Any Tricks to Finding Used Implements?

[robertm]

Thanks everybody. I drive about 50k a year with my eyes open always... for used implements, too! The only think I have passed up worth buying (I should have) was a John Deere 3pt generator. The rest has been good fishing structure. I know when I call some of these dealers for used they say they have nothing hoping to sell their new stuff, so I guess I'll make it a little more of a habit to stroll the lots more often.

And Bucknut, thanks for the link. That's a good idea, too... finding packages someone might split.

 

[EddieWalker]

It's garden planting time, so this is probably the worse time of the year for finding a used rototiller. I've found that off season is when I come across allot of deals, or just before spring hits. People know that they want to sell something and think that the best time to list it is just before other people will need it.

I'm always searching the classifieds for what I want. I've found that typing in a key word works the best because sometimes it gets listed in the wrong area, or one will turn up in another area. Sometimes it's not worth the gas money to drive that far, but a few times, I've been very tempted. 100 miles is about as far as I've driven to buy anything.

Craigslsist, American Classifieds, the local paper and Ebay are the main places that I check on. Auctions are all over the place, if it's there and in good shape, it can be either really cheap, or go for more then brand new. I've never tried approaching people if I saw something in their yard, but have had good luck with driving backroads and finding items with a for sale sign on them. If I go someplace for one reason or another, I will try to come back a different route. This is how I found my dumptruck. I went to test drive one dump truck, then drove home a different way and saw it sitting in a front yard with a sign on it.

Good Luck,
Eddie

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I buy and sell all sorts of used tractors and implements. I started way back when I was still in high school as a way to suppliment my income. It's been very profitable over the years, as well as landing me some nice (CHEAP TOO) equipment for my own use. Recent years, it's getting increasingly tougher to find good equipment at good prices. The supply is drying up as the demand increases. The internet has also hurt in some ways. It has led to the general public being more aware of what a bargain is and where to find them.

Best places to find used implements;

Auctions....Estate sales seem (to me) to be the best source of better quality pieces, but consignment sales can net results too.

Craigslist.... Relatively new to the "game", CL is a good place to watch for bargains. Keep eyes and ears open. Not every item is described well. Sometimes you can sneak up on bargains simply because they aren't listed correctly. Also, post "wanted to buy" (WTB) adds. I've found a few things that way.

EBAY....You play the game, you take your chances. Enough said.

Drop hints to every salesman at the dealerships....Let 'em know you're in the market. Often they'll have leads on items that a potential customer might want to "move" but not at a price where they can take 'em in on trade.

Knock on doors.....Good way to find deals, good way to get chased off someones porch..... If you see something that's been sitting un-used for ages, never hurts to ask. I found a killer deal on an IH 474 tractor that way last spring.

Move quick. Bargains don't sit around long. If something is cheap, buy it. You might not NEED it, but reselling can be profitable, AND, it brings potential TRADERS to your door. The more you deal with equipment, the more channels of opportunity you open.

 

[DELInstallations]

Same luck here as the OP. Can't find a reasonable box blade for the life of me, especially not the hinged one I really want

 

[Ductape]

I'd say 90% of the stuff I've bought or sold was through Craigslist. If you are looking for a hot deal, you pretty much need to check many times per day. Good deals are gone within a couple hours....... often much quicker than that (unfortunately for anyone stuck at work all day).

One thing that has worked for me in the past....... a seller was trying to sell his tractor and all implements as a package. I only wanted his rear snowblower. He wasn't interested in selling it seperately, but I insisted he take down my phone number anyway. Literally four hours later he called me...... he had a buyer who wanted everything BUT the snowblower. I was at his house loading the snowblower before anyone had a chance to change their minds.

 

[kebo]

I'd say 90% of the stuff I've bought or sold was through Craigslist. If you are looking for a hot deal, you pretty much need to check many times per day. Good deals are gone within a couple hours....... often much quicker than that (unfortunately for anyone stuck at work all day).

One thing that has worked for me in the past....... a seller was trying to sell his tractor and all implements as a package. I only wanted his rear snowblower. He wasn't interested in selling it seperately, but I insisted he take down my phone number anyway. Literally four hours later he called me...... he had a buyer who wanted everything BUT the snowblower. I was at his house loading the snowblower before anyone had a chance to change their minds.

I've had GREAT luck finding some very good deals on craigslist myself. Bought a 4ft rake for $100. Bought a nice IM502 bush hog with slipclutch for $500. Even bought my tractor from seller on CL for $9700. Have seen MANY other good deals that I just passed on, either because I didn't need it or it was just too far go get.

Sounds to me like you need to exapnd your search area. To get some good deals, you have to be willing to travel sometimes. The guy I bought the 4ft rake from got it in a deal for his 4x4 Kubota with FEL. He drove from SC to Florida to get the tractor, but truthfully he found it on the Big "E". Regardless, he was willing to go get it for a great price.

If you are searching CL for just the one city nearest you, then usually you will be hardpressed to find good deals that are pretty close to what you are looking for. I would suggest you expand your search to maybe include least 4 or 5 more cities that aren't too much of a drive should you find a deal on one of them.

There are a couple Craigslist search engines that can really cut down on your search efforts by searching as many cities as you specify, all at the same time for a specific keyword. If you (or anyone) wants the URL, just send me a PM and I will send it to you.

 

[kebo]

FWJ wrote:"Move quick. Bargains don't sit around long. If something is cheap, buy it. You might not NEED it, but reselling can be profitable, AND, it brings potential TRADERS to your door. The more you deal with equipment, the more channels of opportunity you open."

So true!! And keep enough cash on hand so you can strike when the iron is hot. If you have to wait for the bank to open on Monday to get money out, then you probably will be a day late and a dollar short on a good deal.

 

[Knight]

You can find implements, but some times you have to work on them. If your handy and/ or can weld, etc. You do well.
A month ago I just picked up brand spanking new 60" tiller for free. This is how I did it.
Actually I bought a used one and a new one for $800. I had to work on both and I sold the used one $800. My new one is now free. The person I sold to today called me up to tell me he just tilled 2 acres and wanted to thank me because the tiller work flawlessly. He actually got a near new tiller for half price, so he didn't do bad either. The truth is I did spend time in fixing both. If I worked my regular job I could have bought a new out right and I would have been ahead of the game. But my work is slow and I like working on things.
You must be willing to put time in fixing up.

 

[milt in ny]

you want a rear snowblower? so did i. my solution, find two 24in blower bodies, augers, propellers, and shoots. bolt together, with 2in space between,and ta ta,50in 3pt hitch snowblower. of course propellers turn oppisite direction. but a little heren and atheren and some fancy placed sprockets, and chain and i can't wait for winter. the fun thing is going to watch snow being blown in 2 direction a the same time. will have pictures when i figure out how to post them.

 

[nickel plate]

This depends on your implement usage area. Here in the central valley of California, the majority of used implements are crop and orchard pieces. It took me no time at all to find a decent offset disc but have had absolutely no luck for over a year to find a fairly modern sub-frame mounted backhoe attachment so I did extensive homework on locating and buying a new Woods BH90-X Groundbreaker w/ hydraulic thumb. Got it for just a couple of grand more than some used east coast units that were impossible for me to inspect and would have added another grand to ship.