Right to repair, Why I don't want a new tractor.

JasperFrank · Aug 19, 2021

Just ordered a new water pump, and some other things for my '87 1220 Ford. Local New Holland dealer wanted twice the cost of what I could find online. Do they WANT TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS? Yes, its a little bitty, 14 HP tractor. Nothing compared to the Right to Repair issues facing people that have major investments in large scale farming. Yet, this tractor is our go to, if a car gets stuck in the snow or in a ditch, or moving around all the huge rocks we have, or pulling fallen trees out of the road, and improving the landscape and work involving a small, 20 acres tree farm lot.
I work it hard, and when it breaks, I can fix it.
Wife and I have had many discussions on if we should just get a new small tractor. The 1220 needs some hydraulic cylinders rebuilt on the FEl, and steering, a new clutch, and new brakes. Maybe 2,500 dollars total. We have the ability to buy a new compact tractor: I don't want to. I'd rather face all the things that are going to fail on this tractor, in the future, then buy in to a world whereby I don't actually own it. Its the same with cars. I'm stuck with pre-94 models of trucks I'm looking to buy. Why did they put so much electronic crap in trucks? Seen so many late models, that obviously the bed never had anything it. Why did they buy a truck, if they were not using it as a truck? Which preverted the concept of a truck? Anyway, there will be a golden age of vehicles. You can fix it, or you can't. I'll throw out that the dates are some where around the mid-nineties and back.

IndyJay · Aug 19, 2021

JasperFrank said:
This has no margin. When does you're smart house become the property of some one else? What do we OWN? I'm almost glad i'll be dead in 15 years: At least some of the old stuff, will still be around. 20 years from now, god help you to even find a Wash/Dryer combo that isn't dependent on the internet. There is going to be a divide. "They Own it," or "You Own it."

The motto for the "Great Reset" is "You'll own nothing and be happy".

Torvy · Aug 19, 2021

The only thing that I understand from the manufacturers' point of view is that they invested a gear deal of R&D and built a model to pay for that with maintenance rather than higher initial prices. It could be a bit of an ex post facto sort of situation making them change on existing models. It may make more sense to just make laws about future models. We see the same thing in video games, they used to cost 40-60 bucks and not future costs. One day they figured out people would pay for perks or upgrades. Dropped the upfront cost to free and charged for the upgrades....don't get me wrong, I don't like the system but I can at least see their POV.

old and tired · Aug 19, 2021

So I work with chemicals and know some chemical reps. There are plenty of Knock-Off; generic brands... those companies don't spend a dime to find the next chemical once resistance pops-up. The original company that holds the original US patent spent tons of money to develop the chemical. If they don't make money, no one is going to look for the next great thing...

Side note....
I could see John Deere saying screw it; you can only rent our equipment and you have to use our products to continue renting our equipment.

Torvy · Aug 19, 2021

old and tired said:
Side note....
I could see John Deere saying screw it; you can only rent our equipment and you have to use our products to continue renting our equipment.

I could see this. I could also see it turn into a war of sorts between manufacturers. A few go the rental route, a few others shoot for higher volume and lower margins and make their systems more accessible.

For me, growing up in an IH family, I have to try to avoid bias against JD. They just tend to have higher prices than most, Ceteris Paribus.

Whidbey · Aug 24, 2021

Industrial Toys said:
Remember when you would buy a computer and it came with software packages? This wasn't long ago. You owned it and the software. You were not connected to the Internet with constant updates. And then licenses. This is BS. I like old tech stand alone systems. Computers, vehicles and tractors. The consumer has the power to change this. Don't buy into it. I know. Easier said than done. At least tell them how you feel. At dealerships and tradeshows. Take that smile off their face, peddling their garbage.

When there were only mainframes and minicomputers (pcs had not arrived) the business model was to lease the software to businesses. We have come full cycle again. I know that I prefer to own my software on my PC rather than rent it.