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

[dicktill]

Same here as @hayden and @Hay Dude. Always quicker, less hours, and less expensive to do all repairs at home, unless software is involved. I've done everything from full axle rebuilds to full engine top end rebuilds here in this shop, which can eat up many hours on those rare extensive repairs. But at least someone (me) is on it right away, rather than the machine sitting a week or two before anyone even looking at it. And with those very few exceptions mentioned above, most simpler repairs are done in similar or less hours than the total time required to trailer it to a dealer and back home after service.

I've also had an issue with other things breaking after dealer service, because they failed to re-tighten something adjacent to where they're working. That has happened to me on three separate occasions, which come to think about it, is nearly every time I've ever had a machine at the dealer for a repair or upgrade.

I have three of my best guys on it - Search Videos

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[MossRoad]

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.

When I had our IH2500b I had to get it to a CAT/IH shop because it wouldn't run. (turns out the distributor had spun the gear). I had a roll-back towing service take it there and pick it up when done. Only took an hour of my time each way because I had to drive out 20 minutes and meet him at the gate both times. At the time, it was well worth the $40-50 it cost each time.

 

[Alan W.]

Alan,
No offense,

You may not be aware, but this is how your post appears in the monitor of my PC Windows 11!

Is that really your intention?



View attachment 4239746

No emojis were used. I use the app on my phone and occasionally it freaks out.

 

[Alan W.]

His posts appear the same here. Happens with only a few users, mostly Alan W. and tradosaurus.

I think they like to use emoji's from sources other than the forum.

I used no emojis in the post in question. Use the app and it goes crazy at times.

 

[rockinbbar]

Lots of responding answers also depend on how much you rely on your equipment to survive.
If you are a hobbyist (which is fine- no judgement) you can take your time and repair DIY. If you are in the middle of a job for a customer, or have crops that needs to be handled quickly well, thats a different story

That's where I am with things as well.

Folks like us who depend on our equipment for a living, a complicated repair issue (maybe involving waiting for parts or shop time) is a business killer.

Recently on a project with my 120hp tractor, the cooling fan bearing failed. Chit! There's lots to do with that repair. But the clients need finished...

SO.. I trailered in my smaller tractor to hook up and finish the project I was on, and keep going to the next while the bigger tractor gets repaired. Trailered in the replacement and then loaded the one needing repair. I'm fortunate to have a long standing relationship with my dealer, and he got the repair done very quickly. But still, the logistics of dealing with a repair on the job with multiple deadlines stacking up is not fun, or cheap.

I hate trailering, but sometimes it can't be helped.

 

[Paystar]

To me, take it to the dealer means coming home with more problems than I started with, fixing all the stuff they screwed up or forgot to put back together, and a giant bill.
So about 5 years ago I quit taking anything back to a dealer and do everything myself. It's pretty sad when you buy new stuff and won't even bring it in for warranty work because you are scared of what you are going to get back.

 

[WinterDeere]

Folks like us who depend on our equipment for a living, a complicated repair issue (maybe involving waiting for parts or shop time) is a business killer.

I'm actually surprised dealerships don't have "priority contracts" for local businesses relying on their equipment. You know, a yearly fee to guarantee priority same-day attention when a machine goes down. Seems like something that at least a few could benefit from, both customer and service provider.

Of course, parts availability will dictate repair time in many cases, but at least problems could be diagnosed and parts ordered immediately.

 

[rockinbbar]

I'm actually surprised dealerships don't have "priority contracts" for local businesses relying on their equipment. You know, a yearly fee to guarantee priority same-day attention when a machine goes down. Seems like something that at least a few could benefit from, both customer and service provider.

Of course, parts availability will dictate repair time in many cases, but at least problems could be diagnosed and parts ordered immediately.

My dealer is family operated. Same family owned for like 80 years, and the family runs the operation from sales and service, to parts.

The service mgr. told me he prioritizes those who depend on equipment for a living over the weekend warrior repairs. I was surprised but pleased they still do business that way.

 

[HayFarmer]

The one time I had a warranty repair (used tractor), the dealer came, got it, brought it back in a couple days. Was about 20 years ago. That dealer is gone, unfortunately. I don't have any late model equipment, other than the Kubota DMC, and I can fix anything on that, too. I'd love to have dealer put the new pump in the Ford 9600, but my trailer won't take the weight. So I'm going to do it. 2 dealers an hour or more away, the best is several hours, down in Pennsylvania.

 

[rockinbbar]

Another option I use quite a bit is a mobile tractor mechanic.

If the problem I have is simple and all it needs is repair with the right tools, I'll go get the parts and schedule my mobile mechanic to come do the repair, or help me with the repair if it's more of a 2 man job.

My guy is VERY good on all sorts of diesel equipment and has the large service truck with all the tools.

Less that half the hourly rate of a dealership service department.