Halifax Nova Scotia Dealership - Re-stocking fee

[Snave]

I recently ordered a starter from Kubota Halifax at a cost of about $850. I resolved my starting issue and called to cancel the order and come to find out I will be charged 20% of the part. This works out to be about $177. This seems to be fraudulent as the dealership will now sell that part at full price and I will have paid for the shipping when I don’t even have the part? Sure a small administration fee of 20 or 50$ but this is NOT right. I will be inquiring at competitors and will be trading this tractor, unacceptable!

Disgruntled Kubota owner

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I recently ordered a starter from Kubota Halifax at a cost of about $850. I resolved my starting issue and called to cancel the order and come to find out I will be charged 20% of the part. This works out to be about $177. This seems to be fraudulent as the dealership will now sell that part at full price and I will have paid for the shipping when I don’t even have the part? Sure a small administration fee of 20 or 50$ but this is NOT right. I will be inquiring at competitors and will be trading this tractor, unacceptable!

Disgruntled Kubota owner

I guess you don't order or buy a lot of Automotive, or Tractor parts.
It's quite the NORM for dealers of any make and model to charge a restocking fee for special order parts, and it will say so right when you order it.
You need to read the fine print when you special order parts.
It's also the norm to have a no returns policy on electrical parts.

The reason for this restocking fee is they will now have to have it sitting on their shelf and in there stock until somewhere in the future that someone want's to buy the part.
They will now have to pay for it to sit on their shelf.
Or they will have to pay to send it back to the warehouse.
So it now costs for your returned/refused special order.

It's not a Kubota Thing, it also not a tractor only thing, It's an industry thing!

And you could have ordered that same starter off eBay or Amazon for about $100, and they offer free returns.

 

[jimh406]

I guess fraudulent depends if they actually got the order in or not. Someone has to pay to ship it back. I don't think the dealership should pay for all of it because you changed your mind about needing it.

Fwiw, my dealer charges shipping if you rush a delivery, and doesn't if you just get it with their regular order. Of course, it takes longer with free shipping, but so far, that has worked for me.

 

[NCL4701]

A 10% to 20% restock fee is normal for parts that aren’t commodity type items. It’s not a Kubota thing. It’s true for cars, trucks, and all manner of equipment. All you really said is you have little to no experience ordering parts for cars or equipment.

The type things the dealer doesn’t keep in stock due to low demand and due to the return will now take up space in their warehouse for who knows how long until someone else needs it, either local or some other dealer searching for it. While it’s taking up that space, they have their money tied up in it.

Trade the tractor if it makes you happy. It won’t get you away from restock fees on returns unless you sell it and don’t replace it.

Edit: And it’s nothing new. Been normal for at least 40 years. Don’t know about before then.

 

[Caden]

and will be trading this tractor,

You do you hoss, but a restock fee is very normal and nothing to jump time about.

 

[BergyPatty37]

@Snave I used to work for a independent John Deere dealer as a parts advisor. We had a 20% restocking fee on all special order items, and no return fee on electronics. While the employee should have told you this up front, you will run into this issue regardless of 'manufacturer of tractor.'
Especially true on oldball equipment or older equipment where that starter might not be inquired upon for several years and now its sitting on shelf and increases inventory.

A big reason for this is because you have people that mis-diagnose then just think the part should stay at the dealer. I will say there are some expections where we would wave the fee, such as a really good customer, or a part that we usually sell 1 a year. Something like that starter might sit for 3-5 years and its not fair for the dealer to get beat up for your mis-diagnosis. Again, that is the point is to make sure you definitely need that part.
We would even do a partial up-front payment of 50% if we didn't think the customer diagnosed correctly or if it was an expensive part like this.

I would just go talk to them, be curtious, and see if they would work on reducing that price. If you go in hot they will not work with you.

 

[GeoHorn]

I’m surprised anyone would buy a starter or alternator…or many other standard parts from Kubota.

When my Kubota needed an alternator… (the OEM was producing only 11-volts)…. . Kubota wanted $680, ,plus shipping…. and a re-stocking-fee of 15% was mentioned up-front.

I was surprised at the price of a little 40A alternator …. so I got online and found a chinese exact-copy for $69, free overnight shipping…. and free returns (via Amazon Prime.)

When the DB Alternator arrived….. it was an EXACT COPY. Bolt-On. Works perfectly. (400 hrs and 8 years later still works fine.) Even as a little boy in the early 1950’s …we All Knew…the Chinese can Copy-Exactly…. ANYTHING! (and these days, they often are the OEM mfr’r for many name-branded items.)*

The seller ALSO sells the regulator for the OEM alternator… $18. It also arrived overnight and was a simple install….actually described in the WSM how to do this simple fix. I now have a spare….but the chinese DB-electrical copy is working just fine.

