RCO or COLDWATER?

[houstonscott]

Maybe this youtube will give you idea of the type of place your USA Yanmar rebuilder might be getting units at and how they are packed. Notice Yanmar and Isike are more popular than Kubota.

ohohp.mpg - YouTube

 

[clemsonfor]

OH! OK... a good of an answer as I'll get I suppose

I have also been told by a vn dealer that thats how they come. My exhaust is still labeled ym2000/1700 from the assembly.

 

[clemsonfor]

Maybe this youtube will give you idea of the type of place your USA Yanmar rebuilder might be getting units at and how they are packed. Notice Yanmar and Isike are more popular than Kubota.

ohohp.mpg - YouTube

Its illegal to import a Grey Kubota into this country!

 

[houstonscott]

Its illegal to import a Grey Kubota into this country!

Kubota dealer may not like it, but it's not illegal. You may not use the word Kubota to re-sell them in a commercial venture, they might go after you, but to bring a Kubota into the US, is not illegal under US law.

HS

 

[runningbird]

you will never get a load of grey market Kubota's thru customs.

 

[houstonscott]

you will never get a load of grey market Kubota's thru customs.

The complainant (Kubota Tractor Corp.) alleged that certain trading companies were purchasing used Kubota tractors made for the Japanese market and then exporting them for sale in the United States. The administrative law judge held that in order to maintain a trademark-based action involving gray-market goods, the complainant must demonstrate "differences between the accused products and the authorized products [that] are material and thus sufficient to create confusion over the source of the product and hence to damage the markholder's goodwill."

In its opinion, the ITC adopted an expansive view of what constitutes a material difference. Determined at the time of importation, a material difference can be something as minimal as the absence of English-language labels on the imported products, even if the products are identical to their U.S. counterparts in all other respects.

With this decision, the ITC signaled its willingness to move decisively against the importation of gray-market products. The commission's resolve is evidenced by its issuance of a "general exclusion order" directing the Customs Service to prevent all gray-market Kubota tractors from entering the United States, rather than only those tractor models that the commission specifically found to be in violation of Section 337.

Is this what your talking about? This doesn't mean it is illegal. It only means the ITC has made a request to US Customs.

HS

 

[runningbird]

What I am saying is that it is my experience that 1) most reputable exporters in Japan will not send a Kubota to the US. 2) if you do get a load of Kubota's that they will be turned away at customs. and 3) most custom brokers will not help you with a Kubota.

This is just my personal experience. I have imported a few loads of Yanmars and had fun with it. I was told from multiple sources in Japan and the US that I could not get Kubota tractors. I inquired because I thought the name alone would make me some money.

 

[deepNdirt]

I'll ask my question in another more straight forward approach.....
Do the US dealers of these imported tractors start out as buying them as parts? Does this allow them to cut through the red tape of receiving imported gray tractors? and once they get through are they then simply reassembled to sell as tractors,
I have seen the video before on how they remove the wheels and pack them up in containers, But I have also seen containers unpacked with mostly disassembled tractors and parts, tractors that have been split in front and rear halves, plus the wheels,hoods,fenders and seats off of them, via" ( Parts)
just wondering if this is the way many gray imports are shipped?

 

[runningbird]

All the tractors I bought were in great shape! But I bought from a reputable exporter and I'm sure I paid more than some. Fenders, wheels,seats,steering wheels and other stuff were taken off. I could have sold any of my tractors right out of the container and been confident all was well. However my market would not bear that. I spent quite a bit of time on each tractor just checking things out and cleaning. Also painted quite a few. all in all it was a lot of fun and if the dollar to yen was still good I would still be at it. I did not make much money but it was a hobby that paid for itself and that's all I really wanted. And I do still have my FX28d that came to me with only 328 hours on it. I think I only bought two tractor with more than 1000 hours. Most had under 700.

I know there are some shady dealers out there that sell junk. In fact that is why I imported in the first place.

 

[YanmarFever]

All the tractors I bought were in great shape! But I bought from a reputable exporter and I'm sure I paid more than some. Fenders, wheels,seats,steering wheels and other stuff were taken off. I could have sold any of my tractors right out of the container and been confident all was well. However my market would not bear that. I spent quite a bit of time on each tractor just checking things out and cleaning. Also painted quite a few. all in all it was a lot of fun and if the dollar to yen was still good I would still be at it. I did not make much money but it was a hobby that paid for itself and that's all I really wanted. And I do still have my FX28d that came to me with only 328 hours on it. I think I only bought two tractor with more than 1000 hours. Most had under 700.

