MONTANA TRACTORS

[rcowan]

I just left my Montana dealer in Benson AZ and all is well there. I had a trailer tire issue not a tractor problem. They swapped out the wheel and tire in no time and had me back on the road. Dave ask me how the tractor was doing etc etc. We had the "Hows Montana" discussion and he couldn't stop praising them and the Hunts. He has new inventory and he tells me there have been very few complaints/warranty calls. Unlike the other green tractor outfit he worked for.

All is well in AZ.

 

[SESS]

I posted this on the "Farmtrac Troubles" thread and feel that everyone who is involved with floorplan companies and manufacturers should read these articles.

Part #1 of the article was published in September, Part #2 is out now.

http://www.swassn.com/News/SWAFlash-Sept08.pdf (part #1)

http://www.equipmentdealers.org/News...Sept-Oct08.pdf (part #2)

 

[gemini5362]

I posted this on the "Farmtrac Troubles" thread and feel that everyone who is involved with floorplan companies and manufacturers should read these articles.

Part #1 of the article was published in September, Part #2 is out now.

http://www.swassn.com/News/SWAFlash-Sept08.pdf (part #1)

http://www.equipmentdealers.org/News...Sept-Oct08.pdf (part #2)

Interesting articles for dealers. It does bring up a point about manufacturers getting inventory out to the dealers. One of the questions I was asking about Montana having a new factory is because they have almost no inventory in springdale. Maybe they are between shipments or are slowing down a bit because of the economy. Normally when I drive by there they have the lot full of tractors that have been brought in from Korea for the final assembly (they still have the steel wheels they use for shipping) The last couple of times I have been by there the lot was fairly empty. The last time I went by there I noticed that there were few tractors on the lot and they were already assembled I did not see any tractors setting there waiting for assembly. I am sure there probably is a good reason for this but it does make me curious. Especially since there does not seem to be a Montana Dealer within a 100 mile radius of springdale unless I am mislooking at the website.

 

[Dargo]

Since someone posted the Montana website I went there to look. Am I missing something, or are there only 8 Montana dealers left??

No matter how I tried to "locate dealers", Montana's website only showed 8 dealers in the U.S. I thought they were sort of small and regional, but I had no idea they only had 8 dealers. Has it always been that way? Or, is their website just really bad?

 

[gemini5362]

Since someone posted the Montana website I went there to look. Am I missing something, or are there only 8 Montana dealers left??

No matter how I tried to "locate dealers", Montana's website only showed 8 dealers in the U.S. I thought they were sort of small and regional, but I had no idea they only had 8 dealers. Has it always been that way? Or, is their website just really bad?

Dargo I am not sure what you are seeing when I looked at district 9 it showed 8 dealers alone, district 8 showed 8 dealers and I did not poll any more of the 16 districts that it shows on the website.

 

[chh]

Well I have not looked at the website recently, but I know of 2 Montana dealers near me that are less than 100 miles from Springdale. One in Stillwell,OK and another in Stigler, OK. Both are very happy with Montana. The Stillwell dealer is also MF and says Montana is very easy to work with compared to Agco. The Stigler dealer is a McCormick and Montana dealer.(and just picked up the Vermeer line of equipment)

 

[Dargo]

Dargo I am not sure what you are seeing when I looked at district 9 it showed 8 dealers alone, district 8 showed 8 dealers and I did not poll any more of the 16 districts that it shows on the website.

Well, good. It won't bother me at all if it's just some glitch in their website that makes it difficult for dopes like me to find what I'm looking for. It's good for all if Montana is strong and staying around.

 

[gemini5362]

Well I have not looked at the website recently, but I know of 2 Montana dealers near me that are less than 100 miles from Springdale. One in Stillwell,OK and another in Stigler, OK. Both are very happy with Montana. The Stillwell dealer is also MF and says Montana is very easy to work with compared to Agco. The Stigler dealer is a McCormick and Montana dealer.(and just picked up the Vermeer line of equipment)

actually I believe that stigler is more than 100 miles from springdale.

 

[gemini5362]

Well I have not looked at the website recently, but I know of 2 Montana dealers near me that are less than 100 miles from Springdale. One in Stillwell,OK and another in Stigler, OK. Both are very happy with Montana. The Stillwell dealer is also MF and says Montana is very easy to work with compared to Agco. The Stigler dealer is a McCormick and Montana dealer.(and just picked up the Vermeer line of equipment)

stillwell would be close but if it is within 100 miles of springdale it barely is. However it is good to know they have a dealer there because that would probably be the closest dealer to me.

 

[chh]

stillwell would be close but if it is within 100 miles of springdale it barely is. However it is good to know they have a dealer there because that would probably be the closest dealer to me.

OK, according to Google I was wrong on Stigler, it is 115 driving miles. Stillwell is 54.9. Both have been dealers for over 3 years or longer. I did look at the website. The dealer map needs updated in a big way, I know of several more dealers in OK that are not shown.

 

[gemini5362]

Mapquest shows stillwell as being 54 miles from lowell. I am actually very amazed at that I have driven those roads and It sure seems to be a lot farther than 54 miles. I guess if you go through lincoln to 59 and then up 59 to whatever road goes to stillwell it might be that but it does seem a lot farther than that. I am not sure how much behind the dealer map is. I was just made aware of a dealer in fort smith a few months ago, the fort smith dealer was on their map and now i see they are gone off of it.

I hope they can get dealers and keep them. I like my montana tractor. I think for the money it is a good buy. If I was looking at tractors I would be a bit concerned about the commitment my local montana dealer had to the brand. If I was comfortable that they were going to keep montana tractors on their lot and continue to stock parts I would buy one. I do know that the Montana service dealership in greenland told me they had a contract with Montana because there was no dealership close and Montana needed someone to do warranty work and provide maintenance on the tractors. Montana is concerned enough with Montana owners in this area to find a place they could get under contract to provide service to local owners. I am not trying to bad mouth Montana I just know that in the three years I have had my tractor there have been three dealers between Fort Smith and Montana headquarters that are no longer selling Montana tractors or products. The 4th dealership located in that area is not a dealership they are just a service and warranty establishment. Actually you have done me a favor by posting the stillwell dealer. I did not see them listed in the listing beside the map and stillwell while a bit of a drive for me is not that far away just slow roads to get there on.

 

[HogWild1]

May I make a comment or two?

Yes, there are some dealers out there that are no longer dealers. I know now that Montana has been in the market for a while they are not looking to sign up every Tom, Dick, and Harry that wants to sell tractors but, good quality dealers that know tractors and will take pride in the Montana line such as Maka. Could this be the reason we are seeing more Montana's on fewer lots? Well, I'm no expert but I think it would be better for the tractors to be transferred to another dealer to have an opportunity to be sold versus being sent back to the manufacturer.

I also know Montana is getting ready to introduce an 80 and 90 hp tractor. Can't wait for that one!

And for the FarmTrac guys, it is an unfortunate situation you guys are in but as it was mentioned before Montana needs to take care of their customers first and the FT guys should be grateful for any support they can get. I hope something positive happens for you FT dealers.

Anyway, just my two cents from an ol' country boy that likes to drive a tractor every now and then.

 

[gemini5362]

Hogwild1 what part of Arkansas are you in ?

 

[HogWild1]

NW AR

 

[gemini5362]

springdale by any chance ?

 

[HogWild1]

siloam