3040 Hour Meter

[Woodsman30350]

My hour meter stopped working. My tach cable broke at the same time. Is the hour meter dependent upon the tach cable?
Montana is ordering me a new cable. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[xxxsandman]

Yes the hour meter and the tach are tied together. If the cable is broke, no hours will be put on your hour meter until fixed.

Mine broke a week ago. Good luck getting them to send you a new one. One week and still waiting on mine. Hasn't even shipped yet! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Maka]

Re: 3040 Hour Meter *DELETED* *DELETED*

Post deleted by Maka

 

[xxxsandman]

Maka, I appreciate your efforts in providing warrantee parts for me. In my opinion you are going beyond the call of duty. I think Montana better step back and re-evaluate their position. They aren't Kobata, John Deere, or any of the other big boys with HUGE dealer networks, YET. When I bought my tractor the nearest dealer was hours away. But I wanted a Montana. I found a dealer in TN via his website that offered the best price on the tractor I wanted. I sent him the money and drove to the Montana factory and picked it up. I was happy, he was happy, everyone was happy. I realized that dealer wouldn't be able to provide me with any service, being in TN, but I figured if I had a major problem, I could take it to a dealer, even though it may be over a 3 or 4 hour round trip. Most minor things, like the tach cable, I could handle myself with parts.

1. Montana should be greatful I bought one of their tractors without a local dealer.

2. Montana should be greatful I'm willing to do minor warrantee repairs for free, NO LABOR COST TO THEM.

3. Montana should be accomadating for customers that buy tractors and don't have a local dealer by supplying warrantee parts and help when needed. They have been to this point, but now they think they are too big to provide this level of service apparently.

Currently the nearest dealer is a 2 hour round trip. Is that considered local? Doesn't matter, I'm not driving 2 hours to pick a tach cable up, when it could be shipped to my door at no extra cost to Montana. I'm not going to find a trailer to borrow, load my tractor up and drive 2 hours to fix a tach cable that will take 10 mins to replace.

I'd love to have a local Montana dealer to deal with, but until I do what do I do? If it wasn't for MAKA, I guess I'd be SOL. Montana putting this responsibilty on a dealer thousands of miles away, that didn't sell me the tractor, and has not even met me is NOT right.

James

 

[montanaman]

Just curious where you are located?? I was shocked to read that you actually picked up your tractor from Montana but bought it from a dealer?

I've done some warranty work on tractors sold by that dealer that gave you the great price and I've been forced to charge the customers transportation charges in order to do so.

As you may or may not know, no dealer has to perform warranty work on any unit they didn't sell. A few repairs I have done, I wasn't paid for by Montana but I did them anyway because they needed done and it helps to spread the word in my area that I am a servicing dealer.

It's easy to sell a product at a low profit that you don't have in stock, aren't paying interest or inventory insurance on, and know you will never have to do warranty work on but in doing so, you run the risk of a situation like this.

If you would have bought a tractor from any of the stocking dealers that I know, they would have gladly taken a cable off of a tractor in stock and sent it to you and I suggest you call the nice dealer in TN and ask him to do that for you. You may want to ask him to send you the labor money for the repair too!!

Ken

 

[Woodsman30350]

I bought if from the nearest dealer to me in south Texas. I did not say I bought it from Montana. I was inferring that I bought it from a dealer. I am changing it out myself because it is a pain in the **** to load it up and drive 50 miles and then go back and get it.

 

[xxxsandman]

I'm in Oklahoma.

That's exactly what I did, bought the tractor from a dealer that gave me the best price. I don't have a local dealer, so I called several across the US, including several closer ones. I found the best deal, sent the money, then went to the Montana factory and picked my new tractor up. It worked really well for everyone... We didn't have to pay to have the tractor shipped to the dealer, then shipped again to me. That alone saved a LOT of $$$.

-------------

So are you required to do warrantee work on tractors you do sell? Keyword, REQUIRED..

What if a dealer goes out of the business? I guess whoever bought a tractor there can forget about any guarentee, as no one is REQUIRED to fix their tractor. Is that what you are saying?

What if someone moves and takes their tractor with them? I guess all bets are off for them too?

I would think Montana would have some polices in place to make sure ANYONE that bought a Montana tractor could get their warrantee work done. But maybe not.....

I don't understand why I should have to go back to the dealer I bought my tractor from for warrantee work. Does New Holland and John Deere make their customers go back to the purchasing dealer in another state for warrantee repairs?

I must say, the more I read and hear, the more I'm starting to think I should have bought a different brand of tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

James

 

[montanaman]

I think you bought a very nice tractor that is built as good as any out there. And no, I am not required to do warranty work on a tractor that I didn't sell but I always do. Again, I'm not required to do this, but I do.

