Fences...What do they say?

[jinman]

This could be an Andy Rooney routine...

Have you ever noticed how new car lots don't have fences, but new tractor lots do?

I know I have....​

You know the rest of his routine would be a rant of some kind. I don't mean to rant, but I drive by five new tractor lots on my way to work each morning and four of the five have fences. The one without the fence looks inviting; the rest look like they are saying, "Stay out! "

I don't think this has anything to do with the color of tractors, but it might. It surely doesn't have anything to do with location because three of these tractor places I go by are within eyesight of each other. Is it value of equipment? No, one dealer's equipment is not worth more than another. Also, the inventory of cars/trucks exposed on a car lot is far more than most tractor dealerships.

So, what do you think? Is this something subtle I'm missing, or am I right?

 

[KubotaSteve]

I think the lots that leave tractors out must either have cameras or move the tractors at night. I know with the Kubota's that they have one key for each series I believe, so it would be a lot eaiser to remove a tractor from an open lot than say a car from a car lot. Car lots can also run something across the entrance and the rest of the cars keep other routes blocked, where as with a tractor, well you know some of the places that you take your tractor
Just my $.02 but be thankful you didn't pay cause you would have been overcharged.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Big new John Deere dealer near here has a fence that looks all too much like a WW II German prison camp. Question is, did they fence it to keep us OUT or help trap potential customers on the INSIDE?

Massey dealer I go to has all his small stuff indoors. Tractors sit outside with no fence.

Kioti dealer lives in back of his lot. There's a fence around his house, but tractors are not enclosed.

Older John Deere dealer I actually buy from is next door to Case IH dealer. NEITHER are fenced but have a security guard.

New Holland dealer has tractors outside fenced lot. Small stuff in fenced area.

And finally, local Kubota chain store has a fenced area about the size of a basketball court that's PACKED with everything he sells. I have no idea how they get anything in or out.

What brand of tractor do you think Andy Rooney would own if he had one?

 

[scott_vt]

What brand of tractor do you think Andy Rooney would own if he had one?

MASSEY FERGUSON of course

He is just a middle of the road fella thats lookin for value for his BUCK

 

[Farmwithjunk]

MASSEY FERGUSON of course

He is just a middle of the road fella thats lookin for value for his BUCK

Good answer!

 

[ScottAR]

In my area, the dealers with fences have had machines stolen... Most are chain link but are few are decorative pipe which can be slipped through but no vehicles could pass. I don't recommend walking in there except in broad daylight.

 

[1bush2hog]

Maybe it's because tractors and equipment, if stolen, are harder to trace than cars, or maybe it's because they are easier to drive off since so many of the mfg's have a one key fits all machines scenerio. Maybe too many lookers were actually shopping for free parts too.

The only dealer around here that has a chain link fence up now is the JD dealer. They used to have motion or pressure sensors near their building (don't ask me how I know)

 

[czechsonofagun]

Now thats interesting. OK, in my area:

New Holland - fenced in, but they are tool rental too - rentals are all behind the fence. Lot of tractors sit outside the fence to be seen from the road

Kubota - in Warrenton completely open lot on a business strip

Kubota - in Manassas display by the road, behind the dealer fenced area, but new tractors are on display and tradeins and tractors to be fixed in the fenced area

JD - on a country road, unfenced, tractors on display near the road

Fergusson - near main road, partially fenced, again tractors on display near the road day and night

 

[jinman]

I can take my camera and get some photos of what I'm talking about with the fences. I'm sure that more tractor dealers have chainlink fences with barbed wire on top than do car dealers. I've seen a few used car dealers with fences, but I can't recall ever seeing a new car dealer with a fence. Maybe it's a supply and demand thing.

Every junkyard I've ever seen also had a fence.

 

[_RaT_]

This could be an Andy Rooney routine...

Have you ever noticed how new car lots don't have fences, but new tractor lots do?​

I know I have....
​

You know the rest of his routine would be a rant of some kind. I don't mean to rant, but I drive by five new tractor lots on my way to work each morning and four of the five have fences. The one without the fence looks inviting; the rest look like they are saying, "Stay out! "

I don't think this has anything to do with the color of tractors, but it might. It surely doesn't have anything to do with location because three of these tractor places I go by are within eyesight of each other. Is it value of equipment? No, one dealer's equipment is not worth more than another. Also, the inventory of cars/trucks exposed on a car lot is far more than most tractor dealerships.

So, what do you think? Is this something subtle I'm missing, or am I right?

I'm sure your right Jim, I cannot think of a single construction/farm supplier of equipment that is not fenced.
It is a prime target for thieves. I cannot imagine any particular trade being hit harder by thieves then the construction industry. From material to equipment to goods, folks take the stuff like its theirs. I've worked with guys who bought stuff they knew was hot but got such a great deal they could not pass it up, I passed it up. I think it says something about folks. I think it tells me who to be wary of. I'm also curious about what other things they are willing to do. As for the crooks themselves, nothing but disgust, well disgust and a desire they have a short life.

