Can't Copy JohnThomas

[bp fick]

Most guys here know that JohnThomas is the trade-in king of Kubota, having traded something like 10 times in 6 years. John speaks often about how positive his experience has been, and sometimes suggests that tractors an be traded in, just like cars. Technically, that's true.

This week, I got two quotes on a new Kubota. Both dealers were within a few dollars of each other. What astounded me was that both were quite willing to take my current tractor in trade, even commenting on how clean it looked. Do dealers really want late model, low hour trade-ins they can't resell at zero percent? I don't think so. Only if the price is pushed down.

The problem was that they both, independently, offered me precisely the same amount on trade, as if they were quoting from a NADA type book. I'll keep the details to myself, as that wouldn't be wise at this point to talk about. However JohnThomas agrees to what Barlows give him for trade-in value, all I can say is this. I simply would never take the amount offered me. Buying retail and trading in for what was offered is a losing proposition.

Not suggesting you waste your local dealer's time, but offer your year old tractor back on trade and see if you could stand the loss.

Bet you couldn't.

 

[MarkV]

With a year old trade I would expect to take a big loss. On the other hand, there have been many testimonials from those who have sold 15 year old Kubota's for what they bought them new for. With 0% percent financing and a poor economy I don't know how one would expect much more than a weak trade in value these days. Try an independent sale, you will do better.

You refer to John's experiences with Barlow's a couple of times, have you talked to them?

MarkV

 

[lawn_king]

Having traded in and sold private myself, you do much better on a private sale. You just dont get fair market value on a trade in.

 

[shrekbelly]

i worked retail for over twenty five years . . . for most of that i was buying and sometimes selling after a period of time, power equipment that i had outgrown (honda everything, wheelhorse,toro professional zero model). i have had the equivalent of the auto blue book . . . it was called the outdoor power equipment handbook . . . am almost certain your dealers were referencing it.
tractors can be an expensive passion (DUH! . . . & DOH!!!)
regards, shrekbelly

p.s. i just sold my honda 8hp hydro track hs828 for $300.00 lest than i paid for it 17 years early.

 

[EE_Bota]

We can't all copy John Thomas, but we can live vicariously through him.
As long as he keeps posting pictures, that is...

 

[bp fick]

Having traded in and sold private myself, you do much better on a private sale. You just dont get fair market value on a trade in.

Try an independent sale, you will do better.

You refer to John's experiences with Barlow's a couple of times, have you talked to them?

MarkV

Oh yes, agreed, a private sale is always better, if it is possible. The trade in offer does give you some point of reference for pricing. Yes, got a quote from Barlow's, but matched it easily locally and I am well out of their delivery area.

There is a B2320, loader, RFM, and box blade for sale locally. 14 hours on it. Guy lost his job. He'd take $11,500 for it. Had it on ebay and couldn't get that. This is just an example of how weak the nearly new market is.

 

[donn12]

I would think some models are better than others. 6 months old and not alot of miles would be tough. WHy would you buy that when you could get a new one at 0%? However a couple of years later and 150 -180 hours is removed enough to the point that you are not really competing with new ones. I am trading my BX24 and I am happy with the deal.
Which new one do you want?
What do you still owe and what would your new payment be? If you want a new tractor and don't get it what is that worth? To me once I start thinking about it it's over.
Money aside I cant figure out why anyone would buy a BX1850 because the BX2360 or BX25 would always be lingering in the back of your mind. I bought a BX and no one with a B would understand that when you can get a B for just 4k more. And so on. That never stops no matter which model you pick. I was close to getting a B2620 but decided at the last minute to get a 2920 just because its 750 more and no questions down the road.
Anyway get what you really want. You will like it more and keep it longer. Life is too short to do anything else.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Most guys here know that JohnThomas is the trade-in king of Kubota, having traded something like 10 times in 6 years. John speaks often about how positive his experience has been, and sometimes suggests that tractors an be traded in, just like cars. Technically, that's true.

Not suggesting you waste your local dealer's time, but offer your year old tractor back on trade and see if you could stand the loss.

Bet you couldn't.

