Chinese digger recommendations

[dfkrug]

Your CC company offers buyer protection too, so in my opinion its a low risk.

Yes, CC companies do have some buyer protection, as you state. Great option, if available, even it you have to pay the fees.

In my experience dealing directly with a Chinese factory (not thru Alibaba) is that a US credit card is not a payment option. From the US, my only option for payment is wiring funds, last time I tried.

In China, WeChat is not only for social media and texting, it is also a payment method, but requires linking a Chinese bank acct. Chinese bank accts are not an option for US citizens, from what I was told. (I don't want one anyway.)

 

[MattB4]

Just checked and informed myself. Credit cards won’t protect if a person knowingly made the purchase and is scammed. They only protect you with unauthorized charges and disputes with legit vendors and service providers. Now I know.

If you buy a mini off Ebay some of them allow to split the charge over 2 CC's. Ebay does provide purchase protection for many of the sales though you need to read the terms about returns whether allowed and paid for or not. I don't think I would trust dealing with any individual merchant from China unless through a large multi market site like Amazon, Ebay, Aliexpress.

Ebay also has protected money wiring as a payment method. I used it for my TT-17 purchase. You wire the funds from your bank to Ebay ($25 charge from Ebay plus whatever your bank charges) and not the Seller directly.

 

[nogaltractorguy]

If you buy a mini off Ebay some of them allow to split the charge over 2 CC's. Ebay does provide purchase protection for many of the sales though you need to read the terms about returns whether allowed and paid for or not. I don't think I would trust dealing with any individual merchant from China unless through a large multi market site like Amazon, Ebay, Aliexpress.

Ebay also has protected money wiring as a payment method. I used it for my TT-17 purchase. You wire the funds from your bank to Ebay ($25 charge from Ebay plus whatever your bank charges) and not the Seller directly.

Didn’t know that option with eBay existed. That’s is went forums are great. Thanks.

 

[Carl_NH]

Here's the H18C with the Kubota 902 engine better choice / step up from the D722 FREE SHIPPING 2025 2 Ton New Mini Excavator EPA certified USA KUBOTA Diesel D902 | eBay

 

[MattB4]

Here's the H18C with the Kubota 902 engine better choice / step up from the D722 FREE SHIPPING 2025 2 Ton New Mini Excavator EPA certified USA KUBOTA Diesel D902 | eBay

That one appears a bit sketchy. Not only no Seller history but listing shipping by USPS ground.

I do see the 16C listed at HUAYEE FREE SHIPPING Mini Excavator HY16C Kubota Engine pilot controls | eBay and it is possible that Seller could arrange an 18B if you contacted them. They would have to make it an Ebay listing though.

BTW: I see a company called Bull Equipment in Texas is offering their own line of these Cheinese mini's . Might be worth a look. - BULL EQUIPMENT

Listed on Ebay also.

 

[Carl_NH]

Nogaltracorguy - it sounds like you have plenty of $ to do what you want, and also an awesome property in N California from your other posts (concerned about impact of 24% to 32% tax bracket), young 52-54 and retired early so don't have income issues per se. You are cautious, and concerned someone will scam you out of $10K or buying from a China Co with a new USA Website.

Since I have been looking at China excavators late 2023, the market has changed drastically - the OEM's like Huayee, Shantui, Rippa and others were happy selling in bulk to third party sellers like AGT Industrial. Typhoon, Vote, and many "sales only" companies. They used these third party sellers to establish a beachhead and send 1000's of mini's here in the last 2 years. Now these OEM's are all establishing a USA presence, with offices and warehouses east and west and taking their product to market directly to the consumer - some also set up "dealers" in the regions and resell via those channels.

In my opinion, you have several options;
- Buy from Huayee USA Website
- Buy a Huayee from a reseller on ebay
- Buy directly from Huayee China and get exactly what you want (via Alibaba platform etc)
- Look locally on FB for a RIppa dealer, or find a mini from local reseller - expect to pay $2-4K more for local vs on line.

The advantage of buying directly from the OEM is you can order exactly what you want, rotary pump systems - higher flow and better controls, 2 speed drives, name brand hydraulics and more. Rippa Pro15 and 18 models are an example of these more advanced units but are $15-18K vs $10K.

The Huayee machines are very well built and bottom line, I would not be concerned buying from their US Website, or just go direct to China via Alibaba.

 

[nogaltractorguy]

Nogaltracorguy - it sounds like you have plenty of $ to do what you want, and also an awesome property in N California from your other posts (concerned about impact of 24% to 32% tax bracket), young 52-54 and retired early so don't have income issues per se. You are cautious, and concerned someone will scam you out of $10K or buying from a China Co with a new USA Website.

Since I have been looking at China excavators late 2023, the market has changed drastically - the OEM's like Huayee, Shantui, Rippa and others were happy selling in bulk to third party sellers like AGT Industrial. Typhoon, Vote, and many "sales only" companies. They used these third party sellers to establish a beachhead and send 1000's of mini's here in the last 2 years. Now these OEM's are all establishing a USA presence, with offices and warehouses east and west and taking their product to market directly to the consumer - some also set up "dealers" in the regions and resell via those channels.

In my opinion, you have several options;
- Buy from Huayee USA Website
- Buy a Huayee from a reseller on ebay
- Buy directly from Huayee China and get exactly what you want (via Alibaba platform etc)
- Look locally on FB for a RIppa dealer, or find a mini from local reseller - expect to pay $2-4K more for local vs on line.