 

[slowrev]

the message dealers fences say is the same message our fences say.
This is my place and stuff, don't mess with it.

Ben

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Tractor lots have a lot of small items that can be stolen, not so much big items like tractors but pto shafts, draw pins, lynch pins, fuel, parts off equipment, weights, the list goes on and on. Small items like these are easy to walk off the lot. Car dealers lock the doors on the car and if someone wants to steal a car they will no matter if there is a fence or not. Just the amount of money lost to theives via small items on tractor lots adds up quick.

Just think about how much money you have in tools in the tool box on your tractor, now if your tractor is at the dealer for service and is parked in the lot and someone decided to look in that tool box it would be very tempting for some people to help themselves. This is why some tractor dealers have fences. The ones that don't usually keep pto shafts and small items locked inside and also they have rural locations and live withing eye sight of the lot so if someone does stop in after hours they can keep an eye on them as it is usually easy to see if someone is looking at equipment or swiping parts off one.

I do know it would be nice if we didn't have to worry about fences but until we do something about the thieves in this country they will always be around. And remember, fences and locks only keep honest people out anyway. You just hope they deter the would be criminals

 

[RonR]

Andy Rooney:

Judging that he still uses a manual typewriter (or so he claims), I think he'd have an IH 300 gas, with 2pt hitch and NO power steering.

The torque amplifier would be his concession to "progress"...............

Ron

 

[robinson4907]

I would also guess that their insurance providers offer a discount for using fences to deter theft.

 

[JerryG]

I know for a fact that four of the dealerships in this area that have fences have put them up because of theft. They had tractors stolen as well as had parts stolen off of them.

 

[YanmarFever]

Tractor lots have a lot of small items that can be stolen, not so much big items like tractors but pto shafts, draw pins, lynch pins, fuel, parts off equipment, weights, the list goes on and on. Small items like these are easy to walk off the lot. Car dealers lock the doors on the car and if someone wants to steal a car they will no matter if there is a fence or not. Just the amount of money lost to theives via small items on tractor lots adds up quick.

Just think about how much money you have in tools in the tool box on your tractor, now if your tractor is at the dealer for service and is parked in the lot and someone decided to look in that tool box it would be very tempting for some people to help themselves. This is why some tractor dealers have fences. The ones that don't usually keep pto shafts and small items locked inside and also they have rural locations and live withing eye sight of the lot so if someone does stop in after hours they can keep an eye on them as it is usually easy to see if someone is looking at equipment or swiping parts off one.

I do know it would be nice if we didn't have to worry about fences but until we do something about the thieves in this country they will always be around. And remember, fences and locks only keep honest people out anyway. You just hope they deter the would be criminals

Very nicely put. Tractors have hitches, seats, caps, ect... the list goes on for someone to help themselves to at night time.

On my lot we have a chainlink fence and an iron gate at the entry
cameras that rtecord 24-7 and 2 doorbell terriers.

Im not paranoid , but I dont have my head in the sand about security.

Then theres the secret weapon for thieves !

 

[Bedlam]

There is a car dealer just outside Boston. That my dad worked at. On a regular basis, they would find a car with now wheels or tires. And a 2x4 stud by them. The crooks used it to raise it enough to remove the tires.
This same dealer would also have people steal the cars, and installed a hefty chain link fence.
Well, this wasn't going to slow the car thieves, they simple loaded the car hauler with a car, and one on the rear tow bar, and drove right through the fence, and down the highway.
I guess if your determined nothing will stop you.

 

[jinman]

I know for a fact that four of the dealerships in this area that have fences have put them up because of theft. They had tractors stolen as well as had parts stolen off of them.

Jerry, I'm sure theft is the primary issue regarding fences. I guess I just have a hard time figuring out why one dealership would not have a fence and just across the street, someone else does.

I'm posting three pictures of a New Holland dealer so you can see there is lot of equipment and tractors on his lot, but there is no fence. I took these pictures a long time ago and they are the only ones I have. I tried to get a photo of the whole lot last Friday, but I fumble-fingered my camera and missed the shot. I'm also posting a picture of the JD dealer nearby and a Kubota dealer just across the street.

This is not a brand issue because I could drive to a city about 50 miles away and show you pictures of a JD dealer, a NH dealer, and an MF dealer all without fences.

As I said before, I'm sure the issue is theft, but I think the no-fence dealers have a much friendlier appearance. The fence would not offend me and make me not want to go into a dealership, but it does make a statement. It's not a major statement, but interesting in my opinion.