Procurement of a Tractor

[DB-n-VA]

Hello everyone, I'm new to Orange Tractor Talks and was wondering who here is having problems with getting a tractor? I placed the order for a L4060 tractor over 14 months ago. I was told the price is locked in so this would the maximum I would have to pay. I called the dealership back to check on the tractor status to be told it's not here and don't know when it will be here. Every time I call to check the status, the response given is, "the Georgia assembly plant is running behind, we are planning to ship it at the end of the month or beginning of the next month, No Guarantees." The dealer has supposedly reach out to other dealers to get the tractor from that dealer but that dealer won't release the tractor to my dealer, per my sales advisor. I have heard this 5 times now and fed up with it. I have totally Pee' d off the dealer I'm working with due to the constant pestering by me. I have even reached out to Kubota Cooperate and still the same response. I have already purchased accessories for this model of tractor so I'm struggling on what to do. Is there a another path to take that I haven't tried? The price of tractors are way to high to move to another dealer or make of tractor.

 

[Mountainhill]

Good luck, you may not want switch dealers, but it may be you best option. At my dealer I was told they are becoming frustrated, due to non-logical shipping of equipment. Or equipment not be shipped in order sequence. I’d check out other dealers, they may have what you want. May cost a bit more, if so, you can decide, if cost is worth the wait.

 

[old and tired]

Hate to say the OLD expression “you get more flies with honey than with vinegar”. If you piss off your dealer, you'll be at the bottom of any line....

We went through a kitchen fire, the insurance adjuster was a tight-wad and was screwing us over. I knew a VP and sent him a glowing, high recommendation of our insurance adjuster... and saying how helpful he was. Yea, total BS...

In the end, we got upgraded cabinets, flooring and a bunch of extra stuff, that was not going to granted just a few weeks earlier.

I (personally) would truly apologize to the dealership, maybe bring them donuts, and as you leave just tell them to let you know when the tractor is available. It is totally out of your dealer's control.

You might have already burned that bridge down... Be happy that you got a price lock. I thought I saw where someone else is asked to pay $9k more for the same tractor that they wanted (ordered?).

 

[Mark_BX25D]

Be happy that you got a price lock. I thought I saw where someone else is asked to pay $9k more for the same tractor that they wanted (ordered?).

Yes, that guy is talking to a lawyer. He's being told he has to pony up 9 grand to get the tractor. Not a good situation.


DB-in-VA, I hate to say this, but maybe it's time to look for another color tractor. Can't hurt to call around and see what else might be available. IF you find something you like, check to see if you can cancel your order. A price lock on their end might have required a non-cancel clause, so check on that before you spend any money elsewhere. If that's a go, make the other color purchase, and then sell whatever accessories you can't use.

Check out the LG line of tractors. I hear good things about them. I know of dealers in Winchester and Harrisonburg. There are probably dealers eslewhere in Old Dominion - I just happen to know of those two.

 

[jimh406]

There are Kubota dealers with tractors. I'd broaden your search and include models that are close. There isn't a perfect tractor and a lot of tractors have similar models.

 

[Flintknapper]

I have totally Pee' d off the dealer I'm working with due to the constant pestering by me. I have even reached out to Kubota Cooperate and still the same response.

^^^^^


This is the first thing to dispense with (though the damage is probably already done). Constant pestering....when the dealer is already doing all they can (in a situation out of their control) will NOT speed things up. You are fortunate to have a 'locked in price'.

IF the tractor model and manufacturer are truly what you want, continue to wait (in silence). No one (including the dealer) is happy about supply line issues.

 

[fried1765]

^^^^^


This is the first thing to dispense with (though the damage is probably already done). Constant pestering....when the dealer is already doing all they can (in a situation out of their control) will NOT speed things up. You are fortunate to have a 'locked in price'.

IF the tractor model and manufacturer are truly what you want, continue to wait (in silence). No one (including the dealer) is happy about supply line issues.

Agreed!
Sit tight ....hold your breath....wait....think about other things, and watch that the dealer does not really screw you over, by selling the specific tractor that you ordered to someone else.