Bet I can and have 4 times with one year old tractors. A BX2200, L3240HST, BX2350 and a B3200. I did sell one to an individual and not trade it in but Took a worse beating on it than any of the others. The B7800 kept for 3 years and the BX1500 kept for 3 years. Is that 10 yet? I do have 3 now but that should add up to 10. I imagine there is a book with average pricing but when I went to Barlows I sat down and asked Steve how he would trade me for my B3200 to his BX25. He sat there a few minutes and then asked me what I had in mind. I told him I wasn't sure what did he think. He thought and told me a number and asked what did I think about it. It's the exact number I was hoping for. It was the number I was hoping for which is why I keep going back to him. He could have asked more but he didn't which I take as respect for me and wanting my business. I like and appreciate that. He didn't look at any book because I sat there with him for the entire 5 minutes of trade talk. From beginning to end. He knows his business and what he can sell my used tractor for and his customer base, cash and credit customers. Now I was there for more than 5 minutes but that's how long we negotiated. I'm not saying trading after one year gets you the best return. It doesn't. With inflation tractors maintain their value pretty well if they are maintained well just like cars. I also consider how long do I have to live and decide I don't know but I know it's less time than I've already lived so do I want to pay a few extra bucks to be more contented or do I wnat to leave my savings to some bango picker that will tell my widow how much he appreciates my frugal life style. I think not. I expect Barlows to make a profit just like Subaru, GM and the other car dealers. I just tell them not to make it all on me, to spread it out amongst all customers. I tell my dentist the same thing. He doeswn't listen. My wife thinks I'm a hard negotiator but sales peole like to see me come because they know I'm not trying to keep them from making a profit but they now know if they insult me I'll never be back. Well, one time I wouldn't buy from the local Toyota dealer for 15 years but I gave them another shot and bought 3 from them in 2 years since they quit insulting me. Also and above all, I like the deal. I like the deal. Some times more than what I get. I like the deal.
There are traders and there are those that wear them out and pay maintenance costs. I'm a trader and all I wear out are my shoes, I'll keep them till my wife throws them away as well as my clothes. New ones just appear.

 

[bp fick]

Can't duplicate what you got going with Barlows, JT, thus the title of this thread. Haven't bought from a good neighbor as you have from them. Haven't bought 10 times either. No doubt, they know you, like you, know your equipment, and know you're back over and over again. Like the title of this thread say, can't copy that. They also know you rep on their behalf here pretty well. Doesn't hurt.

I have had some relationships like that in my life. They are pretty great.

 

[kuboman]

Dealers in my area offer for a trade half of what they will price it for on their lot and will maybe take 15% off that when you get serious about buying so yes you get royally hosed to trade. Of course there always are exceptions but not many. Selling private of course is not always alot of fun either.:drool:

 

[magicheater]

I got my first Kubota with 210 hours on it. An L4350 that was close to 30 grand new, or better. 17500 minus my trade in was what I paid. Thank God for people that trade in low hour units. Guess it depends on what level in the froth that your bottom line is. The market may have changed some and I do see more now that used is closer to new than it was in the past. If no one trade or bought where would we be then?

 

[bp fick]

Sure, if one tries to trade in a year old tractor, there is a loss of a few grand. You buy retail and trade back in wholesale, so there is that loss. But, wait, there is more.

I've said this before, but here in the Mitten, we also get hosed on the sales tax. The governor got a grand on that first sale and you'll pay another grand in tax on the new one. JT has a different set of rules on that in KY. Can't match him on that either.

Just saying that this row is too long and weedy for most people to hoe.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Sure, if one tries to trade in a year old tractor, there is a loss of a few grand. You buy retail and trade back in wholesale, so there is that loss. But, wait, there is more.

I've said this before, but here in the Mitten, we also get hosed on the sales tax. The governor got a grand on that first sale and you'll pay another grand in tax on the new one. JT has a different set of rules on that in KY. Can't match him on that either.

Just saying that this row is too long and weedy for most people to hoe.

How many is a few? In Ky that's 3 and that's not a correct figure or it hasn't been for me. A couple is 2. For me the couple is true not the few. Most people won't/don't hoe that row because of their perspective. My perspective is that life is short and the older you/I get the shorter it gets, for both of us. What's a couple, not a few, grand for happiness? There is also the pleasure of the deal. It's like the BX2350, every time I would use it, I would get a bit frustrated at the reverse jerk and slightly irritated at the seat cutoff. How much is that bit of irritation in ones life on a regular basis for who knows how many years worth? To me it was worth under a couple of grand or less. These aren't like a wife which shouldn't be traded at a slight bit of irritation. These are machines and it's only money. How much is a persons happiness worth in dollars? Now there are some people that are happy because they have money and the money is what makes them happy. I'm not one of them. Moneys only value to me is what it buys. Now, I don't get pleasure in boating, golfing, drinking, smoking, bowling, gambling, 4 wheeling or running with wild women but I do enjoy a different tractor/vehicle and traveling. For me trading is therapeutic and I'm sticking to that story. It's actually cheap therapy and I'm also sticking to that story. I also still have a tractor after all the payments are done, if ever. Bottom line trade/sale now or trade sale later and save a few dollars, maybe. We each have our own form of recreation. Mines trading and it's not just tractors and vehicles. I have other "stuff" I buy and trade and I don't think I lose on them.

