FarmTrac Troubles

[blueliner]

RNF -- you're a howl, per usual. "2 pct. discount for positive comments"?! Love it! Then again... you're not a cardcarrying member of the Gumbo Posse for nothing.

Tim C. -- I'll let Mr. Messick read for himself. Anyone that's been following TBN postings for any length of time will have extracted *plenty* of material and end up servicably informed.

Public site... and, if not careful, public scourage.
Word is that Tommy B.'s sweet-swing straight right is just getting warmed up. : )

MFE -- See Tim C.'s post above. If your interest is sincere, then "man up" -- go to page 1 ... and start reading! This site's knowledge to you is what a footlong at Subway (TM) sandwich is to Dom Deluise... but fret not Momma Cass, it is ham-free.

TBN Jungle members -- pump it up! We (and those Case1570 has listed) need to hear from you.

--b

 

[Tim C.]

Public site.

Red, you got me.

Tim

 

[redneckford]

Just waiting on the "FREE" riding lawnmower from messick!!!!

 

[redneckford]

got my mower---over the fax machine----decals say DEAR JOHN!!!---looks like I lose again Hope it scares my grass so that it stops growing. That is what the directions say!!! Just like Textron aways funny paper!!!! At least it did not come from some VP just a lowly account executive in charge of truth in lending requirments for the lawn and garden promotion team!!!! Something about nutton's free they want me to send them money for the picture----the nerve!!!!!!

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I respect you guys if there is stuff that you don't want to post in a public forum.

My inital question was in response to this...

Question for Textron; How many dealers, that you helped put into this situation, can talk to other dealers and manufacturers and relay how you treated them?
How many dealers will never work with you again?
How many manufacturers will not pick Textron to work with?

Textron does floor plan 4 of the product lines that we sell. If the above statement is going to have any teeth some of this "secret" information is going to need to become common knowledge at some point. Unless I am missing somthing, the only concrete stuff thats been posted so far is that Textron probably knew what was going on before anyone else, but did not stop it... and they're not doing much at this point to helpout the dealers.

I guess I should have probably reprahsed by question. Rather than posting that info here, you guys should be talking to the NAEDA. If there really is cause for concern on the part of other dealerships they would be inpartial enough to see that the facts eventually filter down to everyone.

 

[redneckford]

FarmTracers----PM messick---- He really is a good person----Have him talk to Naeda and get the "Whole" story!!! textron is a "Big" sponsor of the naeda???? just need to identify those l--- sharks(I firmly believe a few rogue employee's) and get them in the gumbo before they strike again somewhere else to cover their tracks!!!!! Beware messick of new transfered employee's

 

[case1570]

Without threatening any legal position that the dealers have, the best I can say to you, if you are truly concerned about how this may effect your relationship with Textron is this:
When talking with the previously mentioned governmental agencies, they all knew the above mentioned floor plan company.
There was litigation against them and fines brought forth in other cases (this according to some of the agencies that were listed to call.) Work with who you wish.
This is not their first dance!
Case

 

[kevanos]

I cannot speak for the entire farmtrac line, however I broke my 270 yesterday, [my own negligence] and had to go to my local dealer to hopefuly get what I needed. I was very concerned that I would have a real hard time finding a front wheel due to the current Farmtrac situation. My dealer was still able to check warehouse stock online, and ended up having the wheel , tire, and lug bolts, nuts, and studs in stock. He was originaly exclusively a Farmtrac dealer, and a large one at that. He now carries Montana, as well as his remaining Farmtracs. He explained to me that my 270 is made by LS Cable, and once you take off the sheetmetal , is the same as the Montana 2740, and also a Mcormic and recently introduced Bobcat brand cut. He explained to me that he now stocks his parts dept through Montana, and as I found today, Parts suply is no problem, at least for my 270.

He was correct on Montana and McCormick selling tractors also built by LS, but not on the Bobcat. Bobcat's are built by Daedong/Kioti, which is also in S.Korea.

 

[longtrman]

I respect you guys if there is stuff that you don't want to post in a public forum.

My inital question was in response to this...



Textron does floor plan 4 of the product lines that we sell. If the above statement is going to have any teeth some of this "secret" information is going to need to become common knowledge at some point. Unless I am missing somthing, the only concrete stuff thats been posted so far is that Textron probably knew what was going on before anyone else, but did not stop it... and they're not doing much at this point to helpout the dealers.

I guess I should have probably reprahsed by question. Rather than posting that info here, you guys should be talking to the NAEDA. If there really is cause for concern on the part of other dealerships they would be inpartial enough to see that the facts eventually filter down to everyone.

In fact we are in constant touch with NAEDA in hopes of preventing this from happening to other dealers.
Advice: Don't accept any farm machinery or tractors without a written order. If the manufacturer gets in the habit they will just keep sending you tractors and floor plan them through the third party floor plan company (such as Textron) and then if the supplier ceases doing business here then you are immediately responsible for the interest on the floor plan. At that point you'll owe for tractors you can't sell. The supplier just before closing will offer "never come due" or "interest free" terms to get the tractors on to your floor plan account and off the supplier account. The floor plan company looks at you as being a better risk than the supplier who is closing therefore will allow the supplier to load you way past your credit limit. Don't accept show tractors, dealer close out tractors, tractors in transit that have been refused by the other dealer with out good written documentation signed by the supplier's officer qualified to sign for the company (generally not the TM) and the third party floor plan's representative. Protect your self. Until we can get laws changed requiring third party companies to do dealer buy backs when the supplier is unable you are just as vulnerable as we were. Have an attorney do a Dunn & Bradstreet on suppliers who use third party floor plan companies at least once a year. It is impossible to look at a company from a distance and tell if they are solvent.

