Tractor News Cabelas has tractors!!??

[dave1949]

I understand that folks will want to predict whether or not Cabela's will be successful in this business or whether or not they will continue to have a partnership with Tong Yang Moolsan in five, ten, or twenty years. I'd ask if New Holland will continue buying tractors from LS, or will CaseIH, or will Massey-Ferguson (AGCO) buy tractors from Iseki, or will Mahindra buy their 10 series from Tong Yang forever? Today, Cabela's buys tractors from Tong Yang and implements from Woods Equipment, and tires & wheels from Titan. Those are partnerships that are second to none, and the expectation is that they will be long-lasting and prosperous for Cabela's, their partners and their customers. Cabela's is not TSC, or Sears, or Walmart or like any other retail company. When they get into new business, they do it after careful consideration of the long term implications. I would suggest that tractorbynet members understand that many tractor dealers in fact take on and then drop brands for a variety of reasons, but mostly because they do not achieve success in selling the product, or the manufacturer does not provide adequate support in the way of parts and service. Cabela's will be successful, they will maintain their partnerships, and they will take care of their customers in the same way that they have for 53 years.

That's exactly the kind of history consumers need to be aware of, that is my point. You are trying to manage expectations. Consumers need to have realistic expectations no matter where they choose to spend their money.


"Those are partnerships that are second to none, and the expectation is that they will be long-lasting and prosperous for Cabela's, their partners and their customers."

I'm sorry, but this is salesman happy talk, just like saying it's amazing that Cabela's CEO bought a TYM tractor. You are probably alienating more people here with those sorts of statements than convincing them. I don't think you joined TBN to alienate folks.

 

[The Tractor Guy]

FatTire-very sharp observation

 

[Wheresmy]

The sales rep I spoke with said they would be adding a 25-29 HP model in 4th quarter this year as well as a 70 HP model. He was not specific on which 25-29 HP model they would be adding however.

 

[The Tractor Guy]

Dave, the comment about the Cabela's Chairman was not about him buying a tractor. It was about the founder of a company still running it after 53 years. That should impress anyone, particularly in this day and age.

 

[dave1949]

Dave, the comment about the Cabela's Chairman was not about him buying a tractor. It was about the founder of a company still running it after 53 years. That should impress anyone, particularly in this day and age.

7. As far as whether offering compact tractor and implements fits the Cabela's brand; consider this. The Rural Lifestyler that buys and uses compact tractors is the very customer that lives the outfoor lifestyle that Cabela's has served for over 50 years. From selling trout flies through the mail during their humble beginnings in Western Nebraska, to having over 50 locations now open in North America, with another 23 under construction, Dick, Mary and Jim Cabela have always had a sense for finding new ways to serve their customers. Though Dick passed away just last month, Mary and Jim are not only still with us, Jim is the Cabela's Chairman of the Board. He was also amongst the first to buy a Cabela's tractor. Pretty amazing stuff when you think about it.

You were saying it was amazing he is the founding Chairman and he bought a tractor--is certainly the way I read it.

 

[fieldman12]

I liked what the guy from Cabela's on here said about there new line of tractors. It was very informative, and well said. I did go to Cabela's website and took a look at where all the Cabela retail stores are through out the USA. Even though they have many stores I honestly don't see them out selling other brands especially any time soon because allot of areas there is not a store close by. For example we will take Ohio. There is only one store listed for Ohio. Even though Cabela is a well known store I think they have there work cut out for them in the tractor line. I read some where one time that in the USA alone there has been well over 150 tractor manufactures and as you know we are down to what we have now. In the USA the main brands are Case IH/New Holland, Agco, & John Deere. Probably the biggest foreign outfits to sell well in the US under there on name and not rebadged would be Kubota,Kioti. There are many other foreign brands that are good such as Yanmar and so on but they seemed to sell much better under other names. I wish Cabela the best and I am sure they will sell some machines the question is will it be enough to continue selling tractors in three to five years. In smaller tractors people do not seem as loyal to brand name as much but I can tell you on the big AG side those guys are loyal and some of those do buy smaller tractors. It will be hard to break through to those guys. It can be done though because I know die hard Case IH and John Deere guys that will have a small Kubota in the barn. I know there trying to focus on the Wildlife side which is different than the route all the other tractor manufactures done but I still dont see it being tha huge. I guess for them to be successful in my mind they would have to be cheaper than about all the compatition and very reliable to get going really well in the tractor world. That I find hard to do especially when they have to have the tractor purchased through another company.

 

[Wheresmy]

I read (paraphrased) "A 50 plus year history that started from selling trout flies and has expanded to 50 locations with 23 more under construction" as what is Amazing. I happen to agree that it is pretty amazing to have started a business so long ago and keep it successful to this day.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Cabelas doesn't have to.put anybody out of business make it sucessful. Let's all just see what happens rather than try to predict their fate.

