Comparison The Bitterness of Poor Quality Remains Long After the Sweetness of Low Price is Forgotten

[big bubba]

my observation is that when a person gets the fever to purchase & own a new piece of equip, they will do & say about anything to justify that purchase. & overlook any big financial investment in the transaction.
dealers & bankers love to lighten the wallet of those type consumers

 

[SF82]

Why I went with my Yanmar. Quality built(same eng and trans as JD) 10 year powertrain warranty, very ergonomic, fast smooth loader with 2 function capability, and thousands cheaper than the JD equivalent. Sure the dealership is almost an hr away but no JD dealers closer either as they've been folding left and right here since before covid. Kubota is thriving and so is Kioti for that matter. Even my Yanmar dealer is Kioti and Solis as well which is owned by Yanmar

 

[Hay Dude]

I wanted a 35-40 hp tractor with a loader back in 2006 and I really wanted a JD but after I added the things I wanted I just couldn't justify the price difference, I bought a Farmtrac that was made by LS in South Korea because it came standard with all the things I wanted and at a much cheaper price, I knew when I purchased it I was on my own and probably wasn't getting top service after the sale, but I lucked out and it has never needed to go back to the shop so a good or lucky purchase for me, but if I was counting on making my living with that tractor I would have bought the Deere for parts and support. As of late I wanted to buy a tracked skid steer I priced Deere but was able to buy a Kubota for about 18k cheaper so I went with the Kubota, hopefully the parts and support will be there, time will tell. I still like my Deere tractor and can make a phone call and usually by the next day at the latest if I need parts they will be dropped off at my barn or stuck in my mailbox and that's worth a lot, so again if i was counting on making my living with this skid steer I probably would have had to go with the Deere.

And that’s just it. You buy what suits YOU best and don’t pay attention to the naysayers.
When you buy a tractor, some forget its more than a tractor. It’s parts, service, locations, etc. Lot of guys here don’t need top of the line, top dollar stuff and there’s a few making a living that need it. Theres a few who have enough coin to buy whatever they want. All good.

I’m pushing a lot more chips into the AGCO line and I don’t have a lot of AGCO dealers, but their company philosophy suits me best at this point in my career.

 

[oosik]

I've never been "burned" on a large purchase - car, tractor, implement - etc. I have deceived myself in thinking that a smaller implement of quality will do the job I need to do. I have a light weight Land Pride disk harrow - 1048. It's a quality implement - just too light to do any good for me, out here. It's the last Cat 1 implement I own. All the others have been sold and I replaced with Cat 2 implements.

 

[Reddogs]

I agree completely. I think a lot of people are misinterpreting what you are saying as "JD is the greatest!". Rather you are simply saying JD is the benchmark, the pace runner.

I too started my search at a JD dealer, I was hoping to see a 5075E or at least get a quote. After a few months of shopping and comparing, I ended up with something else. But you're right, I made my first comparisons against the JD model.

on a related note, my goodness I'm surprised JD sells as many tractors as they do. The price point for what you are getting is just so high in some cases (mileage may vary for scut, cut, utility, ag). I guess that just tells you the best ability is availability, and JD certainly has a lot of dealerships.

I was looking at the JD 5055e and got a good quote (I have it somewhere in my folder), but the 'boss' didnt want to loosen up the purse strings. And I got the Kubota, so I know what you mean...

 

[Reddogs]

My philosophy is... They are ALL good until they break and then the bellyaching starts. You very seldom see posts in here about machines or implements that are running fine and issue free...

Well, wear and tear is something you have to expect, tires, belts, hoses, but when the drivetrain locks up, or the electronics shuts off, or the hydraulics stops working with only a few hundred hours, then you know the tractor is not worth what you paid for it... So choose wisely as "Of all the words of mice and men, the saddest are, 'It might have been.'"

 

[ovrszd]

Ha! I can relate to that. Sometimes I drive the wife a bit crazy by over-evaluating purchases.

