Price Check I'm looking for a better price.

[AxleHub]

Greetings Kubota fans.

I'm a little frustrated that I don't seem to find a better price on a Kubota . . . or maybe I should be content ???

8 years I've planned to own my 1st Kubota this spring . . . and the odds of it happening are dropping. Why? A local Kubota dealer took almost 4 weeks to get me a bid (high priced). A second local kubota dealer after a week . . I've yet to hear back. And a 3rd local Kubota dealer came in with these prices:
$ 15,300 + tax for a new bx2370-1 with only the fel and mmm. No other options.
$ 16,900 + tax for a 2670-1 under same conditions.
Above prices includes the March incentive discounts.

Competitor dealers with Yanmar and Massey are all lower priced than the 2370 bid by thousands. (I didn't mention 4 other brands that I looked at because I didn't like them).

Any ideas. So far 8 years of Kubota thinking and desire may not end up with a kubota. Decision time is later this coming week.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Why have you not contacted Barlows for a price?

 

[My Hoe]

AxleHub,

I asked this in another post, but perhaps you missed it:

Does Kubota's competition offer a quick attach system for the FEL (and other FEL-based implements), as the 70-1 offers?
Here is a link: http://kx-px.rtrk.com/product/bx70/pdf/BX70_implements_FrontLoader.pdf

Is FEL/Bucket "quick attach" a feature that is important to you?

Because if it is, since the BX's system is far cheaper than a full-on SSQA, that could (possibly) account for some of the price differences you're encountering...but not "thousands" of dollars in price difference.

Have you thought of trying to compare the resale value of late model Kubota's, vs the competition? That might shed some light on what is the right path forward, for you, if you find that one brand holds their value better than another.

On the other hand, money isn't everything, and Y.O.L.O. In my (less-Kubota familiar) days, I missed a couple of great buys, because I thought I could do better (as in, approx. $1-2,000. better, tops).

Well, I was wrong, and to replace one of the tractors I missed, would now cost me $30,000., and I could have had it for $19,000.

I learned the hard way. Just my .02.

I guess what I'm saying is--IF it's financially feasible, you might be better served shopping for the brand/features you really want, and putting a lesser priority on the dollars paid. (That would certainly be cheaper than buying two tractors, which is how first-time boat owners become *cough* "experienced" boat owners--they get "two-foot-itis," and trade up, almost invariably at a loss).

Good luck with the hunt.

My Hoe

 

[newbury]

Put in your location, you'll get better advice. Some areas of the country are notoriously high.

And reflect on why you've been wanting a Kubota for 8 years and not a Yanmar. Figure out what jobs you need to do and how important warranty and quality are.

 

[Farmdog267]

Yes, it would be helpful to know your location. Also, what tires and sized mmm you have spec'd out.

 

[AxleHub]

Greetings again,

Re: Contacting Barlows . . . If we had a Barlows anywhere around this area I think that would be a great idea . . but we have none nor a Messicks. I'd like to invest in a dealer driven product . . so I've considered a 100 mile radius. I'm wondering if the price quote I did get is high or just how Kubota prices go?

Re: Quick attach or other features. At one time kubota had an absolute lead over the competition for sub compacts. But times adjust and so does competition. Quick attach features are now offered by 3rd party providers for each of the products I've found interest in. It doesn't mean the kubota loader quick attach isn't important and just as beneficial . . its just not as unique in the industry as it once was.

Re: Size of mmm for bid . . . 54 or 60 inch

Re: Paying for value . . . that price isn't everything. I totally agree . . which is why I've spent alot of time and effort exploring the existing Kubota improvements as well as the competition.
a. In 2007 my favorite choices were Kubota and cub cadet/yanmar. But cub cadet didn't have the options or flexibility even though they had a very competitive product. Advantage Kubota.

b. But today Yanmar's flexibility is improved while their actual product is just as competitve.

c. And then there's new competition. Its a bunch but that doesn't mean quantity = quality. Massey . . one of the new choices I've looked at . . seems to compete well in several ways.

My point is . . . at least so far (so far) . . if all bids and conditions were the same, Kubota is still the top choice. But so far 2 things have not been the same . . . price and sales responsiveness . . . and as you know . . price is upfront but customer responsiveness is ongoing.

I'm happy to entertain and consider any and all of your ideas and input.

P.S. location is Western Wisconsin.

 

[tractorshopper]

Have to look again at my quote sheet, but it sounds $600-$800 higher than my quote for the BX 2370. That said, my dealer is very reasonable as the Kubota and LP factories are just a little south west of where I live. I'm sure our freight costs are pretty low compared to the rest of the nation.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

My point is . . . at least so far (so far) . . if all bids and conditions were the same, Kubota is still the top choice. But so far 2 things have not been the same . . . price and sales responsiveness . . . and as you know . . price is upfront but customer responsiveness is ongoing.

