Buying Advice Negotiating?

[widefat]

Ya'll, I am looking to buy my first tractor, and it will be used.
I am in Virginia - in regard to prices, have you found that tractor dealers willing to negotiate?

 

[oldpilgrim]

Hardly at all.

 

[s219]

Dealers, not so much -- it's generally a seller's market for a good used tractor.

 

[tractchores]

Yes, but not a huge amouunt. Look around for the specific brand you are buying, but with many you can expect ~10-15% below MSRP. Dealers vary though, some price them right where they will sell them, otehrs have more wiggle room. Best case would be to compare identical units across a few dealers.

 

[Wagtail]

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder. Enjoy the site.

When I went to negotiate for my 4105 I took a 'local' Mate along with me, who just sat in the background (Tassie is a very small State, everyone seems to know everyone else ). I got a fair price on the tractor + loader & implements... the haggled deal was for a first service (at my property) free & extended warranty. Now, after the last of my implements were delivered, I noticed that a ballast box had been left behind... I called them up to tell them so & that I'd be happy to purchase it as I didn't want their inventory to come up short.

Their answer? Complementary and thanks for letting them know. Oh, and aside from the standard 'free hat' (with their advertising) I also received a very nice nylon JD bomber jacket that I wasn't expecting at all.

A few months down the track, I went to the same dealership to purchase my D110. Not much price difference but they 'threw in' the first oil change 'kit' and I insisted on a higher backed seat from a D130. They swapped it out at no charge.

 

[s219]

Yes, but not a huge amouunt. Look around for the specific brand you are buying, but with many you can expect ~10-15% below MSRP. Dealers vary though, some price them right where they will sell them, otehrs have more wiggle room. Best case would be to compare identical units across a few dealers.

He asked about used, not new.

 

[tractchores]

He asked about used, not new.

Thanks! In that case yes there is still rom, but often not a lot. The longer it has been around the more wiggle room there may be. In my most recent buy (2 year old machine) they didn't move more than about $100 on price. However they were very willing to throw in extras. I got bucket hooks installed, a service (oil+hydro and filters and grease), a 3pt attachment (trailer mover that normally was $150) and delivery.

Many dealers post their used pricing online, so you can get a sense of prices in an area. Tractorhouse.com is a good resource too.

 

[jeff9366]

Ya'll, I am looking to buy my first tractor, and it will be used.
Have you found tractor dealers willing to negotiate on used price?

Dealer's margin on used equipment is generally less than on new equipment. That is why most new tractor dealers prefer not to buy used equipment.

It is probable you will save money buying from a private party, rather than a dealer, if you can find a tractor in the condition you want.

However, it is unlikely a dealer will sell a tractor that will sully his reputation. Private parties do not have the same incentive.

 

[jeff9366]

Here is a link to 124 used tractors for sale on eBay, within 200 miles of Richmond. (You should add your Virginia city to your T-B-N profile.)

EBay Tractor LINK: Industrial Tractor | eBay

 

[newbury]

OP -
IF you are capable of transporting and minor repair of a used tractor keep an eye on PublicSurplus.com.
A few examples:
Public Surplus: Auction #914293
Public Surplus: Auction #925157
Public Surplus: Auction #1310903

And my favorite:

Which I got for $11.5K in January 2013.

 

[widefat]

thanks for all of the advice!
Being my first, I am inclined to go with a dealer and pay a little more to make sure I get one without problems.
I just hate the idea of paying asking price for anything. I've been known to try and negotiate at Walmart.
Newbury - good idea! I am looking at the site now....

 

[DavesTractor]

thanks for all of the advice!
Being my first, I am inclined to go with a dealer and pay a little more to make sure I get one without problems.
I just hate the idea of paying asking price for anything. I've been known to try and negotiate at Walmart.
Newbury - good idea! I am looking at the site now....

I once saw an item on Craigslist once that stated "$4500 firm", then later in the text it said "if you must negotiate, the price is $5200 and I bet you'll be unsuccessful getting me down to $4500".

I'm the same way, I always feel compelled to make an offer, just can't help myself. The problem with a late model used 4x4 tractor with a loader, is that supply is short of demand. I'd make an offer anyway, it can't hurt. A dealer won't get their feelings hurt. Just don't make a take it or leave it sort of offer, make a "soft offer" that suggests a continuing conversation.

