What does "take it to the dealer" mean for you?

[TexasMax]

We regularly hear people say "take it to your dealer", or "it's under warranty, so call the dealer". To actually do any of that, what's involved for you? For me, it's a lot of work, a lot of $$, and a lot of time, so really it's the step of last resort. Here are some examples:

My Kubota dealer is 45min to an hr away. I could trailer my tractor or small excavator there, but that will consume roughly 6 hrs to get the trailer ready, load up, drive an hr (it will take the full hour pulling a heavy load), unload, drive home, and unhook and stow the trailer, then do it all again to pick the machine up once it's fixed. My larger excavator would have to be trucked, so I'd guess $500 each way, or $1000 total, and I can't get a tractor trailer in to my place, so I'd have to track the machine out to a location to meet the truck, which of course means the machine needs to work enough to move it around. And I'd still have to make at least one round trip to the dealer to go over the problem and make sure they know what's needed. So that's 3 hrs.

Then there is the actual dealer work. Most are very backed up, so a good chance your machine will sit for a week, if not multiple weeks before it's even looked at. Then any repairs will take at least another week because they will need parts and nobody seems to stock anything other than maintenance and common wear parts. And if their first "guess" at what to replace doesn't work, then you can stay another week while the guess again, and maybe again and again. And of course there is the possibility that the dealer won't be able to reproduce or actually fix the problem, and that you get the machine home and the problem still exists.

Mobile service is an option, but very expensive with billable travel and work time. But it is an option for spending $$ rather than spending your own time. But scheduling and time to repair isn't any better, and possibly worse.

The bottom line is that you will be out 3-6 hrs of personal work time, and up to $1000 in trucking, plus loss of use for weeks to months.

It's mostly the same for my Deere. The dealer is only about 20 minutes away which is a plus, but the tractor would have to be trucked. And from what I can tell they have zero direct experience with 6 series tractors, and only limited experience with 5 series.

All this is probably the biggest reason why I always end up doing work on the machines myself. It takes less of my personal time, and gets things running again faster.

Those words mean I go online, fine the repair file instructions, locate the parts and do the job at home or just park the tractor in the pasture.
Option 2, for the MF 1135, call my nephew to take the tractor to the mechanic, plan to wait for 1 to 3 months, pay an extremely expensive bill and usually discover that I received a very poor repair that requires all of the family to finally make the correct repairs. We do not have any of the new "electronicly controlled tractors" or my reply would be totally different.

 

[nknelsen]

We regularly hear people say "take it to your dealer", or "it's under warranty, so call the dealer". To actually do any of that, what's involved for you? For me, it's a lot of work, a lot of $$, and a lot of time, so really it's the step of last resort. Here are some examples:

My Kubota dealer is 45min to an hr away. I could trailer my tractor or small excavator there, but that will consume roughly 6 hrs to get the trailer ready, load up, drive an hr (it will take the full hour pulling a heavy load), unload, drive home, and unhook and stow the trailer, then do it all again to pick the machine up once it's fixed. My larger excavator would have to be trucked, so I'd guess $500 each way, or $1000 total, and I can't get a tractor trailer in to my place, so I'd have to track the machine out to a location to meet the truck, which of course means the machine needs to work enough to move it around. And I'd still have to make at least one round trip to the dealer to go over the problem and make sure they know what's needed. So that's 3 hrs.

Then there is the actual dealer work. Most are very backed up, so a good chance your machine will sit for a week, if not multiple weeks before it's even looked at. Then any repairs will take at least another week because they will need parts and nobody seems to stock anything other than maintenance and common wear parts. And if their first "guess" at what to replace doesn't work, then you can stay another week while the guess again, and maybe again and again. And of course there is the possibility that the dealer won't be able to reproduce or actually fix the problem, and that you get the machine home and the problem still exists.

Mobile service is an option, but very expensive with billable travel and work time. But it is an option for spending $$ rather than spending your own time. But scheduling and time to repair isn't any better, and possibly worse.

