FarmTrac Troubles

[sseelhoff]

I personnally do not think the press should be invited. This is a "family matter".....not a circus

I understand your thinking on this, however I try to live by the motto that sunlight is the best anti-septic.

Regardless of whether the press is invited to attend or night, they ought to at least know about it and who is on the invite list. It puts the invitee in a very awkward PR position of either facing a tough crowd, or a press report that "so and so was invited to attend and address the dealers (or resond to the dealers' questions), but declined (or refused-depending upon the reporter's slant) to attend."

 

[rascoil]

If you are a customer this is a good place to report a company that does no do what it says. Ripoff Report: By Consumers, For Consumers

 

[rascoil]

Farmtrac battling dealers in cyberspace [The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, N.C.] - BusinessWeek

Here comes the rain on the heads of the unjust now. The just have had there part.


Just some info about farmtrac names and numbers EPA | Envirofacts Warehouse | FII

I like the Alternative Names section of this link^

Plus some folks have had enough of Textron. Rip Off Report: Textron Financial ROBBED ME Almost Onto The Streets!!! FALSELY sued, Sent summons to WRONG ADDRESS, and STOLE MY $$$ Ripoff Golden Valley Minnesota

 

[Tim C.]

Back with an update and a few observations.

I am sitting here trying to organize my notes and present what I have learned. Not just today, but in life.

Friends and enemies.............how do you know which group to put someone in?

Who is to blame for the problem? The one who created it or the one that has to clean it up?

Life and human interaction is never simple. But, as a general rule, you can expect people to act in their own best interest. Does that mean that every choice someone makes is correct? Of course not. But it was the best choice given the information they had at the time. It is our job to present information in order for others to have the best possible chance to make the right choices.

Here is the coldest fact in this whole deal. Management that put us here today is gone. Be it overseas or hiding in their house, they are gone.

We are where we are. Nothing can change that. The question is "How do we go forward?"

Now, do dealers do what is in their best interest? With the information at hand? It is time to get all the information available and decide what is in the dealers best interest. This meeting could go a long way to doing that. If........

Guys, I have to go. Business calls.

Tim

 

[tommybr]

Tim C ,you are exactly right.

 

[SESS]

Hello all:

The efforts of many to confront Gurkin in person on April 24 are commendable. Unlike roughly 180 Farmtrac workers who've rolled over and given up like silent lambs led to the slaughter, the dealers do not to intend to go down quietly!

I do not claim to be an attorney, but... the idea that the auctioneer and the person who is performing wall-to-wall inventory of Farmtrac property are the same person seems to be a *glaring* conflict of interest.

Add the abnormally hurried effort to complete the auction ... and it smells of something really really rotten.

Is Gurkins' plan to auction the stuff off dirt cheap (possibly to himself through a 'partner'?), resell it at a higher rate and scoop up the profits?

If Gurkins (or a 'partner' of his) doesn't end up buying the equipment, he takes the auction fees (plus payroll wages for his weeks on-duty) and goes home. And the funds from the auction... are applied by the receiver to the outstanding debt of the secured loan *first*... unsecured loan(s) second [if any], then those who finance persons deem as smaller on the food chain... like suppliers, dealers, etc...

After all that, I'm sensing the receiver is going to slam the door shut, declare Chapter Seven and leave us dealers twisting in the wind and the employees with no compensation of any kind (some of 'em have saved *eons* of vacation and sick time).

What am I missing? Or inaccurate about?

And what can be done to keep this from happening?

--blueliner

Blueliner-welcome aboard! You had a bunch of reading to do to get caught up on the mess we face!
When you asked-"What am I missing? or inaccurate about?" I have a question for you or for any of the others here reading these posts.

What do we do about Textron? We need them to work with us. After all, they are not making any money if WE are not selling the tractors and WE are not making any money if we are not selling tractors. The auction on 4/25 is sad to think about, but probably enevitable. Now what do we do about Textron? It has been proven time and time again with all lifes trials and tribulations that anger gets you no where. We need to sit and think smart and act smart. We need Textron to know that we WANT to sell these tractors and get them moving, but how?