I was really shocked to hear that you picked up the tractor from Montana and here is why. Fist off, that tells me you have a tractor that never had a proper pre-delivery inspection. Secondly, how is a stocking and repairing dealer going to compete in price with a dealer that is taking your money and telling you where to go to get your tractor?? I'd have sold you a tractor for less than you bought it for I can promise you with that kind of deal but a big part of my sale is that I provide service.

I really think you should have called the dealer that you bought the tractor from and told him you needed a tach cable rather than dealing with Montana on the phone. The dealer made the profit, let him do SOMETHING to earn it like most dealers do!!

As far as getting work done, you will never have a problem finding a dealer that will fix your tractor if you move or if the dealer goes out of business even though a non-selling dealer isn't required to service your tractor. Most dealers are good dealers that welcome your service needs and figure if they treat you well during warranty when they are lucky to break even with the warranty pay, they will gain your trust to service the tractor as long as you own it and may get a chance to sell you the next one.

That being said, if a gave a customer a price on a tractor and they never called me again but came back three weeks later with a warranty problem on a tractor they bought from another dealer, I do have the right to tell them to take it back where they bought it. I could sell a tractor a lot cheaper if I knew I would never see it again or have to pick it up and deliver it for early warranty work which I generally do for free. It's not the same as a car where I might be 1,000 miles from home when it quits and the local dealer of that brand HAS to fix it for me. I bought my truck from a dealer far from me because they had what I wanted in stock and when I need work done, I take it the extra distance back to them as I feel the service will be better where I bought it. I sort of feel that they got to make some money when I bought it , so they owe me good service.

You may not know this but there are some things not covered by warranty that the selling dealer is expected to absorb like any lost fluids. If you sold the tractor then you made some profit so you just do what's needed and keep the customer happy but if you didn't sell the tractor, you have no choice but to charge what won't be covered to the customer.

Like I said before, Montana is a very good company and they sell a very nice product but the dealer you buy it from and services it can have a lot to do with how happy you are with the tractor.

I don't feel it is right to sell a tractor outside the area in which my territory is especially if there is another Montana dealer there. Montana gives me a protected territory as long as I can service it and I would expect other dealers to respect that area as well as I should respect their territory.

Ken

 

[xxxsandman]

My tractor did have the "proper pre-delivery inspection". At least I was required to pay Montana Tractors themselves $50 for this when I picked it up. I would hope the factory could perform the "pre-delivery inspection" as well as anyone.

Sounds like you Montana dealers really don't like competing with each other. Having your own territory will pretty much just have you competing with the other brands. From a dealer stand point, I can understand you wanting it this way.

Why wouldn't a consumer "me" or a dealer "you" want to cut unecessary overhead from the cost of a tractor? No shipping cost, no floor plan interest, etc. It's WIN WIN! I'm sure he still made a nice profit. I'm not complaining, I saved by not paying unecessary overhead. You guys keep talking about selling your tractors for higher prices to make up for the service your going to have to do.??? Doesn't Montana pay YOU the dealer for warrantee repairs? And if you have a good service department, I'm sure people will bring their routine service and non-warrantee repairs too. I guess I don't understand tractor selling. I'm in the computer industry, it's probably a little different.

Anyway, I STILL don't have a local Montana dealer, which is the main reason I bought my tractor from afar. Sounds like if I do ever get one, it may not matter as he won't be obligated to do warrantee work on my tractor anyway, since I didn't buy it from him. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

God, I hope it's a great tractor, if it has anything serious break it sounds like I'm SOL...

James

 

[jc7622]

Sandman,

I'm in Oklahoma also. When I bought my 5740C I contacted the two closest dealers to me. Both quoted me prices that were comparable. The closer dealer was actually just slightly cheaper. I almost went to the further dealer because he was a real tractor dealer and I knew that he would more than likely have a better service department, but he was about 30-45 minutes further. The dealer I bought from was a trailer manufacturing company in OKC that also sold tractors. I did go to the back and talk to their mechanic and felt him out to make sure that they would be able to handle the repairs. The first couple repairs they did a good job on, but now they have decided to get out of the tractor business. Now I will have to take mt tractor to a dealer that I did not purchase it from. The gentleman that owns the second closest dealership has graciously offered on this board to do work warranty work for anyone in the same situation as me.

 

[Maka]

Hello Sandman, James, Woods, Ken and JC. We are all on the same team here as owners or dealers and all want to help each other. I personallyy know Ken and have great confidence in his dealer skills and customer service and support.

This is an age old debate that we as dealers have to suffer with. It is on every brand forum here and will only be answered personally by the buyer and dealer.

I believe that Sandman got his tractor when there were some folks trying to jump on the Montana freight train and selling tractors cheap on the net be it their website, ebay or other and they did a dis-service to customers, real servicing dealers and Montana. That kind of stuff is not longer tolerated and has subsided greatly.