* When my sons Honda pressure washer carburetor died because he left Ethanol gasoline in it over the winter season…. Honda wanted $65 plus shipping for the replacement. The CHONDA copy…. Was $11 free shipping.
He no longer leaves ethanol in it…he runs it out of gas then drains the carb bowl…. and that little Chonda carb still works fine 4 years later.

 

[#40Fan]

Just pay the "Oops, I didn't diagnose it correctly fee" and go on with your life. It happens!

 

[GeoHorn]

Just pay the "Oops, I didn't diagnose it correctly fee" and go on with your life. It happens!

EXACTLY!

It’s not the local dealers fault …that You didn’t want to Pay Them to diagnose it…. and that You got it wrong.

 

[Paul Allwood]

I recently ordered a starter from Kubota Halifax at a cost of about $850. I resolved my starting issue and called to cancel the order and come to find out I will be charged 20% of the part. This works out to be about $177. This seems to be fraudulent as the dealership will now sell that part at full price and I will have paid for the shipping when I don’t even have the part? Sure a small administration fee of 20 or 50$ but this is NOT right. I will be inquiring at competitors and will be trading this tractor, unacceptable!

Disgruntled Kubota owner

Hey mate, I noticed you're listed as a new member but joined in November 2021. Maybe not a frequent post-er (that's not a criticism) ?

One option here is to stay grumpy about what appears to be standard industry practice, but it might make people less inclined to help down the track.

Another option is to think, "well, I don't like it much but maybe I overreacted a bit". I reckon if you took this second approach you would probably find dozens of great people here who are only too happy to share their knowledge and experience with a fellow orange tractor owner. At least that's what I've found.

A third option is to tell me to get stuffed and mind my own business. After all, I'm just an Aussie, so what would I know ?

Whatever you choose is fine by me. They make us with pretty thick skin.

 

[Trash Panda]

I understand the frustration, but that is pretty well SOP for any special order parts in most any industry.

Trading off a tractor because you did not understand the terms of sale seems kinda silly, doesn’t it?

 

[John T]

Trading off a tractor because you did not understand the terms of sale seems kinda silly, doesn’t it?

I agree. Selling the tractor IS kind of silly. If your selling it as a statement, Nobody cares...

However, I DO think it's Bullsh*t that they charged a "restocking" fee for cancelling an order...

If he received the part and then returned it the next day.... THATS another kettle of fish.

 

[Trash Panda]

I agree. Selling the tractor IS kind of silly. If your selling it as a statement, Nobody cares...

However, I DO think it's Bullsh*t that they charged a "restocking" fee for cancelling an order...

If he received the part and then returned it the next day.... THATS another kettle of fish.

That order was billed to the dealer, and now they are gonna just be sitting on that part that they are unlikely to sell anytime soon.

Re-stocking fees are the norm. There is nothing abnormal about it.

 

[D2Cat]

Sorry you had such a distasteful vent. A couple of things I do not purchase from a dealer are hyd cylinder repair kits and starters.

I'd be as upset with myself as you are in this incident, but there is someone who talks about making decision that turn out bad..... he calls that a "stupid tax". Pay the tax, learn from it and get on with life!!

 

[GeoHorn]

Although it may not be applicable to THIS particular “order”….. There are other possibilities.
In Some Cases…. a dealer who orders a part which is subsequently-cancelled… cannot simply return it themselves…. to their supplier.
The dealer now has to warehouse that part …until it is needed by some other project. (which may or may not be profitable for him.)

BUT…what Can Occur…. is a “superseded” part-number develops… perhaps the result of the original failed part being a defective-design…(after-all, that May Be Why it is sometimes-problematical)….
NOW the dealer cannot Sell That Superseded Part…and is Stuck with it. (No one desires to purchase an obsolete part.)

Re-stocking Fees have a legitimate basis. They are not simply “gouging”.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I recently ordered a starter from Kubota Halifax at a cost of about $850. I resolved my starting issue and called to cancel the order and come to find out I will be charged 20% of the part. This works out to be about $177. This seems to be fraudulent as the dealership will now sell that part at full price and I will have paid for the shipping when I don’t even have the part? Sure a small administration fee of 20 or 50$ but this is NOT right. I will be inquiring at competitors and will be trading this tractor, unacceptable!

