Bye, Bye Branson???

[MossRoad]

How is Power Trac any different ??
They don't have dealers to see if they would come/go. But what makes that Mfg. any safer bet than any of these other brands you speak of..
Their not IMO.

How is Power Trac any different? Well, for one, they're still in the same location they were 18 years ago, while the 4 or 5 brands I listed above aren't. The dealers come and go, fold up, drop the brand, etc...

Had I wanted a conventional tractor back in 2001, I'd have purchased a New Holland TC21D, a Kubota BX2200, or a JD4100, in that order. They all had established dealers that are still there today. I wouldn't have had to worry about some lawn mower shop, junk yard, or feed store dropping their affiliation with brand X and then having to search for dealers and parts. Which is exactly what happened to many people that purchased such brands. People read about that, and become gun-shy towards purchasing said brands. PT has been in the same place for the 18 years that I've owned my machine, while the 4 or 5 brands I listed above that were once sold locally, have come and gone, moved, sold out, come back, and gone again. It's about track record.

Until those lesser brands can show that they'll select reputable dealers and service centers, maintain some consistency in their brand, and provide some security and peace of mind to potential buyers, there will always be doubt about those brands in the consumers' minds.

 

[zoedog2012]

Apples to oranges; how many PT dealers would still be in business?

 

[Aquamoose]

I bought my 3520h three states over (720 miles from CA to WA) and had it shipped from Branson Bob and got a very solid tractor. With research, Branson got me sold because of years of international experience and their engine and it’s been proving itself to be one heck of a tractor which I’m happy about.

I do preventative maintenance and it’s actually fun to do them & isn’t hard to do. It wouldn’t bother me to do it again.

 

[ericm979]

I do my own maintenance but I'd hesitate to buy from a one man mower and tractor dealer. Fortunately Branson has many real dealers too. My dealer's excellent. Hopefully with their expanded lineup, new features and stronger backing since the TYM deal, they'll be able to attract more, and better quality, dealers.

 

[MossRoad]

Apples to oranges; how many PT dealers would still be in business?

I'm not comparing those other brands to PT. I'm not advocating for any brands to follow the same business model as PT. I'm wishing those brands would get better dealers and keep them for longer to provide some semblance of stability to the customers. It would only help them in the long run to have a stabil dealer network. I'd like them to succeed, but they keep shooting themselves in the presentation foot.

You drive down the road, and see a nice dealership, with several models on display, and they have a nice, clean service area and well stocked parts department VS something like this, which was the entrance to our local brand X dealer for a year or two, until it wasn't anymore. It's a tractor junk yard. No service. No indoor sales room. Why do they even allow their products to be sold at such locations? Holy %$^$#!!!!

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Just bought a 2019 3015R Branson from one of their oldest dealers (started carrying Branson in 2001), which is only about 35 minutes away. So I feel pretty good about my dealer. It also helps that their National Headquarters is only 1.5 hours from me. I understand the hesitation of someone who lacks a dealer closer that an hour or 2 away. Even after a not so great experience with a used Branson, I felt like the bang for your buck you get with a Branson is too great to ignore. Not to mention the fit and finish and their engine. I for one hope they stick around!

 

[MossRoad]

Just bought a 2019 3015R Branson from one of their oldest dealers (started carrying Branson in 2001), which is only about 35 minutes away. So I feel pretty good about my dealer. It also helps that their National Headquarters is only 1.5 hours from me. I understand the hesitation of someone who lacks a dealer closer that an hour or 2 away. Even after a not so great experience with a used Branson, I felt like the bang for your buck you get with a Branson is too great to ignore. Not to mention the fit and finish and their engine. I for one hope they stick around!

That's a good story to hear. I hope they stick with it. :thumbsup:

 

[LouNY]

I'm not comparing those other brands to PT. I'm not advocating for any brands to follow the same business model as PT. I'm wishing those brands would get better dealers and keep them for longer to provide some semblance of stability to the customers. It would only help them in the long run to have a stabil dealer network. I'd like them to succeed, but they keep shooting themselves in the presentation foot.

You drive down the road, and see a nice dealership, with several models on display, and they have a nice, clean service area and well stocked parts department VS something like this, which was the entrance to our local brand X dealer for a year or two, until it wasn't anymore. It's a tractor junk yard. No service. No indoor sales room. Why do they even allow their products to be sold at such locations? Holy %$^$#!!!!

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I do believe that you are making mountains out of molehills;
When I think back to the tractor and farm equipment dealerships from the late 50's early 60's.
A lot of them didn't look to much different then that at the time, some grew and prospered some didn
That includes many that did have nice locations and buildings that are no longer in business.
How many people would have predicted Allis-Chalmers, Oliver, White, Case, Farmall, Minneapolis-Moline and others
and that without getting to Avery's, Sear's, Montgomery Ward's, Rummley's and numerous others.
I don't know off many individuals with the ability to go out and set up a new dealership, aquire a stock of parts,
and a lineup of tractors and equipment for display. Those that could are getting to old or to smart to tie up all that money.
Good dealers can help make or break a brand but thats only a small part of it, the manufacture has to commit to producing
affordable durable desirable pieces of equipment and supporting them for decades. I don't even hear the big ones
talking about support 20-50 years from now or even guaranteeing parts availability for 10 years or even 5 years or any length of time.

 

[MossRoad]

I'm just saying why I believe allowing places like junk yards, fix it shops, etc... to be listed in their dealer locator system, coupled with the frequent pop-up then go away locations where they are sold, isn't doing them any favors in making people feel comfortable about purchasing their product, and tends to feed the skepticism of potential buyers that they may not be around in the future, which leads those buyers towards other more established brands.

It's one of the reasons I'm following the RK current business model, and seeing how it progresses. The local RK store sold tractors several years ago. No one remembers what brand it was, if they serviced them, where they are now, etc... then they stopped selling tractors. Now RK has a different business model, they appear to be rolling it out consistently, they've stated their plans and how to support them. Only time will tell if it succeeds or not. But it appears they have a better plan that many of the other brand X tractors.

 

[DavesTractor]

Interesting to read through this. We started selling Branson in 2002 or 2003, and we are pretty consistently the #1 or #2 volume Branson dealer in the USA. We sell hundreds of tractors a year. But we started out as one of those places...selling out of our little barn down the driveway past our house. A neat and clean little barn, but they really should not have signed me on as a dealer. But they took a chance and we grew quickly, bought more property and built a facility and got "all proper" by late 2005. So I have some sympathy regarding the mom and pop stores, but I think you have to be smart about it. If a guy has been in business for years and his place is a mess he isn't going to change by taking on a new tractor brand.

I think it is ok that some people questioned whether Branson was going to stay in business. Many of us knew that DK wanted to divest the Kukje part of their conglomerate. It is nice that TYM made the purchase as they are a tractor company at their core and not just some investment group. I was not worried in the past, but it is comforting to know that this purchase has happened and Branson USA is stronger than ever. Many new products coming soon. 2615, 2505, some cool stuff.

Having just any chainsaw shop or feed store become a dealer is common when a new brand pushes into the USA. I think they have made mistakes in signing up dealers, but all brands do. They are established enough now that they really need to set the bar a little higher as they go forward.

As a dealer, we really like dealing with Branson. They are just nice folks, and that means something.