Kubota "Throw away tractor"?

buzst · Mar 3, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

Strongbow,
As others have said all of the big three (4?) tractors are imported and they are all quality machines. The only serious advantage that Kubota has is that they manufacture for and sell to their customer - the end user. The other manufactures only sell (in the US) to the American reseller (green,blue, red, yellow) who has no more loyalty back to the Mfg. than the contract that permits him to put his name on the tractor. Should green,blue, red, or yellow ever decide to change their mfg relationship i could easily envison part availibility becomming difficult. As kubota is the mfg of the machines they sell this should be less of a concern.

JimMc · Mar 3, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

I've always thought that was interesting as well. Of the top 4 (in 2002 sales) tractor companies in the US, only the orange (#1 Kubota and #4 Kioti) build their own. All the big "U.S." brands have someone else build for them.

thcri · Mar 3, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

I think we are starting to be no different than that sales person and have gotten off the original topic here. Kubota is not a throw away tractor. It all boils down to an imature sales person that won't last long in the field if he continues to talk the way he does. All of a sudden we are bad mouthing everything here but orange.

Murph

DK35vince · Mar 3, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

There are certain members here just as bias as that dealer !!

Anonymous Poster · Mar 3, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

OK, now I am reassured, didn't much trust that fella anyway. The only trouble I am having now is deciding on the BX 22 or something a bit larger. There is another thread here that addresses that so I am heading that way. Thanks all, you made my day.

cnoel · Mar 3, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

It seems you have your answer, but I have to throw in my 2 cents. Yes, I'm a bit biased, and as an Orange dealer I am disgusted /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif. Kubota's fill rate on "A" list or fast moving parts is 99.5% and they're still not happy. I believe total fill rate is around 98% including the vintage 70's tractors. I can promise that Kubota in ANYTHING BUT a throwaway tractor, but even though i truly believe that Kubota is the BEST tractor out there, I would NEVER bash the competition like that. There are many good companys out there making good product, and to blanket bash someone that way is just pure ignorance. Good luck on your purchase, and whatever color you choose, stay away from dealers like that! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BigDave · Mar 3, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

Darn!! I guess, I'm too late. Anyway, just in case anyone is still out there...Kubotas are disposable tractors...and my real name is Bill Gates /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Two things I do when I purchase anything of significant value. First, ignore anything any salesman tells you about the competition...rumors, half-truths, and all-out-lies: it's all worthless. Second, now you assume the salesman knows something about what he is selling. Yeah, I know that's a big assumption. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Ask questions about an item cheaper/smaller than what you are really interested, and after his pitch is over, act undecided and ask about the next more expensive item. Most salesmen will turn around and bad mouth the cheaper unit they just tried to sell you. Finally, and maybe you want to do this at follow-up visit, move up to the next more expensive item, and listen while he bad mouths the middle-cost item you are really interesting in purchasing as he praises the more expensive item. Now you have a salesperson bad mouthing his own equipment, supposedly something they should know about. At one Kubota dealer and in one day, I started at the BX2200, moved up to the B7500, then to the B2410, then the B2910, then as I walked over to the L3010, my wife told me to cut it out...she knows my methods. I don't recommend taking the wife tractor shopping, a guy doesn't get to drive a L4310 that way. The salesman was none the wiser, but I had a lot of good and bad information one each model. I did this with each of the big three when I was tractor shopping and they all fell for it. It worked every time. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Finally, I wouldn't imagine that there would be any problems finding parts for any of the big three, or even the top 6+ tractor sales leaders. In today's global economy, you should be able to find parts for the top 20, that is if the part exists, but it might take some determination on your behalf. In the early 80's I had a grey market Suzuki Jeep (Yeah I know it isn't really a Jeep) that needed a new exhaust. The importer had no parts stocked and was over a thousand miles away anyway. So what did I do? Well 20 years ago, I had to use the phone, instead of the internet, but I found a Suzuki dealer in Canada who had the parts, but he wasn't familiar with the models shipped to Puerto Rico and then later exported to the U.S. I took a chance, ordered the part for the Canadian model (different name) and it fit like a glove. Today, with the internet, it would be much easier to make a this purchase with much greater confidence.

kch · Mar 3, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

I own a NH TC33 and a Kubota B2910 and I will say in general it is easier getting parts for the NH then the Kubota. One of the main dofferences I have found is that fittings and general items of universal sizes that can be purchased at your local Tractor supply store fit the NH and not the kubota.

