Buying Advice Best Time/Season of Year for BEST Kubota Incentives?

[nybirdman]

The last time I talked to my Kubota dealer about new tractors;he told me in January of the year he had to order "all"the tractors that he wanted for a floor plan.That being said;I would think they could dealer trade for additional tractors.
If that is the case, I would think an early in the year purchase would be the best bet.I don't think incentives change much during the year.Also;mid winter should be their slowest time to sell.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I decided, back in October, to upgrade to a Kubota ZD1511 Zero Turn with 72” rear discharge deck. Applied, on line, to get pre-approved for Kubota 0% Financing and got approval within 5 minutes.

Went to local dealer, none in their floor plan, and none at Dallas warehouse. They checked with Kubota and were told that no more ZD1511’s would be shipped until mid-March 2018??? My local dealer checked and said another dealer had one, in their showroom, but would not transfer it. If inventory belongs to Kubota, I’m confused how a dealer can refuse a transfer to a dealer that can make a sale??

Emailed Brady @Barlows and he got same response from Kubota, no ZD1511’s until mid March of next year. Brady’s price beat my local dealer but, shipping to me made it quite a bit higher.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I've been following Barlow's (and CL and many other tractor sources) since 2009.
There have been time periods, usually spring, that Barlow's wasn't making good deals over the phone for a number of TBN'ers. And there were complaint threads on TBN. They were just too darn busy to get to the phone!! Now if your like JT and just wander out your front door and get your morning coffee at Barlow's it's probably different

But beware sometimes they get very busy.

:laughing: I don't drink coffee with them because Steve doesn't come in early enough. Barlows has a small staff and they stay very busy. Some times more than others. Hay cutting time has it's own demands and it isn't the time to visit Barlow socially, they're to busy. When it's real busy the phones ring a long time there and I keep wanting to answer them to help but I don't I don't think Steve adjusts his prices based on how busy he is. He talks low and slow and doesn't move fast and it doesn't seem to bother him as he goes along doing what he's doing and takes things as they come. I'd go wacko or hire lots of temporary help but he just plods along making the deals he makes at the margin he has in his head and I really don't think his margin changes for me or other customers spring, summer, winter fall. He has enough income and no big lavish expenses to make him have to cut any deals. Most places like his get by on the shop income and parts which is non stop at his place. Sales is probably his smallest income producer so I don't see him cutting his profit margin. I don't negotiate with him. He gives me a price and I take it or leave it and I don't think it would be in my best interests to do differently in the long run.
Kubota incentives change and whether that be seasonal I don't know. I've made deals and when I came back when the machine arrived and finished assembly Steve has changed my purchase price because he said he rec'd anew incentive yesterday and dropped my price about $350 one time. I believe any time anyone sees changes in his pricing it is because of what incentives Kubota is doing and not him adjusting his profit margin. I believe he has a low profit margin and sticks to it and sells a bunch of Kubotas. I know lots of things he could do to sell more but he doesn't seem interested in doing any more than he's doing. He seems satisfied with his sales numbers.

 

[Ted in NY]

All Kubota dealers have the same plan. The dealers don't have to buy the machines unless they want to. The new machines are owned by Kubota and the dealer keeps their part of the purchase price (Letting each individual dealer determine their selling price and all dealers pay the same price for the same machine on the same day) when the deal is closed whether the new Kubota is on the lot, on the way to the lot or ordered for a customer to come to the lot.

What? Kubota still owns the machines? Why would any dealer use their own $$$ if they can use Kubota's $$$? There has to be some type of sales volume quota [or verified $$$ dealer collateral] associated with this, otherwise it's like spending other people's money....you know, like the gov't

 

[Einthewoods]

I just ordered my L3301 last week. Currently, there are rebates for the tractor itself, for attachments, 0% financing and the dealer was very good with pricing on the base tractor itself.

The dealer said that this time of year (December into January) was some of their busiest time due to business owners getting purchases in for tax purposes as well as the current rebates and financing incentives.

Not sure that helps with "what time of year is best", but it seems now is a pretty darn good time for prices.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

What? Kubota still owns the machines? Why would any dealer use their own $$$ if they can use Kubota's $$$? There has to be some type of sales volume quota [or verified $$$ dealer collateral] associated with this, otherwise it's like spending other people's money....you know, like the gov't

Why a Kubota franchise is so valuable. Sure there are shop and service requirements. Sure dealer would have to prove financial capability of operating as with almost all franchises. Sure little to no sales would probably end in termination or another Kubota franchisee next door. I've seen Kubota dealers in small towns across America with only two or three machines on their lot. They may have hidden lots somewhere else but I doubt it. One is downtown Augusta, Ky and shares the lot with a car dealership.

 

[jeff9366]

From April 2017 until early December 2017 my local Kubota dealer could not get enough tractors from Kubota in Georgia.

2017 was a good sales year with almost everyone working. Kubota was busy with a new 600,000 square foot plant addition in Georgia, the new parts center in Kansas and buying and inventorying Land Pride. It would have been a better sales year if my dealer had more tractor inventory.

For about a month he had just two tractors in his lot, which he did not want to sell, so he would have SOMETHING to show visitors. Other Florida Kubota dealers called almost daily wanting to "borrow" tractor inventory.

Now that there is snow in the northern 50% of the country, Florida is getting Kubota tractors again.

Kubota Zero Turn mowers arrived on schedule.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Kubota Zero Turn mowers arrived on schedule.

Not quite true everywhere. I’ve been told since back in October that no more ZD1511’s would be shipped, from Georgia, until mid March 2018. 5-6 months without product?

 

[check]

From April 2017 until early December 2017 my local Kubota dealer could not get enough tractors from Kubota in Georgia. 2017 was a good sales year with almost everyone working. Kubota was busy with a new 600,000 square foot plant addition in Georgia, the new parts center in Kansas and buying and inventorying Land Pride. It would have been a better sales year if my dealer had more tractor inventory. For about a month he had just two tractors in his lot, which he did not want to sell, so he would have SOMETHING to show visitors. Other Florida Kubota dealers called almost daily wanting to "borrow" tractor inventory. Now that there is snow in the northern 50% of the country, Florida is getting Kubota tractors again. Kubota Zero Turn mowers arrived on schedule.

I was given a better price quote in December, because the prices were actually going up in January.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Not quite true everywhere. I致e been told since back in October that no more ZD1511痴 would be shipped, from Georgia, until mid March 2018. 5-6 months without product?

Kubota has just in time assembly line that has mixed models on the same line, where the parts are not scheduled to show up until the specified slot on the line, they are probably building models that already have orders that need to be filled. So the parts on those mowers may not even be scheduled to be made yet.

Kubota Manufacturing Plant - Gainesville, Georgia - YouTube

Kubota is working on their National Distribution Center

Kubota NDC Expansion Construction Progress 8-22-17 - YouTube

David