Warranty period problem---pissed off

[goosegt]

This week I broke down and finally purchased a new mower. I have been working/repairing my 982 way more than I've actually used it for the last 3-4 years. When it works it works great....but it's just not working anymore!

I purchased a 2015 Z-Force SZ 54 Commercial mower, looks like they only made it that one year......which is probably part of the problem. In CC's brochure and on the dealer tag hanging on it when I bought it states a 2-year commercial warranty (no hour restrictions) or a 4-year/500 hour warranty.

I went to register it online and it won't register.....says it may already be registered. I called up customer service and they say it only has a 2-year warranty......because that what it states in the manual....and they are right about that. The manual only states the commercial warranty.....there is no reference to the residential warranty.

I'm hoping this will not be a concern since this thing should last me forever......but I am just absolutely pissed off that nobody I spoke too seems to care about the discrepancy. Do you guys think any dealer would honor the brochures stated warranty without giving me a hassle or runaround?

The new model isn't listed as commercial because they downgraded the engine to a Kawasaki......that seems to be the only difference between them.....and that comes with the 4-year/500 hour warranty that I should have. I am just frustrated since these idiots will not listen or understand......or they just do not want to admit they are wrong.

[R Bedell]

The warranty of anything is between the Manufacturer and the end user. There is a specific warranty for every product, based on the Model and Serial number of said item. The Manufacturer has to supply you with a copy of said written warranty based on your machine. If there is a warranty situation (needs service), it is between the Manufacturer and the end user through one of it's "authorized" service centers.

If the Web Site won't let you register your product, there is a likelihood, that your machine was sold prior to you and was registered at that time. It may have come back to a dealer for a variety of reasons. If that is the case, your beef is with the "selling dealer" for non disclosure.

[john hall]

So this is a new mower, not previously owned correct? If the brochure and the sales tag call for the 4 year warranty, then that is what they sold you. When I run into problems with peons on the other end of the phone I go over their head to management. I would tell them, better yet scan the brochures and send in an email, the info you were given. I would require that they either comply with the warranty or refund all of your money. Furthermore verbal confirmation of complying with the warranty would not be sufficient. I would request company letter head with your name, machine model and ser#, and the warranty details spelled out completely. If they don't want to play ball I would advise them you will be contacting the state attorney generals office. Also I would immediately let the dealer know what is going on. He should have a sales rep available to help handle this.

FWIW, I bought a new Chrysler several years back. The dealership closed down a week after I bought it. Then Daimler sold Chrysler. I had one heck of a time getting my extended warranty that they gladly accepted money for.

Good Luck!

[goosegt]

This mower had all the tags and crap on it as new, knobs on the tires and when it was delivered it had .4 hours on the meter.

The problem is the owners manual only states the commercial 2-year unlimited hour warranty. The brochure I found online for it and the tag that was hanging on it state the commercial or residential warranty.

I emailed the dealer and told him to verify the warranty and if the 4-year can't be honored I want to return it for the 2016 model with the 4-year warranty......I'll wait to see what they say.

Here's a picture of the brochure I found.

[DoubleO7]

At the Cub Cadet website the SZ54 is showing a 3 year warranty with unlimited hours for 2016.

Did you get a wack of manuals, warranty registration card, with your purchase?

Since people shop based on what is displayed in sales brochures and advertizing, (on line & in print) and displayed at the dealer, I can't see how they can bait you with "4 year warranty" and then tell you after purchase that the real warranty is what is shown in the owners manual.
Virtual nobody reviews an owners manual for anything prior to purchase.

[Oak]

WOW, I'm surprised they give a 2 year commercial warranty on that machine. They are pretty vague on what is covered also. Can you take it back or is it too late?

