What could Yanmar improve?

[rockyridgefarm]

Each use reinforces the choice that I made with my YT347, it keeps pulling trough as being well executed.

I think that there are a few things that still could improve the buying - ownership experience. Mostly on their website. I think that an effective website goes a long way in leveling the playing field.

• Better product descriptions. Full specs with lots of info on loaders, backhoes, etc.
• Owner's manuals.
• Parts - at least a lookup - but how about full ordering like JDParts? This still can go through a dealer.
• Accessories.

I actually like what is already in place.

 

[Jam242ti]

Commit to marketing, PR, social media etc... the latest "news" post on the website is from August 2017. The site is very static and not comprehensive. It is kind of weird to have such a great product and not really make an effort to tell anybody about it. I went to the Great American Sportsman Show in Harrisburg PA last month and Yanmar had a woeful little space along a busy boulevard with two tractors jammed up against the wall and two guys in Yanmar polo shirts trying to field questions from a very interested outdoorsmen public. At first I thought they were selling tractor attachments and the tractors were props. Meanwhile Kubota and Mahindra flooded the zone with dedicated floor space, a lot of product set up to support outdoors activities, signage, flyers for a take-a-way, knowledgeable sales people and all of it supported by advertising announcing a spring sales event and incentives. Jeez does any brand have as strong a reputation for excellence as Yanmar in the grey market? And look how hard they work to disown and run away from that base of super brand loyalists. Right now Yanmar is thinking like a manufacturing company and needs to think like a marketing/sales company. The rear locking differential could be better executed in terms of understanding and engagement.

 

[TnAndy]

Yanmar has a history of going out of their way to shoot themselves in the foot marketing wise.

If you do a search, you'll find several threads I've posted on what they could do to make my very good LX410 a GREAT tractor....and several modifications I've already done to it to help it along in that direction.

 

[Knotch]

Agreed with what is mentioned above. I have no idea what accessories are availabe for my YT59c other than what has been mentioned in this forum. I am sure I could allocate some funds to accessories but without a dealer close and no online support that money is going to other things.

Also, when I have forks on, I find it near impossible to see the tips of the forks and often need assistance so i don稚 stab what I am trying to pick up. I know this wasn稚 what they had in mind when designing the tractor but visibilty isn稚 great in that area. I am thinking a backup style camera mounted up front would be helpful. Something to look into.

 

[Blue14]

Agreed with what is mentioned above. I have no idea what accessories are availabe for my YT59c other than what has been mentioned in this forum. I am sure I could allocate some funds to accessories but without a dealer close and no online support that money is going to other things.

Also, when I have forks on, I find it near impossible to see the tips of the forks and often need assistance so i don稚 stab what I am trying to pick up. I know this wasn稚 what they had in mind when designing the tractor but visibilty isn稚 great in that area. I am thinking a backup style camera mounted up front would be helpful. Something to look into.

Are you wanting to know what cab accessories are available I might be able to help?

 

[2ndhalf]

It does seem they are a company ran by engineers. This is good in the sense that you are getting a great product but no sizzle to go along with it. I too thought their website was a joke and if I didn't already know of the great quality of Yanmar would have never returned to that entry level web developer site.

Marketing mixed with a great product = Kubota. Yanmar could fix this in six months.

 

[Ortimber]

I have to agree with the other contributors to this thread. The improvements need to be made on the marketing side. I would love to see another competitor enter the market that would be focused on quality first, then price. It will only make better products available to all of us. I hope the best for Yanmar in the North American market.

 

[Knotch]

Are you wanting to know what cab accessories are available I might be able to help?

Sure, I think we all could benefit from a list of options/accessories/parts. I for one don稚 have a clue what is offered aside from rear facing lights and the right side step.

This illustrates owners frustrations. I am happy to go through a dealer but Yanmar would sell much more parts and accessories if the consumer knew what is available, preferably online.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Sure, I think we all could benefit from a list of options/accessories/parts. I for one don't have a clue what is offered aside from rear facing lights and the right side step.

That step is a perfect example. Unless I am mistaken, it is incompatible with the third function on the SCV. That is the kind of information that needs to be there.

I paid $75 for the left fender 'toolbox' despite there being no information. It is nice; but desperately needs a covered section. I am not upset; Yanmar could do better.

Still love the tractor and the great folks that support it!

 

[Blue14]

Sure, I think we all could benefit from a list of options/accessories/parts. I for one don稚 have a clue what is offered aside from rear facing lights and the right side step.

This illustrates owners frustrations. I am happy to go through a dealer but Yanmar would sell much more parts and accessories if the consumer knew what is available, preferably online.

