Bye, Bye Branson???

[TheMan419]

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 %$^$#!!!!

View attachment 593416

I drive past that place all the time. I never even knew it was a tractor dealer ever. I have driven past there since at least 1983 or so. What dealer was it?

 

[atsah]

It cost a pile of money to get a network going of any kind. I hope they do well because the others are in need of competition..

 

[MossRoad]

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.

That's good to hear and should add some comfort to potential buyers. Good luck to you. :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

I drive past that place all the time. I never even knew it was a tractor dealer ever. I have driven past there since at least 1983 or so. What dealer was it?

He sold Mahindra for about a year. I think he finally passed away and they are slowly selling everything in that yard for scrap. I tried to purchase a used snow blower from him about 10 years ago. He wanted the same price as it was when it was new. It was off of a late 70's Bolens, I believe. It took me almost and hour to get away from him, as he kept blocking the door to my truck and telling me about the crooked politics in our county and state that led to all of those contamination wells on his property from the chemical spills across Ireland Rd.

Remember, that entire dollar lake area was a dumping ground for industry, plus the known spill across the street.

 

[TheMan419]

He sold Mahindra for about a year. I think he finally passed away and they are slowly selling everything in that yard for scrap. I tried to purchase a used snow blower from him about 10 years ago. He wanted the same price as it was when it was new. It was off of a late 70's Bolens, I believe. It took me almost and hour to get away from him, as he kept blocking the door to my truck and telling me about the crooked politics in our county and state that led to all of those contamination wells on his property from the chemical spills across Ireland Rd.

Remember, that entire dollar lake area was a dumping ground for industry, plus the known spill across the street.

Oh yeah that place is a mess. We looked at property out there. There is a gun shop just up the road called Top Shot Armory. We looked at the house just next door to that before Top Shot moved in. House looked good in the ad, but once I realized where it was couldn't run fast enough away due to that contamination.

 

[MossRoad]

Oh yeah that place is a mess. We looked at property out there. There is a gun shop just up the road called Top Shot Armory. We looked at the house just next door to that before Top Shot moved in. House looked good in the ad, but once I realized where it was couldn't run fast enough away due to that contamination.

You got it! Small world. :thumbsup:

 

[Jstpssng]

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.

I realize that I'm comparing apples to oranges, yet this discussion reminds me of the snowsled industry in it's earlier days. Back in the '60s and early '70s every third town had a snowmobile manufacturer, but as time went on they either got absorbed by other companies or simply failed. Quite often it was a lack of business sense rather than a quality product which caused them to fail. The compact tractor industry seems to have the same growing pains on a larger scale... There is one brand which I won't consider because I did business with the dealer when he was a transmission "repair" shop; when he shook my hand I only got 3 fingers back. When he started selling tractors I cautioned a friend's son about him yet the kid made the purchase anyways... and had the same experience that I did. Yet that tractor company was absorbed by LS, and many TBN members have had very good luck with that brand tractor or the various clones which that entity has made for other companies. Ultimately it's guys like Dave's Tractor who can make a tractor worth buying.

 

[airbiscuit]

... Ultimately it's guys like Dave's Tractor who can make a tractor worth buying.

True that!

 

[DavesTractor]

You guys are too nice! Thanks for the kind words, and for the business as there are a few guys on this thread that bought from us.

 

[Aaron L]

I'm glad I made the 4-5 hour drive up to Dave's Tractor to pick up my 4020R and trailer. Very good experience overall. Impressive inventory and great service.

Dave I believe I briefly met you while I was sitting at the desk with Josh (hope I'm remembering his name) signing papers. Was a Friday afternoon. Had my wife and youngest daughter with me (she was checking out the big US states map on the wall).

This reminds me. Gotta call and order the filters for my 50 hr service. Hit 54 hrs Friday afternoon. Forgot to buy 'em when I was up there purchasing the tractor.