POOR ATTITUDE FROM LOCAL KUBOTA DEALERSHIP

[ENIGMA]

Long story short, I live in Hendersonville NC, but I bought my L3130 from another dealer in SC because the local dealer acted like he didn't care if I bought one from him or not and the SC dealer was $1000 cheaper. I've used the local dealer for over $1000 of broken parts (my fault, not the tractor) because he was close. The other day I mentioned my transmission wouldn't pull above 4th gear in cold weather until it warmed up. I was bluntly told not to bring it to them for repair. I pointed out that it wasn't a warranty job, it would be cash but they flatly said since I didn't buy it from them, they wouldn't work on it. Has anyone run into this kind of problem with a Kubota dealer? Who do I complain to? Second, what would cause this sort of transmission problem? It still pulls OK when warmed up. I like my tractor, but I am sorry I have done any business with my local dealership. I'm sure the SC dealer would have been happy to ship me anything I needed.

 

[jel1988]

Never with a tractor dealer, but a Chev dealer gave me the same line about 25 years and 7 Fords ago!

 

[fgross335_2210]

If your transmission and tractor works FINE in all gears/speed when warmed up and just not when cold, my suggestion would be the trans fluid is just too cold and creates additional drag until warm. John Deere has two different hydro fluids one for warmer temps and one for colder, not sure if Kubota does the same thing. On my Deere SCUT I switched my hyd. oil to amsoil synthetic and it made a huge difference in performance on cold days, before everything was sluggish for the first 5-10 minutes and now it works the same from cold start until shutdown, no matter what the temperature is.

One other thought, call the selling dealer and ask them if they have run into this problem and if they have any suggestions. Maybe they'll give you the solution you need, and you won't have to continue to deal with the local dealer on this issue. Good luck!

 

[DT86]

I wish I could help.

On the Kubota web site there is a "contact us" link. Send them a email.


As much as I enjoy my Kubota I wouldn't put up with that.

 

[94BULLITT]

I wish I could help.

On the Kubota web site there is a "contact us" link. Send them a email.


As much as I enjoy my Kubota I wouldn't put up with that.

Me either. I would not buy a thing from a dealer like that.

 

[sixdogs]

I would never do business with a dealer like that. You'll be almost be assured of future problems. Buy your parts mail order and if anything goes wrong, haul it and make it a fun road trip. Aside from your current issue, which is likely cold trans fluid, your Kubota will probably never break anyway. Sometimes dealers are jerks and can cause lots of grief but the good news is they usually fail before long.

 

[Bird]

It just might be that there's nothing wrong with the tractor. This reminds me of the time a neighbor bought an old used, but pretty nice, Oliver 1855. The first cold morning, he started it, but could not get it to move at all. So he left it running while he went back in the house, got a cup of coffee, and called the dealer from whom he bought it. The dealer told him that was normal; that it had to warm up a bit before use. And by the time he went back outside, the old Oliver worked just fine.

 

[OldMasterTech]

Some dealers have the mentality that they control their growth and time by restricting service to their own products sold. I don't agree with that business model. I owned three electronics dealerships and was happy to service anyone, however, if two jobs were next and one was our sale, it got attention first.

 

[joecdeere]

And after they show you their attitude, I'm sorry, but I vote with my money and would never grace their door again, and I would never want them working on my tractor after saying that to you.

 

[Maxify55]

Our Kubota and John Deere dealers here in north Florida is about the same. We'll sell you parts if you bought the name brand we sell. However, don't let us find out that you own a, let's say, gray market tractor.
Rather than attempt to make a relationship with a prospective customer that owns a competitors brand. You are automatically ostracized as a leper forevermore.
John Deere will attempt a sale but their pricing structure is so out of hand with their corporate structure that they're no longer competitive with anyone but Kubota.
Kubota won't even talk to you about parts for a Yanmar. Although, so many of their engines have cross matches.
Hence, the reason I bought from the LS/Mahindra dealer. The guys actually gave me their personal cell numbers after the sale. Telling me that, if for any reason, I have a question or a problem to call them.

