Another rant about buying used

[ArlyA]

Good strategy is have a place picked out for lunch close by and don’t be afraid to walk away… they think they have you until you hop in your truck and drive away… alot of times they will call/message before you get to far!

Good point, but when some seller is showing his widget to sell, they will tell someone in the yard now "I got a guy on his way here now, if you want it, best to make offer soon!". We drove hundred miles to get a message 10 miles away "I've been trying to get a hold of you, it was sold". Was a wast of a whole day in my book.

 

[dkmc]

Good point, but when some seller is showing his widget to sell, they will tell someone in the yard now "I got a guy on his way here now, if you want it, best to make offer soon!". We drove hundred miles to get a message 10 miles away "I've been trying to get a hold of you, it was sold". Was a wast of a whole day in my book.

That's the nature of the exercise. Years ago I called about a forklift I saw for sale 60 miles from home. Guy says "come down Saturday morning, has to be 7am as I'm very busy". I get up early Sat morning, drive down, no forklift. I went in the store where it was and woman says "Oh yes that was my brothers, he told me he sold it yesterday, someone hauled it off". I called the guy and he could care less.

 

[ArlyA]

As many have said, buying used is a crap shoot. Might be a waste of a whole day or two drive. Get there and find its shot when the seller had stated "like new!"..

 

[wickemite]

For the record, I only buy new stuff when it comes to vehicles and new tractors, etc. Because I don't trust people.

But unfortunately when you like 40 plus year old tractor collecting, you have no choice but to buy used.

I bought a tractor off a facebook antique tractor site. Talked to the seller many times. Seemed like a nice guy. Again, drove many hours to go get tractor, pics looked beautiful.
As soon as I got there and saw it, I knew I was getting fleeced. But stupid me, I paid the price because I wanted it.
Then came home and had another box of parts shipped from Steiners to start all the repairs. So ya, paid way too much, but am going to end up with another nice tractor when I'm done.

But anyway, here's another @*$% that says "It's all serviced. I just replaced ALL fluids and filters. Ready to go"

Needless to say, the engine oil was black, transmission and hydraulics were all low, and I highly doubt he changed those filters. And now I just checked the engine coolant and it's nothing but p!$$ water. Don't even register in my hydrometer.

Luckily I'm not that dumb to trust people, or I would have had a frozen and cracked engine block this summer.

Oh well, I lose money but at least I save old tractors from the hands of worthless trash people.

Used stuff is in short supply here. Americans buy it at CDN price haul it south and make 30 percent before thy touch it. Old stuff only works for us folks if we can do the rebuilds ourselves including travel to Maine for decent prices on parts . Beautiful Country North of the border Nice People, however Country is run by a class of over educated underachievers. Who would all starve if they lost access to the public troth. Perhap my love of rebuilding old iron will have to come to an end

 

[tacticalturnip]

I have an even better approach. Take a buddy along and have HIM play devils advocate. He's the one pulling the dip stick and saying "Just changed the oil?? Looks pretty dirty to me"! And he picks apart any other issues or BS the seller throws at ya. If it agitates the seller you can say "He's just being cranky" or some such. The seller can get pissed if he needs to, but at your buddy not you. Seller still gets called out on his BS. When negotiating a price, you can point out the machine needs work. Works pretty well I've found. Been on both sides of it.

I love being that guy; it's even better if the machine is actually in good shape, when it's actually been maintained. Those conversations are a lot more enjoyable.

 

[ttouring]

For the record, I only buy new stuff when it comes to vehicles and new tractors, etc. Because I don't trust people.

But unfortunately when you like 40 plus year old tractor collecting, you have no choice but to buy used.

I bought a tractor off a facebook antique tractor site. Talked to the seller many times. Seemed like a nice guy. Again, drove many hours to go get tractor, pics looked beautiful.
As soon as I got there and saw it, I knew I was getting fleeced. But stupid me, I paid the price because I wanted it.
Then came home and had another box of parts shipped from Steiners to start all the repairs. So ya, paid way too much, but am going to end up with another nice tractor when I'm done.

But anyway, here's another @*$% that says "It's all serviced. I just replaced ALL fluids and filters. Ready to go"

Needless to say, the engine oil was black, transmission and hydraulics were all low, and I highly doubt he changed those filters. And now I just checked the engine coolant and it's nothing but p!$$ water. Don't even register in my hydrometer.

Luckily I'm not that dumb to trust people, or I would have had a frozen and cracked engine block this summer.