riptides · Mar 4, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

In response to wdn

( I remember back before Desert Storm when it was still considered halfway safe in Saudi, I read somewhere these sheiks would be driving a big Mercedes or a Rolls and if it broke down on the side of the road they would just abandon it in the desert where it sat and go buy a new one )

Actually they became the King's property. Break downs included flat tires, lock-outs and a host of upsurd other things you and I would scoff at. The dump areas would classify over here as pre-owned vehicle lots. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Unreal, really. I learned to love the 'benz over there. Some of those Sheiks had quite good taste on personal customizations.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

msocko3 · Mar 5, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

I'm on my 2nd Kubota within the last 3 years, If I would have thought it to be a throw away I wouldn't have bought another one. Heck the dealer I bought my 1st one from BX1800 sells Orange and Blue, he gave me $8500 on the trade of my 3 year old BX1800 with 60" MMM with 193 hours for a new BX2200 with 60" MMM. I figure I'll keep this one until the warrenty runs out and maybe pickup another one. I love my Bota!

DK35vince · Mar 6, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

msocko3,
It seems you don't keep them around long enough to see if they are any good or not !

msocko3 · Mar 6, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

I kind of like to play with new toys, and the comfort of having a warranty is nice also /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif If I want to see an older one in action there is a guy up the street that has one that is about 15 years old, I know another guy that has one that is about 20 years old now and still going strong.

bigpete · Mar 6, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

Sheesh... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I'm a JD guy, that's one of the silliest things I've ever heard.

I had an english teacher many years ago who had a pet peeve about what she called "extreme modifiers." If ever I turned in a paper or spoke the words, --every; all; always; never; or none-- I'd get a little rap on the knuckles of my non-writing hand. Whenever I hear a salesman say those words, my left hand tingles and I look around for a ruler to pass along the lesson. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

thcri · Mar 6, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

BigPete,

It is interesting on how this post/thread has started from the imaturity of a salesperson to, well yeah your right, extreme modifiers. Kubota's are good tractors, but all of a sudden everyone here has bragged up the Kubota so much that it would make one think there is no other tractor out there. I went through the various posts and you know what? There is a lot of Kubota post with problems just like the rest.

In fact look at the amount of posts Kubota has verses John Deere and New Holland. Why does Kubota have more? Well I am sure there is a lot more Kubota's out there? Or it could be that there is more problems out there? I think it has to be a combination of both. But I can pretty much assure you that for every good story about a Kubota, there probably is a bad story about them also. For every bad New Holland sales person there is one bad Kubota sales peson. That was my case. In fact I had no intention of looking at New Holland until the Kubota dealer bad mouthed New Holland so bad I just had to go look at one to see how bad they were. Gee Im driving a New Holland. This whole discussion group is not to dictate who is the best out there, but to help other people in making their decision. We help with Horsepower, we help with Hydro, we help with sales techniques, we help with what is the best implement. I know my dad's neighbor would never say "never" with his Kubota.

I know it is nature to protect our little tractors but this thread I think got way off track. Sorry if I upset anyone.

Murph

gerard · Mar 6, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

 . The next closest Kubota dealer is in Anchorage (50 miles away). 

My 'bota dealer I bought from is about 900 miles away. Haven't needed a part yet so I guess it hasn't been much of an issue yet!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif.

mushrock · Mar 6, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

My B7100 is 20 years old and still going strong. Exactly when am I supposed to throw it away?

Seriously, my nearest dealer is 98 miles away. The one I do business with is 128 miles away. So far any parts that I need, and there have not been many, amount to a simple call to the dealer's parts department. If the dealer has the part in stock I get it overnight. If it has to come out a the Ohio warehouse it takes three days. Still waiting for them to tell me that something that I need is no longer available. Maybe if that happens it will be time to "throw it away".

Anonymous Poster · Mar 6, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

You can throw it to me......I will take it.............. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Inspector507 · Mar 6, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

There is a Kubota "Junk Yard" in Ohio. I just made room for it today. I got to thinking with all these "throw away" Kubotas, y'all could just toss them in my yard. I'll find something to do with them /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Just teasing.........I know Kubota makes a quality tractor, so no one take offense okay?

frank_f15 · Mar 7, 2003

Re: Kubota \"Throw away tractor\"?

MURPH: have to agree, this thread got way off course, neither kubota, NH, JD, kioti, etc.etc. are throw aways. all have their good points and all have their bad points. some owners will have no problem, and others will have all kinds of problems. some folks have problems with chevy, some with ford, just the same with tractors.