I know there are some shady dealers out there that sell junk. In fact that is why I imported in the first place.

Good for you ! There's nothing like getting around the system.
That's the same reason I got started too, back in the 90s.

We are waiting until the Yen gets better before we order again, its at 76 to the dollar today.

 

[runningbird]

Hi Ernie, I think you may quite a wait till thing get better with the dollar to yen. the best I found was about nine years ago, 134 to one. I sure miss cracking the container. It was always like Christmas, I hated to sell any of the tractors.

Oops looks like I've got off topic, Sorry

 

[houstonscott]

What I am saying is that it is my experience that 1) most reputable exporters in Japan will not send a Kubota to the US. 2) if you do get a load of Kubota's that they will be turned away at customs. and 3) most custom brokers will not help you with a Kubota.

This is just my personal experience. I have imported a few loads of Yanmars and had fun with it. I was told from multiple sources in Japan and the US that I could not get Kubota tractors. I inquired because I thought the name alone would make me some money.

I am disappointed Kubota would complain about grey market tractors and lobby US to stop them from being imported. I am for a free market. As long as the tractor is a true Kubota not a knock-off of some type masquerading as a Kubota I don't see and issue for Kubota. While it would make it hard for dealers to distinguish from authorized units under warranty, computers and VIN take care of that issue, it is 2011. As far as units that are decades old I see Kubota as way out of line trying to stop US importers from making a market rebuilding them and selling in USA. If Kubota were smart they would let that happen and supply parts for the rebuilds. Makes a little red flag for me to own a Kubota product in the future. Something about the way they do business and their arrogant attitude turn me off to Kubota. Reminds me of GM in the 70's, as LS, Kioti and now Yanmar start to cut into their market share, not with just lower prices but better tractors.

HS

 

[California]

It's not just Kubota.

I first heard about this re camera accessory lens filters. One US vendor was the 'authorized importer' and he got a Customs order and some other legal mechanism to block others from importing, advertising, selling that same brand, even used ones. He used that legal power to have Ebay remove auctions that he didn't authorize. Yanmar-USA did the same thing on Ebay.

You need enough lobbying power to get Congress to change the relevant statutes. Maybe buy a few senators. Or have one who you own, walk around the floor of Congress handing out your campaign contribution checks while a vote is being taken on your issue - as one very prominent Congressman was photographed doing.

Good luck with that. Kubota is just making use of existing US law.

 

[clemsonfor]

I am disappointed Kubota would complain about grey market tractors and lobby US to stop them from being imported. I am for a free market. As long as the tractor is a true Kubota not a knock-off of some type masquerading as a Kubota I don't see and issue for Kubota. While it would make it hard for dealers to distinguish from authorized units under warranty, computers and VIN take care of that issue, it is 2011. As far as units that are decades old I see Kubota as way out of line trying to stop US importers from making a market rebuilding them and selling in USA. If Kubota were smart they would let that happen and supply parts for the rebuilds. Makes a little red flag for me to own a Kubota product in the future. Something about the way they do business and their arrogant attitude turn me off to Kubota. Reminds me of GM in the 70's, as LS, Kioti and now Yanmar start to cut into their market share, not with just lower prices but better tractors.

HS

Yanmar USA dealers and Most John Deere dealers if told you have a Grey Yanmar wont want to help you i have heard. Never tried to buy parts from JD though as they are Way more than Hoye, im sure Yanmar is the same.

It more i think had to do with being sued by folks getting arms ripped off or crushed in a roll over as those overseas tractors did not have PTO sheilds or ROPS when new. Im thinkin its more of a part of distancing themselves from tractors that they di dnot sell in the first place.

I'm Not sure if it was Kubota or Yanmar whos widow sued? Im thinking yanmar, which is why the dealers wont touch a grey with a 10ft pole nor parts support. I think Kubota dealers were just scared thinking no one would buy new if used ones were flowing it at half the price and just as reliable that were 10 yrs old?

 

[YanmarFever]

Hi Ernie, I think you may quite a wait till thing get better with the dollar to yen. the best I found was about nine years ago, 134 to one. I sure miss cracking the container. It was always like Christmas, I hated to sell any of the tractors.

Oops looks like I've got off topic, Sorry

More like a pirate opening a treasure chest !!

