Simplicity Zero Turns?

[Hexa Fox]

I think a trade deal (your local Ford 1700 for the Citation XT in PA) is just a problem waiting to happen. There are so many variables in this match up to go wrong, unless you get things really clear up front.

A comment about the dealer "you will not be happy with the Citation XT vs Ferris) of course your dealer wants to sell you a new Ferris, so maybe drive the Citation XT and decide yourself.

On the other hand, you mow for money, and if you are sitting in the seat, getting the latest Ferris ISX 52" with the Kawasaki EFI with the high back suspension seat might cost you $3K more than the used Citation XT. but in the long haul that's only a few $ an hour amortized over the life of the machine.

These things are true. I trust anything my dealer tells me. He has told me the truth before, where he has known it would hurt his business. He did upsell me my Ferris though and boy am I glad he did. I was there looking at Husqvarna machines and I was already very irritated with the other "used car salesmen tactics from other dealers". Anyway he asked if he could show me a Hustler or a Ferris and I said sure. I remember my first choice was a Scag Tiger Cat with a 52" deck and none of the dealers around me had one.

The one that I found that did have the Scag I wanted did not want to demo me a unit at all. So I was never able to try a Scag and that hurt me because I was sold on the stripes, quality of cut and what you got overall for your $$.

Anyway I was thinking the same thing. A long distance deal can always turn into a disaster.

 

[Hexa Fox]

It is funny how fast you can go from having absolute faith in your local dealer to having absolute zero. I had a spindle seize up on my Ferris recently. This was the major reason I was looking at another piece of equipment in the first place. I do not think I will ever buy another Briggs mower after this. I am looking into Scag now. Working with anyone or working with Briggs directly is an absolute nightmare. I was suppose to have a spindle and pulley assembly in last week so I went ahead and pulled mine from the machine. Long story short the parts have not arrived at the dealer and they have zero clue what is going on or what to tell me. They are now dodging me.

I went down the authorized dealer list for Briggs and so many of them are cell phones, do not pick up the phone or are no longer Briggs dealers. So many attempts are failed right out of the gate because Briggs does not police who is listed on their website as dealers. The parts for my mower which is only from 2015 looks like they have been all but discontinued. My dealer said his local supplier did not stock them at all. I have people upset with me and looking at renting a piece of equipment when I should not have to. Again this situation with Ferris and Briggs has been a nightmare to say the least.

 

[stevem5215]

This is a problem with a lot of dealers. Not just Simplicity ones. Looking over the tractor forum it appears to be at most all tractor dealers anymore. Phone calls not returned, problems not solved on many brands. For the most part being able to service it yourself seems the logical solution. Personally I've not had any service at my local Simplicity dealer. Just have gotten some parts from them through the warranty and that was probably 3 years ago now. I've not had trouble with either of mine so as a product I'm quite happy overall with the reliability. But, I don't use it commercially. Just on my own yard.