The advantage of buying directly from the OEM is you can order exactly what you want, rotary pump systems - higher flow and better controls, 2 speed drives, name brand hydraulics and more. Rippa Pro15 and 18 models are an example of these more advanced units but are $15-18K vs $10K.

The Huayee machines are very well built and bottom line, I would not be concerned buying from their US Website, or just go direct to China via Alibaba.

Nogaltracorguy - it sounds like you have plenty of $ to do what you want, and also an awesome property in N California from your other posts (concerned about impact of 24% to 32% tax bracket), young 52-54 and retired early so don't have income issues per se. You are cautious, and concerned someone will scam you out of $10K or buying from a China Co with a new USA Website.

Since I have been looking at China excavators late 2023, the market has changed drastically - the OEM's like Huayee, Shantui, Rippa and others were happy selling in bulk to third party sellers like AGT Industrial. Typhoon, Vote, and many "sales only" companies. They used these third party sellers to establish a beachhead and send 1000's of mini's here in the last 2 years. Now these OEM's are all establishing a USA presence, with offices and warehouses east and west and taking their product to market directly to the consumer - some also set up "dealers" in the regions and resell via those channels.

In my opinion, you have several options;
- Buy from Huayee USA Website
- Buy a Huayee from a reseller on ebay
- Buy directly from Huayee China and get exactly what you want (via Alibaba platform etc)
- Look locally on FB for a RIppa dealer, or find a mini from local reseller - expect to pay $2-4K more for local vs on line.

The advantage of buying directly from the OEM is you can order exactly what you want, rotary pump systems - higher flow and better controls, 2 speed drives, name brand hydraulics and more. Rippa Pro15 and 18 models are an example of these more advanced units but are $15-18K vs $10K.

The Huayee machines are very well built and bottom line, I would not be concerned buying from their US Website, or just go direct to China via Alibaba.

 

[TexTrctr]

Relative to Matt's Bull comment; I recently bought an 18-X from that company in Austin, TX...after selling my Typhon XIX that I bought in January! I liked the Typhon (Vote/Huayee mfg.) but really wanted expandable tracks and 2-speeds.

There are some pretty good deals around here for Rippa Pro18s, which I also considered, but it would have been a couple of grand more PLUS the pins are larger and it would have meant replacing ALL of the multiple attachments I had purchased when I got the Typhon.

In my opinion the Bull (Hightop mfg.) is not quite the quality of the Typhon but it does have many features I like better, beyond the 2-speeds and X-track. A couple of examples; the Kubota D902 is allowed to run up to 2500rpm and generates over 19hp in the Bull vs about 16@2300 in the Typhon, and the drivers platform has way more foot room.

 

[nogaltractorguy]

Relative to Matt's Bull comment; I recently bought an 18-X from that company in Austin, TX...after selling my Typhon XIX that I bought in January! I liked the Typhon (Vote/Huayee mfg.) but really wanted expandable tracks and 2-speeds.

There are some pretty good deals around here for Rippa Pro18s, which I also considered, but it would have been a couple of grand more PLUS the pins are larger and it would have meant replacing ALL of the multiple attachments I had purchased when I got the Typhon.

In my opinion the Bull (Hightop mfg.) is not quite the quality of the Typhon but it does have many features I like better, beyond the 2-speeds and X-track. A couple of examples; the Kubota D902 is allowed to run up to 2500rpm and generates over 19hp in the Bull vs about 16@2300 in the Typhon, and the drivers platform has way more foot room.

The Typhon XIX appears to be the same as the Huayee HY18. Do you mind telling me how much you paid for the Bull 18x. I’ve looked at them but I’m not sure it is worth that much more over the Huayee or Typhon if purchased at MSRP. Plus they do not ship for free as far as I can tell.

 

[nogaltractorguy]

Nogaltracorguy - it sounds like you have plenty of $ to do what you want, and also an awesome property in N California from your other posts (concerned about impact of 24% to 32% tax bracket), young 52-54 and retired early so don't have income issues per se. You are cautious, and concerned someone will scam you out of $10K or buying from a China Co with a new USA Website.

Since I have been looking at China excavators late 2023, the market has changed drastically - the OEM's like Huayee, Shantui, Rippa and others were happy selling in bulk to third party sellers like AGT Industrial. Typhoon, Vote, and many "sales only" companies. They used these third party sellers to establish a beachhead and send 1000's of mini's here in the last 2 years. Now these OEM's are all establishing a USA presence, with offices and warehouses east and west and taking their product to market directly to the consumer - some also set up "dealers" in the regions and resell via those channels.

In my opinion, you have several options;
- Buy from Huayee USA Website
- Buy a Huayee from a reseller on ebay
- Buy directly from Huayee China and get exactly what you want (via Alibaba platform etc)
- Look locally on FB for a RIppa dealer, or find a mini from local reseller - expect to pay $2-4K more for local vs on line.

The advantage of buying directly from the OEM is you can order exactly what you want, rotary pump systems - higher flow and better controls, 2 speed drives, name brand hydraulics and more. Rippa Pro15 and 18 models are an example of these more advanced units but are $15-18K vs $10K.

The Huayee machines are very well built and bottom line, I would not be concerned buying from their US Website, or just go direct to China via Alibaba.

Thanks for the reply. Actually, I’m located in New Mexico just north of a beautiful little town called Ruidoso. Our property sits right at 7,300 ft. Right now sitting on my porch listening to elk grazing around me. Like you said, we don’t have financial instability but we didn’t get here by not being cautious like you said. We like to invest wisely and get value for our money. I think I’m ordering the one from Temu. There is one for around $10,600 with a free ripper and a trench bucket.