 

[DB-n-VA]

There are Kubota dealers with tractors. I'd broaden your search and include models that are close. There isn't a perfect tractor and a lot of tractors have similar models.

Yeah, the same dealer owns the next closest Kubota dealership.

 

[GeoHorn]

Asking participants in this discussion…. I wonder about the possibility the dealer has an opportunity to sell that tractor at a higher price to someone else if DBinVA goes away… or if the factory price increase has caught the dealer in a losing proposition they simply cannot or will not afford…so hoping DB will go away….
@DBinVA… I see you’ve already made a contact with Corporate…but have you tried a polite/courteous contact with regional sales or another attempt w/Kubota corporate?…with the attitude of just ”asking for an education or explanation.”…??

 

[DB-n-VA]

Asking participants in this discussion…. I wonder about the possibility the dealer has an opportunity to sell that tractor at a higher price to someone else if DBinVA goes away… or if the factory price increase has caught the dealer in a losing proposition they simply cannot or will not afford…so hoping DB will go away….
@DBinVA… I see you’ve already made a contact with Corporate…but have you tried a polite/courteous contact with regional sales or another attempt w/Kubota corporate?…with the attitude of just ”asking for an education or explanation.”…??

It's funny you are saying this. I often thought that the dealer can easily sell the tractor to another person for today's pricing. What I don't know is the agreement the dealer has with Kubota in their partnership. I do know that Kubota is very strict on their dealers that if the dealer has the tractor on the lot, they have to sell that tractor and not make the purchaser wait for another one to show up.

As far as the conversation with Kubota Cooperate, its a stab. I ask them why a paying customer can't get a tractor they ordered over 14 months ago but Kubota continues to supply tractors to other under a 2 year agreement that doesn't cost the user anything. I wanted to know and very frustrated at that point because I feel no one is holding anyone accountable.

 

[GeoHorn]

It's funny you are saying this. I often thought that the dealer can easily sell the tractor to another person for today's pricing. What I don't know is the agreement the dealer has with Kubota in their partnership. I do know that Kubota is very strict on their dealers that if the dealer has the tractor on the lot, they have to sell that tractor and not make the purchaser wait for another one to show up.

As far as the conversation with Kubota Cooperate, its a stab. I ask them why a paying customer can't get a tractor they ordered over 14 months ago but Kubota continues to supply tractors to other under a 2 year agreement that doesn't cost the user anything. I wanted to know and very frustrated at that point because I feel no one is holding anyone accountable.

I hope I can explain this feeling I get by your post without coming-across as critical.

Reading your comments… If I were Kubota Corporate… I’d feel like you were being confrontational and possibly looking for a lawsuit… more than simply wanting the tractor to become a satisfied customer.
It’s going to be a tight-rope walk for you…but I believe it may prove useful for you to make some sort of personal contact there…. to gain the sympathy of someone in corporate who will feel accomplished if they can get the problem solved for you.
Next contact, …perhaps try to ask for help in a way that comes-across as “Can you help me?” rather than “Dammit, what’s going on with your dealers?”

Take a fifth of bourbon and put it on the desk of the salesman and tell him you’re sorry you’ve been troublesome…. you’ve just been as frustrated as HE must be over this…. Please let me know if I can do anything to help the situation…. and promptly leave.

(worked for me on a car repair long awaiting)

 

[Flintknapper]

I hope I can explain this feeling I get by your post without coming-across as critical.

Reading your comments… If I were Kubota Corporate… I’d feel like you were being confrontational and possibly looking for a lawsuit… more than simply wanting the tractor to become a satisfied customer.
It’s going to be a tight-rope walk for you…but I believe it may prove useful for you to make some sort of personal contact there…. to gain the sympathy of someone in corporate who will feel accomplished if they can get the problem solved for you.
Next contact, …perhaps try to ask for help in a way that comes-across as “Can you help me?” rather than “Dammit, what’s going on with your dealers?”

Take a fifth of bourbon and put it on the desk of the salesman and tell him you’re sorry you’ve been troublesome…. you’ve just been as frustrated as HE must be over this…. Please let me know if I can do anything to help the situation…. and promptly leave.

