long time Kubota dealer

[sunandsand]

Chips in simple (?) vehicles . . .

Friend of mine has a Suzuki Bergmann scooter parked in my hangar, next to my old BMW motorcycles.

The scooter is essentially a car with only two wheels. EFI, ABS, OBDII socket, water cooled, disk brakes, automatic transmission, and more wires on it than all my bikes put together. It also weighs something like 600 pounds - my BMWs weigh in at 412 or so each.

The Suzuki dealers don't like working on them because you can't get at anything without taking off a bazillion plastic panels, and even when they are "bare" they are insanely complicated.

I'm told the owners really like them and have almost a fanatical attachment to them.

Personally, I like stuff I can fix myself. The BMW has NO chips, period, but then it is 40+ years old.

Best Regards,

Mike/Florida

 

[Mart5130]

Some do, most don't and candidly, I'm not trusting of the competency of TSC employees anyway. Most TSC's will have pre made in stock hoses on the shelf of Chinese origin, not sure of the quality of them either. NAPA was a good choice, most have crimp machines and in stock hose as well. Bought a TSC stock length hydraulic hose for the rotator on my snow blower. It lasted 2 years and split. I wasn't impressed.

Yes NAPA for custom hoses

 

[Gregster613]

Sunandsand, Extremely nice looking BMW and you are exactly right - none of the crappie new stuff burdens it. I owned a 1973 850cc Norton Commando and it was always a reliable starting/running machine (after I added pointless ignition). Only reason I don't have it anymore is cause it burnt up in our Witch Creek fire. Enjoy your weekend rides - I always did!!

 

[Jstpssng]

Only reason I don't have it anymore is cause it burnt up in our Witch Creek fire.

That's got to be enough to make a grown man cry.

 

[Gregster613]

Jstpssng, Yes I cried heartily over that loss, along with everything else that went up in smoke. I had two Harley's in the same garage too. And all the tools, etc., etc. Sad times those were. All better now though. Life can be tough at times but the tough keep on trucking forwards. Best regards. Greg

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

Local Kubota dealer had been the family business for 70 years sold out recently.
It will remain a Kubota dealership just different owner.

I knew the original owner. It was passed down to his son. Then to the grandson

Grandson isn't that old.. I guess he just got tired of the tractor business, or couldn't keep it going due to covid.

I was sure surprised when I went by yesterday and saw the ''Under New Ownership'' sign.

Any other tractor dealers in your area sold out to someone else recently ?

One of the local Kubota dealers in my neck of the woods did the same recently. I think what happened is his whole business model was built around sales and when he couldn't get any inventory he didn't have the cash flows to sustain his expenses long term. The dealer who bought it is not anyone I would want to deal with.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

A Kioti dealer opened 10 years ago in a nearby town. It was sold 3 years ago and the new owner switched to Mahindra. Unfortunately, it went out of business last year, likely due to Covid. Local Kioti and Mahindra owners now have to travel almost 50 miles to the closest dealer.

Not picking on the value brands but this seems to be a somewhat common story that I hear about those dealers. I guess they have trouble getting enough market share?

 

[Torvy]

I visited Eastside Equipment in Watertown, SD on Thanksgiving weekend. They built a new facility there in the summer of 2020. My BIL was thinking about a tractor purchase and asked my opinion, so we drove over.

Business is good, it seems.

I grew up about 45 minutes from there. Watertown always left a bad taste in my mouth. Probably due to rivalries. Haha

That's quite a drive for you.

 

[5030]

My local Kubota dealer may not be getting in much in the way of new inventory but the shop is always super busy doing repairs on equipment. He's pretty diverse as well, selling Kubota and associated brands plus Cub Cadet and he works on Case IH and NH stuff too. Was at one time a CNH dealer until they did the corporate thing like JD did and pulled his franchise.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

I have JD equipment as well and I will say that most everything at the local JD dealer is luxury priced. Don't even like going in there. In fact if I need a JD part, I order it from Shoup in Illinois.

Is Shoup much better with their pricing 5030?