 

[N2DFire]

thanks for all of the advice!
Being my first, I am inclined to go with a dealer and pay a little more to make sure I get one without problems.
I just hate the idea of paying asking price for anything. I've been known to try and negotiate at Walmart.
Newbury - good idea! I am looking at the site now....

If you are close to the border then consider buying out of state. There is no sales tax for out of state sales. You are *supposed* to report the purchase and pay the "fair use" tax to your home locality.
What you actually do is between you & the guy in the mirror.

 

[BigBoyToys]

I just recently picked up a 2006 B3030 with FEL, BH, Ballast Box, weights and custom made aerator. It only had 242 hours on it and wasn't abused. It was a private sale and I was able to get it for $1K less than the asking price of $19K. Granted it took me a year and a half to find a nice one but was well worth it. I had $2K in my pocket as a down payment so I think that enticed him to do the deal.

 

[ultrarunner]

Everything is negotiable...

I've found know what I want and having the means to pay for it makes for a savvy buyer.

Sales people only have their time... and they need to believe you are going to buy and hope they can be the one to sell...

The last tractor I bought was Harvest Return... it had the full Kubota warranty and sold by a Kubota Dealer... it was a good buy and only 110 hours on the clock.

Harvest Returns are popular in farm country in California... both Deere and Kubota participate.

 

[Sprinklerman]

Look at craigslist in the baltimore area , there is a guy that deals with a lot of used tractors , prices look reasonable . He is in westminster md .

 

[varmint]

Negotiation is definitely doable for a private sale. Just do you homework first, so you have a good idea what you are looking at and going prices. I have never paid the original asking price for a piece of used equipment, and I think the sellers started higher than they really expected to get, just so they could negotiate. Those that won't usually say so, in one way or another, in their adds. I would start with Craig's List, maybe Seach Tempest CL, if you are willing to haul a bit. Given some time, you should be able to find a nice machine within 100 miles, max. I expect most dealer's used inventory is what is left over from whatever someone hasn't been able to sell on their own.

Or, as in the case of my current L3400, a private seller had gotten busy, taken delivery of his new tractor, and dumped it a the dealer's for sale. I looked at it at the dealership (I first saw it on Craig's List, however), but closed the deal with the consignor- who still had to give some money to the dealer, per their arrangement.

The tractor's mentioned above are, I think, on a local horse farm, which means they were used there, not by a hobby farmer type like me, who gives his tractor's a silly amount of TLC. Not that anything is wrong with them... in fact, they might just be a great value for whoever finally buys them. These might be them? (I see 4 altogether, and the barns look like a farm I once bought some hay from)

2007 Kubota L3940 4x4 Compact Tractor W/ Loader Hydro 1150 Hours 2004 KUBOTA L4330 4X4 COMPACT TRACTOR W/ CAB LOADER 43HP HYDROSTATIC

 

[DavesTractor]

If buying a late model tractor from a private party, you need to be sure it does not have an outstanding loan. If it has a loan on it, and the finance company is able to find that you are in possession of the unit, the finance company can pick up the tractor from you and they would not owe you a dime. You would have to get the money back from the "thief" that sold it to you. So be careful on items that are not as old as a typical loan duration. Buying from a dealer pretty much eliminates this risk.

How can you know? That is difficult. Tractors not having a title complicates things. UCC filings are made to protect the lender, but searching for them successfully can be tricky. You can ask the seller to prove he paid for it when purchased, but it would not be hard for that to be a deception. You could call the dealer he bought it from and ask, that might work. It can get complicated. Be careful.

 

[tractchores]

If you are close to the border then consider buying out of state. There is no sales tax for out of state sales. You are *supposed* to report the purchase and pay the "fair use" tax to your home locality.
What you actually do is between you & the guy in the mirror.

Be very careful if doing this in MA. They were going after NH tractor sales to MA residents in the last year or two... Or at least don't give a MA address or have it delivered there.

 

[widefat]

I found/bought, on Craigslist, a Kubota 3200 w/65 hours, a bush hog, tiller, and trailer as a package deal. Very Satisfied -.

PS, one thing I did learn - Farm equipment seems to have more than it's share of scammers.