What would you do?

[weskar]

I own a one year old Kubota 4240 HSTC, garage kept. When the tractor was purchased new the top, fenders and hood has signs of fading due to the harsh Florida sun. The dealer indicated that there is a three (3) year guarantee on the paint. I waited until there was about five hundred hours on the unit, notified the dealer of the paint fading issue, additionally I had a few others items installed, and a five hundred hour service.There is a $2.00 per mile pick up and delivery fee. My question is , Should the dealer absorb the cost of transportation since it was mostly a warranty issue?

 

[streamin]

If it was the only thing it went there for I would think they would, however, since you had other things done, probably not.

 

[DT86]

I don't think they are compensated for transportation under warranty but some will eat the cost for the sake of customer satisfaction.

 

[DT86]

If it was the only thing it went there for I would think they would, however, since you had other things done, probably not.

So the more money you spend with them the less likely they are to help you out??

 

[streamin]

So the more money you spend with them the less likely they are to help you out??

I was just saying if they are already charging him that is probably the reasoning but of course the right thing to do is not charge an existing customer like you said.

 

[jeff9366]

I would pay the $2/mile without complaint.

I presume that is $2/mile with the tractor on a trailer, which makes two transits with no revenue. Plus an employee making $20 an hour with employer taxes and insurance ($4 per hour for health insurance and Worker's Comp.) during entire transit time, plus loading, unloading and tie down. Plus fuel for a heavy truck pulling a trailer, maybe 12 miles per gallon? Plus truck and trailer insurance, wear, tear and maintenance.

$2/mile MIGHT cover cost. Might. I can't divine any profit on your tractor transportation.

 

[DK35vince]

There is a $2.00 per mile pick up and delivery fee. My question is , Should the dealer absorb the cost of transportation since it was mostly a warranty issue?

Warranty does not cover transportation.

 

[Bluegill2]

I would not worry about faded paint...

 

[k0ua]

Warranty does not cover transportation.

Agreed, but some dealers will cover it for a period as a customers relations good will gesture. My dealer will cover transport for 1 year. But that is just their policy, they do not get compensated for transport. They charge $75 flat for approximately 30 miles radius. I am about that far from them. That includes pickup and delivery for $75. I thought that was pretty reasonable, I can't see how they are making any money with that.

James K0UA

 

[Spencer C]

I can give a bit of perspective on this from a dealer (I've got two Kubota locations). We give free pickup/ delivery during the warranty period, and it's the customer's repsonsibility afterwards. I just checked my business system, and for trucking we're at -$27,656 YTD. It will top -30k by the end of the year, and we charge $2.50/ loaded mile after the warranty has expired. That loss must be offset by other departments of our business.

What does it all mean? Some dealers choose to itemize the charge for delivery, and others abosrb it in the margin for sales/parts/service/rental. Whichever way the dealer chooses to cover that cost, it must covered.

I do have a serious question. Would you prefer to pay the transportation cost on the frontend ("washed" into the sale price of the equipment), or would you prefer an itemized charge for the service of transporting your equipment? It's a serious question.... every dealer does it one of those two ways, but how does the customer feel about it? Take care.

 

[bigpinwheel]

I think I would prefer the savings up front, and pay for transportation cost when needed. If I could haul my own I would be even more inclined to think that way.

 

[DK35vince]

I do have a serious question. Would you prefer to pay the transportation cost on the frontend ("washed" into the sale price of the equipment), or would you prefer an itemized charge for the service of transporting your equipment? It's a serious question.... every dealer does it one of those two ways, but how does the customer feel about it? Take care.

Personally I would prefer the savings up front for a couple reasons.
My tractor never needed to go back to the dealer for warranty.
Also I have my own transportation to the dealer if necessary

 

[murphy1244]

My Dealer gave me One free ride which I've yet to use.

 

[rbarker]

I I do have a serious question. Would you prefer to pay the transportation cost on the frontend ("washed" into the sale price of the equipment), or would you prefer an itemized charge for the service of transporting your equipment? It's a serious question.... every dealer does it one of those two ways, but how does the customer feel about it? Take care.

Another vote for pay itemized charges for the servicing and transporting. I would rather hold on to as much of my money as possible for as long as possible and front loading cost assumes there will be transportation.

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[streamin]

I do have a serious question. Would you prefer to pay the transportation cost on the frontend ("washed" into the sale price of the equipment), or would you prefer an itemized charge for the service of transporting your equipment? It's a serious question.... every dealer does it one of those two ways, but how does the customer feel about it? Take care.

Yep, prefer savings up front. I also have my own transportation...

 

[GPintheMitten]

Ii think a good way for customer and dealer would be to "cover" delivery charges for the original purchase. Demo the tractor to the new owner. Thereafter charge for transportation. Then the dealer knows the tractor is delivered without damage and a demo and being part of the fun of first use helps the relationship.

I have my own transpo but havent always.

 

[Coyote machine]

Pay for use- Kioti = no need for transport.

 

[aczlan]

Warranty does not cover transportation.

Yep. Some will throw it in for free (ours doesn't charge if he has someone going our way) but its up to the dealer as they aren't being paid for transportation by Kubota in most cases.

Aaron Z

 

[PhysAssist]

I think I would prefer the savings up front, and pay for transportation cost when needed. If I could haul my own I would be even more inclined to think that way.

The other reason to go that way is that a lot of us may have a higher threshold to get service from our dealer, preferring to DIY it.

While I wouldn't fault the OP for sending his back for a paint issue, I probably wouldn't do so. I might have tried to negotiate some other benefit or discount, but to each his own.

My dealer had to come and pick up our B2320 because within a day or two after delivery, it had become obvious that the thermostat was stuck and it was overheating. They did not charge us for transportation, even though while they had it there, we called and had them fill the rears with beet juice.

We paid only for the juice and labor to fill them.

Thomas

 

[brain55]

The problem is that many want it both ways. They'll shop for the best upfront price and then be angry about having to pay for transportation down the road for warranty work, when the warranty is very clear about not covering transportation. Like it was stated those cost come from somewhere whether built in to the overall cost of dealer products (parts or labor) or an itemized line item, the dealer isn't going to lose money so everybody has a warm fussy feeling.

Brian

My experience is that the dealer will eat those rare occurrences of problems soon after delivery though.