Flip side. I've missed some good deals because I couldn't pull the trigger.....

 

[ovrszd]

I have often bought cheaper stuff and regretted it but have also often been satisfied. I buy stuff all the time and don’t like it but it’s often nickel and dime stuff. Usually if I don’t feel like I can buy high enough quality I do without and/or wait.

I live in an area with some of the best farm ground in the world. I see a lot of JD equipment on this high dollar land. Lots of other colors to, but I agree, in the ag world JD does set the standard. In the homeowner stuff like most of the people on this forum have I’d say it’s JD and Kubota.

My travels across Illinois is usually on Hiway 136. Sometimes Hiway 36. You definitely have some very high dollar land!!!

 

[ovrszd]

I think Massey gets overlooked sometimes when discussing top tractor brands. Their premium tractors are extremely nice machines. I have compared with Kubota and Deere and in my mind just as equal in quality and performance as the Deere and Kubota.

My Uncle has a Massey 1643 and that tractor is nice and has served him well. Lots of room and comfortable to operate.

Massey got heavily involved in the World Market before it was cool to do so. Southwest Asia is full of 30 year old Masseys in the 40-100HP range.

 

[dodge man]

How about this concept? We all know a person who paid too much for something but it’s also a piece of crap. Everyone knows it but him and he can’t stop talking about how great it is.

 

[IndyJay]

How about this concept? We all know a person who paid too much for something but it’s also a piece of crap. Everyone knows it but him and he can’t stop talking about how great it is.

Reminds me of many years ago when wife and I were looking for a good used SUV. We were looking at one and I noticed paint overspray on the front left tire. I asked the salesman if it had been in a wreck and he replied, "No, why do you ask?". I pointed to the tire and as he leaned down to take a closer look he put his hand on the front bumper which literally fell off onto the ground. He pulled it back up without even missing a beat like he actually thought we hadn't noticed. He was still trying to sell us the SUV while holding the bumper up with his knee as we walked away laughing hysterically.

He couldn't stop talking about what a great vehicle it was.

 

[tacticalturnip]

How about this concept? We all know a person who paid too much for something but it’s also a piece of crap. Everyone knows it but him and he can’t stop talking about how great it is.

I don't even know you, and yet you attack me like this?!

 

[5030]

I don't even know you, and yet you attack me like this?!

Just a forum bub, ignore the demeaning comment and move on. Life is way too short to dwell on negativity.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Just a forum bub, ignore the demeaning comment and move on. Life is way too short to dwell on negativity.

My sense of humor may not translate well into text, but I was being nothing but facetious; thank you for the advice, however.

 

[IndyJay]

My sense of humor may not translate well into text, but I was being nothing but facetious; thank you for the advice, however.

I got it...
I thought he was talking about me!

 

[Ed Weber]

I have a small Massey (1635)
When we bought it used, we compared it to everything else we could find. The usual suspects were far too overpriced to even consider. Others in the price range had less features, fit and finish and/or capacities.
One thing that helped steer my decision may sound odd to some but the GPM on the hydraulic pump was a factor. On other machines of similar size you need to raise the RPM up far to high just to get any amount of acceptable working flow. I don't want to have to rev the engine just to lift the bucket.
So Here I am, years later still perfectly happy with my purchase. I had my reasons and needs for my choice as others do with theirs.

 

[scaredychicken]

A friend of mine made (what I call a bad decision) in January 2021, when covid had not yet impacted supply and service matters out here.

I'll call him Bob, and for various reasons, Bob is more secure buying NEW, although he can not afford it.

