buying online

[bazman82]

How many of you guys have (or know of someone that has) bought a low hour used tractor online from a dealership without seeing it in person? I see quite a few, what look to be decent buys for my price range (est. shipping included) compared to what I have available locally but are 400+ miles away. Did you request current videos of the tractor running? etc etc..I am curious to see how the end results were for some folks..

 

[Shaneard]

Another option you have is to find a member on here in that area to possibly go check out a tractor in person for you. That way you have an opinion other than the person selling it.

 

[Cat_Driver]

I've done it three times.
1- Kubota tractor from South Carolina I was in California. Bought it used it for 5 years and sold it for more than I paid for it.
2- CAT Skid Steer from and Auction in Virginia I was in California. Bought it used it for 10 years and sold it for what I paid for it 10 years later.
3- Current 2006 Kubota 4060 from Colorado paid 10K less than local for the same tractor I'm in California. Still using it every day.

The key for me is buying equipment at a a great price and factoring in the worst case scenario. With video over the internet you can hear the engines run and watch the operation on line. Having said that people can and will scam you.

It's ALWAYS best to see it, but there are plenty of times you can't and have to go with your gut and who you are dealing with. All three of my deals were from dealers. Not that that stops them from scamming me but all three worked out and I drove two tractors for 15 years and it didn't cost me a dime for purchasing them .

I'm planning os selling the one I own now for what I paid it when it's time to go.

 

[bazman82]

I have thought of that option as well, but if I could get a video and such from the dealer then that would be good too plus I'd prefer not to bother folks that I don't know to check out something that I would be interested in buying. I assume most people that know about tractors prob. don't have the time to waste either.

 

[bazman82]

I've done it three times.
1- Kubota tractor from South Carolina I was in California. Bought it used it for 5 years and sold it for more than I paid for it.
2- CAT Skid Steer from and Auction in Virginia I was in California. Bought it used it for 10 years and sold it for what I paid for it 10 years later.
3- Current 2006 Kubota 4060 from Colorado paid 10K less than local for the same tractor I'm in California. Still using it every day.

The key for me is buying equipment at a a great price and factoring in the worst case scenario. With video over the internet you can hear the engines run and watch the operation on line. Having said that people can and will scam you.

It's ALWAYS best to see it, but there are plenty of times you can't and have to go with your gut and who you are dealing with. All three of my deals were from dealers. Not that that stops them from scamming me but all three worked out and I drove two tractors for 15 years and it didn't cost me a dime for purchasing them .

I'm planning os selling the one I own now for what I paid it when it's time to go.

That's some distance for shipping costs. May I ask roughly what that ran you per mile?

http://www.requipment.com/inventory...&pcid=2941712&ftr=1&lo=3&title=40+HP+to+99+HP

Is the main one that has caught my interest. I posted in another thread about a 2012 TD5050 that would be about 250 miles closer than this tractor but the dealer is asking for 25,500. To me the 2 are basically the same size but this 2008 is in better shape from looks alone. I have bid on quite a few tractors at auctions and your limited at operating them there so it wouldn't be much different than watching to a video.

212 New Holland Workmaster 75 - Utility Tractors - SOMERSET, PA

This is another I found that I would consider and is quite a bit closer.

 

[dfkrug]

How many of you guys have (or know of someone that has) bought a low hour used tractor online from a dealership without seeing it in person?

I have bought and sold several cars, 2 tractors, and one mini excavator online.

That said, I recommend that you PAY a local inspector to go look at what you want to buy. I have done that once, and it was only $100, plus I got immediate pix and opinions. The inspector had no incentive to spin the report in either direction. To find an inspector, it will not be easy if too far from a city, but I suggest Craigslist Services, or YourMechanic.com. It makes sense if what you are buying is over a few thousand $.

I have also paid inspectors for cars, and it is a mistake to use those with the wrong incentives. e.g. if you use a dealer, they will want to sell services, so will bad-mouth a vehicle or tractor.

I was going to buy a mini-X last year, and I found 2 that I would have made bids on, long distance. They were both at dealers, and neither would give me the time to do my paid inspection. Moral: if you sell your large and expensive item online nationally, you should allow time for your non-local buyer to inspect.

 

[nards444]

Ive done this before. Video is a plus. Second I would pay a few bucks and get a neutral inspector dont ask the seller for any suggestion either.

 

[TractorGuy]

Bought both of my current tractors online. Got both of them cheap enough to make it worth while.

The guy I bought my backhoe from lied about everything. It's been a learning experience but I have cleared a few acres with it. Hoping to get my money back when I'm done.

The JD had a video so I at least knew it ran . It was a little more scruffy looking when I picked it up but it has cleaned up well and has no mechanical problems. Not counting my labor I am in it for about 5 grand less than I see the same tractor advertised for.

 

[BoylermanCT]

I bought my tractor sight unseen 6 hours away in Lancaster PA. Was sold in an auction to a dealer in Virginia, so I contacted them about the price and they said they were picking it up in PA to take home to VA at noon on a certain day, and if I met them there I could buy it and take it home. If I didn't like it, they would haul it to VA. I brought my BIL who is a part time mechanic and he gave it an inspection when we got there and it checked out. Worked out for me, it has been a great tractor.

 

[Cat_Driver]

That's some distance for shipping costs. May I ask roughly what that ran you per mile?

http://www.requipment.com/inventory...&pcid=2941712&ftr=1&lo=3&title=40+HP+to+99+HP

Is the main one that has caught my interest. I posted in another thread about a 2012 TD5050 that would be about 250 miles closer than this tractor but the dealer is asking for 25,500. To me the 2 are basically the same size but this 2008 is in better shape from looks alone. I have bid on quite a few tractors at auctions and your limited at operating them there so it wouldn't be much different than watching to a video.

212 New Holland Workmaster 75 - Utility Tractors - SOMERSET, PA

This is another I found that I would consider and is quite a bit closer.

From memory on shipping I usually budget around $1,000.00 for delivery give or take a couple of hundred. I usually contract my own shipping and they usually have multiple loads when they deliver to me. A few months ago I purchased a large military generator and 10 ton ac combo from Utah, cost me $800.00 to have that delivered. Cheaper than me driving there and back.

In each case I usually save between $8,000 and $10,000 in price and the big savings is no state tax which is actually more than I pay for shipping so its a wash.

I purchased a new tractor from a dealer in SC in the early 80's when the Internet was just beginning and digital cameras were 1 pixel. The dealer was amazing. Te texted me every day and sent photos of the progress of my tractor with the additions I ordered. At the time I couldn't figure out how the dealer was able to send REL TIME photos so quickly...remember they were still developing photos with chemicals at the time.