 

[The Tractor Guy]

I'm sorry, but this is salesman happy talk, just like saying it's amazing that Cabela's CEO bought a TYM tractor. You are probably alienating more people here with those sorts of statements than convincing them. I don't think you joined TBN to alienate folks.

I appreciate your conclusion that I am alienating TBN members by simply presenting information about Cabela's Wildlife & Land Management business, but consider that I first identified myself as being affiliated with Cabela's, I provided useful information that answered questions that many TBN members had about the topic and shared a perspective developed through 20 years of experience in the tractor industry, including having served as the leader of a well known, but now competitive brand. While my identity as The Tractor Guy is new, I have been contributing to TBN under another identity for many years, but can no longer use now that I have a new role. TBN members and guests are interested in facts, and opinions from those that know tractors. In that instance, I will always strive to provide only facts, be open about my affiliations, and be polite and helpful to all members.

 

[murphy1244]

I appreciate your conclusion that I am alienating TBN members by simply presenting information about Cabela's Wildlife & Land Management business, but consider that I first identified myself as being affiliated with Cabela's, I provided useful information that answered questions that many TBN members had about the topic and shared a perspective developed through 20 years of experience in the tractor industry, including having served as the leader of a well known, but now competitive brand. While my identity as The Tractor Guy is new, I have been contributing to TBN under another identity for many years, but can no longer use now that I have a new role. TBN members and guests are interested in facts, and opinions from those that know tractors. In that instance, I will always strive to provide only facts, be open about my affiliations, and be polite and helpful to all members.

That's all what we can ask of you. Don't get high faluting like the JD crowd.:laughing:

 

[Hiltz]

I appreciate your conclusion that I am alienating TBN members by simply presenting information about Cabela's Wildlife & Land Management business, but consider that I first identified myself as being affiliated with Cabela's, I provided useful information that answered questions that many TBN members had about the topic and shared a perspective developed through 20 years of experience in the tractor industry, including having served as the leader of a well known, but now competitive brand. While my identity as The Tractor Guy is new, I have been contributing to TBN under another identity for many years, but can no longer use now that I have a new role. TBN members and guests are interested in facts, and opinions from those that know tractors. In that instance, I will always strive to provide only facts, be open about my affiliations, and be polite and helpful to all members.

I think a lot of people appreciate you coming here and giving your honest insight. I hope Cabellas sells lots of tractors.

 

[Camastown]

I don't think cabelas is going after all corners of the market. I would say they are , or should I say, not going after any market. My guess if cabelas is a family run business they are putting out a product line that they feel will represent their company. Like the gun safes. They don't make guns safes, but they find the best safes for the customer they serve. You will see high end expensive gun safes for people with a high end budget and safes that are imported to sell to a customer on a tight budget. But they are all great gun safes. And if there is a problem they will take care of the customer. When I went in to look at the tractors I told the salesman I just purchased my Branson. He did not blow me off. He spent about 20 minutes with me to tell me about his product. He was a former salesman for kubota, about ten years he said. He told me that cabelas was committed to do it right. I would guess that cabelas is excited to sell tractors to their existing customer base and if other people are drawn to them that's a bonus. Yes the prices are a bit higher but there is a huge amount of people with the extra money to spend if they know that there is someone to back them up. A perfect example is my brother that bought a TYM because he was on a tight budget . Then my other brother that has deep pockets, he bought a kubota and paid 3-4k more because of the name and the customer service. So don't try to tell me that cabelas can't be successful when kubota does it day after day for the last 20 years. And if I had the deep pockets I may have bought a john deere and not because they are a better tractor, and not because they are made in the USA, because they are not. I would buy one because of the outstanding reputation that backs them up. Look at McDonalds. Don't tell me they are the biggest because they have great food. I don't go to my tire store because of the prices , I go to them because they have outstanding customer service. I can give you tons of examples where price doesn't matter. In my business I don't go after the volume sales. In fact my prices for my shower doors are usually higher. I know my prices are higher because my customers tell me this after I sold them the shower door. They use me because of my outstanding reputation and because they tell me that I seem to know what I am talking about. I have seen many people in my business come and go and they are the ones that can out sell me in volume 10 to 1. Folks cabelas is not looking to sell millions of tractors , They are looking to fill a need that they feel that their customer may have. They are not going to be the typical tractor dealer that will take your old tractor as a trade in. They are not going to have old worn out tractors and implement scattered all over the parking lot. They are going to use the same business model they have been using for many years that have made them who they are. By the way tractor guy, I will be retiring in 5 years and I may hit you up for a job selling tractors

 

[fieldman12]