 

[brin]

John I agree completely with all you posted..You only live once so enjoy it while you can ..life is too short and everyone has their special something they enjoy and I can't imagine a better addiction than cars, trucks and tractors...have at it..!!!!

 

[bp fick]

How many is a few? In Ky that's 3 and that's not a correct figure or it hasn't been for me. A couple is 2. For me the couple is true not the few. )

Standing corrected. A few was a careless use of the language. A couple is 2, not just in Ky but everywhere.

OK, a couple of grand, but the governor here makes it 3, and that is a few.
Three G's is too much for my blood in one year. John, please don't take anything I said as personal, because, buddy, you do what pleases you. Just sayin' the sales tax puts me over the edge. Might do 2 grand loss in a year to trade, but not 3 grand. Which means I cannot match your trading, although I have a genuine need to do so. I will either have to sell mine outright and I am patient enough to try and do that, cutting the loss, or get through the year of gardening as is. It can be done. Necessity finds a way. Not having a tractor, now that would be sad. Having one that is a little out of sorts, well, that's just builds character.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Standing corrected. A few was a careless use of the language. A couple is 2, not just in Ky but everywhere.

OK, a couple of grand, but the governor here makes it 3, and that is a few.
Three G's is too much for my blood in one year. John, please don't take anything I said as personal, because, buddy, you do what pleases you. Just sayin' the sales tax puts me over the edge. Might do 2 grand loss in a year to trade, but not 3 grand. Which means I cannot match your trading, although I have a genuine need to do so. I will either have to sell mine outright and I am patient enough to try and do that, cutting the loss, or get through the year of gardening as is. It can be done. Necessity finds a way. Not having a tractor, now that would be sad. Having one that is a little out of sorts, well, that's just builds character.

I'm not taking any of this personal. I enjoy it or I wouldn't respond. A couple grand I'll do and do do. But a few would cause me to take a real hard look. Fortunately in Ky I only have to pay 6% sales tax on the difference. That was about $39 on my last trade. On cars, if it's new we have to pay full 6% sales tax trade or straight out. If the cars are used we only have to pay on the difference. I think this is educational for people that want to trade or buy and talk themselves out of doing anything. Call, email or go see a dealer and feel good about not trading for the difference they want to trade or feel good that a dealer traded for a price you can accept. If you've dreamed of going to Alaska or anywhere for that matter, stop dreaming and get online or call a travel agent and get on the plane or drive it. Take a train trip across the country. Drive across the country. I'm not talking about someone that can't afford to eat, pay their bills or has no excess income. If there's money beyond the necessities of life, then enjoy what time you've got left. Dying rich still makes you dead. Dying with alot of money leaves a wealth widow for a Bango player to visit and convince her that he needs a new tractor. She'll get it for him and tell how she wishes her dead husband had spent more on himself and the Bango player will be thinking he's sure glad he didn't. Tip: Trading out of state can resolve the tax issue for those that don't have to tell everything they know.

 

[teg]

mental note... learn to spell... err, um, PLAY the banjo...

I was going to upgrade my tractor and the price was "right" but I took a moment... and decided, I'm happy with what I got and it's done what I need to do... a little slower but I'm fine with that. I'll take the money that I would have spent on the upgrade... and fix up my tractor with what I want... Tnt/toothbar/grapple... (that is if I can get it past the wife :shocked

PS. sorry about the pun on spelling... I once had -1 point for spelling data as "dada" since it was easier to "manually" type... in a scientific report without the use of spell checkers... I used the word 40 times... my mind "saw" dada but read it as data. Have not done that mistake ever again.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I've been kicking around a trade up, but the trade price is the biggest hang up. It ain't a couple K, it's a whole lot more. For me to go from the L3130 to the L3540 with cab it was over $15K difference. For 4 hp and a cab, I'm not willing to practically give away a low hour tractor to get a cab.