I'm happy to entertain and consider any and all of your ideas and input.

P.S. location is Western Wisconsin.

Barlows delivers to Wisconsin. Marvin (Retired Army that delivers for Barlows) told me yesterday that he just returned from Ct and week before that he was delivering in Vt. He delivers where ever needed and said he enjoys it.
If Barlows doesn't beat your price there then all your out is a few minutes or more on the phone. What's $1500 to $2000 dollars mean to you?

 

[jeff9366]

I'm wondering if the price quote I did get is high or just how Kubota prices go.

P.S. location is Western Wisconsin.

Kubota and Deere are always the high priced brands. However, being on my third tractor, it is important to note Kubota and Deere retain their value better when you sell, so you recover some of that premium in resale.

If you run through BUILD MY KUBOTA on Kubota's web site and get a price from the dealer 5% to 8% off that price, you are being treated fairly. Expect to pay for delivery. Cash at discount price ~ NOT zero financing.

(Don't be sloppy. It is evident here that some want a discount, 'free' chain hooks or other small additions, then want free delivery, in addition to the 5% - 8% discount.)

Why not input WISCONSIN into your T-B-N profile?

 

[AxleHub]

Kubota and Deere are always the high priced brands. However, being on my third tractor, it is important to note Kubota and Deere retain their value better when you sell, so you recover some of that premium in resale.

If you run through BUILD MY KUBOTA on Kubota's web site and get a price from the dealer 5% to 8% off that price, you are being treated fairly. Expect to pay for delivery. Cash at discount price ~ NOT zero financing.

(Don't be sloppy. It is evident here that some want a discount, 'free' chain hooks or other small additions, then want free delivery, in addition to the 5% - 8% discount.)

Why not input WISCONSIN into your T-B-N profile?

Greetings jeff9366,

You said Kubota and Deere are always the high priced brands. But lets put some logic in that definition too. Deere is the largest farm tractor and implement company in the world because they started early . . . are in the country that spends the most money in that field . . and have a broad reputation over many many decades of a headstart on others. But what was, doesn't mean what is or what will be. Yanmar and to a lesser extent Kawasaki, made the Deere small segment products the reliable choice . . and Yanmar has moved on and up. Kubota developed the scut segment and like Yanmar has a long history of product development just as Iseki does with Massey. But this scut segment has matured from innovative market with very few true players to now a commodity market with many players. Kubota BX is a great product group . . but Kubota dealerships & sales people no longer have a lock on sales like they did . . I've seen resale values on some competitors are quite high also.

As far as putting WI in my profile . . I'm not sure what positive that represents. In posts that are geography oriented I usually put it right in the posts when beneficial. But if there is a logical reason . . I'd certainly consider it

As far as not being sloppy . . . well my socks usually end up in the corner . . but very few people would claim I'm ever sloppy about details, justifications, data or awareness. While I've never actually owned a true tractor - so I'm a novice . . my career path has always been about evaluation and details of people and products.

As an example Build My Kubota is something I do 2 or 3 times a year each year the last 6 years to spot how its process works. I find some assumptions built into it that are less than perfect.

But price is far from the only issue. I find that sales people in a business are a mirror of what the business is like. At least so far in March . . of 4 Kubota dealerships . . I've found 2 good salespeople and both of those were by phone/email.

 

[Zick]

Haven't priced one out since I bought my BX2350 back in 2007. But I can tell you that my BX2350 with FEL, 60" MMM, and grill guard was priced out at $14,273.

Obviously things (I.E. Steel) just keep getting more expensive as time goes on so it would be reasonable to expect that it would cost a little more.
So for about $1k more than what I paid back in 07', your prices don't sound too far off in this region.

As far as putting WI in my profile . . I'm not sure what positive that represents. In posts that are geography oriented I usually put it right in the posts when beneficial. But if there is a logical reason . . I'd certainly consider it

It will prevent people from asking you the same question in future posts.

 

[AxleHub]

Haven't priced one out since I bought my BX2350 back in 2007. But I can tell you that my BX2350 with FEL, 60" MMM, and grill guard was priced out at $14,273.

Obviously things (I.E. Steel) just keep getting more expensive as time goes on so it would be reasonable to expect that it would cost a little more.
So for about $1k more than what I paid back in 07', your prices don't sound too far off in this region.

I hope no one thinks of me as aggressive . . I just love opinionated people. However just like my opinions . . I expect to be challenged.

Zick your example is a good one . . Relative price for good value. However in a commodity market of scut product in 2015 there are much more incentives than there were in the innovative market of scut product in 2007. In other words . . if you invested in a good product in 2007, you often won't be in the market again for quite some time (good investment value). So now kubota and all its competitors are looking for buyers that don't already have one . . with more providers to split up the market.

