Mahindra - grown too big too quickly in USA?

[Bob_Skurka]

Clyde, I don't own a Mahindra so let me give you an "outsiders" point of view of what I see with Mahindra.

First, they have a great selection of tractors with great features. If you consider all the different model variations, transmission choices, etc, then there is no doubt that there is going to be just about a good fit for any use. The only 2 things I see Mahindra lacking in models are a Sub-Compact tractor and a lightweight compact.

Second, they have dealer issues. But so does every other brand out there. But in Mahindra's case, the dealer issue is a bigger problem than it is for the Big 3 brands because the Big 3 brands typically (not always, but usually) have established quality dealers. Mahindra, Kioti and others are fighting for dealers. In my area the only Mahindra dealer is a garden center, they are making a push into tractor and mowers, but it really is not the place you think of to buy power equipment. Mahindra needs to get into better dealerships, that is easy to say but hard to do.

Third, Mahindra seems to build a tractor as reliable as any other brand, and every brand will have problems. But Mahindra NEEDS to be more responsive. Here is the reality, Kubota sells about 45 out of every 100 small tractors sold. JD sells about 25 out of 100. New Holland sells about 15 out of 100. So combined, those 3 companies sell roughly 85% of all the small tractors sold. They should have, just using those numbers, 85% of the problems, 85% of the complaints, etc. And they may have that but I don't know. What I know is that they have large support networks to fix their problems, and that is where Mahindra seems to be lacking. If you just look at TBN, you should see a HUGE number of Kubota complaints simply because there are a HUGE number of folks here who own them. And yes, you do read a lot of Kubota issues, but for the most part they are a very low % of the total Kubota tractor population. So while there may be 10 Kubota problems for every 1 Mahindra problem, that is actually expected because there simply more Kubotas. The key that Mahindra needs to focus on is fixing the problems. Good dealers will help with that because a good dealer will get the problem sorted out quickly. Take a look at the Kioti forums. Look at all the dealer related probems people report there. I am amazed by the problems I read in their forum, with things breaking, falling off, etc. And the silly thing is that they are dealer issues. The tractors are good, but the dealer did something wrong. Now look again at the Mahindra issues and see where the real weaknesses are. It is not in the tractors. The tractors are good. It is in the support behind the machines. I can't say if they grew to fast, supposedly Mahindra is now the #4 brand in the US. What I can say is they need better support to match the quality of their tractors. Again, I'm an outsider looking in. I looked over a couple Mahindras at the dealership, I was impressed, but I won't buy one. At least not until I get a "real" tractor dealer in my area with a well stocked parts department, factory trained or certified repairmen and a good reputation in service. And I think if they had that type of dealer network, with the support they deserve from corporate, then you would not have posted this thread.

 

[Varmintmist]

I wasnt sure if I was going to respond or not, but here goes.

Before you make the call on the Mahindras, read the owning operating sections of the other brands here. There is NOT ONE that comes through squeaky clean. The paint doesnt seem to matter, they are all having problems. Some of the tried and true models that were "upgraded" by the manufactures are showing problems. I looked at that hard before I bought.

My single call to the dealer about the oddball oil filter gasket leak (ended up with the NAPA) ended with a call FROM THE FIELD REP. It was a stupid oil filter and the factory rep called me. I was kind of impressed.

As to Mahindra's being crap. Well, the dealer that I got mine from has been selling tractors and implements for at least as long as I have been driving past there, and selling the brand for at least 4 years. He is moving Mahindras off the lot in large quantities. I dont hear a lot of complaints, nor do I see Mahindras in his shop as I am going by. They are being sold and being used by folks like me, contractors, hobby farmers, and anyone who needs a CUT.

I have had mine less than a year and at the moment have a little more than 170 hours on it. Zero problems. It has never cut a blade of grass in its life. Light plowing, backblading, heavy skidding and a boatload of loader work has been its main diet.

I for one am sure as heck not going to write off the brand. I am following the 4110 bolt thing though. IMHO if it was a defect that they knew about, they better fix it. Me? I'd be lawyered up as soon as the rep said he has seen the problem before and admitted it was a Mahindra error and they said they wouldnt do anything. I would do that if it was a Ford, Deere, or Case. That 4110 is not the first machine to roll off the line with a bonehead error.

 

[PBinWA]

I'll agree with a lot of the other posters. Mahindra has grown quickly in the marketplace. In the Portland/Vancouver area I've seen them open a something like 4-5 dealers within 100-200 miles of each other. Some of the dealers opened and closed in a few months. Other dealers are placed too close together which is going to cause problems down the road as they are forced to compete with each other.

I found a dealer in my area ( Valley View Tractors in Newberg, OR ) that was relatively new to the sales arena but has a really strong tractor and heavy equipment service background.

Their customer service has been first rate. I had a loose banjo fitting and he was emailing me, phoned me and even offered to drive out on Sunday to help me. I know he has gone out of his way to help his other customers and even customers of other Mahindra dealers that are not so customer service friendly.

