Our World Just got bigger...

[Mike120]

Joe, you left out sustainability. Just because someone has something to sell (and it may be a good product), if they don't sell enough or make a decent margin, they won't last very long. When that happens you're out in the cold. A warranty is only as good as the balance sheet behind it and parts will be limited to existing supplies. Kubota was smart because they targeted the NH and AGCO dealers to add a second brand. The guys trying to come in now are having to use startups or lawn equipment dealers to build their networks. That's a lot more risky and it usually results in a lot of consolidations and wrapups when the market goes south.

I can still buy parts for my 26 year old Ford tractor and old NH hay implements. I'm certainly not too worried about getting parts for my 4 year old JD (made in the US) tractor. I would be concerned if I had one of the lower tier imports because it's not likely most will survive.

 

[FULL PULL]

I KNOW SEVERAL LOYAL BRANSON DEALERS AS WELL AS CONSUMERS. THE REASON IS THE PEOPLE WHO WORK TO AND SUPPORT THE BRAND. No, I do not work for them.

THEY TAKE A TRUE INTEREST IN THEIR DEALERS NETWORK AND WANT THEM TO SUSTAIN (AS THEY ALL DO) BUT HONESTLY IN TODAYS WORLD OF LOGOS AND EMBLEMS IT STILL COMES DOWN TO THE MAN/WOMAN BEHIND THE COUNTER. A HANDSHAKE AND LONG TERM TRUST.

WHAT DOES MONTANA BRING TO THE TABLE OTHER THAN WHAT SEEMS TO BE A LARGE MARKETING BUDGET? They seem to hop into and out of bed with who ever will sell to them.Branson is Kukje and they are the manufacturer not a marketing entitity. In all acaulity a simple fix. They got a super product line but a crappy marketing venue.

If it were me I would stick w/ Branson I think they have the true potential to be the 600 pound gorilla in the industry.

I saw a posting and do not recall which one who said their JD made in the USA- - just exactly which model is that in this size class? I thought JDwasamarketing companylike Montana in this size class- but I could be wrong.

These are just some thoughts of mine.

 

[HauntedBranch]

I have read this thread with some interest since I am considering a Montana among other tractors. It seems to me that, if you plan to keep the machine for the long haul, the main concern is parts. I have exchanged e-mails with someone at LS and they tell me I will be able to get parts for the LS Montanas at either LS or Montana. In any event, the tractor I am looking at appears to have identical siblings in other LS-manufactured lines. Am I missing something big and dangerous?

Phil

 

[polo1665]

I have read this thread with some interest since I am considering a Montana among other tractors. It seems to me that, if you plan to keep the machine for the long haul, the main concern is parts. I have exchanged e-mails with someone at LS and they tell me I will be able to get parts for the LS Montanas at either LS or Montana. In any event, the tractor I am looking at appears to have identical siblings in other LS-manufactured lines. Am I missing something big and dangerous?

Phil

IMO I don't think you are going to have much of a problem aquiring parts. You may however find it difficult to find someone to cover these parts and associated labor under the warranty if the badge brand goes under. If you are willing and able to do the work yourself, and foot the bill for parts if something goes wrong, you should be fine.

Mark

 

[JoeinTX]

"IMO I don't think you are going to have much of a problem aquiring parts. You may however find it difficult to find someone to cover these parts and associated labor under the warranty if the badge brand goes under. If you are willing and able to do the work yourself, and foot the bill for parts if something goes wrong, you should be fine...."


Agree.

Parts (and possibly in a different color from your tractor's) I don't believe are a huge issue. But, as said, issues/items that would be covered under a warranty could become very questionable should the brand/dealer base go kaput. I don't know what LS's warranties look like but I think it's probable they are different than what is offered by Montana and there's not guarantee that LS would assume them should Montana not.

As for now, though, Montana says they will honor the terms of any warranty the've sold for a green tractor.

 

[shakin]

not worried about my montana, (if you didn't figure it out i'm an owner) my dealer tells me they are not leaving the market, and they are leveraging for a bigger piece of the pie. i'm going to sit here and wait but i will not lose any sleep over this. i trust my dealer and i would buy from him again, parts for my ls built will not be an issue as he is going to be an ls dealer also, along with the tym brand. he has sold bransons and is listed as a branson dealer but there has not been any on the lot for years why is that poor distribution, i think kukje needs montana to sell their product and montana needs someone to build. they dont care who builds their units as long as they are competively priced and built with quality just my 2c.

 

[JoeinTX]

shakin,

Not being negative.....just curious. Why is your Montana dealer taking on LS as well? Is he keeping Montana and adding LS or dropping Montana? Is he now a Montana/LS/Branson dealer?

Adding LS makes me wonder if he's worried about supporting LG-sourced Montana products in the future. If he's secure about that through Montana, regardless of future OEMs wearing the green paint, why do it? Not saying your dealer is in the wrong but just trying to figure out this puzzle.

 

[shakin]

joel he is taking on the ls line for only a couple of models. he is dissapointed that montana will not be carrying these. he feels there are a couple of units in ls's line that are the best deal going in the tractor market, and he has sold lots of these, mine is one. montana has been great this summer i thought i had a problem and before the tractor had been even split they had sent the parts to him no questions asked. come to find out it was just an adjustment on the 2 stage clutch indside the case(i was there to watch this) and the parts were returned. i am concerned that the branson units may not come quick enough he is also a branson dealer and i think it has been at least 2 years since there was one on the lot, hopefully they come quicker than that. maybe that to is why he decided to take on ls also. he is also a tym dealer but i found those to be more expensive and didn't really see any real difference. now i'll answer the question all have been wanting to ask and yes he used to be a used car dealer. the signs are still up but he no longer does this. he does have a transmission shop as this is where his auto experience is. and he is a full fledged tractor dealer carrying now 4 brands and 3 or 4 brands of implements. he would rather sell tractors than doanything else the profits are so good on the tranny rebuilds that he can't pass them up.

larry