On the other hand . . you paying 14000 in 2007 and me paying 15500 . . think how much use and value you've already gotten or how much I'd have gotten if I could have bought 7 years ago . . you did good

 

[varmint]

Axlehub, I won't pretend to be an authority, or even all that knowledgeable, and I have only purchased (3) used Kubotas... a very clean '87 B8200 in 2001, which gave me perfect service and let me learn a lot as I used it and modified it to better serve my perceived needs. It got replaced with a good L3130, a very nice tractor I thought, but too heavy for our uses, and now a very clean L3400. All of them have proven to be trouble free, and the two I sold went quickly for what I had in them. I can't see myself ever buying a new Kubota, just because I can find what I want used for much less. In one case, the last owner added rear remotes, SSQA bucket and other goodies, but I don't think I "paid" for them when I bought the tractor.
All of which leads me to say that I would have no problem buying from Barlows if they had what I wanted. In my case, I can get what I want from Messicks, in Penn., usually delivered here for what the sales tax might be, or less, even (I am in another state). There have been endless discussions about buying one place and having warranty work, if needed, done at another dealer. If you will be paying for routine service (although most of us do our own fluid and filter changes) then whichever dealer should be happy to take your money. I would not support a dealer that didn't seem to care about me or my business. In my opinion, you should be buying a tractor, not a dealership. I looked at new Deere's before my last purchase, but it would have been much more to get what I wanted, and even then there were things about them I just didn't like. Kubotas are not perfect, but they are good. Take care of it, and it will become a working investment- where else can you get such a good return on your money??

 

[Tractornewb]

Best odds of being taken seriously though about buying, is to go meet them and talk face to face. Get the price and know how you are going to pay for it/finance it ahead of time, that way they can give you the out the door price.

Kubota is a top name brand, with good quality. You're paying for the quality implied by the name. Chances are, you won't need the local dealer for anything at all except maybe a filter or the occasional hose.

Plenty of places on the internet will deliver for reasonable prices. The local dealers are tending to go the way of the dinosaurs anyway, unless they are in a really good location/market. There isn't anything anybody can do about that. It's all about volume.

 

[AxleHub]

Best odds of being taken seriously though about buying, is to go meet them and talk face to face. Get the price and know how you are going to pay for it/finance it ahead of time, that way they can give you the out the door price.

Kubota is a top name brand, with good quality. You're paying for the quality implied by the name. Chances are, you won't need the local dealer for anything at all except maybe a filter or the occasional hose.

Plenty of places on the internet will deliver for reasonable prices. The local dealers are tending to go the way of the dinosaurs anyway, unless they are in a really good location/market. There isn't anything anybody can do about that. It's all about volume.

Greetings tractornewb,

The funny thing I've experienced with recent Kubota sales people has been . . . those I dealt with face to face are the ones who stalled (or are stalling) on getting me bids. Those I've dealt with by phone or email have been the ones much more serious about selling a product. Now I'm not talking generalities here. This a.m. the tally was 1 of 3 kubota dealer salespersons were doing their job (3 different dealers and the one actual responding person was strictly phone/email). I'm happy to say that as of tonight its 3 of 5 but to get the numbers increased I had to move out of the local market of 100 mile radius.

 

[s219]

What are you still talking with us for? Give Barlows a call/e-mail! They always have good prices and will deliver to you. Seems to solve your problem.

 

[AxleHub]

Tonight . . . thanks to this thread participation and suggestions . . I now have Kubota at least in a 50 or 60 percentage potential of getting an affordable unit. This morning . . the chances had fallen to 25 percent chance for Kubota and 75 percent chance for a competitor.

But having spent much of my life in small business and sales efforts . . I'm saddened that I've found numerous responsive local competitor options . . so few local kubota local choices. I'd like to invest locally . . but if its to be kubota . . it will likely not be local. We'll see how things go this weekend . . I might be driving orange sometime in mid April . . time will tell in the next several days.

Sure appreciate your inputs and ideas.

 

[AxleHub]

What are you still talking with us for? Give Barlows a call/e-mail! They always have good prices and will deliver to you. Seems to solve your problem.

With all due respect . . I can walk and chew gum at the very same time I've never been afraid to act quickly . . I've also never been afraid to say thank you when its deserved

 

[Citydude]

With all due respect . . I can walk and chew gum at the very same time I've never been afraid to act quickly . . I've also never been afraid to say thank you when its deserved

Your talking yourself out of the tractor you want. Your welcome.

 

[peterc38]

Greetings tractornewb,

This a.m. the tally was 1 of 3 kubota dealer salespersons were doing their job

I'm also tractor shopping and I can assure you that this problem is not unique to sales staff at Kubota dealers.