaps this site could have a large impact on the whole industry's customer relations/warranty/recall/repair process.

 

[Misfire]

After all the trouble you've had you deserve a new tractor. If you get one I will be truly amazed.

I am not defending Connie but you can best believe that a secretary would not last long with her current mode of handling customer relations unless she had been directed by management to do so. I would blame them more than her.

Connie isn't a secretary. I was informed by the switchboard attendant that Connie is Customer Relations.

I think the problems in that company are rooted at the very top of Daedong USA.

 

[kiotiken]

Well, I doubt Connie is the problem, nobody would get away with cs like that if that's not how the system was designed. Kioti wants to have dealers between them and the owners. Most of the time that's OK, but can be frustrating, especially if your dealer's not getting the answers you'd like. Once you're "in", they are great to deal with, pleasent, responsive and willing to help.

I think everything will work out nicely in the end for Dingo and with time the pain of this ordeal will fade a little. The DK series is a beast of a tractor and very quickly puts a smile on your face when you start working with it.

 

[Dr Dave]

Sounds like this company does not beleive in customer service. To bad for there dealers and customers or potential customers. Good luck with the next repair attempt.

Dave

 

[CBW1999]

I am not defending Connie but you can best believe that a secretary would not last long with her current mode of handling customer relations unless she had been directed by management to do so. I would blame them more than her.

I have seen all to many times where "creative license" has been taken as to how they handle what they have been instructed to do- I doubt upper management ever dictates rudeness.

Unfortunately in today's corporate culture sometimes easier to keep poor performing employee than to go through legal process of dismissal and replacement.

Well, I doubt Connie is the problem, nobody would get away with cs like that if that's not how the system was designed.

Unfortunately, People like her tend to be a "bully" and nobody wants to confront them about poor performance because they well.... bully them into submission. Often (not always) this type of person finds their way into a job or specific task that allows them the ability to assert themselves in this way. Need for power/control....etc.

Least commonly would the system be "designed" to have someone behave this way.

Possibly an example of someone who has management right where they want them to feel secure in their job and act the way they want to.

 

[kiotiken]

Rudeness no, but the system is designed with a gate keeper to redirect trafic to the dealers. You're not really supposed to get past Connie, so she's doing what she's supposed to, her being rude is probably frustration from talking to persistant SOB's like me all day. I don't mean to defent "the system" or Connies rudeness, but that's my take on it. The system should be a little more receptive to owners IMHO.

 

[Dingo Man]

KK is right. I was told by the Kioti rep that Connie was just doing her job as directed. this does not make it right. I really like the idea someone mentioned that Kioti should have someone surf this forum on a regular basis. They could address their problems and speak with owners directly. Maybe the dealers here can start pushing this.

 

[Coyote machine]

Dingo Man,

You are lucky to have gotten past Connie. I too have dealt with her and decided i was not going to anymore since speaking with her is futile at best.
I was not able to get anyone to answer the phone one day when i wanted to speak to Kioti HQ and decided to call back and punch the button for DEALER service- and lo and behold i was IN! I spoke to one of the dealer rep guys and quickly established a relationship that helped me eventually resolve the DK-40 squeal in reverse issue which plagued many DK-40's over the past few years. Once in I never let go- I got a direct email address and patiently hammered on Kioti over about a 6 month or more time frame, allowing time in between emails for them to come up with a solution. They did, I applied it to my tractor and it is now completely resolved with many hours on the clock since.

Forget about a new tractor that will NEVER happen. they are making attempts to repair yours under warranty- which is their sole obligation while under warranty. No where does it say they will give anyone a new replacement tractor- and believe me they will not do it, not today, not tomorrow, not ever.
Forget Connie, deal respectfully as possible with your dealer, but don't take any c*^p or anything other than a fully complete repair. The fact you are getting a loaner tractor is amazing in itself these days.
Corporations have bulldogs like C*@^8e at their front desks and on the phone to keep the public at bay. Unfortunately they are fairly to very effective at doing just that.

BTW, Kioti corporate has told me on numerous occasions that they are not looking at nor do they care about web forums. They believe more incorrect information is out there on places like TBN than they can believe exists. These are the facts of the matter and speak further to their wanting to be isolated from the public and problems they might otherwise have to deal with. I'm only reporting the way they do things; I'm not saying I agree with it or support it. It would be great if we could all get along, customers (TBNers), dealers and corporate/manufacturers, but unfortunately that is NOT the way its setup and they would not make as much if it did work the way we'd like it to. Sure they might have more loyal customers in the long run and not keep having to recreate the wheel; but they're quagmired in their own stupidity and won't get their heads out anytime soon. So best we get what we can and feel lucky we get anything, after the 'deal' and they've taken our money. Not meant to be pessimistic, just realistic in today's no givebacks corporate culture.

 

[dmcewan]

Was thinking of buying a Kioti and checked this thread. Not buying one now.

 

[kiotiken]

Was thinking of buying a Kioti and checked this thread. Not buying one now.

????? Welcome to TBN, but really your post doesn't make much sense. My thought is you'd have just run off to JD or Kubota anyway.

 

[madmax12]

????? Welcome to TBN, but really your post doesn't make much sense. My thought is you'd have just run off to JD or Kubota anyway.

There are also some very nice colors that are not Green or Orange. He could get a White kioti, which comes with a bobcat on the machine, instead of a pitbull on the phone in CR.

Just a thought.

 

[jonnyc1999]

I'm a big fan of my Bobcat and my dealer so far! Sorry for the trouble that you're having dingo, I hope it gets resolved soon.

 

[rjwerth]

Whenever people feel the need to go directly to a manufacturer with issues, it means that there is a problem at the dealer level. Big, international companies just don't do well dealing with end-users which is why they have dealers that are supposed to represent them in a positive manor. A dealer that suggests that an end user contact the company directly sounds like a dealer who doesn't want to be a dealer.

I work in a small industry where I get to talk directly not just to manufacturers, but the actual owners of the companies as well. So, I know how frustrating it is to have to deal with the layers in huge corporations...especially if they are not working as they should.

 

[PapaPerk]

Sorry to hear about your tractor troubles. Hope they make it right for you. They are beginning to get a bad name on TBN. :grumpy:

 

[CBW1999]

Sorry to hear about your tractor troubles. Hope they make it right for you. They are beginning to get a bad name on TBN. :grumpy:

Although not a fan of Kioti, it is too bad but- should be kept in perspective. Anything produced in mass quantity is subject to some percentage of the "bad apple" showing up. There will always be something, somewhere that shows up in one or a couple of units because a substandard part or whatever get in the mix. It may never be discovered because it is an anomaly.

Then there is the part design or manufacturing process that is bad to begin with and lends itself to common failure.

Who knows- maybe in this particular example, the casting on the pump housing had some small flaw and just changing seals will never fix it. How many of this model has been sold and are fine? Thousands?

 

[PapaPerk]

Although not a fan of Kioti, it is too bad but- should be kept in perspective. Anything produced in mass quantity is subject to some percentage of the "bad apple" showing up. There will always be something, somewhere that shows up in one or a couple of units because a substandard part or whatever get in the mix. It may never be discovered because it is an anomaly.

Then there is the part design or manufacturing process that is bad to begin with and lends itself to common failure.

Who knows- maybe in this particular example, the casting on the pump housing had some small flaw and just changing seals will never fix it. How many of this model has been sold and are fine? Thousands?

Good point... But I've read a lot of posts now complaining about customer service, etc.

The measure of a company is how they treat their customers when they are in need. By the sounds of it Kioti's first step should be removing "Connie" from the phone!