(worked for me on a car repair long awaiting)

Somewhere in the distant past employing "the squeaky wheel....gets the grease" strategy might have worked.

But many places today.... the 'Squeaky Wheel' will be put aside (if not replaced altogether) for wheels that are not squeaking.

Its not exactly a Buyers Market right now for tractors or vehicles. And its never been a good idea to agitate your mechanic. So yes, try 'nice' first instead of last.

 

[DB-n-VA]

Somewhere in the distant past employing "the squeaky wheel....gets the grease" strategy might have worked.

But many places today.... the 'Squeaky Wheel' will be put aside (if not replaced altogether) for wheels that are not squeaking.

Its not exactly a Buyers Market right now for tractors or vehicles. And its never been a good idea to agitate your mechanic. So yes, try 'nice' first instead of last.

I've had conversation with my salesman since and told him, I know its not your company and you are doing all you can do for me. He told me they are just as frustrated because I'm not the only one waiting.

 

[William1]

Yeah, the same dealer owns the next closest Kubota dealership.

Contact Land and Coates. While they may be further away, they are responsive. As is Messicks in Pa. When I got my little guy, my local (close) Kubota dealer was worthless. Land and Coates was all over it and jumped at making a sale. After sale was great too and has continued to be for years.

 

[Flintknapper]

I've had conversation with my salesman since and told him, I know its not your company and you are doing all you can do for me. He told me they are just as frustrated because I'm not the only one waiting.

Good deal.

And please know....I fully understand your frustration and certainly there is good reason for it.

Its just that the salesperson and probably the dealer are unable (not unwilling) to do anything about it.

Folks are ordering new tractors and vehicles and having to wait 'open ended' amounts of time to receive them. Its unfortunate, no doubt about it. Imagine being in the salesperson's shoes with multiple customers calling time and again.

Glad you had that communication with them.

 

[fried1765]

Good deal.

And please know....I fully understand your frustration and certainly there is good reason for it.

Its just that the salesperson and probably the dealer are unable (not unwilling) to do anything about it.

Folks are ordering new tractors and vehicles and having to wait 'open ended' amounts of time to receive them. Its unfortunate, no doubt about it. Imagine being in the salesperson's shoes with multiple customers calling time and again.

Glad you had that communication with them.

long order waits are the norm (sometimes years) in Socialist/Communist countries elsewhere in the world.
Are we achieving a new USA norm?

 

[GeoHorn]

long order waits are the norm (sometimes years) in Socialist/Communist countries elsewhere in the world.
Are we achieving a new USA norm?

I think you just had a synapse mis-fire. The problem with this is that we have become dependent upon foreign manufacturing in this new “global economy” ….because politics have allowed large corporations to ship jobs overseas for cheap labor and therefore larger profits. We didn’t have this problem when American goods were mfr’d by American Labor…. and American Unions fought this tooth-and-nail …but corporations painted unions with a bad paint-brush and ignorant voters allow it because they want things cheap without realizing they’re putting neighbors out of work.

Time to make some changes, IMO.

 

[fried1765]

I think you just had a synapse mis-fire. The problem with this is that we have become dependent upon foreign manufacturing in this new “global economy” ….because politics have allowed large corporations to ship jobs overseas for cheap labor and therefore larger profits. We didn’t have this problem when American goods were mfr’d by American Labor…. and American Unions fought this tooth-and-nail …but corporations painted unions with a bad paint-brush and ignorant voters allow it because they want things cheap without realizing they’re putting neighbors out of work.

Time to make some changes, IMO.

So,... just WHO is going to change WHAT,....and WHEN?

 

[GeoHorn]

So,... just WHO is going to change WHAT,....and WHEN?

That will require consumers/voters/politial-change…and will be countered by the willingness of the consumers to pay for it…. That’ll be US.

“Ay, there's the rub” -Hamlet

 

[leveraddict]

Believe me your dealer wants nothing more than to sell you a tractor! Patients! Its a different world we live in!