Ohhh... I remember 134, those were the days !!

 

[silvertramp]

Yanmar USA dealers and Most John Deere dealers if told you have a Grey Yanmar wont want to help you i have heard. Never tried to buy parts from JD though as they are Way more than Hoye, im sure Yanmar is the same.

It more i think had to do with being sued by folks getting arms ripped off or crushed in a roll over as those overseas tractors did not have PTO sheilds or ROPS when new. Im thinkin its more of a part of distancing themselves from tractors that they di dnot sell in the first place.

I'm Not sure if it was Kubota or Yanmar whos widow sued? Im thinking yanmar, which is why the dealers wont touch a grey with a 10ft pole nor parts support. I think Kubota dealers were just scared thinking no one would buy new if used ones were flowing it at half the price and just as reliable that were 10 yrs old?

My JD dealer was quite helpful. I had a rusted out rear rim on my 276D. I couldn't find one anywhere. I saw a JD pic on the net. The rim looked like it might fit. I stopped in at the dealer & they pulled up the microfische. Yup, looked doable. The service manager even called a Yammie bone yard to confirm.
Nice folks. Sure got me out of a jam. I had called 2 Yanmar dealers & they told me nothing was available. They weren't interested in doing a cross reference.

 

[clemsonfor]

My JD dealer was quite helpful. I had a rusted out rear rim on my 276D. I couldn't find one anywhere. I saw a JD pic on the net. The rim looked like it might fit. I stopped in at the dealer & they pulled up the microfische. Yup, looked doable. The service manager even called a Yammie bone yard to confirm.
Nice folks. Sure got me out of a jam. I had called 2 Yanmar dealers & they told me nothing was available. They weren't interested in doing a cross reference.

Heres a instance where i just repeated what i heard. But there all different and yours worked with you.

Yanmar did not want to help you cause of your grey tractor. Im thinking Hoye has rims?

 

[California]

My JD dealer was quite helpful.

You sure had a better experience than I did.

The day I found my Yanmar, I located an Authorized Yanmar Parts dealer in the Yellow Pages who turned out to be the local Deere dealer. I phoned and they said sure, they still had all their Yanmar dealer service and flat-rate manuals and could fix anything that was over my head. So I bought the tractor. As it turned out it didn't need anything I couldn't tinker with myself.

Months later I stopped by to see if they sold an aftermarket seat for it. The service manager went nut on me. He couldn't believe there ever was a legitimate US Yanmar (even though that dealer may have sold this tractor originally) and wouldn't stop talking about how gray Yanmars owners kept bothering him about buying 'Deere' parts. He didn't want to help me; he just wanted to overwhelm me complaining what a nuisance these wannabe customers were. I walked out with him still ranting. We never did get to talking about an aftermarket seat. I haven't been back.

 

[clemsonfor]

You sure had a better experience than I did.

The day I found my Yanmar, I located an Authorized Yanmar Parts dealer in the Yellow Pages who turned out to be the local Deere dealer. I phoned and they said sure, they still had all their Yanmar dealer service and flat-rate manuals and could fix anything that was over my head. So I bought the tractor. As it turned out it didn't need anything I couldn't tinker with myself.

Months later I stopped by to see if they sold an aftermarket seat for it. The service manager went nut on me. He couldn't believe there ever was a legitimate US Yanmar (even though that dealer may have sold this tractor originally) and wouldn't stop talking about how gray Yanmars owners kept bothering him about buying 'Deere' parts. He didn't want to help me; he just wanted to overwhelm me complaining what a nuisance these wannabe customers were. I walked out with him still ranting. We never did get to talking about an aftermarket seat. I haven't been back.

Id have done the same. Id do more than you, id be posting their name on every website i was on and Calling the BBB about them.

This is not slander your voicing your true experience!!

 

[silvertramp]

Heres a instance where i just repeated what i heard. But there all different and yours worked with you.

Yanmar did not want to help you cause of your grey tractor. Im thinking Hoye has rims?

276D is an American spec tractor. I called 3 local dealers & 1 internet dealer. (Don't remember who) Aparently, Yanmar doesn't have that rim. Trying to find cross reference charts on the net was stinkin' impossible for me. I finally started looking at Deere pics on TractorData or some such. It's been awhile.
These guys were great: Sirum Equipment Co. Inc.
310 Federal St. (rte. 63)
Montague, MA. 01351
413-367-2481
Might as well give them an attaboy.