Just curious about members that have elected to buy their tractor from a dealer that isn't local. What has been your experience when taking your tractor to your local dealer for warranty work or perhaps even repair/service after the warranty expires. I'm sure Kubota has hard fast rules for dealers to live by, but I'm not sure my local dealer would be receptive to an outside sale.......
For Those Who Buy "Elsewhere"
- Thread starter gltrap54
- Start date
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RadarTech
Elite Member
While I can't attest to the the warranty work part..
I can attest to parts etc..
I bought my tractor about 45 miles away.. Local dealer is about 10 miles.
The last time I was in the local dealer one of the parts guys asked when I bought it, and when I told him he said really I don't remember you.
It was a little weird to say, yea I bought it at XXX.
He promptly asked why not with them, and I outlined all my reasons and he said yep I wouldn't have bought it here either...
That's when I learned his dad was the owner..
and just for the record- he was great to work with and did not have an attitude or anything...
and also for the record--
Reasons for not buying it local:
1. $500 delivery charge (other dealer $0)
2. wanted to talk forever before letting me test drive one in the yard- seemed more interested in talking-(all other dealers - your interested? let me get you on a tractor -less than 5 min in the door!)
3. List price sale (other dealer- dropped the price even after I signed the papers!)
4. filling rears additional charge--(FREE- beat juice)
5. any extras --nope(free hats, and 2 extra free keys)
6. What about 50 hour maint- talked about it alittle (took me straight to service dept introd the service manager and gave me an owners manual to look at)
It all boils down to who wants the sale...
My local dealer did not..
the other dealer did...
YMMV!
J
I can attest to parts etc..
I bought my tractor about 45 miles away.. Local dealer is about 10 miles.
The last time I was in the local dealer one of the parts guys asked when I bought it, and when I told him he said really I don't remember you.
It was a little weird to say, yea I bought it at XXX.
He promptly asked why not with them, and I outlined all my reasons and he said yep I wouldn't have bought it here either...
That's when I learned his dad was the owner..
and just for the record- he was great to work with and did not have an attitude or anything...
and also for the record--
Reasons for not buying it local:
1. $500 delivery charge (other dealer $0)
2. wanted to talk forever before letting me test drive one in the yard- seemed more interested in talking-(all other dealers - your interested? let me get you on a tractor -less than 5 min in the door!)
3. List price sale (other dealer- dropped the price even after I signed the papers!)
4. filling rears additional charge--(FREE- beat juice)
5. any extras --nope(free hats, and 2 extra free keys)
6. What about 50 hour maint- talked about it alittle (took me straight to service dept introd the service manager and gave me an owners manual to look at)
It all boils down to who wants the sale...
My local dealer did not..
the other dealer did...
YMMV!
J
bp fick
Super Member
Others here have mentioned that an Extended Warranty dealer will service your machine, it just may be slotted behind the work from his "regular" customers.
As for how different dealers can be from another, I hadn't experienced that until this past week. I asked for quotes on a FEL. Simply request. No different than buying parts in my mind. Just a big, expensive part, that's all.
Some dealers didn't really respond. Another gave me an email lecture about having to pay list from him because I didn't buy the tractor from him. Geeesh. What difference could that possibly make?
The dealer I did buy it never asked where I bought the tractor and treated me like a king. Seemed like they were more concerned about the present sale and making a future looking relationship. Got 15-20% off list, give or take. And a hat!! So, guess where I am buying my next tractor and next case of oil and next filter set and next implement and next .....
A good parts and service department builds future new sales. It's as simple as that. Some dealers get that and perhaps others don't.
As for how different dealers can be from another, I hadn't experienced that until this past week. I asked for quotes on a FEL. Simply request. No different than buying parts in my mind. Just a big, expensive part, that's all.
Some dealers didn't really respond. Another gave me an email lecture about having to pay list from him because I didn't buy the tractor from him. Geeesh. What difference could that possibly make?
