Dealers - How Far is Too Far

[LA Confederate]

So I'm in the process of buying a new place and the wife has insisted that we will need to get a tractor for the new place. I've been researching for quite a while on the purchase but I'm at a crossroads. I'm very interested in the Mahindra line of products, but I haven't ruled out Kubota or JD at this point. There is a reputable Mahindra dealer nearby that I've dealt with, another one about an hour's drive away, and at least 3 long standing Kubota and JD dealers. I will probably also go look at the LS and TYM tractors as they are fairly close as well but have no experience with them at all. My big question though is Kioti. I'm very interested in their tractors, but the closest Kioti dealer is 75 miles away in another state and the next closest is 125 miles away. Would those factors be enough to rule out Kioti if you were in the market to buy new?

 

[Threepoint]

The Kioti dealer I bought my 2014 NX4510HST cab from is 100 miles from me. Great dealer. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. :thumbsup:

 

[N2DFire]

We purchased from a dealer over 100 Mi away and in another state. We had a good experience & feeling with this dealer. Little over a year later and no regrets thus far.

 

[4570Man]

I really don't understand why some people think they have to have a dealer close by. We bought the L3240 out of state to save sales tax. It was about a 15 hour trip each way.

 

[Hiltz]

I agree with the posters above. I bought my latest tractor about 15 years ago. I think I have been back to the dealer one time in all those years.

 

[holeycow]

Dealer is 400 miles away. I had a couple of minor problems I could easily fix myself with parts shipped from the dealer.

If you plan on doing most of the mechanical work yourself and nothing major goes wrong, then it doesn't matter how far the dealer is away.

Also, smaller tractors are easily hauled to the dealer by you on any decent little trailer.

Where I live, a dealer 100 miles away is basically local...

And BTW, a new dealer of my brand just started about 80 miles away. yay! That's as close as they will ever get.

It depends on your own mechanical ability, the size of tractor and your hauling capabilities, and who is the best dealer. I would rather deal with a good dealer far away than a goof who is close.

I have made major purchases of machinery more than a thousand miles away. And have had trouble. And have had parts shipped. And fixed the problems myself. With no problem...

If the best dealer is very close and it costs a little more (emphasize a little), then it is worth it. To save thousands by going farther away is also worth it. Maintenance of a tractor is no different than a car.

 

[holeycow]

I really don't understand why some people think they have to have a dealer close by. We bought the L3240 out of state to save sales tax. It was about a 15 hour trip each way.

because they are brainwashed by sites like these?

 

[LA Confederate]

Good points everyone. I appreciate it. Yes my hauling and mechanical abilities are enough that I can handle most normal problems but I'm also a shift worker at a fertilizer plant so my schedule is always jacked up. I think having a dealer close is mostly for convenience and having a close safety net in case there's an issue.

 

[4570Man]

Any dealer shop will be happy to take your money at the rate of $70 an hour plus parts even if they didn't sell the tractor.

 

[Thomas]

For me it would come down to how good is there service department etc.