Disgruntled Kubota owner

What I don't know is , did you cancel the order BEFORE the starter arrived at the dealership ? If so ,then restocking fee would not be applicable. However if they did get it, then yes , a fee will apply...providing they informed the person when ordering. Just because it's 'industry standard' doesn't mean JQ Public knows the 'system'. Heck I had a starter installed on my truck ,at my house, and the mechanic did NOT want the old starter ! I thought there was a 'core' charge for them, not any more, so policies do change, can't assume !

 

[Trash Panda]

What I don't know is , did you cancel the order BEFORE the starter arrived at the dealership ? If so ,then restocking fee would not be applicable. However if they did get it, then yes , a fee will apply...providing they informed the person when ordering. Just because it's 'industry standard' doesn't mean JQ Public knows the 'system'. Heck I had a starter installed on my truck ,at my house, and the mechanic did NOT want the old starter ! I thought there was a 'core' charge for them, not any more, so policies do change, can't assume !

The starter does not need to arrive at the dealership for a re stock to be applicable.

If you order it, you’re on the hook. Take your medicine and learn from it.

 

[GeoHorn]

What I don't know is , did you cancel the order BEFORE the starter arrived at the dealership ? If so ,then restocking fee would not be applicable. However if they did get it, then yes , a fee will apply...providing they informed the person when ordering. Just because it's 'industry standard' doesn't mean JQ Public knows the 'system'. Heck I had a starter installed on my truck ,at my house, and the mechanic did NOT want the old starter ! I thought there was a 'core' charge for them, not any more, so policies do change, can't assume !

The problem may not be so simple.

If You ask Me …to acquire a part for your tractor…. and then I use My “credit-worthiness” …to request My supplier to ship to Me…. and HE in--turn does likewise with the producer of that part, who then re-directs his production-run to set-aside a portion of his product for shipment to Me…. Me…who has just-this morning received the cancellation from my customer… It is MY credibility that will suffer if I then attempt to Cancel with the Producer.
The NEXT time in which I wish to “special order” from Him…. I will be ignored….and MY business will be jeopardized.

It is Not That Simple a matter.

One cannot simply remove One-Domino from the long-line… and expect the line to continue to fall….. sequentially, ….as-previously-expected or designed.

If my business is compromised… I must be compensated accordingly. Or Next Time…. your order will be ignored.

 

[whitetiger]

What I don't know is , did you cancel the order BEFORE the starter arrived at the dealership ? If so ,then restocking fee would not be applicable.

It does not make a difference if the part has been received by the dealer or not. The part is billed to the dealer before it leaves the warehouse. Once it leaves the warehouse, the dealer now has the fees for shipping/handling.

If the order is canceled before it is shipped from the warehouse, there shouldn't be a charge. Anything after that should be recovered from the customer.

If you think the dealer is making money from the cancellation, it costs the dealer approx 15% to return the part to the warehouse, plus freight.

 

[GeoHorn]

It does not make a difference if the part has been received by the dealer or not. The part is billed to the dealer before it leaves the warehouse. Once it leaves the warehouse, the dealer now has the fees for shipping/handling.

If the order is canceled before it is shipped from the warehouse, there shouldn't be a charge. Anything after that should be recovered from the customer.

If you think the dealer is making money from the cancellation, it costs the dealer approx 15% to return the part to the warehouse, plus freight.

Another facet of that crystal is…when the middle-man (dealer) … orders the part by phone or by email or text…. HIS WORD is worth-something. The “order” is taken-seriously by the supplier….who realizes (after-all, ..ALL “custom orders” are by-definition “express orders”) that he must place the order as “Priority”.
Once that request-string is pulled…. everyone …EveryOne… must act with alacrity.…to FILL that Order promptly.

Just-Because some yea-hoo under the shade-tree realizes it’s only a FUSE and not a Starter …and wishes to CANCEL…. That does not instantly-arrest the “chain” of activity…or the responsibility to act…by all the actors down-line.

It’s like the ocean liner coming into port. The Captain tells the Mate “Slow Ahead”….who tells the Helmsman “Slow Ahead” … who grabs the handle on the Bridge TeleMotor and moves it to “Slow Ahead”…. which “Rings” the Engine-Room-Telemotor “Slow Ahead”….and the engineer shouts to the Stoker to “Damper The Boilers”.
But meanwhile, up on the Bridge, a Collision-from-the Port-Quarter is developing with a crossing-steamer…and the Captain orders the Mate “CANCEL the Order! Full Speed Ahead!”
But the Boilers are Now Cooling-Down and Steam is falling…..