Loader frames are robotically welded.
As far as the original post, it happens. Dealers do in fact communicate with each other, and often. Y'all probably didn't know that, but you do now. I'm no longer with kubota dealer but in the 30 years I was, it wasn't uncommon to reach out to other dealers with tech questions or guidance, or occasionally asking about a customer's equipment (service history, etc). Often I'd get more info than I wanted, and I'll leave it at that.
All kubota dealers have access to warranty claims, so if a dealer in Washington state files a claim for a broken bolt, I can see it at a dealer in SE Florida, as any other dealer can if they have the serial number. Then they know how many hours and/or miles were on the equipment at the time of repair, and what was done, etc. There is more good in this practice than bad, it helps dealers understand the equipment and prevent duplicate claims and a bunch of other stuff that helps the owners.
additionally some dealers are linked together in that they share the same ownership, yet different dealer names. Those dealers stay in close contact with one another for a lot of issues. For the first 26 years of me doing dealer work, I was with a one-store mom & pop place, that was not linked to any other dealer other than friendly business dealings (calls about tech issues, parts issues, whatever). The last 3 years the dealer was bought out by a company who owned 10 other dealers (11 now) but most were different dealer names (now all the same). That conglomerate was VERY good at communicating with the other stores, usually transferring parts from one dealer to another, but also tech issues (that was the one good thing about working under a corporate atmosphere) and occasionally customer issues. Had a few instances where a customer would write a rubber check for equipment or parts or service, and we'd get a group text "do not do business with so-and-such and this is why". So yes, it happens, it's legal, and there's nothing "bad" about it. Only once in those years can I remember any dealer sharing a "do not do business with this customer" message and it was a customer who was obviously trying to dupe the dealers. I remember the name. I also remember the face, and the usernames that he used on some forums.
As far as the original post, it happens. Dealers do in fact communicate with each other, and often. Y'all probably didn't know that, but you do now. I'm no longer with kubota dealer but in the 30 years I was, it wasn't uncommon to reach out to other dealers with tech questions or guidance, or occasionally asking about a customer's equipment (service history, etc). Often I'd get more info than I wanted, and I'll leave it at that.
All kubota dealers have access to warranty claims, so if a dealer in Washington state files a claim for a broken bolt, I can see it at a dealer in SE Florida, as any other dealer can if they have the serial number. Then they know how many hours and/or miles were on the equipment at the time of repair, and what was done, etc. There is more good in this practice than bad, it helps dealers understand the equipment and prevent duplicate claims and a bunch of other stuff that helps the owners.
additionally some dealers are linked together in that they share the same ownership, yet different dealer names. Those dealers stay in close contact with one another for a lot of issues. For the first 26 years of me doing dealer work, I was with a one-store mom & pop place, that was not linked to any other dealer other than friendly business dealings (calls about tech issues, parts issues, whatever). The last 3 years the dealer was bought out by a company who owned 10 other dealers (11 now) but most were different dealer names (now all the same). That conglomerate was VERY good at communicating with the other stores, usually transferring parts from one dealer to another, but also tech issues (that was the one good thing about working under a corporate atmosphere) and occasionally customer issues. Had a few instances where a customer would write a rubber check for equipment or parts or service, and we'd get a group text "do not do business with so-and-such and this is why". So yes, it happens, it's legal, and there's nothing "bad" about it. Only once in those years can I remember any dealer sharing a "do not do business with this customer" message and it was a customer who was obviously trying to dupe the dealers. I remember the name. I also remember the face, and the usernames that he used on some forums.