 

[SESS]

TommyBR... we should use anything we can utilize to get our point to everyone across the country. Media leverage may be the most powerful tool we have left.
--blueliner

Ya know blueliner, I bet if this was John Deere or Kubota or any of the other big name tractors lines, this would definately get national coverage. I just wish we could convince the "right person" (I don't know who that is at this moment) to get this to a higher level of attention.

 

[tommybr]

I suggest that everyone give Mr. Gurkins a chance....let's give him the benifit of the doubt.

 

[longtrman]

Back with an update and a few observations.

I am sitting here trying to organize my notes and present what I have learned. Not just today, but in life.

Friends and enemies.............how do you know which group to put someone in?

Who is to blame for the problem? The one who created it or the one that has to clean it up?

Life and human interaction is never simple. But, as a general rule, you can expect people to act in their own best interest. Does that mean that every choice someone makes is correct? Of course not. But it was the best choice given the information they had at the time. It is our job to present information in order for others to have the best possible chance to make the right choices.

Here is the coldest fact in this whole deal. Management that put us here today is gone. Be it overseas or hiding in their house, they are gone.

We are where we are. Nothing can change that. The question is "How do we go forward?"

Now, do dealers do what is in their best interest? With the information at hand? It is time to get all the information available and decide what is in the dealers best interest. This meeting could go a long way to doing that. If........

Guys, I have to go. Business calls.

Tim

Guys did you see this one --maybe Tim is getting rid of one problem tractor--let's al hope! If a dealer is doing any business this year it has to be good.

 

[Tim C.]

End of day view.

After having someone pull the phone out of my ear I can say a few things. It has been a very busy day and I am sure AT&T made lots of money today.

Basically, today was a day of listening and feeling out other's ideas. I came away with a better understanding of the situation in Tarboro, Textron, LS, Same, and Escorts.

The auction was the topic of the day. It is a public auction. No one is barred from bidding. A few items were included to enhance attendance (my opinion). Farmtrac has to have operating capital. This is how they decided to generate cash. Outside of a few implements and loader attachments this is a salvage sale. I "walked" thru every photo with multiple Farmtrac people to ask what is it, where did it come from, how long has it been there, and why sell it this way. I can tell you after those conversations, I am comfortable with the choices and the logic that went on to make those choices. There are more photos up on the website today. They could have done a better job with captioning. But I am a perfectionist.

We will know more after the 25th.

Tim

 

[Tim C.]

Now we come to the worst kept secret in the industry.



Textron's big, long waited, position statement/sales program due out this week. Waiting to see what the hard copy looks like. Mixed emotions on what I have heard.

Tim

 

[SESS]

Now we come to the worst kept secret in the industry.



Textron's big, long waited, position statement/sales program due out this week. Waiting to see what the hard copy looks like. Mixed emotions on what I have heard.

Tim

Tim your the best. Now I have new things to think about at 2:00am instead of the things that I have already thunk to death! Can't wait for a fax, mail or phone call! Any news right now will be appreciated. Until next time...

 

[Tim C.]

"Tim your the best. Now I have new things to think about at 2:00am instead of the things that I have already thunk to death! Can't wait for a fax, mail or phone call! Any news right now will be appreciated. Until next time..."

Don't know about you, but I plan to go home and forget about it. Just like flipping a switch, gone. I leave it at the door and don't pack it in with me. Everything will be there in the morning. Unless someone fixes it, then I didn't have to worry about it anyway.

I have learned a lot about life farming. By midnight over one half of my wheat crop will be under water. 75K down the river. I slept well last night. Plan to sleep well tonight. Control what you can, accept what you can't.

Tim

 

[rascoil]

End of day view.

After having someone pull the phone out of my ear I can say a few things. It has been a very busy day and I am sure AT&T made lots of money today.

