Better B7800 Deal?

[mr_shovel]

Well the folks here talked me out of a SCUT and into a B7800. The test drives were also persuasive. Anyway, I was working with one dealership but have been having a hard time with the sale guy. He just didn't seem interested. He was going to sell me a B7800 for $15,250, however it took me several trips to the dealership, test drive with a different (but very helpful) sales guy. When I finally me him in person (ready to buy) I asked about a used rear blade, and he sent me out by myself in the pitch dark to find this thing in a big field of equipment. That was the last straw for me.

So, The next day I went to another dealer. I would rate this new dealer as average (comparing to my other experiences so far). We talked about a B7800, Bush Hog 35 series 6' rear blade, and 50 hr service for $15,600. Couldn't complete the deal since it was the weekend.

Does this price sound good? Do you think a rear blade is worth the extra $$ for me. Should I get something different that a rear blade? For now I just need no move snow without breaking the bank. See original post for detail of my needs and picture of lot.

Thanks!

I hope to soon be the member formerly known as Mr Shovel.


http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/buying-pricing-comparisons/90916-best-tractor.html
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[KubotaSteve]

I hope you are getting a front end loader with the machine. It will pay for itself many times over in the first year alone.
As far as the blade for moving snow, I wouldn't get some big heavy duty blade. I would just get one from Tractor Supply. A 6 foot one should only set you back $200 or $300. I've used my dad's 6 foot blade from TSC on my B7800 and it worked fine.

 

[CompShooter]

Mr. Shovel,

I too am considering a B7800 (but I am also looking into the Mahindra 3215 and possibly a Branson 3820i). Anyhow one of the reasons I liked the B7800 so much was since Kubota offered a front blade which I could use to plow my driveway. But in another post I found out that I could get an aftermarket front blade for the 3215 as well. So I have more homework to do.

Anyway I was wondering how effective it would be to plow snow with a rear blade? Have you done this before? It just seems a bit odd to me. Just curious.

 

[art]

For central NY I like to think the blower is a must! If it is a straight driveway one for the rear isn't bad but a front would be prefered. With all the talk of global warming maybe in fifteen years you might be ok but if the wind gets a hold of a snow bank they grow faster then the falling snow. An east west driveway will give far less trouble with drifting then a north south for most of central NY.

 

[snmhanson]

Sound like a fair price to me if it includes the loader. I paid 17,700 a couple years ago for a B7800 with a loader and belly mower. I have since purchased several additional implements for it including a BushHog 35 Series 6' rear blade. It is a very well built blade which is easy to use and adjust and is a perfect fit for the B7800. I have used it to plow 12" of heavy wet snow here it the Pacific NW and neither the blade or tractor put up a fuss (and this was with turf tires without chains on a gravel drive). If you are plowing over gravel turning the blade around helps keep it from scooping up too much gravel and still does a good job of moving the snow leaving just a thin layer above the gravel. If it is over pavement just plow away and enjoy a snow free drive (I can't wait until we get our drive paved). I can't vouch for the New York winters but I know when we get hit here the snow is very heavy and wet. Good luck.

Matt

 

[mr_shovel]

Well, apparently dealer #1 reads this board too, because he wrote me a harassing e-mail (addressed to Mr_Shovel), apparently unhappy about the way I expressed my experience. He wrote in a not so nice way that I failed to mention that I showed up 5 minutes before the store was to close.

Since this was my 3rd trip there (1.5 hrs round trip) and I have work late just about every single day, maybe I was a little insensitive to this fact, thus failed to mention it. But to be fair, I am mentioning it now.

Also note, I was careful not to mention the names of any sales people or dealers as to not let my opinion have a negative impact on anyone. I don’t like to badmouth any one directly (unless I am actually harmed) and would rather let others form opinions for them selves.

Oh yeah, and I still don’t have a tractor!!! Dealer #2 is having trouble processing some paper work, and now I had too much time to think about weather the blade will be useful or not.

 

[Taiser]

If I had a shop and a customer stopped by and was ready to dump 18k or so on my product, you can bet I'd stay open an extra 20 minutes or so, happy customers keep coming back. Mr Shovel, I'd love to see your e-mail unless you plan on still dealing with this dealer.

Some of these dealers must be doing very well to have such crappy service. Unfortunetly I've been seeing that too with my recent shopping here in my town. It's all part of being a captive market here in my town, with little choice except to travel hundreds of kilometers for the next dealer (I won't even get into my "deere" experience!

 

[Mike5252]

I have to wonder what Dealer #1 hoped to accomplish by his harrassing email.

Was he thinking the combination of the poor sales service he provided you coupled with a less than nice email would somehow guilt you buying a tractor from him?

 

[KubotaSteve]

Well, apparently dealer #1 reads this board too, because he wrote me a harassing e-mail (addressed to Mr_Shovel), apparently unhappy about the way I expressed my experience. He wrote in a not so nice way that I failed to mention that I showed up 5 minutes before the store was to close.