The dealer I did buy it never asked where I bought the tractor and treated me like a king. Seemed like they were more concerned about the present sale and making a future looking relationship. Got 15-20% off list, give or take. And a hat!! So, guess where I am buying my next tractor and next case of oil and next filter set and next implement and next .....
A good parts and service department builds future new sales. It's as simple as that. Some dealers get that and perhaps others don't.
LBrown59
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2004
- Messages
- 16,831
- Tractor
- 2003 Kubota BX1500/2004 Kubota Bx23/2005 Kubota BX1500
I bought my first BX 60 miles from here in WV.
I gout my lst 2 In KY.
None of the 3 have never been to any dealer .
I'm the type of guy that tends to hang on to my tractors & I'm not much of a mechanic beyond routine maintenance , so I fully realize the importance of a dealer having a good service department. I'd also like to think their service manager is a bit more flexible if he knows you've been a repeat customer. I live two miles from my dealer, so convenience factors in also. Sometimes the cheapest bid isn't always the best.........
Ductape
Elite Member
My opinion is....... if we are talking about hundreds of dollars, i'd buy local. Thousands, I'd buy far away.
MerkurRS
New member
I just went through this too.
I first priced at my local dealer as the benchmark. It was there that I got to see the BX1860 first hand too. checked Barlows (best price by $1000). I checked closer dealers and they were all the same as Mr. Local. Unfortunately Barlows is 11 hours away, that translates into almost $400 in fuel and a looong weekend to go get it. I was honest with the local dealer and he did his best to match the price, dropping a lot, but still a grand apart. He did mention free delivery and if they pick up for service/ warranty work they do not charge a fee when most do.
I thought about service and parts and in the long run, it wasn't worth the $600 difference, so I bought local.
I hope this helps.
Oh by the way, I think that I may get his business in return!
I first priced at my local dealer as the benchmark. It was there that I got to see the BX1860 first hand too. checked Barlows (best price by $1000). I checked closer dealers and they were all the same as Mr. Local. Unfortunately Barlows is 11 hours away, that translates into almost $400 in fuel and a looong weekend to go get it. I was honest with the local dealer and he did his best to match the price, dropping a lot, but still a grand apart. He did mention free delivery and if they pick up for service/ warranty work they do not charge a fee when most do.
I thought about service and parts and in the long run, it wasn't worth the $600 difference, so I bought local.
I hope this helps.
Oh by the way, I think that I may get his business in return!
07 LMM LTZ
Silver Member
I know a lot of people buy from dealers no where close to where they live but my local dealer I can't say enough about. When it came down to it they were about $1100 more expensive that some of the internet dealers but it sure is nice for me to know they are right there for you. They did my first service included in the price of the tractor. Any time I have had any questions about something they go out of there way to help you out. I believe it is just a matter of how your local dealer operates. Some great and some not so great, just the luck of the draw for the area that one lives in JMHO.
I think it depends alot on whether or not you plan to do your own maintenance or repair work and how much you'll have to rely on the local dealer if you buy from someone else. I do all my own work so the only advantage to having a local dealer is getting parts (and my closest dealer is an hour away).
The local dealer wasn't helpful when I was looking for a used TLB. He started out by telling me that wasn't what I wanted, and that I should buy a B3030 and add a loader and backhoe instead. (Of course, he had a new B3030 he wanted to move).
When I told him I was really looking for a TLB like a B21 (couldn't afford a B26), he went on to tell me how I didn't need one, I had no legitimate use for one since I wasn't a contractor, hydraulics worked too fast for a homeowner to get used to, overkill for anyone other than a business, etc., then when I wouldn't agree with him he switched tactics and tried to sell me a new B26.
When I explained I couldn't afford a B26 (I had set a budget and didn't want to exceed it), he tried to convince me that the total price wasn't really important, as long as I could make the monthly payments. Wouldn't even tell me what the total cost for the B26 was, just kept telling me the monthly payment amount. Finally after much discussion he tells me the cost, and I laugh since it is $12,000 more than what I told him I was willing to spend. Needless to say I hung up and kept looking.
