You guys are all stating the reasons why I also avoid JD, Case and other products and why Kubota are favored by me.
Parts: Kubota has a GREAT parts inventory and they can overnight you almost anything. Furthermore, Kubota will often sell you the PIECES of something, not the whole part, unless you want the whole thing. Example: A customer has an Ansung backhoe that he broke the hydraulic fitting off of. Kubota will sell you new packing, piston, cylinder, etc for their backhoes but we had to buy the whole cylinder for this Ansung.
Design issues/revisions/parts sourcing: JD, Case and Cabelas (apparently) are famous for changing models split serial numbers, having multiple options within a given model or serial #, or sourcing components from various vendors. I have serviced many CASE machines where I was sent double or triple the filters needed because they weren't sure which ones would fit that specific machine. I've had that same problem only a handful of times with a Kubota out of hundreds of machines I've serviced.
Resale: Go look at Kubota compared to others....Kubota retains value MUCH better...there is a reason. Pay more up front but you recover more if you upgrade or sell. I have only been able to afford used Kubotas so quality and resale are a bigger deal to me than someone buying new with a "warranty".
Lastly, remember Kubotas are Japanese/American design and built. Japan is well known for quality while Korea, China and India are spotty. We all joke about "Friday" cars or machines that have problems...imagine a country where every machine is made on a Friday?
Too many people buy with their wallets and not their brains. I've been thrilled with the quality and design of my Kubota's, as well as the resale...they have a customer for life.
