Chinese tractors at Wal-Mart? Not yet, but …

CarlGlas · Jan 6, 2006

Interesting story I thought I would share.

It hasn't happened yet, but just imagine hearing this announcement on your next visit to Wal-Mart: "Tractors are on sale in the Outdoor Section of the store and prices are getting slashed 30% for the next two hours. Don't miss this great opportunity!"

Right now, I am just having some fun, but the fun--and a little warning--is aimed at the tractor industry, because a lot is happening in the tractor business that people don't seem to know about.

North American Tractor sales are close to 250,000 units annually and most of the big players like John Deere, CNH, Kubota and AGCO are steaming along making tons of money. But the fact is tractors are also coming here by the thousands from China.

More: http://tinyurl.com/b7l2q

riptides · Jan 6, 2006

As long as they have a quality, serviceable product with the features people need, I say good luck to them.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

hobbyfarm · Jan 6, 2006

Yep,
I also saw the article in Diesel Progress magazine.
Some day Chinese stuff will be where the Japanese stuff is now - quality wise. Korean products are getting close already.

If you remember back in the '60s those Japanese motorcycles were very junky and cheaply made. You remove a fastener from the case a couple of times and it was junk. Either the threads were ate up or the head was useless. Not anymore.
The Chinese products not long ago were very similar - with cheap fasteners. Non-SAE spec nut and washer sizes. (You got to use those almost useless 13mm, etc and all the other oddball sizes of sockets and wrenches that until now were still new)
A couple of years ago, we were at some type of liquidator business and we bought some "Walking Rooster" Chinese sandpaper. It was very cheap - like 2.50/100 pack. That was some of the best sandpaper I've ever used. Easily rivaled the 3M and Norton paper - for like 1/20 the price.
I just don't think I'm ready to trust expensive Chinese (not much more than power tools) stuff yet.
China - its not just fireworks anymore /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Spiffy · Jan 6, 2006

Actually, I find it downright scary. If anybody thinks that cheap products can become high quality and remain cheap, there are some flaws: Materials are the other part of the equation in making a price target. Also, if using Japan as a comparison, it's the perfect example that cheap labor doesn't stay cheap if quality follows.

Going by the adage of "I learned everything I needed to know in life in kindergarten": sooner or later "Pop Goes the Weasel!" /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

TresCrows · Jan 6, 2006

Our local Atwoods has been selling the Chinese tractors. I have to tell you the pricing is very competitve. The tractors themselves are rough--rough around the edges. The cowling for example was fiberglass and full of pin holes and patches and roughly sanded areas. The things look fairly sturdy and probably function quite well considering the price. For a disposable piece of equipment they might be fine. These tractors are years behind Kubota, Deere and so on in terms of fit, finsh, quality and functionality/ergonomics etc.
If a big chainstore importer with deep pockets were to speciifically place an order for such tractors and put certain quality standards and demand higher fit and finsih and develop a parts network I could see it being a threat to at least low end sells from established brands.
They are really pretty junky, my surprise at them was however that they were not totally junky--lol. J

ejtaylor822 · Jan 6, 2006

Hey, if Wal-Mart starts selling them do you think they will still be on the pallet and you will have to pay $30 to have some high school kid put it together??? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Just kidding and don't mean to offend anyone - I have a Jinma that I am really enjoying and meets my needs. I just couldn't resist and still have bad memories of spending an entire summer at a retail store doing nothing but putting grills and patio furniture together.

hobbyfarm · Jan 6, 2006

( ...I find it downright scary. If anybody thinks that cheap products can become high quality and remain cheap...)

Oh yeah!
I agree, I do find it scary! After all, we are building a communist country (with plenty of ordinance pointed our way) with our dollars daily. And most people don't see a problem with that. To me that is very scary. It is almost like we've accepted their way of life (communism) to the point of investment in it.
Don't get me wrong about the Chinese. They will get there quality wise. And, no, it won't be cheap Chinese stuff then. Of course, by then -
The Taiwan products and the Korean products will be where the Japanese products are now in quality. And the Japanese products will be way too much for the average Joe to buy; that is, unless they outsource to China as well. And they are already doing just that. (for instance, you know those nice, cheap, smooth-running Hitachi power tools at Lowe's, they are from China! I have not seen any Japanese Hitachi tools in 10 years)
But, I see the Japanese outfits always trailing the top European brands.

Jstpssng · Jan 6, 2006

( we are building a communist country (with plenty of ordinance pointed our way) with our dollars daily. )
You mean I'm not the only one who sees that? Unlike China, Japan knows we are important to thier economy. Even more scary is that China has the natural resources and cheap labor to sink us financially while we pay to build their manufacturing base. Personally I like knowing that if I break something on my 22 YO tractor tomorrow, the dealer has the parts in stock or can get them before I have time to put them back on next weekend.
Tractor sales at WalMart might take care of the Chinese, however. Wally World likes to sell items for a year or two at prices so low that no one else can compete; then stop carrying them once the competition is gone.

One of the saddest things I've seen though is American flags with "Made in China" stickers on them.

CarlGlas · Jan 6, 2006

( One of the saddest things I've seen though is American flags with "Made in China" stickers on them. ) 

Then I guess you haven't heard that the new US Border Patrol uniforms are made in Mexico. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

hobbyfarm · Jan 6, 2006

( ( One of the saddest things I've seen though is American flags with "Made in China" stickers on them. )

Then I guess you haven't heard that the new US Border Patrol uniforms are made in Mexico. ) /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Yeah,
quite possibly by the very illegals the BP officers have caught & thrown out. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif