Favorite Color or Dependable Dealer

Shadow_River · Mar 12, 2005

Well Mike, it's kinda like this, it seems that if you don't care about the resale value of your tractor after the purchase it does not seem logical that someone would care about the money they spent at the time of puchase. It's $$$s on both ends.

For someone to say that I saved $1000s on this brand over this other brand and then say they don't care about resale value makes no sense to me.

azzxx

JD 5520 Cab MWFD, JD 2040 & MF 265

GerardC · Mar 12, 2005

( GerardC

If you don't care about the resale value of your tractor then I would assume that it did not matter to you how much you paid for it. Did you just walk into the dealer and say,

"I'll take that one.")

I knew what size would work for me. I looked at the Kubota BX23 and 2910. Got the prices. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. I then called about the Challenger tractors. Had an appointment set for 2 days away (he was going out-of-town). Called KIOTI and went in the next day. Needless to say I never made it to the Challenger dealership. Gerard

MikePA · Mar 12, 2005

It's always dollars at the front end (purchase), it's only dollars at the back end if you sell or trade the tractor.

GerardC · Mar 12, 2005

( Tractors, as well as cars, are an expense, not an investment.)

Finally a man with some common sense! This is pretty much my point. In short, you can't make the horse drink. Gerard

 not an investment 
Unless your Jay Leno of course /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif!

CajunRider · Mar 12, 2005

It's all about Total Cost Of Ownership. One important variable that goes into the calculation of the TCO is the cost of lost productivity from loss of service when the tractor break down. For people like me cost of lost productivity is near zero. It's a mere inconvenience when I don't have the tractor. For others, it's their livelihood on the line. For example, my pond digger uses a huge tractor with a pan to dig pond. When his tractor breaks down, his loss of productivity is $2000/day. With this level of loss, he can't afford to buy any thing but the very best. For me with a limited play fund, an upfront saving of 2-3K is good enough to stray from the Big 3.

Taking this cost out of the equation then you can calculate the TCO excluding loss productivity and compare evenly between tractors.

The reality is that one usually can not take the loss of productivy out of the TCO consideration so the argument will never end.

Hope y'all don't mind my rambling.

Varmintmist · Mar 13, 2005

(

The average tractor user, in a home-owner situation, will never use a tractor hard enough, long enough, or often enough to see one completely spent. I have taken several tractors to that point. (and beyond) THAT is when you can appreciate the quality and design that goes in to Deere's AG equipment. )

BING BING BING we have a winner!! I will take that farther. The average small, yet actually crop producing farmer will never run a tractor to death if it is given proper maintenance. That is wny there are so mant 8 and 9 N's around.

( I buy MOSTLY used equipment. I farm, as well as run a tractor oriented business. From time to time, I need new equipment. for instance, 3 years ago, a $225,000 combine. I need a STRONG, ongoing relationship with at least a couple dealers. I favor John Deere equipment, although a good bit of my impliment roster is of mixed color(s)

I stick with Deere mostly for 2 reasons. One is the longstanding relationship with a couple dealers, who wait on me hand and foot. I never have to beg for help. The other is a consistant history of quality equipment that ALWAYS holds good value come trade-in time.

)

You buy a quarter million of machine from them so you can use it for a month a year and you are suprised that they treat you good?? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Thing is, most folks here will only get to that $$ level on equipment after adding cars, trucks, and tractors together over 30 years,..... maybe.

The other thing here is how many people make 225,000 combines?
NH, Deere, Case, and Massey, thats about all I can think of, and I am not real sure about NH without checking. Your options are limited by the specialization of the equipment you are buying. That and buying a compact tractor are two really different things.

..................

As to the resale value, I dont plan on running mine to death, but if I do need to sell it I figure I dropped 15-25% less upfront off a COMPRABLY equipped "Big 3", so I shouldnt get as much back when I sell it.

Kyle_in_Tex · Mar 13, 2005

I'm seeing good points to both sides of the coin. To each their own and usually its in defense of each person's purchase.

Something I don't think I've seen in this thread yet concerning resale value is a "What if something really expensive breaks maybe 6-8 years down the road?" I mean something that could mean the difference of whether a machine is worth repairing or not. Even if it is not the fault of the tractor. I guess what I'm trying to say is, resale does have an effect possibly on all of us it it comes to this. Cheaper stuff gets scrapped out easier. That is not to say you didn't get your moneys worth, just that it could and probably will be a factor to those who don't plan to sell.

DK35vince · Mar 13, 2005

( Something I don't think I've seen in this thread yet concerning resale value is a "What if something really expensive breaks maybe 6-8 years down the road?" I mean something that could mean the difference of whether a machine is worth repairing or not.)
I consider myself an average homeowner/ compact tractor owner.
I average around 150 hours per year on my tractor.
If my machines are not worth fixing in 6 or 8 year I must have done a pretty lousy job of maintainance to begin with.
I fully expect to be running my tractor 20 years from now !!

Indydirtfarmer · Mar 13, 2005

(

You buy a quarter million of machine from them so you can use it for a month a year and you are suprised that they treat you good?? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Thing is, most folks here will only get to that $$ level on equipment after adding cars, trucks, and tractors together over 30 years,..... maybe.

The other thing here is how many people make 225,000 combines?
NH, Deere, Case, and Massey, thats about all I can think of, and I am not real sure about NH without checking. Your options are limited by the specialization of the equipment you are buying. That and buying a compact tractor are two really different things. )

Add to that short list, Caterpiller, who is now a mojor player in the combine market. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

As for the suprise when a dealer treats me well, AFTER a quarter million dollar sale, I'm quite suprised that there are a number of dealers that DON'T treat us well, FOR ANY LEVEL of expendature. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

My comparing the combine sales to compact tractors can be looked at from another perspective. While a single combine may sell for as much as $300,000, Deere for example may sell 100 $25,000 compacts for every one of those "big ticket items". They (being ALL dealers and manufacturers) need to appreciate EACH sale as a vital part of their livelyhood. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

And that goes for ever combine, lawn tractor, rear blade, and 36 row corn planter that rolls out their door...... JMHO, and worth what you paid for it!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Bob_Skurka · Mar 14, 2005

I love the name-brand chest-thumping that is going on and is quite the clever way to essentially bash all other brands without actually coming out and doing it. . .

there really isn't much difference between the alleged Big 3 and the Korean/Indian tractors - in my humble opinion. . .

The reference to Ebay as far as the sale of used tractors, particularly non-name brand, is a little stilted. . .

If you feel like you gotta spend the bucks, that's cool...hey man, that's what America is all about. And if you want to trumpet your opinion about the alleged superiority of the Big 3 versus all other comers

I'm obviously condensing down some of your points, and I won't speak for the rest of the "Big 3" owners, but I don't understand why I can't have it BOTH ways? I've already pointed out I would buy a Branson, but ONLY because I trust the local dealer (also happens to be a NH dealer, well established and well run). For some reason, some folks consider this to be a MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE arguement, either you get a Big 3 brand or you get a crappy dealer and a minor brand. Others take the same arguement but state the Big 3 dealers are the ones going broke. Seems to me I won't buy from any crummy dealership, and I will buy any brand that is a quality tractor with the features I want. I've yet to actually see an Indian made tractor, but I have seen both Korean (TYM) and Japanese (Mitsu) made Mahindras (Indian company) and they look great, lots of features, etc. I've seen the Bransons and they also look good. Kiotis are also nice. But why does this discussion have to be split on such rigid EITHER - OR type boundries? I think some minor brands can have good dealerships and some of the Big 3 can have lousy dealerships. I still will only buy from a "dependable dealer" and no matter what, I won't over pay for my tractor, regardless of brand.

My TC24 was just a bit over $13K delivered with the FEL & weightbox, that is a price that is very competitive with the minor brands. My B2910 is old enough that the price is irrelevant. The same dealer also has Cub, but why would I pay more for a Cub (made by Mitsu & Kioti depending on model) than a Kubota? In both cases the dealers are amazingly responsive, competitively priced, and very dependable.

The local Mahindra dealer is a garden center. Given the choice I would rather buy a Branson/New Holland/Cub Cadet/Case/Kubota from a real established dealership than a Mahindra from a garden center that also sells fruit trees and flowers. But that is just my LOCAL experience. Others can have lously dealerships of any color. I just don't think the discussion should be so cut and dry.