Basically, today was a day of listening and feeling out other's ideas. I came away with a better understanding of the situation in Tarboro, Textron, LS, Same, and Escorts.

The auction was the topic of the day. It is a public auction. No one is barred from bidding. A few items were included to enhance attendance (my opinion). Farmtrac has to have operating capital. This is how they decided to generate cash. Outside of a few implements and loader attachments this is a salvage sale. I "walked" thru every photo with multiple Farmtrac people to ask what is it, where did it come from, how long has it been there, and why sell it this way. I can tell you after those conversations, I am comfortable with the choices and the logic that went on to make those choices. There are more photos up on the website today. They could have done a better job with captioning. But I am a perfectionist.

We will know more after the 25th.

Tim

In a way they are in the same boat as all the dealers. They do have to do something to raise money to pay the interest just like you dealers half to. I am on the fence with all of you. They did do there best for me, they gave me a motor. My gripe is not with the current management, but with the ones who have fled the country and run with the money. Now days it is easy to track the kind of money that is gone a stray. It will all come out in the end. I am sure there is going to be some Tax folks looking for there cut. If Mr. Gurkins can pull this company out of the hole then good for him. It seems to be a conflict of interest with him as a co owner of the auction company, but then again his intentions could be in the best interest of you all. Like you say Tim, after the 25th a lot more will be in the open. I wish you all well with your meeting. If I was a dealer, I would do what I had to do to be there. There is nothing wrong with you all wanting to meet with these folks. All you want is answers and the truth. I would rather get it in person then in a letter with a bunch of legal word dancing. This is going to be Mr. Gurkins chance to prove him self a leader for Farmtrac. This will set the mood for the future of the company.

 

[rascoil]

I have learned a lot about life farming. By midnight over one half of my wheat crop will be under water. 75K down the river. I slept well last night. Plan to sleep well tonight. Control what you can, accept what you can't.

Tim

LOL, don't feel bad, They fertilized my alfalfa last year and it didn't rain. So much for that. Hope it was insured. Wish you the best Tim. Hope to get by and see you one day this year.

 

[tommybr]

I suggest that everyone give Mr. Gurkins a chance....let's give him the benifit of the doubt.

Consider the following facts:
(1) Mr. Gurkin was appointed to be assistant to the reciever, Mr. Marrow by the NC court system.
(2) Mr. Gurkin is the one who got the doors re-opened at the Farmtrac facilities.
(3) Mr. Gurkin has stated that he wants to see Farmtrac survive and the employees keep their jobs.
(4) Mr. Gurkin has said he wishes he could talk to each of the dealers personally.

Mr. Gurkin has my support in this situation...something about this man tells me we can trust him.

 

[taxpayer]

Consider the following facts:
(1) Mr. Gurkin was appointed to be assistant to the reciever, Mr. Marrow by the NC court system.
(2) Mr. Gurkin is the one who got the doors re-opened at the Farmtrac facilities.
(3) Mr. Gurkin has stated that he wants to see Farmtrac survive and the employees keep their jobs.
(4) Mr. Gurkin has said he wishes he could talk to each of the dealers personally.

Mr. Gurkin has my support in this situation...something about this man tells me we can trust him.

Its comendable that mr Gurkins is willing to meet with the dealers on the 24th.I don't see anything being resolved if,he is the only one we meet with.Remember,Mr Marrow is driving the train,Mr Gurkins is just blowing the whistle.----Taxpayer

 

[Tim C.]

Well, who is Interstate?

Tim

 

[SESS]

Well, who is Interstate?

Tim

Did everyone get their Textron fax this morning? For the people in the south that don't carry the bigger 6000,7000, or 8000 series, our discounts are very minimal. But I guess its something. We still won't sell any tractors right now until paper work for the warranty company comes in the mail. Doesn't mention where we will get parts for the warranty work when we need it either.

 

[Brentwood Power Equipment]

Got our fax.What about retail financing?