Tom_H
Veteran Member
\'Botanomics 101
Yesterday, in one of his posts, Junkman said you'd better be sitting down when you learn the price of a new B2630 or B3030. I got to wondering what could make them so expensive. Fuel/shipping costs were up, but are now dropping. Steel surcharges hurt, but they aren't that much. Then I started wondering if Kubota prices are tied to the dollar or the yen.
I'm under the impression most 'Botas for sale here are assembled in Georgia, but don't know where most of the parts are made. The dollar has been dropping against the yen for a long time. That means U.S. manufacturers can export more easily, but it also means that imported items (like tractors) cost more. This can be good for the trade deficit, yet it makes imported items more expensive to U.S. consumers who have gotten spoiled on low import prices. I came up with several questions related to Kubota and economic issues. I know I probably could find some of this info. on Kubota's own site, but thought it would be a lot more fun to ask what you guys know about these things. Here goes:
1. How many Kubota products sold in the U.S. are assembled in the U.S.?
2. Of the products assembled in the U.S., what percentage of the parts are manufactured in the U.S., in Japan, in other places?
3. Is the price we pay for a Kubota product tied to the dollar or the yen? To what extent does the slide of the dollar against the yen affect the price you and I pay?
4. When you or I buy a Kubota product, what percentage of the money we pay stays in the U.S. and what percentage gets shipped off to Japan? Obviously the assembly workers in Georgia get part of it as well as the U.S. local dealers. I also wonder what percentage of Kubota stock is owned by U.S. citizens, mutual funds, or other corporations, and what percentage of the stock is owned by the same entities in Japan, as well as nations other than these two. Obviously some Kubota profits come back to Americans who own Kubota stock, but how much?
5. How has Kubota stock performed in the last couple of years? Do any of you guys own stock in Kubota? If so, have you been pleased or displeased with it?
Well, this post is for fun (but in some seriousness it's also out of curiosity about where our money goes). For any of these questions that you want to share your facts or opinions about, please go for it. I'm not lookin' for anything that will help me make any decision, just thought I'd open this can of worms to see what's there.
Yesterday, in one of his posts, Junkman said you'd better be sitting down when you learn the price of a new B2630 or B3030. I got to wondering what could make them so expensive. Fuel/shipping costs were up, but are now dropping. Steel surcharges hurt, but they aren't that much. Then I started wondering if Kubota prices are tied to the dollar or the yen.
I'm under the impression most 'Botas for sale here are assembled in Georgia, but don't know where most of the parts are made. The dollar has been dropping against the yen for a long time. That means U.S. manufacturers can export more easily, but it also means that imported items (like tractors) cost more. This can be good for the trade deficit, yet it makes imported items more expensive to U.S. consumers who have gotten spoiled on low import prices. I came up with several questions related to Kubota and economic issues. I know I probably could find some of this info. on Kubota's own site, but thought it would be a lot more fun to ask what you guys know about these things. Here goes:
1. How many Kubota products sold in the U.S. are assembled in the U.S.?
2. Of the products assembled in the U.S., what percentage of the parts are manufactured in the U.S., in Japan, in other places?
3. Is the price we pay for a Kubota product tied to the dollar or the yen? To what extent does the slide of the dollar against the yen affect the price you and I pay?
4. When you or I buy a Kubota product, what percentage of the money we pay stays in the U.S. and what percentage gets shipped off to Japan? Obviously the assembly workers in Georgia get part of it as well as the U.S. local dealers. I also wonder what percentage of Kubota stock is owned by U.S. citizens, mutual funds, or other corporations, and what percentage of the stock is owned by the same entities in Japan, as well as nations other than these two. Obviously some Kubota profits come back to Americans who own Kubota stock, but how much?
5. How has Kubota stock performed in the last couple of years? Do any of you guys own stock in Kubota? If so, have you been pleased or displeased with it?
Well, this post is for fun (but in some seriousness it's also out of curiosity about where our money goes). For any of these questions that you want to share your facts or opinions about, please go for it. I'm not lookin' for anything that will help me make any decision, just thought I'd open this can of worms to see what's there.