[olds45512]

Why would you email the dealer? Why not call or drive over there and ask directly? They can very easily ignore your email but you'd be a little hard to ignore standing in there showroom holding the papers in your hand.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by goosegt

I'm hoping this will not be a concern since this thing should last me forever......but I am just absolutely pissed off that nobody I spoke too seems to care about the discrepancy. Do you guys think any dealer would honor the brochures stated warranty without giving me a hassle or runaround?

......... I am just frustrated since these idiots will not listen or understand......or they just do not want to admit they are wrong.

Originally Posted by olds45512

Why would you email the dealer? Why not call or drive over there and ask directly? They can very easily ignore your email but you'd be a little hard to ignore standing in there showroom holding the papers in your hand.

I'm with Tim. Why would you screw around on the internet and the phone? Get in your truck, march your happy butt to the dealer and discuss it with the guy who sold it to you. I don't know why your so pissed off.... seems to me that the one who isn't doing what it takes is you. How can you expect some guy sitting at a computer screen 1000 miles away to give two bits about your warranty issue? They get calls like that all day long. Brochures are easily attached to the wrong machine. You might just get what you get. GO TALK TO THE GUY WHO SOLD IT TO YOU!

I would have made them fill out the paperwork for me. I'm not paying that much money for something then have to fill out my own warranty papers. Screw that. I mean shoot, what did you shell out? $5500? MAKE THEM DO IT!

[goosegt]

I want something in writing. A dealer can BS you for two years then when it's a day after the warranty is up they can say "you're manual only say 2 years"

I actually ended up going to CC's facebook page and messaged them their cause it seems that people actually get results from them. They said the same thing at first......because that IS the only warranty info in the owners manual.....and their warranty stipulations are only stored in the manual.

I sent them the same pictures I posted above and told them I could have spent less for the 2016 model that carries the 4-year/500 hour warranty but it had the Kawasaki engine and I wanted the Kohler Command Pro that the commercial version has. They said that the warranty will be based upon if you use your mower as a residential or commercial mower, and that if it's only used for residential purposes it would in-fact have the 4-year/500 hour warranty. I asked them if they could send me a letter stating that, and they said they would investigate it further.

I sent them the picture of my model tag under the seat and after an hour they got back to me. Here's what they said.

"Jeff- We greatly appreciate you bringing this to our attention. After speaking with multiple people internally, we have confirmed the 4 year / 500-hour limited residential warranty. We will be with you as soon as we can with a new manual and warranty statement. We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for your patience."

I'm sure if they made my model more than just last year this wouldn't have been an issue. They turned my model Z-Force SZ 54 Commercial into the Z-Force SX 54KW (22inch turf tires, zt3100 hydros and a 24hp Kawasaki engine...the engine is the only difference), which has the 4-year/500hr warranty. The S54 (not turf tires, the smaller 2800 hydros and the 25hp Kohler 7000 series engine)has the 3-year warranty and the SX54KW has the 4-year.

Now I will wait and see if they do revise the manual for my model like they said they would.

[goosegt]

Originally Posted by J-Mech

I'm with Tim. Why would you screw around on the internet and the phone? Get in your truck, march your happy butt to the dealer and discuss it with the guy who sold it to you. I don't know why your so pissed off.... seems to me that the one who isn't doing what it takes is you. How can you expect some guy sitting at a computer screen 1000 miles away to give two bits about your warranty issue? They get calls like that all day long. Brochures are easily attached to the wrong machine. You might just get what you get. GO TALK TO THE GUY WHO SOLD IT TO YOU!

I would have made them fill out the paperwork for me. I'm not paying that much money for something then have to fill out my own warranty papers. Screw that. I mean shoot, what did you shell out? $5500? MAKE THEM DO IT!

Like I just wrote as you were typing this, the dealer or any dealer can say whatever the hell they want to you........talk is cheap....and doesn't mean anything these days. I'm not going to be naïve and take anybody's word over a warranty, I'd be pretty stupid if I did that. I want it in writing so I can walk into any dealer I want and show them my warranty......because as I stated, the only warranty in the manual is the commercial 2-year unlimited hour one.