ComplaintsforRiddle Tractor

• Initial Complaint

  06/29/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My father purchased a used tractor from Riddle on 6/8/23 for the purpose of mowing his lawn. He was assured that the tractor had been thoroughly inspected and serviced and had no issues. Shortly after purchasing the tractor began having electrical issues which resulted in wiring having to be repaired, a faulty safety switch replaced and a starter solenoid that was also replaced at the expense of my father. In the spring of 2024 the tractor suddenly started grinding and the *** became inoperable. The tractor was taken for repairs that resulted in the entire rear of the tractor being removed and disassembled. During these repairs it was discovered that the hydraulic and gear oil was severely contaminated with the viscosity of water and the color of milk leading to premature wear of internal parts and there was several inches of silt packed into the frame and components that were covered by the body panels leading me to believe the tractor had been sunk at some time and the dealership never inspected or serviced this machine before selling. The cost of the repair was estimated around $4000 (nearly what was paid for the tractor). My father went to Riddle and attempted to talk to the staff but was blown off and advised "you bought a used machine" and "that salesman was fired" even though he had put less then 10 hours on the machine since he purchased it.

  Customer response

  07/10/2024

  I have not heard from the business in response to my complaint.

  
  

  

  Business response

  07/12/2024

  We need to know what the customer name is that the machine was purchased under to research what happened.  The name provided is not in our database.

  Customer response

  07/12/2024

  Customer name is ********************* of rural Hall, he purchased a bx2200d in June 2023.
  
  
  

  

  Business response

  07/12/2024

  I was able to find the original customer invoice #*****.
  
  According to our records this tractor never came back for service at our shop. If it was serviced here please advise on what additional name it would have been serviced under so we can search for the service records.
  
  After the original tractor purchase the only interactions with the customer we have documented are parts purchased here on 6/28/24 (CT164760) and 7/3/24 (CT164862) total parts purchased here amounted to $243.49. 
  
  I also searched the history of this machine and found where we did service it upon taking it in on trade in September 2022 WO110272.
  
  All of those receipts are attached for reference.
  
  As you can see from original invoice all of our used machines are sold as is unless specified in writing.  ******** wrote on the invoice sold as is as well.
  
  While we likely would have worked with the customer if the machine had come back immediately after purchase it was never brought back to us.  We were only made aware of the issue over a year after purchase.  We cannot be held responsible for mechanical failures of used machines a year after purchase.
  
  Please let me know if you need additional information or if there are any questions left unanswered on this.

  Customer response

  07/13/2024

  The machine was not brought back due to staff not even wanting to speak to us about the issue let alone be helpful. We were told "you bought a used machine" and "that salesman was already fired." The parts that were purchased was to repair the failure and does not include labor and fluids. The oil filter that was on the tractor had the hours wrote on it and if that's the case the tractor had over a hundred hours put on it between the time it was taken in and the time my father purchased it which makes no sense. There is no way that it was serviced with the level of contamination that was found in the transmission which led to the failure.
  
  
  

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