Buying Advice Bobcat tractor's new "Orphan Brand" status.

[Gittyup]

I understand that BC tractors cost less to begin with and, therefore, have a lower resale value. And it's good to know some dealers still want to give fair market value. But it sure sounds like some dealers don't want anything to do with them, thereby negatively affecting demand and pushing the value down to lower than what it should be. BC should make deals play fair, I think.

 

[jonnyc1999]

I understand where Wallace is coming from, but I believe that what Gittyup reports is actually happening as well. My CT122 cost me roughly $13,000 one year ago, and the offer I was given a few weeks ago was less than $8k. My dealer has no problem selling their tractors, and in fact sell more CUT's than construction equip! It was such an insulting offer that my dealer didn't even want to tell me. He suggested I sell it on craigslist and wait until spring for the real sales!
I have no plans to give away my tractor, but I'd love to get a bigger model someday even if it is an "orphan" tractor.

 

[krazsk]

Jonnyc, do you think the difference to trade up is way different now than it would have been a couple of months ago before Bobcat decided to abandon CUTs? I don't know, I am just asking, but you can't expect to trade in on last year's retail price and buy at this year's wholesale closeout price. I heard from a Bobcat employee speculation that they are getting out of the tractor business was influenced by Kubota being mad about them entering the business. Kubota apparently supplies all the engines for their skid steers and threatened that supply and threatened to get into making skid steers, so Bobcat decided to get out of the tractor business, since it wasn't doing that well financially for it anyway.

 

[joshuabardwell]

The biggest problem, I think, is that you are competing with Bobcat dealers who are trying to clear inventory at dimes on the dollar. That, more than anything, is what is going to drive your resale down.

 

[kiotiken]

Ya,that's no good. After 1 year and 135 hours my dealer gave me 95% of what I paid

 

[EHR]

Kubota IS making skidsteers

 

[94BULLITT]

Kubota IS making skidsteers

and mini excavators.

 

[kiotiken]

Kubota IS making skidsteers

and mini excavators.

Yup, and Deere makes everything from dozers to excavators not to mention Case and New Holland. It's not that companies can't do well selling both, but Bobcat is known for making smaller construction equipment and skid steers in particular, not for tractors, and that's tough nut to crack. For the most part the other players seem to run them as separate companies. Around here anyway, you don't see construction equipment at the Deere dealership nor do I at the Case dealer I use frequently.

 

[qed-cat225]

Don't forget there also is a red version of this same tractor at McCormick, maybe check them out for a trade in as well.
McCormick X10 Tractor | Compact & Utility Tractor | Mccormick USA

 

[94BULLITT]

Yup, and Deere makes everything from dozers to excavators not to mention Case and New Holland. It's not that companies can't do well selling both, but Bobcat is known for making smaller construction equipment and skid steers in particular, not for tractors, and that's tough nut to crack. For the most part the other players seem to run them as separate companies. Around here anyway, you don't see construction equipment at the Deere dealership nor do I at the Case dealer I use frequently.

I would have thought the landscapers that use Bobcat skid steers would have got Bobcat tractors. I think the main problem was most of the dealers really did not want to sell them.

I think there is a difference between a Deere tractor and construction dealer and the same for NH and case. New holland has 2 separate websites.

 

[kiotiken]

...I think there is a difference between a Deere tractor and construction dealer and the same for NH and case. New holland has 2 separate websites.

That's my point, Bobcat dealers where asked to wear both hats and they didn't want to. There's certainly spill over from one business to the other, but each business type has to be self sufficient to make it work.

 

[94BULLITT]

That's my point, Bobcat dealers where asked to wear both hats and they didn't want to. There's certainly spill over from one business to the other, but each business type has to be self sufficient to make it work.

In some cases the dealers already sold a brand of tractor so they were not interested in brand.

 

[JJZ 109]

The Kubota dealer was just expressing concern that he would have to work harder and wait longer for a sale at a lower price as he likely will have to try to overcome a buyer's objections/concerns when considering an orphan brand purchase.

Was it the Kubota dealer just down the street from Bobcat of Watertown?
If so, I couldn't even get an email reply from them when looking to do something else with a tractor that I had purchased new from them 3 years earlier. You may be better off looking out of the area. It certainly worked out better for me to do so.
Or as others have said, you may be better off selling privately and making a new deal with some cash in hand.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Just some dealer perspective here...

Whenever we evaluate a trade, if its not a Kubota\NH\Case\Deere\Massy a salesmens automatic reaction is negative. Outside of those major brands there is much more risk involved in taking a trade. Remember, we're buying that tractor... we want things that will peak a customers interest and not throw red flags. We also don't want things where we have our own questions about quality and parts support. We can't sell something that's broke, and in a way we end up having to stand behind those tractors even though we would never sell them ourselves. When you don't have these things, you get people offering thousands of dollars off the asking price... at least at our store, we can't do that.

Personally, If I owned a Bobcat and was on the verge of wanting something else... I'd be doing a private party sale right now.

 

[krazsk]

I see we have a difference of perspectives here. Messick sells Boomers and thinks Bobcats are a bad deal and Wallace sells Bobcats and believes that his customers are getting good value. I really have no idea, but I would guess these days you could buy a 35 horsepower Bobcat tractor and loader for something like $12,000 less than a "similar" Boomer. While the resale or trade of the Bobcat will certainly be less than the Boomer, I wonder if it will ever be much more than the $12,000 less that you paid for it initially.

If people really believe I am totally wrong, please help me and tell me before I buy a new closeout Bobcat CT235 with a loader for $14,000.

 

[Gittyup]

A newly built BobCat store just opened down the road from me. He has at least one CT235 and one CT122 that I can see as I drive by. It's a new store for a local dealer that has others. Isn't clear whether this is truly new stock or stock moved from another store. Might walk in there one day and talk to them about the tractors and see if I can get a new tie rod for my Kioti.

$14K for a new 35 HP tractor with loader is an awesome deal. Just make sure you plan to keep it for several years.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Dealers are in business to make money...
They will usually low-ball on the trade in value...
You can always do better selling to a private individual...
The biggest issue is finding financing because most buyers do not have cash on hand...
Personally, I would either list on Carigslist or trade in at another Bobcat dealers...
You need to decide what you want for it first...
With zero financing offered by many companies used tractor sales for almost new units are difficult...

 

[Pierrepont]

I think some Bobcat dealers know it's time to move them out. Last week a dealer out west listed a new CT230 for $12,900.

I've got a private sale pending at $9,500. (18 months old with 67 hours). I'm praying it comes together as my best dealer trade-in offer was $8,000.

I've decided to take the hit now and move-up to one of the major brands.

 

[kiotiken]

I think some Bobcat dealers know it's time to move them out. Last week a dealer out west listed a new CT230 for $12,900.

I've got a private sale pending at $9,500. (18 months old with 67 hours). I'm praying it comes together as my best dealer trade-in offer was $8,000.

I've decided to take the hit now and move-up to one of the major brands.

To each their own and I hope it works out for you. I disagree that moving to a major brand is moving up though, unless you spend 3 times as much, it'll be quite the opposite.

 

[94BULLITT]

I think some Bobcat dealers know it's time to move them out. Last week a dealer out west listed a new CT230 for $12,900.

I've got a private sale pending at $9,500. (18 months old with 67 hours). I'm praying it comes together as my best dealer trade-in offer was $8,000.

I've decided to take the hit now and move-up to one of the major brands.

Holy cow that is cheap, you could not buy a used bx for that.