Did you watch the latest Mahindra video?

[bialecki]

Did you watch the latest Mahindra video on the home page of TBN? What I like about this web site is, it truly is not biased towards one tractor or another. I like to feel the members and their feedback will give the best testimonials about a tractor and will receive very thorough feedback whether the feedback is in agreement or not. The latest Mahindra video has a testimonial from a customer who emphasizes the greater weight of the tractor as a reason why she choose a Mahindra over a Kubota. I am sure Kubota has a model that has a weight equal to the Mahindra model the customer choose. My point is; I would not choose a tractor solely based on weight or as major factor. There are way too many other factors to consider, i.e., quality, reliability, performance (Hp, etc.) versus costs, features of the tractor to accomplish the task, etc.

I think they could have done a better job with the video and their sales pitch, such as what are the differentiating features of a Mahindra tractor that would make me want to buy that brand versus a Kubota, Deere, Case, NH, et al.

Just my thoughts on their latest video.

 

[xlr82v2]

Bialecki,

I think you're looking way too deep and putting too much into this short little video clip. However, that being said, new tractors these days are becoming so "equal" in performance and the other issues that you say you would consider, that weight and the other issues that you imply that you wouldn't take into serious consideration ARE the differentiating factors.

For example, when I was tractor shopping, Kubota was among the lightest of all the tractors out there in my size range. To me, for my needs, and my way of thinking, that isn't so good. Weight is what puts the horsepower to the ground (and it's also a pretty good indicator of how much "beef" there is in the tractor)... if you have a light tractor that costs more $$$$ to purchase, and you have to spend even more $$$ just to buy dead weight to hang on your tractor so that it will have the same traction as the less expensive brand that weighs more in the first place, are you really coming out ahead? All other things being more or less equal, give me the heavier tractor. I think that's what she was implying in the video.

It is impossible to cover all the factors involved in making a wise purchase decision in a video clip of that length... I also think it's really ingenious of Mahindra to go this route... what other manufacturer showcases their tractors in real-life situations, with real-life people, with real-life paint missing from the FEL bucket, with real-life mud on the tires and real-life dust on the hood? All the other mfgr's take one off the showroom floor, probably get one of the upper level corporate managers to drive it around, and maybe tiptoe out and get some dirt on the tires, but the turtle wax shine is still there, beaming away while the cameras flash... I want to see that tractor WORK... not just show up for a photo op. It's kind of like a politician showing up at a groundbreaking ceremony, taking the first scoop of dirt. Show me that same politician there at the end of the day on the same end of that shovel after 8 hours workin' it, and then I'll be impressed.

 

[bialecki]

I think you're looking way too deep and putting too much into this short little video clip. However, that being said, new tractors these days are becoming so "equal" in performance and the other issues that you say you would consider, that weight and the other issues that you imply that you wouldn't take into serious consideration ARE the differentiating factors.

What I said was weight wouldn't necessarily be the 1st or major consieration as compared to other considerations.

For example, when I was tractor shopping, Kubota was among the lightest of all the tractors out there in my size range. To me, for my needs, and my way of thinking, that isn't so good. Weight is what puts the horsepower to the ground (and it's also a pretty good indicator of how much "beef" there is in the tractor)... if you have a light tractor that costs more $$$$ to purchase, and you have to spend even more $$$ just to buy dead weight to hang on your tractor so that it will have the same traction as the less expensive brand that weighs more in the first place, are you really coming out ahead? (You are correct if the quality is the same, I have seen a heavy tractor at The Tractor Supply Company that is less expensive than any of the major brands, however the quality just isn't there!) All other things being more or less equal, (But are things more or less equal between Mahindra and other brands? I don't really know, from your loyalty sounds as if they are ) give me the heavier tractor. I think that's what she was implying in the video.

It is impossible to cover all the factors involved in making a wise purchase decision in a video clip of that length...(Thats actually my point the video could be better to cover other differentiating features, if any, thats all I was implying) I also think it's really ingenious of Mahindra to go this route...(A good marketing tool, nothing speaks louder than words from a customer that has used their product for a while, i.e., missing paint, etc.) what other manufacturer showcases their tractors in real-life situations, with real-life people, with real-life paint missing from the FEL bucket, with real-life mud on the tires and real-life dust on the hood? All the other mfgr's take one off the showroom floor, probably get one of the upper level corporate managers to drive it around, and maybe tiptoe out and get some dirt on the tires, but the turtle wax shine is still there, beaming away while the cameras flash... I want to see that tractor WORK... not just show up for a photo op. It's kind of like a politician showing up at a groundbreaking ceremony, taking the first scoop of dirt. Show me that same politician there at the end of the day on the same end of that shovel after 8 hours workin' it, and then I'll be impressed.

See my additions to your reply.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

You know Mahindra is paying for that right? TBN is not recording videos of customers for their homepage. Its nothing but tractor company propaganda. You need to decide whats best for you in your application.

 

[DavesTractor]

Neil, if it were Kubota would it be "advertising", not "propaganda"?

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Heck no.. its all propaganda. I get more annoyed by the "Life is Grand" and "Why Blue is Better" than anything else. Just focus on making great tractors and let me do the rest.

 

[mudcat]

The nice lady in the testimonial is a member here on TbN.

 

[bialecki]

Heck no.. its all propaganda. I get more annoyed by the "Life is Grand" and "Why Blue is Better" than anything else. Just focus on making great tractors and let me do the rest.

I agree, let the tractor manufacturers focus on building better and more efficient tractors versus a lot of Marketing hopla. With that said this applies to everything in our free market, cars, medicines, food, etc.

After initiating this thread (as a manager of product development for a medical device company) I stated to think how could I truly differentiate a tractor of a certain class from the competition. Clearly there is much room for improvement when one reads the threads on TBN. One suggestion would be a self aligning FEL that automatically connects the hydraulics in one operation. Currently I need to start and align my tractor, stop my tractor connect the hoses, restart my tractor, elevate the hinge points on my B7800, replace the hinge pins and then I am on my way. With today's technology this can be done in one motion at a reasonable cost. This I can see being on a product line such as the Kubota BX24 series tractor. Some may say it only a tractor and its not worth it, but, with some though the added cost could be minimal for the gain in market share it would create, and then before long all manufacturers would have it, i.e., HST.

 

[Podunkadunk]

The nice lady in the testimonial is a member here on TbN.

There's a female on TBN?

I haven't seen any women on here, of course, I haven't been looking either.

 

[Killer_B]

I love it. What could possibly be better than a blonde who enjoys knocking down a tree with a tractor? If I weren't already married....