FarmTrac Troubles

[taxpayer]

Taxpayer, in your wall street analogy Textron would be bailed out while your home is foreclosed upon.

My friend, you are not quite paying attention yet.Wall street will only be bailed out IF certain wimps and/or crooks in washington interject government funds into what should be a private sector problem.the latest polls show 90% of the American public do not want the government to bail out these financial crooks.

Textron will not be bailed out either unless the farmtrac dealers and customers give in to pressure from Textron and it's wimpy closet buddies.
That ain't gonna happen friend, when the smoke clears, the farmtrac dealers may go down, but you won't find any wounds on our backsides, because we won't cut and run just because the going gets rough.

Investigations are underway both in washington,wall street and yes even in this situation. will you still defend these greedy crooks when it is proved they
had every intention to defraud their clients from the start??or will you finally
realise that wrongdoing unchallenged will continue to spread?? Your Call.

Taxpayer

 

[tommybr]

To the dealers who have "skin in this game" this is far from over and will not go down without a fight to the finish.

 

[redneckford]

Thanks Messick----I know how hard you and your staff work everyday keeping Textron and CNH in check. Most of these FarmTrac Dealers ain't used to dealing with---- (crooks?) everyday. (Both have alot of good people but one bad apple causes the others to start to rot)They believed everything the zone man and the finance man told them. (As you can see that is in the past tense now---the truth is the truth)I agree Textron is needed in the Ag market because without them the manufacturers would rule the day without any competition. However there are some in Textron that should lose all they have for what they have done to these unsuspecting dealers.!!!Right is Right and Wrong is Wrong----Some of those Textron employee's have to G-------O-------!!!!!! I still need that Christmas card list>?????

 

[redneckford]

To the dealers who have "skin in this game" this is far from over and will not go down without a fight to the finish.

Anybody that ownes a tractor,regardless of brand, has skin in this game. They may not understand it but they do!!!Would you believe this is happening in this great country if it were not happening to you. That is Why you have to have regulation (Laws)!!!!AND THEY HAVE TO BE ENFORCED FAIRLY!!!it has happened many times before and will happen many times in the futher. But that does not make it right!!!!But don't get too mad at people that feel this does not affect them-----Everything that everyone does has a positive and negative affect in the Capitalist system----what you buy and where-----But!!!But!!!! a few heck raisers can have an effect!!!!! those that got has got to loose----those that ain't got nothing can't lose anything!!!!

 

[longtrman]

I am interested in this thread because I own 3 Landtrac/Farmtrac tractors, but to think congress or the media is going to get all fired up about this situation is somewhat far fetched. Fraud happens, companies close their doors, products are discontinued: it happens all the time. Farmtrac is in recievership because of any number of reasons poor management, deceptive accounting, poor marketing, cash flows, competitive pressure, slowing economy, weakening dollar, manufacturer pressure since in practice they were a distributor as opposed to a manufacturer. Who knows for sure? Farmtrac's less than zero financing plan was a sign of market weakness not strength. Please believe that I have empathy for both dealers and owners [me] but it may be time to move on, the horse is dead, beating it will only wear you down and divert you from moving ahead in both business and life. As to Textron you will find big dogs eat first and the total Farmtrac experience isn't even a flea bite to them.

We have to try our best to prevail --the value of your Landtracs and those of our other customers depends on it. The dealers life work, business, retirement and even their homes depends on it. Part of what we do on this site is to encourage dealers who have not joined our dealer only site--it's the easiest way to contact them. Partly we try to give you customers hope that we can come up with parts and some form of service. Most dealers would have been money ahead to have quit months ago but our customers are also our friends and we did not want to abandon them. We keep hoping that the parts scheme we set up in July will go through but when you have more than one big corporation fighting among themselves it takes time and public airing of the truth to get it done. We cannot get the coverage that the big investment bank failures get that's true. The only coverage we get is from Ole Blue the reporter. So we have to be content for now to use this site to get the facts out that we can get out without damaging the legal actions being taken for some of the dealers by their own attorneys. Not everything we know can as yet be told in public. Not every dealer's situation is the same as all others. I know we could trust you but some 50,000+ people have visited this site some 143,000 times. Can we trust all of them. We know that Textron and Escorts and others follow this site.

 

[glgdiggs]

I have been following this thread since January because I own 2-530DTCs and 1-360DTC/TLB, all have proven to be great tractors. I hope you do not think I'm siding with Textron or Farmtrac I'm not. The financial reality is such that lawsuits are long drawn out expensive affairs with very unpredictable outcomes. I know. I was involved in one which took 2 years, 1000 hours of my life, 33 depositions, 28,000 pages of documentation, pre trial hearings, motions, $250,000 in legal fees, and was dismissed by the judge at jury selection. "God grant me the courage to change those things I can, the serenity to accept those things I cannot change, and the widom to know the difference." Sometimes serenity and wisdom are all that can be had from this type of experience. I understand the anger and frustration each dealer must feel, because you worked hard, took care of your not farmtrac's customer, and are now left holding the bag. I'm sorry if my previous posts may have rubbed anyone wrong, that was not my intent, but the last few weeks postings seem like a vendetta toward Textron and maybe rightfully so since I don't have all the inside information.

 

[tommybr]

I don't think the dealers have a vendetta against Textron........they just have a survival instinct and are willing to stand up to defend themselves.....and stand for their rights and fight......all the dealers want is what was promised to them.

 

[glgdiggs]

What was promised to them?

 

[redneckford]

What was promised to them?

I would think honest dealings for starters----but as you said in a previous post that is not a fact of life when dealing with the lawyers and the court system in the United States----it is still about the money!!!! The have's and the have nots!!!!

 

[blueliner]

I don't think the dealers have a vendetta against Textron........they just have a survival instinct and are willing to stand up to defend themselves.....and stand for their rights and fight......all the dealers want is what was promised to them.

Mr. 'Diggs,

Thanks for the backdrop provided by your recent post and expanded view of the situation.

Tommy's post above has substance. Anyone who knows Farmtrac retailers understands they'd prefer to simply go about "just doin' business" selling and servicing tractors.

It is safe and accurate to generalize in saying that FNA dealers are upstanding, hardworking folks. They are people of the earth who trade a service for a reasonable living -- no more and certainly no less.

Their heartburn is with the nasty, underhanded and dishonest actions they've dealt with from a third-party financier -- one that happens to be Textron Financial Corp.

If it was another bankrolling firm, they'd have the same level of aggitation toward them. So TFC happens to be in the dealer's crosshairs because they -- along with FNA executives -- are the one who perpetrated certain acts.

There is no *other* reason.

The level of dealer vitriol is directly related to the level of pain TFC has inflicted.

Who wouldn't have a raw a** if someone's unethical and conspiratory acts stole your livelihood? It's an odds-on favorite that most persons would... and justifiably so.

I'm merely a sideline spectator... with no horse in this race... and it makes *me* chafed to watch the treatment retailers receive.

Maybe I'm "old school"-er and rooting for the good guys (and girls) to win.

Thanks for your viewership and writing contributions, 'Diggs. Hope those blue machines keep serving you well.

--blueliner

 

[case1570]

It is very hard to move on when Textron won't get the tractors that belong to Farmtrac, which Textron holds as security off of the dealers lots. If textron would like to move on they could pick up their tractors! I don't think any dealer will argue with this option. This would be a great option for textron as it would stop the media blast that will hurt them long term. The MBA's at textron are much like our politicians. They have the lawyers get them out of a situation that they create, they only give half truths to their counsel, so their lawyers fight to help them. This group of dealers is NOT filled with dead beats but honest hard working people who value the truth. We look at the big picture and we value our reputation more than a profit. I will keep fighting because my GOD is not telling me to stop. I bath this fight in prayer and if I lose I will have learned a great deal and I will thank God for that. This needs to be brought out to protect future generations, even if they don't agree with us.
Case

 

[redneckford]

They are g---o---n---n---a-- S---U---E you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seen any freight trucks lately!!!

 

[tommybr]

It is very hard to move on when Textron won't get the tractors that belong to Farmtrac, which Textron holds as security off of the dealers lots. If textron would like to move on they could pick up their tractors! I don't think any dealer will argue with this option. This would be a great option for textron as it would stop the media blast that will hurt them long term. The MBA's at textron are much like our politicians. They have the lawyers get them out of a situation that they create, they only give half truths to their counsel, so their lawyers fight to help them. This group of dealers is NOT filled with dead beats but honest hard working people who value the truth. We look at the big picture and we value our reputation more than a profit. I will keep fighting because my GOD is not telling me to stop. I bath this fight in prayer and if I lose I will have learned a great deal and I will thank God for that. This needs to be brought out to protect future generations, even if they don't agree with us.
Case

WELL SAID !!!!!!!!!!