 

[SESS]

NAEDA has been very helpful to the Farmtrac dealers with orchestrating talks and meetings with all parties involved. NAEDA has some fine attorneys working for/with them as well! We Farmtrac dealers are very thankful to the assistance that we have received so far....and in the future!

Also a note of caution when dealing with floorplan companies: Put a "hold" on your account that states only with your written authorize can charges be added or equipment be removed from your account. That way there is no activity withour your knowledge. Trust us Farmtrac dealers-we learned that piece of information the very hard way!!!

 

[redneckford]

Ole Blue----The how too manual for tractor dealer dummy's----Chapter One ---How to deal with the floorplan companies?????? love to read that chapter alone!!!!! Chapter Two--- What do the Lawyers know but will not tell YOU!!!!---- A must read for all-----approved by the gumbo---- posse ingredient list included!!! What a great Christmas gift----- Marketing provided by the FramTrac Political Action Committee locations through out the US!!!!

 

[redneckford]

Taxpayer---- the rumor mill is hot hot h--0---t!!! My crystal ball keeps turning green--- is it just the run off from the Bull Barn are is John D----going to buy Farmtrac so that they can "Up Grade" their dealer network????

 

[Tractech]

Taxpayer---- the rumor mill is hot hot h--0---t!!! My crystal ball keeps turning green--- is it just the run off from the Bull Barn are is John D----going to buy Farmtrac so that they can "Up Grade" their dealer network????

Naa.... They wouldn't? Although they have done some pretty odd ventures in the past so maybe it's not coming from the barn! After I read this I ran to the door and looked to the south and there is a bunch of stem rising to the sky down that way. Here I just thought is was Fay working her way up the coast. Maybe the bubble has finally burst over FT headquarters.

 

[redneckford]

Wrong that is that new air breathing machine that the FarmTrac executive is trying to invent in tobacco country!!!! Formula----take 23 million dollars of white powder-----inhale---wonder what the h--- happened!!!! that is what i heard at the south side Dairy Queen not even thirty minutes ago. They (those investment bankers at the local dairy queen)invented cable news before Al invented the internet!!!!Would they LIE to me????OK their third cousin on their daddy's fourth cousin side said it was so. "Thinking" that must be a lie they don't even know who their daddy is must less a cousin---brother!!!

 

[Tim C.]

Red, I am calling you out.

Why are you wasting your time in farm equipment?

Tim

 

[SESS]

We got a survey in the mail from LS Cable which branched off in July 2008 to start LS Mtron. The survey was asking about LS Cable tractor products, feelings about Farmtrac (past and present) floor plan companies etc. LS Cable supplies tractors for Farmtrac, Montana and and the compacts for McCormick. The rumor mill has been active since Jan when this mess unfolded that LS was interested in buying Farmtrac and/or the property. Don't know what is means for today. Why would LS Cable start another company (LS Mtron) just to buy Farmtrac? I would not think that LS Mtron would use the same Farmtrac name since it has a bad stigma that goes with it. Seems like things are complicated to have all these tractors running around the country with a bunch of different names on them. Regardless, we filled out our survey. Anyone else get one?

 

[taxpayer]

I just got off the phone with some well connected people,from what I was told I can only say Montana dealers and Mccormick dealers beware!now would be a good time for you to start a private dealer forum and keep each other informed as the farmtrac dealers have done.you could very well find yourselves in a situation like the farmtrac dealers are facing.I personally feel all brand dealers should come together and change this industry while we have the chance. there must be more dealer protection in buyback laws and dealer agreements, this is a changing world and the dealers can not afford to allow to be drawn into one sided contracts anymore.------Taxpayer

 

[taxpayer]

We got a survey in the mail from LS Cable which branched off in July 2008 to start LS Mtron. The survey was asking about LS Cable tractor products, feelings about Farmtrac (past and present) floor plan companies etc. LS Cable supplies tractors for Farmtrac, Montana and and the compacts for McCormick. The rumor mill has been active since Jan when this mess unfolded that LS was interested in buying Farmtrac and/or the property. Don't know what is means for today. Why would LS Cable start another company (LS Mtron) just to buy Farmtrac? I would not think that LS Mtron would use the same Farmtrac name since it has a bad stigma that goes with it. Seems like things are complicated to have all these tractors running around the country with a bunch of different names on them. Regardless, we filled out our survey. Anyone else get one?

We filled out our survey yesterday and sent it back.also got a followup call from the survey company with additional questions and comments.I was told the survey forms were not being sent to farmtrac dealers that also carried Montana or McCormick.that leads me to believe LS MTRON intends to have all LS tractors under one name in the US.just my thoughts.-------Taxpayer

 

[SESS]

Maybe my initial gut reaction was correct when I saw that LS started their own tractor brand to think that they are going to absorb all the individual LS lines and make just one for the US market. I talked to a couple Montana dealers in my area and they say things are way to similar to how the Farmtrac mess happened-beware, be cautious and be alert! When Farmtrac closed-we had no idea it was coming. By then it was too late to do anything. My gut tells me something is not right here folks. Tractors dealers are all competitors when selling a brand-but we are all friends at the same time. I would not want anyone to be put through what we Farmtrac dealers are going through! Now's the time to start asking questions.