So, Jan 2021 - he has a blue 2018 Ford Escape (purchased NEW earlier), it is perfect for him, and I believe was AWD. He was happy with it after trading in a 2016 Ford Escort earlier. The Escape has about 38,000 kms on it, nice car, no concerns, still under warranty, and about 6 yrs left on the car loan (that he is struggling to afford). It eventually it needs some typical service and a check over. So he brings it back to the dealership, he was told that it needed a new battery (harsh winters) ... it would be about $400 plus tax. He can't afford that.
He meets a mutual friend for lunch that day, the friend is a car salesman from a nearby town.
By the end of their social lunch Bob is now on the dealership lot, looking at jeeps, test drives for fun, - our car salesman friend is apparently pretty good... an hour later, Bob has PURCHASED a BRAND NEW 2021 Jeep Compass 4x4 (uggh). The trade in gave him say $20,000, and the purchase was about $35,000 Cdn. Bob now has stretched the 6 yr car loan to 8.5 yrs, but is saving about $50 in the monthly payments.
I shook my head, and I'm not impressed with the ethics of our car salesman friend either. He knew that Bob had a perfectly good car, and a limited budget.

uggh, shakes head

meanwhile I buy quality used junk, for about $3000

 

[IndyJay]

A friend of mine made (what I call a bad decision) in January 2021, when covid had not yet impacted supply and service matters out here.

I'll call him Bob, and for various reasons, Bob is more secure buying NEW, although he can not afford it.

So, Jan 2021 - he has a blue 2018 Ford Escape (purchased NEW earlier), it is perfect for him, and I believe was AWD. He was happy with it after trading in a 2016 Ford Escort earlier. The Escape has about 38,000 kms on it, nice car, no concerns, still under warranty, and about 6 yrs left on the car loan (that he is struggling to afford). It eventually it needs some typical service and a check over. So he brings it back to the dealership, he was told that it needed a new battery (harsh winters) ... it would be about $400 plus tax. He can't afford that.
He meets a mutual friend for lunch that day, the friend is a car salesman from a nearby town.
By the end of their social lunch Bob is now on the dealership lot, looking at jeeps, test drives for fun, - our car salesman friend is apparently pretty good... an hour later, Bob has PURCHASED a BRAND NEW 2021 Jeep Compass 4x4 (uggh). The trade in gave him say $20,000, and the purchase was about $35,000 Cdn. Bob now has stretched the 6 yr car loan to 8.5 yrs, but is saving about $50 in the monthly payments.
I shook my head, and I'm not impressed with the ethics of our car salesman friend either. He knew that Bob had a perfectly good car, and a limited budget.

uggh, shakes head

meanwhile I buy quality used junk, for about $3000

It amazes me how many people trade in for a new model before paying off the one they have. My wife and I paid off the first car we bought together many, many years ago and kept banking the payment. Every car we have bought since has been cash. Owning and maintaining a car becomes very affordable when you don't have to make monthly payments!

 

[scaredychicken]

Exactly, and you can purchase BCAA / Auto Plan Memberships to cover roadside assistance and breakdowns. I suggested that to Bob also

I have too many vehicles

In the past year or so (though the method was not my intent, it met my purpose) ... I was on the lookout for a small commuter car ... it needed to be 2 door, Hatchback, Automatic, small economic engine, affordable, 4x4, all year daily driver, reasonable condition and kms, Higher than a Civic, Lower than a Jeep. Basically a Unicorn...
- sold my '91 Honda Civic hatchback, 1.6L (too low, a struggle after 4 yrs) - made some money
- bought an '04 Toyota Rav 4, awd, 4 dr, auto, 2.6L (?) - not the goal, but a suitable replacement, 6 months later I sold it to tenant who needed a vehicle - made some money
- bought an '04 Hyundai Santa Fe, awd, 4 dr, auto, 2.7L, - again, not the goal, but a cheap option - sold it last month, and more than doubled my money
- bought a '90 GMC Tracker, 2 dr, auto, 4x4, hatch, 1.6L - something like this was the GOAL - These things are overpriced because of Demand, but I had cash-flowed the purchase. Not perfect, but it will get there.

 

[hornett22]

I never considered JD when I bought either of my tractors. Next time I buy one, I still won't.