I ended up finding a dealer in the US selling a demo B26 with 25 hours on it at an awesome price. By the time the deal was finalized, I ended up buying a set of filters for the 50 hour service, a Kubota service manual, bolt on cutting edge for the front bucket, hydraulic thumb for the backhoe, and a block heater and horn kit. When I picked it up he gave me and my buddy some Kubota hats, an extra spare key, and a few pens.
Even after calculating the exchange rate (I live in Canada), I figure I saved $14,000 (yes, 3 zeros) over a new similar machine from the local dealer. Even though it was a 14 hour drive each way to pick it up, I am much further ahead and bascially have a new machine, at a price I was willing to pay.
The job of the salesman/dealer should be to help you find what you want, not to simply push what they have with no regards for whether or not it meets your needs. If they don't have what you want, they should at least have the foresight to try to create a relationship with you so you will come back for any future attachment or accessories. The arrogance and stupidity of my local dealer in trying to tell me I didn't know what I wanted just served to ensure I will NEVER buy anything from them other than parts and oil (and if I can buy from another dealer instead, I will). Their loss!
The local dealer wasn't helpful when I was looking for a used TLB. He started out by telling me that wasn't what I wanted, and that I should buy a B3030 and add a loader and backhoe instead. (Of course, he had a new B3030 he wanted to move).
When I told him I was really looking for a TLB like a B21 (couldn't afford a B26), he went on to tell me how I didn't need one, I had no legitimate use for one since I wasn't a contractor, hydraulics worked too fast for a homeowner to get used to, overkill for anyone other than a business, etc., then when I wouldn't agree with him he switched tactics and tried to sell me a new B26.
When I explained I couldn't afford a B26 (I had set a budget and didn't want to exceed it), he tried to convince me that the total price wasn't really important, as long as I could make the monthly payments. Wouldn't even tell me what the total cost for the B26 was, just kept telling me the monthly payment amount. Finally after much discussion he tells me the cost, and I laugh since it is $12,000 more than what I told him I was willing to spend. Needless to say I hung up and kept looking.
I ended up finding a dealer in the US selling a demo B26 with 25 hours on it at an awesome price. By the time the deal was finalized, I ended up buying a set of filters for the 50 hour service, a Kubota service manual, bolt on cutting edge for the front bucket, hydraulic thumb for the backhoe, and a block heater and horn kit. When I picked it up he gave me and my buddy some Kubota hats, an extra spare key, and a few pens.
Even after calculating the exchange rate (I live in Canada), I figure I saved $14,000 (yes, 3 zeros) over a new similar machine from the local dealer. Even though it was a 14 hour drive each way to pick it up, I am much further ahead and bascially have a new machine, at a price I was willing to pay.
The job of the salesman/dealer should be to help you find what you want, not to simply push what they have with no regards for whether or not it meets your needs. If they don't have what you want, they should at least have the foresight to try to create a relationship with you so you will come back for any future attachment or accessories. The arrogance and stupidity of my local dealer in trying to tell me I didn't know what I wanted just served to ensure I will NEVER buy anything from them other than parts and oil (and if I can buy from another dealer instead, I will). Their loss!
radioman
Super Member
The dealer I did buy it never asked where I bought the tractor and treated me like a king. Seemed like they were more concerned about the present sale and making a future looking relationship. Got 15-20% off list, give or take. And a hat!! So, guess where I am buying my next tractor and next case of oil and next filter set and next implement and next .....
A good parts and service department builds future new sales. It's as simple as that. Some dealers get that and perhaps others don't.[/QUOTE]
I agree!!!! This is why these dealers last a long time. This is the reason why I walked out the door from a tractor dealer of a different color that was only less then 10 mins from me. If they don't want to take the time to talk to me about my needs and wants- I'm out the door and leave them hanging!! ( and I have done that :confused3