The part that bothers me with this is that its all about customer service. When I worked in sales and a customer was there you worked the sale until it was finnished which could be a while if there were a bunch of custom winodws to order (and we didn't even get commission).
I understand if the guy had an appointment, he could have at least said "Let me work you something up and e-mail it to you." or at the very least explained his situation that he needed to be somewhere. If it was just that it was closing time and he wanted to go home, I think I would have to pass and go elsewhere even if it meant switching brands. The straw that would break the camels back would have been the "not so nice" e-mail. Apparently they aren't looking for any more business.
I'm looking for the guy who will go the extra mile to help me.

 

[mr_shovel]

If I had a shop and a customer stopped by and was ready to dump 18k or so on my product, you can bet I'd stay open an extra 20 minutes or so, happy customers keep coming back. Mr Shovel, I'd love to see your e-mail unless you plan on still dealing with this dealer.

Some of these dealers must be doing very well to have such crappy service. Unfortunetly I've been seeing that too with my recent shopping here in my town. It's all part of being a captive market here in my town, with little choice except to travel hundreds of kilometers for the next dealer (I won't even get into my "deere" experience!

Yeah, What the heck, I can post it. Maybe it isn’t even so bad and just rubbed me the wrong way. I will still block the names though. Maybe we just have incompatible personalities and I can’t badmouth someone for that. Can’t do it ‘till after work though because it is at my home e-mail.

I also did think about going back (and talking to a different sales guy). There was a guy I talked to one day (when the other guy#1 wasn’t there) that was pretty enthusiastic and helpful. He got the wife and I a test drive, explained operation, features, etc. He even said he would come to my house to look at my land to make sure I get the right tool for the job. It’s probably a little too awkward to go back now though.

One a good note, there are many dealers in my area..

 

[ToddW]

The part that bothers me with this is that its all about customer service.
/snip
I'm looking for the guy who will go the extra mile to help me.

I agree, when I was shopping for my new tractor last year I spent a lot of MY time on MY days off at the local NH, JD and Kubota dealers. Short story the Kubota dealer got my sale (L2800HST) due to the amount of time he was willing to spend with me and his no hassle pricing structure. Oh, and though he isn't open on weekends he delivered the tractor on a Saturday morning on his own time.

/Todd

 

[BlacknTan]

IMO, No one should receive harrassment from a dealer for any reason. A good part of what a dealer sells is service and good will. Bad dealers should be weeded out by the only method available to the consumer.......Word of mouth!!

Would you care to post the dealer's name, so the rest of us can avoid this type of difficulty also??

 

[mr_shovel]

Here is the e-mail I got. Apparently in response to my original post.

Hey MR Shovel,
I hope when you went to the other dealer the next day, you did not arrive 5 minutes before closing time. You also forgot to mention that while you were out stumbling around in the pitch dark that I was working on another price for you. Oh yea $15,600.00 to much.
<salesman #1>

 

[Taiser]

Well I gotta agree, seems like a snotgram to me!!! Way to drum up service, if it was me I'd be sending you an e-mail asking how I could improve my service to you since you were obviously dissatisfied. What a dink!

 

[BlacknTan]

Please tell me who this dealer is so he never get's any of my business since I'm in NY also.

PM me if you'd like...

 

[riptides]

I think you guys are not giving the dealer a fair shake.

The e-mail does not look that bad. I'd go back and bump heads with him. He may just be the type of guy you need in your corner when times get tough.

I'd rather be up front and forward with some stuff than have it sugar coated.

What have you got to lose? What have you got to gain?

-Mike Z.

 

[Jay Hilliard]

Hey MR Shovel,
I hope when you went to the other dealer the next day, you did not arrive 5 minutes before closing time. You also forgot to mention that while you were out stumbling around in the pitch dark that I was working on another price for you. Oh yea $15,600.00 to much.
<salesman #1>[/QUOTE]


What a jerk. At least you came to him, even if it was 5 minutes before closing. I would not bother him again. Take YOUR money elsewhere! If he had somehwere to go or be, he could have told you, wrote down your name and email and got back with you.

There are many dealers that will appreciate your business. I just dont understand people, who think you are obligated to do business with them.

 

[Tractordawg]

MR Shovel,

Did you ever contact Kubota directly on you poor treatment and failure of this dealer to represent the Kubota brand? I think they would want to know.

 

[williet]

Like you, I've been looking at two dealers here in North Alabama. The first and closest was just like your first. I was there at about 10 min. before he closed the building ... a business he owns ... and he ignored me until he asked me to leave and locked the door in my face.

The other guy, an hour away, took half an hour with me even though I told him I was just looking and wasn't even sure I would buy a Kubota.... guess who will get the money when I buy.

It's not just Kubota tractors, it's about everything these days ... some folks think they are doing you a service by allowing you to buy from them and some are happy to get your business.