The bottom line is that you will be out 3-6 hrs of personal work time, and up to $1000 in trucking, plus loss of use for weeks to months.

It's mostly the same for my Deere. The dealer is only about 20 minutes away which is a plus, but the tractor would have to be trucked. And from what I can tell they have zero direct experience with 6 series tractors, and only limited experience with 5 series.

All this is probably the biggest reason why I always end up doing work on the machines myself. It takes less of my personal time, and gets things running again faster.

I never take my tractor to the dealer if I can avoid it. I have a Kioti, my second one, and I love it. But I don't like the Kioti Dealers that I've met. And I simply don't trust them. In my experience, and this is just my experience and you may feel differently, but I find there are very very few reputable dealers, in the tractor world and the automotive world. I fix everything myself that I have the knowledge to fix.

Case in point, I recently purchased a CX2510. Dealer was 2 hours away. I ordered the optional 3rd function so I can run a grapple when cleaning up branches when cutting firewood. This 3rd function is a dealer installed option. And its important to note that I paid full price in cash for this tractor.

When I got the tractor home and tried my grapple, it wouldn't work. 2 of the hoses were switched. It was at this time that I also learned that my tractor came with no block heater from the factory, ill take the blame for that since I honestly didn't ask if it came standard as I assumed that any diesel tractor sold in Canada would have a block heater, my bad.

So I called the dealer and let them know that the 3rd function was not functional and I was dismayed that it didn't have a block heater. So for a "free" fix and the addition of a block heater i had to load it up again and drive back to the dealer to have it fixed and added a block heater. I received no apologies and the dealer charged me full price for the block heater.

I should have just fixed the 3rd function and added the block heater myself. Live and learn i guess. I won't buy my next tractor from this dealership.

And I think this, not because the unit didn't have a block heater, thats my fault i guess, but because after installing the 3rd function they obviously didn't test the unit before I picked it up. What else does this dealer miss?

 

[WM75Guy]

Taking a tractor or other piece of equipment to the dealer is a little work but a good excuse to get out. I am retired so time is not a problem and I don't depend on mine for a living. Fortunately, I have several options for good New Holland dealers within an hour's drive. I call ahead to get an estimate of wait time, usually not too bad. Recently I bought a canopy for the Workmaster 25. When it came in to the dealer I scheduled a time for the install. They did it while I waited.

 

[Eagle1]

How do you have time being retired, seems like I have more stuff to do and everything takes longer since I retired

 

[jacric2005]

We regularly hear people say "take it to your dealer", or "it's under warranty, so call the dealer". To actually do any of that, what's involved for you? For me, it's a lot of work, a lot of $$, and a lot of time, so really it's the step of last resort. Here are some examples:

My Kubota dealer is 45min to an hr away. I could trailer my tractor or small excavator there, but that will consume roughly 6 hrs to get the trailer ready, load up, drive an hr (it will take the full hour pulling a heavy load), unload, drive home, and unhook and stow the trailer, then do it all again to pick the machine up once it's fixed. My larger excavator would have to be trucked, so I'd guess $500 each way, or $1000 total, and I can't get a tractor trailer in to my place, so I'd have to track the machine out to a location to meet the truck, which of course means the machine needs to work enough to move it around. And I'd still have to make at least one round trip to the dealer to go over the problem and make sure they know what's needed. So that's 3 hrs.

Then there is the actual dealer work. Most are very backed up, so a good chance your machine will sit for a week, if not multiple weeks before it's even looked at. Then any repairs will take at least another week because they will need parts and nobody seems to stock anything other than maintenance and common wear parts. And if their first "guess" at what to replace doesn't work, then you can stay another week while the guess again, and maybe again and again. And of course there is the possibility that the dealer won't be able to reproduce or actually fix the problem, and that you get the machine home and the problem still exists.

Mobile service is an option, but very expensive with billable travel and work time. But it is an option for spending $$ rather than spending your own time. But scheduling and time to repair isn't any better, and possibly worse.