 

[redneckford]

Taxpayer----Do the dealers really believe that what they say and do on their "private" web site is not being read word for word by every lawyer working for Textron----Only Honest people follow the law----We know where Some Textron Personnel fall into that category at. It only takes "one" dealer to sell out or G-man that is working for the other side to provide them with all that access. If the dealers do not understand that they do not understand modern Technology!!!!!! Secure site my ***.Messick understands that better than most----and when he tried to warn them in a respectful way everyone got mad at him!!!! Just the FACTS!!!! Seen any Freight trucks today! UPS????? FedEx!!!!! All I have to do is put in your address and monitor your building to know what time they came and went!!!! Goggle earth++++----even fast hand Louie knows how to use it!!! If you write it or say it they will find it!!!!

 

[blueliner]

Taxpayer----Do the dealers really believe that what they say and do on their "private" web site is not being read word for word by every lawyer working for Textron----Only Honest people follow the law----We know where Some Textron Personnel fall into that category at. It only takes "one" dealer to sell out or G-man that is working for the other side to provide them with all that access. If the dealers do not understand that they do not understand modern Technology!!!!!! Secure site my ***.Messick understands that better than most----and when he tried to warn them in a respectful way everyone got mad at him!!!! Just the FACTS!!!! Seen any Freight trucks today! UPS????? FedEx!!!!! All I have to do is put in your address and monitor your building to know what time they came and went!!!! Goggle earth++++----even fast hand Louie knows how to use it!!! If you write it or say it they will find it!!!!

RNF,

I'm reading your post with wide open eyes. Before this debacle went down, many of the down-home retailers could've imagined the level of treachery and ruthlessness a company could exact. Now, many are having to unwillingly acknowledge it exists.

Translated: Retailers and customers, you better *read and heed* the RNF posting above. Failure to do so it equivalent to sticking your head in the sand.

It wouldn't surprise me if TFC tries to squeeze someone so hard they roll over and cough up dealer-only proprietary info.

PMI manuals detail situational worst and best case scenarios, figuring on percentages of them and risk mitigation. I'm hoping the dealers have a contingency plan if RNF's and/or this writer's suggestions should occur.

I pray that I do not meet wrath for trying to reiterate some of the previously mentioned warnings.

--b

 

[redneckford]

RNF,

I'm reading your post with wide open eyes.

It wouldn't surprise me if TFC tries to squeeze someone so hard they roll over and cough up dealer-only proprietary info.


--b

Blue----do YOU?? really believe over this long of time they have not made orange juice out of some dealers and customers-----MONEY!!!!!----- We are all Human---I Think????----some are just more greedy than others!!!!!---call it what you want when the pressue is applied human nature will demand that you save yourself or your family!!!!! They will even lie about it afterwards!!!

 

[redneckford]

Longtrman, I'm afraid fair trade is not something we are likely to ever see again.the US market is now flooded with import tractors and related products and the prices are spiraling downward rapidly,we are likely to see that trend esculate as the farmtrac tractors are dumped on the american market for pennies on the dollar.the public is lured into buying these tractors at what they believe is a cheap price,only to find they have to pay twice, once when they make the purchase and again when they must pay higher taxes to the US government,in order for the government to repay loans borrowed from other countries for the countless giveaway programs in exsistance here and abroad. our government must allow these cheap imports into this country in order to get loans from other countries. So who is the smartest in business?is it the americans who buy cheap? or is it the people who sell it to us?something to ponder.-------Taxpayer

Spoken Like a True Profit!!!!!

 

[redneckford]

The FEDEX Truck Gottem!!!!!

 

[bluechip]

This problem is easy to solve. Its 2008 and the Federal government is responsible for all disasters, natural and business... Textron just needs to sell these tractors to the government! the government can sell them back to us dealers at the lower cost we need so we can sell them to end users at a great price and still make a profit. Textron wins, dealers win, doesn't cost anyone... right? (tounge firmly in cheek).

 

[redneckford]

Can I get twenty tractors on a credit---i got "chattrel" my friend has a dog and my neighbor has a couple cows!!! And i had a horse at one time! He didn't look so good.