Jeffersonville, OH | SilverSeeder - 7/30/2024 09:45
Chris that is a good question. It seemed like the MF branded ones were more reliable than the Challenger machines. Maybe it’s just a mind game or the old joke but I’m convinced that there was something different. Years ago AGCO had a proto type crop cutter round baler in our area due to a large amount of hay being crop cut and wrapped. A MF/ Hesston rep stayed with tractor/ baler and demoed (baled crop for free) for 1st and 2nd crop around area to get as many bales through as he could. We custom baled at that time and he wanted over the 4th off so we ran tractor and baler that weekend over our own or anyone else that called him or us to bale. Baler was a machine and the tractor ran like a Swiss watch. Not sure a challenger would have. The “RT” body style challengers I have a soft spot for but c series and newer wheeled I’m not sold on. Software Conspiracy theory for me I guess. FYI Agco didn’t go forward with baler it was a heck of a machine.
I can tell you some of the difference...PDI. Pre-Delivery Inspection
If a dealer and/or dealer tech's don't know what they are doing, then little issues, or adjustments don't get done before delivery, so then it becomes a warranty issue in the first few hours. I know for certain some Challenger dealers were historically not performing complete PDIs and it was causing a noticeable difference in low hour warranty claims...to the point some dealers were getting called to ask what's going on.
If they can't PDI them right, they probably can't train customers right, or service them correctly, so sounds like a recipe for "bad" reputation.
Again, if it was Tracks or Application, most did a great job. Also, not all Challenger dealers were like this on wheeled tractors, some did a fine job...same a MF tractors. Not every dealer is equal, and AGCO has been pushing a LOT of things in the past few years to help that.
Chris |
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