The bottom line is that you will be out 3-6 hrs of personal work time, and up to $1000 in trucking, plus loss of use for weeks to months.

It's mostly the same for my Deere. The dealer is only about 20 minutes away which is a plus, but the tractor would have to be trucked. And from what I can tell they have zero direct experience with 6 series tractors, and only limited experience with 5 series.

All this is probably the biggest reason why I always end up doing work on the machines myself. It takes less of my personal time, and gets things running again faster.

My dealer will transport it for a fee. But as you said, it can sit a while because they are busy. My dealer offers a deal in their slow time - before the spring rush - where transport is free. I have a flatbed trailer with ramps, but I'm not confident using my tow straps and need to get some keepers. I have discovered a mobile service guy who worked with his dad for years. He works on tractors (and small engines - lawnmowers, pressure washer, generators, etc.) up to the compact tractor size like my JD 870. He is very reasonable, dependable, knowledgeable. Having the dealer service come out to my place is not very reasonable. The mobile guy and the dealer do not do tires, so I have my large local tire place come out when I have a flat. That is semi-reasonable. I only know how to check the oil and hydro fluid, and check the tires. Now that I am paying for it, I realize how much money my dad saved when he did it himself, but he's not available anymore.

 

[Bentrim]

When I was younger (long time ago) there were 7 John Deere, 4 Massey Ferguson, 3 Allis Chalmers, 2 Case, 4 IH, 1 Minneaplois Moline, 2 Ford and 1 Nuffield dealers witin a half hours drive from our home. Most of those dealers carried a short line also, Kelly, Dunham Lehr, Gehl, Fox, Brady, Brillion, Allied, New Holland, Kasten, Lamco, Woods, etc also a lawn and garden line, some even carried hardware and animal feed. Now the only one left is a JD dealer that only handles lawn and garden. All the others are now gone, no more family owned and operated dealers that "bend over backwards" to help you were it a new machine or repair a broken machine and get you going. The "local" dealers are now at least an hours drive away and most are those big corporate operated stores, are of that are take it or leave it attitude or why are you bothering me attitude. You used to be able to use the other dealer to get a lower price at another dealer. You had many chances to find the part you needed, but thats all gone now.

 

[walnutman]

Taking a tractor or other piece of equipment to the dealer is a little work but a good excuse to get out. I am retired so time is not a problem and I don't depend on mine for a living. Fortunately, I have several options for good New Holland dealers within an hour's drive. I call ahead to get an estimate of wait time, usually not too bad. Recently I bought a canopy for the Workmaster 25. When it came in to the dealer I scheduled a time for the install. They did it while I waited.

I needed a part for a powerglide transmission that I was working on. I just bought a Harley two weeks ago. Told my wife im going out to the auto parts store to get a part. I pretty much knew no auto parts would have an internal transmission part but I rode 13 miles and stopped at 3 stores with no avail.

 

[tradosaurus]

Timely thread. I just received an advertisement in the mail where my local Kubota dealer is having an October special where they will pick up and deliver, for free, within a 50 mile radius of their shop.

 

[WinterDeere]

I have several options for good New Holland dealers within an hour's drive.

That's surprising. I live a stone's throw from New Holland PA, where the company started and for which it's named, and we don't have that many NH dealers around here.

Are their tractors still made here in PA?

 

[grsthegreat]

I just went that route. I usually do my own work, but when I decided to add a 3rd function to my DK45 i was just too busy to do it myself. Dealer made an appointment and i trailered it the 45 minutes to their shop. They swore it was a 2 hour job, so i left it and did some chores in town. 5 hours later i returned…..they hadnt touched my tractor. Some crap,about 2 mechanics out sick. Told me i could reschedule.

I took it home, watched a few youtube videos about it, and did the job myself. It took me about 3-1/2 hrs, but seeing as i had never attempted a job like this before, i thought that was sweet. It was less time than taking it to the dealer for nothing.

Hardest part was removing seat in cab tractor.

Ive always done my own service work. I should have known better.