Branson brand to be discontinued?

[CloverKnollFarms]

On another forum, someone leaked a document, like a Q&A for dealers regarding the end of the Branson brand, to be replaced by TYM in full.

Now, I know how the internet is... but a dealer on that same forum would not dispute it as truth, and said only that they contractually cannot discuss this with customers at this time.

The post was removed, but not before some took screen shots of the document, which then prompted robust debate, and that is when someone known to be a dealer spoke up.

 

[K5lwq]

I hope not. That would go directly against everything they have said would be the case.

 

[TractorTYMe]

As a TYM owner I certainly hope this is NOT TRUE. Branson/Kukje machinery brought a lot of good to the organization. Stout tractors and awesome engines.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Several people have confirmed it to be true on that group. I don’t know that the tractors are going away, but they will be TYM branded... not Branson. I don’t think dealers are allowed to discuss sensitive dealer/corporate communications with customers.

 

[Cougsfan]

I think if they were to consolidate they would be further ahead to eliminate TYM and not Branson. Could be a name thing too. Maybe they will just rebadge Branson as TYM. The tractor business is constant evolving into something that it isn't today. In any case I am not worried about whatever happens and will pay little attention to web based speculation and rumors.

Maybe I will start a rumor that Jinma is taking over Kubota just to watch people fidget

 

[TJ73]

As long as we can get parts and warranty. What’s it really matter?

 

[TJ73]

But the Facebook pages have been going crazy this morning about it.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

They really have. I’m not sure it has much of a material impact. It could have an impact on used prices when that name goes away. I don’t think TYM will lack support for the Branson branded tractor. But I think buyer sentiment will be to shy away from something from a discontinued brand. I’ve looked at the TYM tractors, and like them, I just lacked a dealer... but I have a few current Branson dealers who will now probably become TYM.

 

[K5lwq]

I know my Branson dealer was a TYM dealer and dropped them for Branson some years back. I don’t know if he will be willing to pick back up the TYM line. I am still holding out hope that this is a rumor.

 

[ptsg]

Straight from a dealer on the same Facebook group:

"Here is the reality, the management was not planning on releasing the information yet because it was not due to be release until 4th quarter or 1st quarter next year. It is not clear how the information got out from those in the know. It wasn't bei g released because the plans ibviously were not finalized. The dealers, I am a dealer, were caught off guard. Certainly some panicked thinking they might lose their dealership. We dealers have invested heavily in the Branson name and product. We have been told that the Branson lineup and TYM lineup will remain but as of right now both under the TYM name. As in the same Branson Tractor will just have a TYM label on it but be the same tractor. The engines and loaders are currently shared. Not doubt at some point the lineup will be merged. Hopefully the management will look at sales numbers and keep the better selling models. The Branson dealers would like to keep the Branson name. This is not the first time this has happened when companies merge. Usually names are combined for a period of time. It is not clear yet whether TYM management will see the value in the Branson name. Certainly voicing your opinion in a civilized and respectful manner could be influential."

Someone decided to leak stuff they shouldn't that had really no concise info and now created an entire mess for no reason. We shall wait and see what this will bring.

I did read a month or two ago that Branson actually had a lot better sales than TYM, unfortunately, I can't find that article again to prove that. I think it was on one of those paid subscriptions websites like Ag Equipment Intelligence and somehow I managed to read it once?

 

[LouNY]

I would hate to see the Branson's get dropped but it wouldn't surprise me.
All the talk last year was about "new" 100+Hp coming out, nothing so far.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I would hate to see the Branson's get dropped but it wouldn't surprise me.
All the talk last year was about "new" 100+Hp coming out, nothing so far.

I remember my dealer talking to me about the "new" 100-110 hp tractor 5 years ago. I guess now it will have a "TYM" badge on the hood, if it ever comes to US. The discussion we had about it was they were having trouble adapting the tractor to the Tier IV emissions regs. Sounded like the tractor was "done", just trying to get it emissioned up so they could export it to US (and presumably Europe).

 

[5030]

A new Branson dealer just opened up, up town. Not my brand but I find this thread interesting.

 

[airbiscuit]

We had a local dealer that sold Farmtrac. When they dissolved (and became an orphan tractor), he was looking for a different brand to carry. He originally looked into TYM because he thought the tractors were good, but passed because he said their parts availability was bad. He ended up carrying Mahindra and seems happy with that decision. TYM recently bought out Branson (who bailed on Century and Montana [who bailed on Farmtrac] tractor brands).

I'm not saying they both go away. I'm just wondering if the mother ship (TYM) will keep 2 brands, 2 manufacturing facilities, 2 sets of overhead, etc. I don't think it will happen tomorrow, but I could see the following take place ...

Year
5...............................,,TYM and Branson
6 single brand....... TYM/Branson
7...................... TYM/Branson
8................ TYM/Branson
9........... TYM

Granted, this is pure speculation on my part, but this scenario is not so different from other companies being bought out. One would think that if this did happen, they would combine the best of both brands and continue parts support. I have seen company logos /brands follow that same path. If Branson (or TYM for that matter) are serious about their futures, they will amp up their parts availability, online parts look ups, etc. and get more dealers like Dave's Tractor.

Branson owners seem to like their tractors and that's cool. That said, there will be some irony if Branson becomes an orphan tractor after they made other brands orphans. I'm just saying that corporations do what corporations do.

Sep 30, 2018

 

[Torvy]

I could see them doing something in transition like calling them a TYM B4820. Or, maybe a Branson 4820, by TYM. I expect they will eventually get to the point that they have 2 lines within the TYM brand. I don't think the Branson tractor will go away, it will just have a new name. Ultimately, the brand will be stronger if it is one. I would personally like it if Big Tex carried both lines.

I had a 1980 Datsun 200SX. A few places on the badging would say "by Nissan". That was just a few years from Datsun disappearing as a brand. Nissan took over Dat before WWII.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Whichever way it goes, I just hope the dealer network gets a boost, and starts getting the support they need to survive.

Would also be nice if they did something professional with their website. It's always just been a mess.

 

[kantuckid]

Begs the answer to why they had both brand names to begin with? Not that I care if parts are good situ. Best if they don't mess over dealers of certain brands nor fail to respect brand retail coverage zones-which they have already done before anyway per a dealer conversation I had.

 

[Cougsfan]

Begs the answer to why they had both brand names to begin with?

I think that the line of current TYMs and current Bransons were developed prior to the consolidation. Up to and including the present they have operated as separate divisions sort of like Chevy and Buick. The question I don't know the answer to is would they sell more tractors and make more money as independent divisions, or would profits be higher if they merged together. Each path has advantages and disadvantages. I doubt if there is a clear cut answer.

 

[airbiscuit]

The question is, which color red will survive?

 

[kantuckid]

My point was to say that they won't sell more tractors if they continue to mess over certain TYM/Branson dealers with whom they have contracts for territorial sales areas. Allowing the "other brand" (of a same overall mfg of tractor) into an established dealers territory is not good business!
Like a couple other tractor brands some dealers may walk away if this continues, then we suffer too. It happened with Mahindra over warranty issues.
I don't pretend to know much inside stuff but heard enough to bring it up as a serious issue, and now the brands may be changing anyway.