AAAAAAAAAARGH ! ! ! !

Anonymous Poster · Mar 28, 2003

OK, I can honestly say that I am NOT feeling SMUG at the moment. Quite the contrary.
/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I bought my tractor Wednesday. Well, ordered it anyway. They had just sold their last unit, but Kubota's Western Division is located in Stockton, only about 50 miles south down the freeway. So no problem, right /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Well, apparently, it got loaded on a truck yesterday. And the truck arrived in Sacramento today. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Now, I was actually unaware of any of this. I had decided that it was no use calling them constantly, they would call me when it was ready. I haven't actually signed the contract yet, as Kubota credit won't accept a contract without a serial #, which they can't put on the contract until they have the tractor. So the dealer has an incentive to get me back in there.

Well, I decided to call early this afternoon, just so I could know what my plans for this weekend would be. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

It's amazing how conversations that begin with "It's funny that ask about that..." seem to go downhill fast. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

The good news is that my loader, box blade, and tiller are all at the dealer. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif The bad news is that my tractor isn't. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Yeah, it was on the truck all right. It just seems that someone forgot to unload it at the dealership. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif And the truck is now on its way to Orange county, 450 miles to the south. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

So the soonest it will find its way back to these parts is Monday. And it will still have to be prepped, the loader mounted, etc.

Now the kicker- I leave for a two week business trip Tuesday morning. So the soonest I will see it is April 12. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Does this sort of thing happen often? I'll admit that one tractor among a truck load of them might be possible to overlook. But wouldn't you expect someone to count the number of large objects unloaded? And assuming that someone signed for the delivery in its entirety, what's to prevent the driver from unloading it and saying "What tractor" (I AM NOT implying that the driver is the sort of person who would do this. I am simply considering the possibility...)

I think I'll go by the dealership first thing tomorrow morning, maybe just to look my loader and implements. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Any suggestions?

Rick Jay · Mar 29, 2003

Sorry to hear about the mix-up, but it does happen. Enjoy your business trip, and hopefully it'll be all ready for you when you get back.

When I bought my B2910 with loader and backhoe, the sub-frame for the Woods hoe was on back-order. The dealer said he'd deliver the tractor to let me get familiar with it and when the sub-frame came in, they'd mount the backhoe and all would be well. That was in June. I think the sub-frame finally showed up sometime in July or early August. However, I was using the tractor for some projects so I didn't want to give it up. Then, when it fit my schedule, the dealer was a bit busy. Long story short...it was early December when I finally got the backhoe mounted. (I'll emphasize that was not due to the dealer, it was just a matter of when I could part with the tractor and he could schedule the job.)

Hey, stuff happens. If you let small problems eat you up, you're not going to enjoy life.

Relax, your new baby will be here before you know it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

~Rick

Anonymous Poster · Mar 29, 2003

( Relax, your new baby will be here before you know it.)

Let's see, the last time I heard that, my wife almost ended up having our fourth child in the car... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Thanks!

Egon · Mar 29, 2003

Consider yourself a lucky man. The dealer will have all that extra time to do a super prep job.

Egon

chim · Mar 29, 2003

Never had it happen exactly like that, but there have been some tense momments while waiting for much-needed equipment on projects. It's not unusual to chase info on where things really are. Most times, the manufacturers give us bad info - "It was shipped. Dunno what coulda happened". That's when we ask for the PRO# to see if they really shipped it in the first place.

Several years ago I was very anxiously awaiting a motor control center for a project. This sucker was about 19 feet long, 24 inches deep and 90 inches high. It shipped to SE Pennsylvania from a factory somewhere to the South of us. When it didn't arrive, we had the factory put a trace on it. It had disappeared from the face of the earth. I could understand if they lost something like a pair of shoes or a box of Christmas cookies, but it seems someone would notice a package this big. It was to the point there was talk about the manufacturer making a replacement when they discovered it sitting on a dock in Chicago. Sure must have taken the scenic route............................chim

Anonymous Poster · Mar 29, 2003

I "happened" to be in the dealership's neighborhood today, so I dropped in. It's still unclear, but apparently my tractor simply wasn't on the truck- just the loader. ( There had been a fax problem /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif ) My tractor is on the way to Orange county, and won't make it back in time to be delivered before I have to leave, so I will take delivery on April 12.

I also decided to add the high capacity alternator- I don't have a specific requirement for it, but additional lighting seems to be a pretty common add on, so I figured I might as well be prepared.

chrisjbell · Mar 29, 2003

Which dealer did you go with? I'm in the foothills and mine is Gold Country Kubota - I've been really happy with them. Only had to wait for a couple of days when I bought my tractor, they did a great prep job ( excellent mechanics there, worked there forever, etc.).

chrisjbell · Mar 29, 2003

On the other hand, you have some extra time before you have to change your user login and sig /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. Maybe you can get Mahummad to change your username so you don't become a "New Member" again /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif...