Some of the acc. for the cab of your YT359C, radio, rearview mirror,sunvisor, rear window defrost, rear window wiper/washer,substep, rear led work lights. These are some that I am aware of, hope this helps.

Bob

 

[Yanmar Tractor]

Agreed with what is mentioned above. I have no idea what accessories are availabe for my YT59c other than what has been mentioned in this forum. I am sure I could allocate some funds to accessories but without a dealer close and no online support that money is going to other things.

Also, when I have forks on, I find it near impossible to see the tips of the forks and often need assistance so i don稚 stab what I am trying to pick up. I know this wasn稚 what they had in mind when designing the tractor but visibilty isn稚 great in that area. I am thinking a backup style camera mounted up front would be helpful. Something to look into.

Knotch, You can see the accessories available for a Yanmar YT359 tractor by using the Build Your Tractor feature on Compact Tractors, Sub-Compact Tractors & UTV's | Yanmar Tractor --- Proposal Generator - Yanmar Tractor. Start like you are configuring a YT359, selecting your tire choice, attachments and so on, until you reach the #3. Accessories page where you will see all of the accessories for that tractor that are in the Yanmar tractor price list that dealers use. Yanmar dealers may also have other accessories that they obtain from Yanmar Parts and other sources. As always, your best first source of support & information is your Yanmar dealer. And especially check with your Yanmar dealer about pricing, whether for a entire tractor or a single accessory.

 

[Knotch]

Knotch, You can see the accessories available for a Yanmar YT359 tractor by using the Build Your Tractor feature on Compact Tractors, Sub-Compact Tractors & UTV's | Yanmar Tractor --- Proposal Generator - Yanmar Tractor. Start like you are configuring a YT359, selecting your tire choice, attachments and so on, until you reach the #3. Accessories page where you will see all of the accessories for that tractor that are in the Yanmar tractor price list that dealers use. Yanmar dealers may also have other accessories that they obtain from Yanmar Parts and other sources. As always, your best first source of support & information is your Yanmar dealer. And especially check with your Yanmar dealer about pricing, whether for a entire tractor or a single accessory.

Yanmar Tractor-

I appreciate the reply. I followed your instructions and found 9 accessory options most of which I didn't know existed. Several questions for you-
Are dealers provided pictures of these accessories and any additional not listed?
Would it be possible for Yanmar to add them to the website?
Can you provide us some insight on Yanmar's stance in relation to marketing and product promotion?

I am not trying to poke the bear here, I think it's a fair question from a loyal customer. I am certain you would see increased sales revenue with some additional online resources. We are happy to go through the dealer network but most of us are not near enough to our dealer to catch them on the weekday's.

 

[Yanmar Tractor]

Yanmar Tractor-

I appreciate the reply. I followed your instructions and found 9 accessory options most of which I didn't know existed. Several questions for you-
Are dealers provided pictures of these accessories and any additional not listed?
Would it be possible for Yanmar to add them to the website?
Can you provide us some insight on Yanmar's stance in relation to marketing and product promotion?

I am not trying to poke the bear here, I think it's a fair question from a loyal customer. I am certain you would see increased sales revenue with some additional online resources. We are happy to go through the dealer network but most of us are not near enough to our dealer to catch them on the weekday's.

Knotch, Thank you for your suggestions and your interest in helping make Yanmar Tractor more successful. Yanmar and any other manufacturer posting on TBN are not going to reveal very much from which their competitors might gain insights into their marketing strategy, tactics, and level of available marketing resources.

Dealers have, or can obtain, internal documents like Product/Sales Training Guides and Installation Guides/Parts Lists that have photos and/or drawings of many of the attachments and accessories.

It's an excellent suggestion to add more information and images about accessories to Compact Tractors, Sub-Compact Tractors & UTV's | Yanmar Tractor. Many new and improved features have been added to the website in the last 12 to 18 months and more are under development right now. Your suggestion and related improvements such as more information on front-mounted attachments, mid-mount mowers, loader accessories, more backhoe details, and more on all of the attachments and implements are on the list of website additions and improvements.

Thank you for your business.

 

[raybender]

Knotch, Thank you for your suggestions and your interest in helping make Yanmar Tractor more successful. Yanmar and any other manufacturer posting on TBN are not going to reveal very much from which their competitors might gain insights into their marketing strategy, tactics, and level of available marketing resources.

Dealers have, or can obtain, internal documents like Product/Sales Training Guides and Installation Guides/Parts Lists that have photos and/or drawings of many of the attachments and accessories.

It's an excellent suggestion to add more information and images about accessories to Compact Tractors, Sub-Compact Tractors & UTV's | Yanmar Tractor. Many new and improved features have been added to the website in the last 12 to 18 months and more are under development right now. Your suggestion and related improvements such as more information on front-mounted attachments, mid-mount mowers, loader accessories, more backhoe details, and more on all of the attachments and implements are on the list of website additions and improvements.