Oh well, I lose money but at least I save old tractors from the hands of worthless trash people.

I think there is an appraisal group called Ivan and they for a fee go appraise cars and trucks. They might do farm equipment too.
Its

For the record, I only buy new stuff when it comes to vehicles and new tractors, etc. Because I don't trust people.

But unfortunately when you like 40 plus year old tractor collecting, you have no choice but to buy used.

I bought a tractor off a facebook antique tractor site. Talked to the seller many times. Seemed like a nice guy. Again, drove many hours to go get tractor, pics looked beautiful.
As soon as I got there and saw it, I knew I was getting fleeced. But stupid me, I paid the price because I wanted it.
Then came home and had another box of parts shipped from Steiners to start all the repairs. So ya, paid way too much, but am going to end up with another nice tractor when I'm done.

But anyway, here's another @*$% that says "It's all serviced. I just replaced ALL fluids and filters. Ready to go"

Needless to say, the engine oil was black, transmission and hydraulics were all low, and I highly doubt he changed those filters. And now I just checked the engine coolant and it's nothing but p!$$ water. Don't even register in my hydrometer.

Luckily I'm not that dumb to trust people, or I would have had a frozen and cracked engine block this summer.

Oh well, I lose money but at least I save old tractors from the hands of worthless trash people.

There is a group called Ivan( eye van) that aprais 83k we

 

[wwidmer]

...drove many hours to go get tractor, pics looked beautiful.
As soon as I got there and saw it, I knew I was getting fleeced. But stupid me, I paid the price because I wanted it...

Yes, sucks to drive all that way to find out seller's word is crap. Facebook ads are definitely suspect. You have to be willing to walk away... you can even leave and then perhaps go back in a few/10 minutes saying you changed your mind. Assume seller would not budge on price? But you bought it anyway so guess it was worth it to you in the end.

 

[kmesr9]

For the record, I only buy new stuff when it comes to vehicles and new tractors, etc. Because I don't trust people.

But unfortunately when you like 40 plus year old tractor collecting, you have no choice but to buy used.

I bought a tractor off a facebook antique tractor site. Talked to the seller many times. Seemed like a nice guy. Again, drove many hours to go get tractor, pics looked beautiful.
As soon as I got there and saw it, I knew I was getting fleeced. But stupid me, I paid the price because I wanted it.
Then came home and had another box of parts shipped from Steiners to start all the repairs. So ya, paid way too much, but am going to end up with another nice tractor when I'm done.

But anyway, here's another @*$% that says "It's all serviced. I just replaced ALL fluids and filters. Ready to go"

Needless to say, the engine oil was black, transmission and hydraulics were all low, and I highly doubt he changed those filters. And now I just checked the engine coolant and it's nothing but p!$$ water. Don't even register in my hydrometer.

Luckily I'm not that dumb to trust people, or I would have had a frozen and cracked engine block this summer.

Oh well, I lose money but at least I save old tractors from the hands of worthless trash people.

I’ve seen both sides of this. When I was looking to buy my tractor and could only afford used I looked at dealers and Craigslist posters alike. I was looking for something specific, an 4cyl diesel, 4x4, hydro and power steering. No help from the dealer as they “didn’t” know if it was a 3cyl or a 4cyl and were too busy to check. Alas I had to drive down and find out myself that the one they listed in my price range was a 3cyl. I finally found one I liked with a belly mower albeit the deck had quite a bit of rust. I was able to talk the owner down $1,200 and got it for $9k. Now I looked at the oil and fluids and he was honest about what it needed and I felt it was a fair deal for my area. Kubota B2250 with FEL and mower.

 

[Deleted member 371759]

If you go in to the purchase educated and with realistic expectations. You will rarely be disappointed. Bringing home a 25 year old piece of equipment, truck, car or whatever and expecting to drive it or put it to work immediately with no problems is not going to happen. I see it all the time. I just bought a 30 year old truck that has been neglected. What needs to be replaced? HAHAHAHA everything. Were not expecting that were you. I always try to find at least one thing positive. Paint good, interior in great shape, engine runs good, something. If its all bad I usually keep looking.

 

[wwidmer]

... I was looking for something specific, an 4cyl diesel, 4x4, hydro and power steering. No help from the dealer as they “didn’t” know if it was a 3cyl or a 4cyl and were too busy to check. Alas I had to drive down and find out myself...

Seems if you had the model it would have been easy enough to google/look up.