Thanks for your comments, guys. I can always count on all of you. I decided to get the 1560. I've been spending alot of money on my property since I bought it 6 months ago, and $400 is a big difference to me.
What amazes me is the attitiude of the tractor dealers. If you're only buying implements, they just don't seem to care. I had decided on a King Kutter 60", rear discharge mower from another dealer (only $1000) about an hour from where I live. After numerous phone calls about it, I was ready to pick it up. I decided to call to confirm that they had it before I left. They reluctantly admitted that they didn't have any rear discharge mowers, and were planning on selling me a side discharge, after I specifically told them that I wanted a rear discharge. Good thing I called. Then I tried to get the same mower from the same chain at a location even further. They tried to pull the same thing! Then I got a good price on a Woods mower. After two weeks of the saleman telling me that they would get the mower delivered to the store "tomorrow", I finally gave up. That's why I decided on the Land Pride at my local tractor dealer. At least he had it in stock! But even there, I ran into problems. First, he didn't want to take a credit card, because he loses 2%. When I told him that I don't normally carry $1500 cash on me, he took the card. I asked if he could deliver it right away (He lives down the road from me, and he knows my house). He agreed, and I thought, now we're getting somewhere!
Well, when he delivered it, he took it off the trailer, and he was ready to leave. I asked if he could help me hook it up to my tractor for the first time, and he looked at me like I had three heads. But he reluctantly agreed. When we couldn't get the power shaft to fit the pto, he said it was too long, and he'd bring it back to the shop and cut it down. Now, if he had just left it, I'd still be trying to figure out why I couldn't hook it up. As he was getting in the truck with the power shaft, I said "Wait! We have to measure how much to cut off!" He said "Naw, I'll have 'em cut off 6 inches, and we'll go from there", and he drove off! If he comes back today, and the shaft is too short, he better be prepared to give me a new one!
I can't believe that I spend $1500 and he acts like he's doing me a favor. I even told him that I'm planning on getting more tractor attachments, and if he takes care of me, I'll get them all from him, and that my friend just got a used tractor and is looking for attachments, too.
I run a side business, and if I treated customers like these guys do, I'd never survive!
I'll let you all know what happens next! I had an easier time buying the darn tractor!!
