FarmTrac Troubles

[smith mall]

Monday, will definitely be a good day.A day which decides the future of the historical long tractor legacy.
Looks like the korean tractors will have some chance.Indian tractors appear to be left out in the cold.
Well everyone has waited long enough,another three days

[redneckford]

So what becomes of all the tractors on Dealer Lots, from reading the Docs that "blue" posted, upside down I may add, got a head ache trying to read them---hit the print button and just turned the paper---there's hope yet?---They "Floor planned Tractors" and the incoming parts from Escorts are not included in the $10,000,000.00 bid----Does the Montana Bid cover the floor planned tractors????------you guys have got to get this worked out-----cause I want to go shrimping on Tax-----s new "BOAT"?????????? If LS Mtron is rewarded the bid will Montana still be able to deal unimpaired with Escorts of India???? What part does Carraro of Italy have in the new Escorts Deal---alot of restructuring going on in India???

[SESS]

Hey Red-The tractors on the dealers lots, are just that-on the dealers lots. ALL of those tractors are just sitting and waiting. Much like the dealers. The great Tex*** is pounding away every day trying to break us...literally. Monday might bring a new owner for the Farmtrac facility, but it will not do anything for the tractors on the dealers lots. That is still another issue we are trying to resolve.

[smith mall]

yes,I also printed the notes and read them.
Floor plan appears to be nowhere disussed.Montana may or may not be a part of the deal.I thing if LS does the deal Montana will have to think about its existence .
Yes Escorts parts are not a part of the deal but these have been coming for the last 6months but never reached.(think they have not even left for here)
I heard about some activity on the availability of Parts for utility tractors and there are big statements on the net for availability.I was given a fax no. for availability of Farmtrac parts.Contacted them and got about 70% of my requirement of parts .The no. is fax 516-538-0485.ph.516-538-0484.

[redneckford]

Originally Posted by smith mall

I thing if LS does the deal Montana will have to think about its existence .
.

Do not think for a minute that JB's crew will throw in the towel from a little bump in the road.THEY KNOW HOW TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS BUSINESS CLIMATE!!!!! From trucking to cargo they have been in these ups and downs many times-----and they just got bigger!!!! Many foreign manufactures would love to have the Montana network selling their product---they may not admit that publicly. Heck I would not be surprised to see a new AMERICAN MADE product to come from this whole mess. What about a GM ,Ford or Dodge tractor they still make stuff----it just is not selling now!!! I believe that more consolidation will occur but brand name alone will not carry the day as the market is changing rapidly and PARTS AND SERVICE will again lead the sells effort!!!! Why do we expect a service job to pay so much less than a manufacturing job?? Those Lawnmower/Tractor mechanics will be making $30 to $40 per hour and Shop Labor rates will be in the $80 range and people will want to train for those type jobs again!!!! That is the business model of the future---Bet Montana has this already figured out ---do the rest of the MFG's?? Component Replacement not Repair-----Manufacturing of the future just the way is!!!!! Service driven not marketing driven!!!! It is still all about the profit---your pocket or mine!!!!

[smith mall]

JB's crew need not to throw in the towel.Problem is that the volumes are too low for comfort for them and with the manufacturer coming in they are heading for a showdown and in the process dealers will have confusion.

Parts and service should be the key,when???
Any idea if there have been any bids by the closing time???????

[Tim D]

Somebody plumb me up here a little. Why would LS Mtron want to buy this out anyway as they are already selling there tractors in this country under different names and colors? Could it be that they are wanting the distributorship for the Indian tractors. Just food for thought. Just more ramblings from a lunatic.

[redneckford]

Originally Posted by Tim D

Somebody plumb me up here a little. Why would LS Mtron want to buy this out anyway as they are already selling there tractors in this country under different names and colors? Could it be that they are wanting the distributorship for the Indian tractors. Just food for thought. Just more ramblings from a lunatic.

Control---Leverage!!! What if Montana went to building a Tractor of Their own in the USA Or getting tractors from an Indian supplier----where would that leave LS Mtron and their product???

Looks to me the bids where equal on the face---who wants to wait 10 years to get $1.5 million (Not Textron) knowing that the clean up cost will eat up all that plus some. Bet Montana gets the Bid on Monday!!!! For $8.6 million for assets no real estate!!!! The State/City will wined up with the property for taxes and they will have to deal with the environmental issues!!! Just a quess in this Poker Game. No one wants to hold'um!!!

[SESS]

The winning bidder also gets a plant that is completely equiped to build their own loaders-Montana doesnt have that, LS Cable and Escort did not have that either. That was the good thing about Farmtrac-they built their own loaders. $8.6 million is heck of a deal....too bad they won't have any dealers to stand behind the new buyer. That is my opinion and could be felt differently by other dealers. Don't get me wrong, I will be pleased that the deal goes through on Monday-FINALLY something will be happening. BUT that in no way changes the position that Farmtrac/Tex*** has put my dealership in. None of the $10 million will be sent to FLA to help me and none of the tractors I have will be taken off my lot like what should happen. So, only a small problem is resolved!
Escort parts are on the slow boat from India being powered by carrier pigeons! The parts are coming though!!!

[redneckford]

Alot of FarmTrac Dealers in this part of the US become Montana/Textron Dealers early on in this poker game. I would not be surprised to see alot of FarmTrac tractors repainted/redecaled Green and sold after all this plays out. From what is being reported in regards to the stock market you have more money than Textron if you have .02. Their golden boys have missed the hand in this poker game also. It is sad but it is only money. Yeah RIGHT! Heck maybe someone could get ahold of all those old Ford toolings and build a 2/3000 again in the USA! Many people still want to buy a tractor that will last a life time----the marketers don't like that but who cares about them RIGHT! Oups!! my third cousin on the fifth cousin side works in marketing---She may lose her job and house ---we can't have that now can we!