Anonymous Poster · Apr 20, 2003

Well, I've been keeping a low profile, but here I am...

My business trip not only kept me busy, I pushed off all my end of quarter stuff, which of course was still waiting for me when I got back. And my wife had been handling all four kids on her own for a couple of weeks, so I had to jump right in. Long story short, it was Tuesday before I got back to the dealer, although I had called them in the mean time. So as I drive in, I see a B7500 with a loader in the lot. I hoof it out to it and there's a tag on the steering wheel with my name on it. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif When the stars clear from my eyes, I notice that there are no hooks on the bucket. A closer examination reveals a missing cap from one of the valve stems, the loader valve assembly is only loosely attached to the mount, and the tires are in the widest postion. Nothing earth shattering, but enough to make me nervous.

So I go back inside and talk to the owner. He intoduces me to their "new" service manager and he's more than happy to walk out an listen to my concerns. Takes the time to show me the tractor, and discuss anything and everything. The high capacity alternator has been installed, here are the original parts. No problem on the valve stem cap, here's one. The hooks had been written on the bottom of one of the invoices, got overlooked, we'll take care of it. Yeah, that valve should be securely tightened, we'll check it out and tighten it up. No problem, we'll move the wheels in. He says that they have had a lot of turn over in the service department, himself included. I'm not sure if that's a reason or an excuse, but I've no reason to doubt him.

Back inside I go. Owner and I wander out back and locate my tiller- it was on a separate invoice from the tractor (not Kubota, not financed) and so it hasn't been set up yet. Box blade, box blade, hmm. Don't seem to have one, have to order one. (This is starting sound familiar... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif)

We go back inside, and hmmm, "Did you already fill out a credit application?" "Yes, and it's been approved." No luck in finding it, so I fill out another- hopefully Kubota Credit will figure out the duplication and work it out. Nothing more to do but take another long look at the tractor and go home.

The next day I call and yes, Kubota was able to figure it out, we're all set to go. "Your box blade? I'll have to check on that."

A couple days pass, and another call. Turns out the box blade will have to come from Ohio. But no problem, they'll be happy to let me have a Gearmore unit to use until mine arrives. And they didn't have any 3/8" hooks to weld onto the bucket, but one of the shop guys was running out to get a couple. In the mean time my insurance company (CSAA) has now informed me that while they do cover "yard tractors" for personal use while on my property (as they had said earlier), there is a limit of $10,000 and no, they won't write a rider. So I let the dealer know that I'll be getting the Kubota insurance. I can't make it in that day (Friday) but I'll be in on Saturday.

This time I get smart. I call the service manager directly and ask him about the tractor. The hooks were being welded on as we were speaking. No one had told him about the box blade switch yet, but he'd take care of it. See you in the morning.

So Saturday morning, my wife and I, along with two of the kids, head over to the dealers. Inside, all the paperwork is ready, read seven pages, sign six places, we're good to go. The tractor is in one of the service bays- Hooks look good, nicely painted. Tiller already on the hitch. No loose bolts found. All levels look good. No leaks found. There's the Gearmore box blade. Looking good. Shake hands all around.

Draw a map to our place, turns out the driver (one of the mechanics) lives in the neighborhood. He pulls up a few minutes after we get home. A bit of jockeying to unload the box blade. He stays for about an hour going over everything again.

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gifSo I am officially no longer Tractorless. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

The whole experience did not so much teach me something as it validated something I already know (or should); While a salesman may, in all good faith, promise to do something for you, they are rarely the one who is actually going to do it. And while it should all be taken care of for you, it is worth the effort to contact the person who will actually be fulfilling the commitment, to ensure that they are aware of what exactly you want, and that it gets done.

Although I have been at times greatly frustrated, I cannot say that I am displeased with my dealer. While some of the personal dynamics of a family business can be difficult, some very good people did a very good job for me in the end.

More than anything, I have to thank the people of TBN. Without the knowledge and experience that is available here, and the amazing willingness to share it, I would not have been able, or had the courage, to choose and buy a tractor. My thanks go out to each and every one of you- for the advice to myself and others that have gotten me this far, and for the answers to the questions that I know I will be asking in the future.

Anonymous Poster · Apr 20, 2003

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif So I am officially no longer Tractorless. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif 

Now all we need is a pic of you and your new baby!

Congratulations!