Thank you for your business.

I agree that the website could be improved. I have tried to 鍍ake the land owner quiz with three different Mac brousers and my iPad. It never continues beyond the first page. I have requested the two guides (after first filling out the online information) twice. Each time the website says expect an email to download the guide. The email never came. (I checked my junk email folder). I did order a YT359 and am awaiting delivery. The fact that the website does not 努ork makes me concerned that other parts of Yanmar痴 organization will not be responsive. I guess time will tell.

 

[2ndhalf]

Knotch, Thank you for your suggestions and your interest in helping make Yanmar Tractor more successful. Yanmar and any other manufacturer posting on TBN are not going to reveal very much from which their competitors might gain insights into their marketing strategy, tactics, and level of available marketing resources.

Dealers have, or can obtain, internal documents like Product/Sales Training Guides and Installation Guides/Parts Lists that have photos and/or drawings of many of the attachments and accessories.

It's an excellent suggestion to add more information and images about accessories to Compact Tractors, Sub-Compact Tractors & UTV's | Yanmar Tractor. Many new and improved features have been added to the website in the last 12 to 18 months and more are under development right now. Your suggestion and related improvements such as more information on front-mounted attachments, mid-mount mowers, loader accessories, more backhoe details, and more on all of the attachments and implements are on the list of website additions and improvements.

Thank you for your business.

TBN is the first place I would announce my strategy if I were a tractor company. Kubota has no reason to hide anything and neither does Yanmar. Buyers want to know there is a strategy; that in 5 years they won't hear that yanmar is getting rid of their compact tractor series in an effort to focus on large tractors. Does Yanmar have a strategy? I would like to buy one but I'm not so sure. Kubota seems to have it together all the way around; maybe I just by one of them.

The absence of information leads to assumptions and we all know what that does.

 

[Yanmar Tractor]

I agree that the website could be improved. I have tried to 鍍ake the land owner quiz with three different Mac brousers and my iPad. It never continues beyond the first page. I have requested the two guides (after first filling out the online information) twice. Each time the website says expect an email to download the guide. The email never came. (I checked my junk email folder). I did order a YT359 and am awaiting delivery. The fact that the website does not 努ork makes me concerned that other parts of Yanmar痴 organization will not be responsive. I guess time will tell.

raybender, The issue with no-show of the emails with a link to download the Tractor/UTV Buyers Guide or the Landowner's Planner documents was pointed out by another site user earlier this week. Whatever broken-link or other issue is causing this is being tracked down and corrected. That person called Yanmar to let us know he was experiencing the problem. Yanmar greatly appreciates his help. The toll-free number for agricultural equipment marketing at Yanmar America headquarters in Adairsville, Georgia, USA is 800-872-2867.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

I have had great response from Yanmar when I have reached out.

The answers to this thread show that same promise.

The site improvements would really go a long way. Especially because the dealer presence is small and those that are there may not be the best equipped to answer questions. plus, all of these improvements would directly help the dealers. Win-Win-Win.

 

[sloeffle]

The answers to this thread show that same promise.

I couldn't agree with you more. Personally, I have never seen representatives from John Deere, Case, Kioti or NH on a tractor forum taking feedback from their customers and then hopefully applying that to make their product better. I just went through the buying process on a YT347 so I definitely see some of the points that were made.

Having owned a 21 year old Yanmar painted green for the past 13 years I can speak volumes for Yanmar's engineering and build quality. I am not easy on stuff and that tractor has never let me down for what it was designed to do. Hopefully the YT347 will fall in the same boat.

 

[Knotch]

I have had great response from Yanmar when I have reached out.

The answers to this thread show that same promise.

The site improvements would really go a long way. Especially because the dealer presence is small and those that are there may not be the best equipped to answer questions. plus, all of these improvements would directly help the dealers. Win-Win-Win.

Agreed! I appreciate the presence and willingness Yanmar has displayed on TBN in replying to questions and feedback.

 

[Tractorable]

I worked with Yanmar tractor last year to advise them of issues relating to the build and price section on their website which wasn't working. They were responsive to my inquiries and even asked me if I wanted to work with their software engineers to test some of their fixes. I thought it was great to have that level of interaction with the company. At the time, I was traveling overseas so was unable to participate but it was still a nice gesture.

Yanmar Tractor seems to be the only manufacturer on this website interacting with potential customers which is a big plus for the Yanmar company. There is definitely room for Yanmar to grow and improve, especially on the marketing side of things. But as a result of their superior products, long company history, engineering know-how, and responsive sales staff, I've decided that my next tractor will be a Yanmar.