Where did we go wrong as a country when we stopped treating the customer walking in the door with the same reverence as the last couple of dollars in our pockets?

Walk into a Deere or Kubota dealer and you're lucky if they look up from the newspaper they're reading and grunt; "Yeah, what do you want?"
and give you a; "Can't you see I'm busy here?" , sneer

It's amazing how many of us have felt that sting of feeling like we're step children at the family reunion when we walk into dealerships these days.

 

[aczlan]

Our Kubota and John Deere dealers here in north Florida is about the same. We'll sell you parts if you bought the name brand we sell. However, don't let us find out that you own a, let's say, gray market tractor.
Rather than attempt to make a relationship with a prospective customer that owns a competitors brand. You are automatically ostracized as a leper forevermore.
John Deere will attempt a sale but their pricing structure is so out of hand with their corporate structure that they're no longer competitive with anyone but Kubota.
Kubota won't even talk to you about parts for a Yanmar. Although, so many of their engines have cross matches.
Hence, the reason I bought from the LS/Mahindra dealer. The guys actually gave me their personal cell numbers after the sale. Telling me that, if for any reason, I have a question or a problem to call them.

Where did we go wrong as a country when we stopped treating the customer walking in the door with the same reverence as the last couple of dollars in our pockets?
Walk into a Deere or Kubota dealer and you're lucky if they look up from the newspaper they're reading and grunt; "Yeah, what do you want?"
and give you a; "Can't you see I'm busy here?" , sneer
It's amazing how many of us have felt that sting of feeling like we're step children at the family reunion when we walk into dealerships these days.

Depends on the dealer. Our Kubota dealer is nothing like that. They also sell Cub Cadet and Stihl and I have had good luck getting various small engine parts (Briggs, Tecumseh and Kohler) through them.
Our local Deere chain will work to get your business, We were looking at getting a Gator and they dropped one off for us to test drive. Never met the salesman in person, just talked via phone and email.

As for the grey market and Yanmar parts sales. If Kubota finds that a dealership is selling parts that they know are going on a grey market tractor, they could lose their dealership license. While Kubota and Yanmar parts may be interchangeable, if you don't have a Yanmar to Kubota part number cross reference, they are throwing darts in the dark and if the part looks similar, but isn't exactly the same, they could be on the hook to replace the part, or an engine if the customer takes them to court.

Aaron Z

 

[zzvyb6]

Well, there are two OTHER Kubota dealers in your area besides the one you struck out at. What do they say ?

 

[k0ua]

Sorry to hear about the dealer issues.
Since your problems with the Kubota seem to be temp related, have you thought about changing the hydro fluid to the new Kubota SUDT2 fluid?
It is supposed to be especially good at handling low temperatures. Better even then the regular Kubota SUDT, and way better than the old original UDT

 

[Paystar]

I'd post your story with THEIR NAME all over the internet. Give them some free advertising.

 

[GManBart]

What do these guys do if somebody moves to the area, and brings their Kubota with them? Refuse service because they didn't sell the machine? What if you buy a used Kubota? Refuse service because you didn't buy it from them?

One word: Idiots!

 

[bullbreaker]

Not takeing any dealers side but could it be that a lower level employee made that comment too you/decision and people(owners) of dealship(s) are not aware. Just wondering ? Seen it happen.

 

[ENIGMA]

Both couldn't care less where the Kubota was purchased. Actually I bought the tractor from McAbee's in SC, so they were fine with it. The other place, Kubota of Asheville was very friendly and helpful as well.

 

[haveissues]

I would contact kubota corporate and let them know. I paid a bit extra for a Kubota vs other lesser known brands because they are well established and have a extensive dealer network. If dealers only worked on tractors they sold all of that wouldn't matter. I bet Kubota would be interested in what you were told.

 

[Hinomotoman]

Nobody works there but family. They have some kind of arrangement where every firetruck that's sold any where around, they get a big commission. The tractors are just mostly for show. They already lost the MF dealership.

Not takeing any dealers side but could it be that a lower level employee made that comment too you/decision and people(owners) of dealship(s) are not aware. Just wondering ? Seen it happen.