I have not spoken to Sandman on this but know his posts. He got a ridiculously low price, good for him but here is the problem. Sandman is a large guy and had he actually sat on a 4540 he would have from the get-go known it was not for him. Had he gone into a stocking dealer who could have shown him the proper tractor for him (4340 in my opinion) that would have been a great start. Next, the dealer he purchased from was not real interested in servicing as much as I can gather but I will never know as I believe he passed away thus no longer a dealer. Had he purchased from a dealer in or near his area he probably would have a relationship with them where he could just call and have what he needs sent with no problem. Sandman, I am happy to help you as you know and will do this as long as I can so you don't have to worry.

Here is where I sit on this whole debate. I sell only what I can service, period. I don't quote low prices over the phone, Period. My tractors are excellent and a great value with great quality. I don't need to give them away.

I have employees, shops, delivery trucks, insurance, stock about 35 Montana tractors plus implements and parts and we offer free field service for warranty work and if it can't be serviced in the field we will pick it up, fix it and return it free of charge.

If joe customer comes in and I or one of the sales reps spends the time to tell him about the tractor and he goes elsewhere then that is OK but he will not get the service from me that my customers get. Here is how I operate.

I have lots of customers who log, hay, have tree farms etc. They need help, I jump as quickly as I can. This goes for the home owner who needs service as well.

I had a guy come in who I spent on 3 occasions about an hour each time and then he called a company in Missouri and bought the tractor from them and had his brother in Missouri bring it up on his way to visit. At this time I had to pay shipping on each tractor I got and it was an added expense so I was a bit more expensive than the guy in Missouri.

He later called and asked if he had warranty work needed would I do it and I said of course. He asked if I would pick it up and since he was about 75 mi away I said sure at $2.00 a loaded mile and he would have to wait for the service until I could schedule him in as my customers come first, period. He asked if I would sell filters to him and I said sure, but pay first and then I send. He did not like all this but oh well, to bad.

I can't blame a guy for trying to save but he can't blame me for not jumping to his needs and trying to make an honest decent living.

This is an old debate seen here on TBN for years and won't be settled here but I will say that my customers are very happy and know that when they need me I am there. Why am I there? Because I don't give stuff away but offer an excellent staff with excellent service at a fair price.

I really hope this does not fuel a huge debate. There has to be balance for the customer and the dealer or else no one is happy.

For Ken, you are doing a great job and Sandman and all others we should use this forum to help each other as well as those considering a Montana.

Thanks,
Maka

 

[xxxsandman]

Your right Maka, I wasn't trying to start a Montana dealer pricing debate or anything. It was brought up and I gave my consumer take on it.

My original point I was trying to make is simply, Montana seems to have changed their handling of warrantee parts recently and I think this change is for the worse. Me not having a dealer anymore and NO local dealer, I really need the ability to call Montana and get warrantee parts, if something breaks, which it has. Montana has always been very quick and accomodating, until now. Now they want me to go through a dealer, but I don't have one. What do I do? If Maka didn't help me out, I would probably still be waiting on my warrantee parts. Thank you MAKA, I really do appreciate all you have done for me!!!

If Montana had a solid dealer network ALREADY in place, I can see them having this policy. But they don't have a solid dealer network yet, there's large gaps and I'm sure there is plenty of owners like myself that don't have local dealers. These people went out on a limb and bought one of their tractors anyway. Montana needs a policy in place that will allow these people to get the warrantee parts they need, without hoping that a dealer somewhere will pick up the tab and take care of them.

I imagine this problem will lesson as the Montana dealer network grows, but there will always be someone that owns a Montana tractor that is under warrantee, that doesn't have a local dealer. What do they do for warrantee parts?

I really hope Montana realizes their current warrantee parts policy isn't good for the customers without local dealers and re-thinks the way they handle this. I would think the dealers would want this changed too, as no doubt the current way will cause a lot of dealers extra unecessary paper work and add to the time it take customers to get their parts.

James

 

[montanaman]

Very well said Maka.

Also, I can understand you being upset that Montana has changed their policy of sending you parts but it's a part of their growth I guess. As a dealer, the parts need to be ordered and paid for along with freight. A warranty claim is filed and it gets reviewed and then the dealer is paid for the part and warranty time determined by the time book. This time amount on a small repair is usually about the amount of time it takes to shuffle all of the paper!!

I have found that Montana does work very hard to see that every customer is happy but as they grow larger, things will change.

Please understand that it isn't because they don't care about you as a customer and don't want to help you!! They have to file a claim with LG for every part and the dealer doing the repair has to retain that part for a while should they decide to inspect it.

When Montana started, they were smart enough to really go out of their way to help but the downside to this is that when you get bigger, you have to operate more efficiently. For this reason, they expect the dealer to be the guy helping the customer and they are there to help the dealer.

If it's a simple part, you should be able to still work something out with your closest dealer to help you.

Take care,
Ken