I've bought $3000-$4000 of implements including new Muratori tiller from them in the last few months and he has always given me great service. When I picked up the tiller he double checked all the fluid levels just to make sure that it was ready to go.

When I was doing my tractor shopping I found the big three dealers in my area to either be indifferent to my needs and they did not want to work with me to meet my needs. They seemed to just want to push out the CUTs and Sub-CUTs as fast as they could and weren't really interested in special ordering anything for me.

My main point is that it is going to be hard for Mahindra to get established in this market. I suspect they have spammed the country with as many new dealers (poorly qualified in many cases) as possible. Now the corporate smarty pants are either sitting around and saying "What have we done?" and dealing with the fires as they break out OR the corporate smarty pants are sitting back and waiting to see which dealers succeed and which do not (i.e. Survival of the fittest).

I don't think the lack of availability of a particular model is something to judge the success of a company on. Apple computer routinely under produces their most popular computer models and I believe that they still turn a profit. The last thing you want to do is to have too much inventory and not enough demand. I suspect that the model of tractor your friend is looking for is very popular in your area and the dealers do not want to do the foot work to chase down one that is too far away from them.

Finally, IMO the Mahindra 7520 is probably one of the best looking tractors on the market. I love my 2615 and it has done everything I've asked it too but if I had more money than sense I think I would by a 7520 and just park it in my back yard to drool over. I might start it up every once and a while and play with the cool headlights too.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Keith_B_]

The reality is that there are a similar number of crappy dealers by percentage of all brands, including the big three.

A dealer going to bat for you makes a huge difference on those rare occassions where there are problems. Most tractors sold today are relatively trouble free, but all mechanical devices are prone to have problems with parts failures.

 

[JoeinTX]

Like many above have said, the dealer can make a big difference in the way you view your tractor. A bad dealer simply amplifies any problems you have with the equipment, even if the are not unusual, while a good dealer can patch up a less than desirable experience and make your purchase seem better than it actually may be.

Honestly, I have run across very few actually "bad" pieces of equipment. I mean by that stuff that has absolutely no use or value whatsoever in either the intended or a secondary use. For example years ago my dad bought a spring-loaded manual t-post driver, I don't know if any of you have ever seen one or not. Essentially, it had a large heavy duty spring inside which was supposed to basically drive the post into the ground by itself after the first drop by hand. Well, it didn't work worth a darn in our hard, dry ground....it would just sit and bounce a few times on top of the post with little result. For us, it was a bust......but for someone in sandy or wet ground it may well have worked like a charm and saved a little back pain for them. Moral I suppose is that two seperate people can have two different experiences with the same equipment and real story is in the use.

 

[musa_marketing]

We have grown very quickly and continue to do so.

Are we perfect, certainly not but we are striving to deliver exceptional customer satisfaction. An independent survey indicated 98% customer satisfaction with our tractors...an amazing statistic considering it is a mechanical machine.

When problems do arise, we try our best to solve them in a way that satisfies the customer.

If you have a specific issue, please let me know about it and I will see what I can do to help.

 

[KENB]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( We have grown very quickly and continue to do so.

Are we perfect, certainly not but we are striving to deliver exceptional customer satisfaction. An independent survey indicated 98% customer satisfaction with our tractors...an amazing statistic considering it is a mechanical machine.

When problems do arise, we try our best to solve them in a way that satisfies the customer.

If you have a specific issue, please let me know about it and I will see what I can do to help. )</font>

Check out 4110 broken-bolts update (from skipmarcy). He could use some help. I don't know the guy, but I read those posts and believe he needs some assistance.

 

[SteveCornell]

musa_marketing,

Glad to see someone from the company here on the forums, please stick around!

I'm picking up a new 2015 HST tomorrow /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I spend a lot of time on other forums (woodworking, trucks, etc.) and it really means alot to have someone within the company participating !

Steve

 

[BobG_in_VA]

Welcome! Where are you located?? BobG in VA

 

[DMB]

I know you're not perfect, don't expect you to be, I can't say in my tractor search I came across any brand that was perfect. My 2615 has 13 hours on it now and I've done some pretty hefty jobs with it so far. I moved my 69 Road Runner which is engineless and front suspensionless into the garage with it using the loader and a chain to manipulate it around to the door. The driveway is not paved yet so I had to back in the garage, then lift it up and over the threshold leaving room to get out, then get behind it and lift and push it in. I do have a frame with casters on the front of the car so it rolled great once on the concrete, but it only tried to dig in the fine textured gravel. The loader and chain solved that problem. I could not have done this job without the 2615 and ML106 loader. I was impressed how well it handled the job. I gave my local dealer's card to friend looking for a tractor to care for 9 acres and about 400 feet of driveway. I tried a little mowing today. It has rained a lot here recently. The R4s turned to mudballs quickly in the bare spots. Oh well, the sun is out, I'll try again later. musa, I'm pretty pleased with my 2615. Hope to hear inputs from you. DMB.