Stopped by Barlows...No Sale but left with something

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Pass on by if you want factual repair questions/answers. Another one of my ramblings so again just skip this rambling.
Stopped by Barlows today on my way home. Cold Pop for 75 cents, Mr Pibb. Steve and Jamey eating and Gary working.
I thought I needed to buy another (sold the 1st one I bought years ago since it didn't work as good as I wanted it to) rear grader blade to taper the edges of some ditches I'd dug all over my rental property so water would flow where I wanted it to. Now that I'm mowing with my Kubota F2680 the 6"x6" ditches that I dug with my single bottom plow with the wheel removed are now causing me some problems. I can get across them but not smoothly.
Anyway I figured a rear grader blade would peel off the steep sides and make tapered side swales instead of steep sided ditches. Then I can drive across them more smoothly.
I told Steve Barlow (between bites) and Jamey and Gary I thought maybe I needed another rear grader blade for my B2320 at my rental property (2 miles from Barlows on same Hwy 80) to accomplish my task. I also mentioned my RatchetRake which is on my BX25 at home (7 miles away off East Hwy 80) but I may be doing alot of backing up while trying to level off the edges. Course Steve Barlow had to chip in that didn't I have a Boxblade which of course I do and why not use the Boxblade or use my RatchetRake while pushing forward instead of backdragging.
Well, no payments to Barlows today for a piece of equipment that I didn't need. Guess this is another reason I do business with them. They won't let me buy stuff I don't need. Guess he would sell it to me if I insisted after he told me it wouldn't work quite like I expect it to. I've went twice to buy a disc harrow but he keeps talking me out of it when I tell him what I want it for.
Gary had also told me last week on the phone where to get my broken hydraulic hose made instead of waiting on one to be ordered and shipped in. I told him today that for $15 and 10 minutes I'd gotten my hose and back to work. Mentioned to Gary I needed to get/make some covering for the hose where it rubs. He went into the shop and brought me about a 20 foot piece of hose sleeve for my 20" hose. He said I may need more later and they had plenty.
Spent 75 cents for a can of cold Mr Pibb, talked to Steve about increased prices of tractors which he said has happened but some incentives have also been added plus the 0% financing so prices really about the same on most Kubotas today as last year.
Didn't buy a rear grader blade, got free hose sleeve (bunch of it, I'll share), didn't trade or even price any new tractors and saw where Kubota is now selling all kinds of products with Kubota stamped on them. Knives, tools, magnetic trays, etc on a revolving rack.
Barlows, about 2 miles out West Hwy 80 from Hwy 27, about a mile before the 914 Bypass. Go buy some Kubota stuff or drink a pop, maybe sit on their Kubota stool with the Kubota Orange top which they won't give me.
People kept wanting to buy tractors and parts and Jamey had to go drive the School bus so I finally left and came on home after stopping at Mac Metal/Trusses and Lumber King Building Supply. Building another Bldg.
Need to get my Boxblade back from my Nephew down the street and my RatchetRake back from my next door neighbor. Guess my Brother next door has returned my 16' trailer.
Told Steve that Harry from BXpanded said 'Hi" and Harry still won't give me a Pirinaha toothbar to evaluate for him.
Spread 16 tons of gravel with BX25 and RTV1140 (holds 3 scoops of rock before falling off sides) yesterday after digging out 16' x 24' space for a new Bldg and about 30' of drive way that had/has plenty of big rocks and near bolders.

 

[Deano]

You are enjoying life and good company...nothing wrong with that! :thumbsup:

 

[bp fick]

JT, I head down to your neck of the woods, at week's end. Wish I had the time to slip over and have a Dr Pepper or similar with you. Alas, the Casey County schedule is just too tight.

 

[Johndeere3720]

Man, I wish there was a Barlow's here in Oregon. :thumbsup:

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I'm surprised they couldn't make the hose for you. Around here all the tractor dealerships have the press and fittings to make any hose any length. Glad they were able to point you in the proper direction to help you out though.

 

[displacedPA]

JT,

That sounds like a perfect afternoon to me... chewing the fat at barlows would be fun. They all sound like good old boys there... You are lucky you have beautiful property and mins. from Barlows.. ahhh a day in the life of JT

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I'm surprised they couldn't make the hose for you. Around here all the tractor dealerships have the press and fittings to make any hose any length. Glad they were able to point you in the proper direction to help you out though.

With Dalrs (Industrial Supply Co) available with the staff, equipment and fittings to serve the entire small town and surrounding smaller towns for all hose needs for all equipment for such a reasonable price, $15 , and in 10 minutes. I doubt a dealer could compete with their price and speed.
I stop in at Barlows from time to time but they are usually working nonstop while I'm there so they'd have to hire more help or take a lot longer to get the job done. If the dealer charged more, he'd be a crook in the minds of some people.
I don't think it would be cost effective for each and every seller of equipment that uses hoses to have their own equipment and inventory of supplies to make hoses but maybe so.
This is my first hose replacement, I think, in nine years.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

JT, I head down to your neck of the woods, at week's end. Wish I had the time to slip over and have a Dr Pepper or similar with you. Alas, the Casey County schedule is just too tight.

Maybe one day. Would enjoy a visit. A few TBN members have stopped by to visit in the past and hopefully more in the future.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

With Dalrs (Industrial Supply Co) available with the staff, equipment and fittings to serve the entire small town and surrounding smaller towns for all hose needs for all equipment for such a reasonable price, $15 , and in 10 minutes. I doubt a dealer could compete with their price and speed.
I stop in at Barlows from time to time but they are usually working nonstop while I'm there so they'd have to hire more help or take a lot longer to get the job done. If the dealer charged more, he'd be a crook in the minds of some people.
I don't think it would be cost effective for each and every seller of equipment that uses hoses to have their own equipment and inventory of supplies to make hoses but maybe so.
This is my first hose replacement, I think, in nine years.

Does barlows deal mainly with kubota tractors or do they deal with other brands and farm equipment? Around farms there are lots of hydraulic equipment which is why the local dealers here have their own equipment. In fact i personally know of three large farmers who have their own setups as well. When a hose blows its a hassle you need replaced quickly. We also have a couple hydraulic shops as well. I was just surprised they didn't since in my area its common.

 

[neilbedwell]

You won't meet any nicer people than the folks at Barlow's. Steve and his wife personally delivered my tractor and were nice enough to sit on our porch and visit a while (my wife had made strawberry pies that day, too, so that helped convince them to stay a while). Steve even took time to show me how to use the features on my tractor right there in my yard. I have told every single person that will listen how well they treated me and what a good deal I got. That's the way I wish every business deal I have could go.