Never buy a Korean Tractor!! Especially LS or whatever their name is this year.

[PCABE5]

My dealer had told me LS was expanding..... that was last October.

That would make sense. It's a $30B dollar company with growing sales so I see expansion not reduction. With only being in the US 10 years, as LS, they have done well. Maybe it will grow into more of a production facility vs just assembly.

 

[fried1765]

That would make sense. It's a $30B dollar company with growing sales so I see expansion not reduction. With only being in the US 10 years, as LS, they have done well. Maybe it will grow into more of a production facility vs just assembly.

"production facility vs just assembly"
Yah really think so?
Korean (production labor) is probably 40% less than US labor.
Who is willing to pay 40% more for the labor in a Branson tractor?

 

[PCABE5]

Yah really think so?

Don't know, that's why I said maybe. We'll all have to wait and see what they do in the future.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

The discussion that I had with the dealer started out talking about parts. That was where they were definitely making an expansion, increasing the distribution of parts availability. They also "divided" the parts department.... one section specifically designed to ship parts to dealers when they do their monthly orders. Those parts would cost less than specifically ordering a part and having it shipped "special" (the other side of the parts department).

For example: I wanted to purchase a BH thumb. If I just 'ordered' it, it would cost $425. If I waited and just had my dealer put it on his order sheet, then wait for his next 'dealer' delivery, it only cost me $300. That was a no brainer.... I waited a big 3 weeks. I didn't need it right away.

They were supposedly doubling the parts department size, keeping more of the common needed parts in stock.

Another "big surprise" was the actual reduction in price of the parts. Last time I ordered all the filters, the 'genuine LS' filters were less cost than aftermarket filters..... so, I'll stick with the LS filters. My last order was about 20% less for the LS filters than the previous order.

 

[fried1765]

The discussion that I had with the dealer started out talking about parts. That was where they were definitely making an expansion, increasing the distribution of parts availability. They also "divided" the parts department.... one section specifically designed to ship parts to dealers when they do their monthly orders. Those parts would cost less than specifically ordering a part and having it shipped "special" (the other side of the parts department).

For example: I wanted to purchase a BH thumb. If I just 'ordered' it, it would cost $425. If I waited and just had my dealer put it on his order sheet, then wait for his next 'dealer' delivery, it only cost me $300. That was a no brainer.... I waited a big 3 weeks. I didn't need it right away.

They were supposedly doubling the parts department size, keeping more of the common needed parts in stock.

Another "big surprise" was the actual reduction in price of the parts. Last time I ordered all the filters, the 'genuine LS' filters were less cost than aftermarket filters..... so, I'll stick with the LS filters. My last order was about 20% less for the LS filters than the previous order.

I like many Korean things!
Especially ....... my adorable 40 ish female Korean Rheumatologist!

 

[Bearsixty7]

The discussion that I had with the dealer started out talking about parts. That was where they were definitely making an expansion, increasing the distribution of parts availability. They also "divided" the parts department.... one section specifically designed to ship parts to dealers when they do their monthly orders. Those parts would cost less than specifically ordering a part and having it shipped "special" (the other side of the parts department).

For example: I wanted to purchase a BH thumb. If I just 'ordered' it, it would cost $425. If I waited and just had my dealer put it on his order sheet, then wait for his next 'dealer' delivery, it only cost me $300. That was a no brainer.... I waited a big 3 weeks. I didn't need it right away.

They were supposedly doubling the parts department size, keeping more of the common needed parts in stock.

Another "big surprise" was the actual reduction in price of the parts. Last time I ordered all the filters, the 'genuine LS' filters were less cost than aftermarket filters..... so, I'll stick with the LS filters. My last order was about 20% less for the LS filters than the previous order.

Now that is all good news! Hopefully it all happens.

 

[shooterdon]

I doubt LS is not going anywhere but up.

One reason I bought one is they also build many of the New Holland offerings.

Only 150 hrs on mine so too early to tell if it as good as 10 year old Kubota I could have got for the same $$. But the minor stuff has been handled very well by the dealer.

 

[Username Taken]

"production facility vs just assembly"
Yah really think so?
Korean (production labor) is probably 40% less than US labor.
Who is willing to pay 40% more for the labor in a Branson tractor?

Labor costs aren't what you think. Nowhere near what you think. If you believe the propaganda put out by the UAW and propagated through the media, shame on you.

Know how many Man-Hours it takes to build the average car in the US?? 21.13 in 2007. https://www.autonews.com/assets/PDF/CA2018861.PDF
Are tractors any worse?? Seriously doubt it.

Even if, and that's a big 'if' Korean labor cost is 40% less than American (doubtful) think about this......

They have to import their steel. Unless they just discovered iron ore somewhere south of Seoul. Our Iron ore comes mosty from Minnesota, a short freight train ride away, and into Cleveland, Gary, Pittsburgh..... (remember the big run on junk cars? It was China buying up the steel)

Then, once they've imported all the raw materials and most of the finished products, they have to ship it to us when they're done with it. Not cheap.

There are three reasons why automobile production left the USA.

They are:
U
A, and
W

Factories, OEM types, can put up with higher labor costs. Doesn't really bother them. In fact, if you take a nominal hourly American Wage (and benefits) of $50 an hour and cut that by 40%, we're talking about a huge, gigantic, massive savings of --

Just over $400 US. Wowee-zowee, batfink. Wonder how much it costs to put that thing on a ship and sail it 6,000 miles to kaliforny?? Or 11,000 miles to Columbia, SC?

What US Factories can NOT put up with is -- Shut Downs. And the UAW LOVES to shut factories down. Not the UAW, but remember Carrier? Or even worse, Hostess?

But if you choose to get your information from Rachel Madcow and Don Lee-Mon, go right ahead and believe it. Your choice.

But it's not true. Not a word of it is true.

Labor costs have next to nothing to do with competitive pricing on vehicles. Just ask the Germans, who are more productive and get paid WAY (double, in fact) more than Americans.

Deere survives because -- Well, let's not get into that. But they're a well-run organization without a lot of competition

 

[PCABE5]

Good points. I seem to remember GM at one point was paying more for retired workers than current wages. That was UAW that drove that ship to ground.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Number one problems, humans just can't be honest. Many don't even recognise this fact. They are also never happy, and are rarely objective about what they are worth.

I think a large company could be doing well in all regards and then the union wants more, or the sharholders want more. That's the beginning of the end.