I don't think cabelas is going after all corners of the market. I would say they are , or should I say, not going after any market. My guess if cabelas is a family run business they are putting out a product line that they feel will represent their company. Like the gun safes. They don't make guns safes, but they find the best safes for the customer they serve. You will see high end expensive gun safes for people with a high end budget and safes that are imported to sell to a customer on a tight budget. But they are all great gun safes. And if there is a problem they will take care of the customer. When I went in to look at the tractors I told the salesman I just purchased my Branson. He did not blow me off. He spent about 20 minutes with me to tell me about his product. He was a former salesman for kubota, about ten years he said. He told me that cabelas was committed to do it right. I would guess that cabelas is excited to sell tractors to their existing customer base and if other people are drawn to them that's a bonus. Yes the prices are a bit higher but there is a huge amount of people with the extra money to spend if they know that there is someone to back them up. A perfect example is my brother that bought a TYM because he was on a tight budget . Then my other brother that has deep pockets, he bought a kubota and paid 3-4k more because of the name and the customer service. So don't try to tell me that cabelas can't be successful when kubota does it day after day for the last 20 years. And if I had the deep pockets I may have bought a john deere and not because they are a better tractor, and not because they are made in the USA, because they are not. I would buy one because of the outstanding reputation that backs them up. Look at McDonalds. Don't tell me they are the biggest because they have great food. I don't go to my tire store because of the prices , I go to them because they have outstanding customer service. I can give you tons of examples where price doesn't matter. In my business I don't go after the volume sales. In fact my prices for my shower doors are usually higher. I know my prices are higher because my customers tell me this after I sold them the shower door. They use me because of my outstanding reputation and because they tell me that I seem to know what I am talking about. I have seen many people in my business come and go and they are the ones that can out sell me in volume 10 to 1. Folks cabelas is not looking to sell millions of tractors , They are looking to fill a need that they feel that their customer may have. They are not going to be the typical tractor dealer that will take your old tractor as a trade in. They are not going to have old worn out tractors and implement scattered all over the parking lot. They are going to use the same business model they have been using for many years that have made them who they are. By the way tractor guy, I will be retiring in 5 years and I may hit you up for a job selling tractors

I agree Cabela's don't expect to be the top dog of sales. There main focus is there corner of the market. Everyone talks here about Service which is a key point. Like I mentioned before there is many parts of the USA with just one or no dealer. There has been tractor brands with a dealer network fail much bigger than that with an old tractor name In my opinion it would take a much bigger dealer and service base to be too effective.I wish them the best though.

 

[Code54]

The Tractor Guy - great post and thank you for providing additional information.

 

[The Tractor Guy]

The CT Cabelas has an evil donut man, too. I managed to walk past him on the way into the store without stopping. While inside the store, I could smell the donut aroma coming in through the HVAC. Temptation was too much for me and I got in my car with a dozen warm ones in a bag. Had a few left when I pulled in my driveway. Doh!

While I was there, I noticed a bunch of the tractors around the back of the building on funky, narrow steel wheels - wished I had a camera with me. They looked really bizarre-o.

The steel wheels go on all Cab tractors when they leave the manufacturing plant. The tractors are driven into and out of the containers. Once at the store, the Titan Tires and Wheels are mounted, the steel wheels are scrapped. This is very common.

 

[The Tractor Guy]

Thanks for the nice photos. On the TYM models in the same size they all have tilt steering. If these have it there will be a short red lever under the steering wheel boot area. The loaders and equipment are made by Woods.

All of the Cabela's tractors have tilt steering wheels. And yes, all Cabela's attachments and implements with the exception of the boomless sprayer and the spreader are made by Woods Equipment at their Oregon IL manufacturing plant. That is certainly a key differentiator to a TYM tractor/implement package, as well as all Cabela's ROPS tractors come with heavy duty sunshades standard, and the tires & wheels are from Titan, whereas the TYM tires are Chinese. Service, however, is where Cabela's will be stongest. If you break down, they will have a tech on your property with the tools and parts needed to solve the problem. Customer service is what made the company, tractors will be no different, it just presents another opportunity to stand out.

 

[The Tractor Guy]

The Tractor Guy - great post and thank you for providing additional information.

Thank you for the kind words, appreciate that.

 

[grsthegreat]

Dave, the comment about the Cabela's Chairman was not about him buying a tractor. It was about the founder of a company still running it after 53 years. That should impress anyone, particularly in this day and age.

well yes and no. the original owners actually only have a 25% share of the business. its a public traded company now days.

Dont get me wrong, i like the stores. but ive seen better prices

 

[The Tractor Guy]

well yes and no. the original owners actually only have a 25% share of the business. its a public traded company now days.

Dont get me wrong, i like the stores. but ive seen better prices

Don't mean to split hairs, but I didn't say they still owned Cabela's , I said still running it. Jim Cabela is the Chairman of the Board, though in fact they are the largest single shareholders.