Buying a tractor sight unseen...

[hosspuller]

Beware... Tractors don't have titles. But may have undisclosed liens or be stolen. This could be much more expensive than a mechanical defect. Buying from a dealer reduces the risk.

 

[Cruiserdog]

This is probably more common than I think, but what are people thoughts on this?

Im in the market for my 1st tractor and im having a lot of fun looking and researching, but im finding that the right used tractor isnt around every corner! I have a buddy who runs lowboys in the lower 48 and he can help me ship one back if I purchase one out of the area. This opens up a lot more opportunities for me but what are the pros and cons of doing this? Anyone have experience in buying a tractor you havent seen? What questions would you ask the seller? Would you trust most sellers when they say "its pretty nice"??? I feel like a can find a really good deal on the tractor I really want... BUT I can see getting burnt on an experience like this as well, and I dont have thousands to loose!

Whats your advice/suggestions?

Thanks!

Would you buy a used car unseen? I think that will answer your question.

 

[Jchonline]

From Ask Tractor Mike (and I thought was great insight from a former dealer employee) Spring and Summer months on dealer lots are super busy. They take in the trade-ins, but seldom have time in the shop to actually look them over during this time. Shop time is spent fixing machines that need to get back into the field. So they sit on the lot until the winter. That certainly doesnt stop the sales team from posting them online to sell. If you are buying a used machine then #1 question is has it been looked at thoroughly by the service department, and what issues did they find.

 

[fried1765]

Would you buy a used car unseen? I think that will answer your question.

I have bought a used car unseen twice!
Both on E-Bay!
Both deals worked out just fine!
I still have both vehicles ten+ years later.

 

[super55]

I have bought 2 tractors and one commercial mower online and being "unseen", two of them with what many would consider high hours. In todays age you can go off so much more then pictures. I will agree nothing beats an on site inspection but most sellers these days have the ability or know someone that can do a FaceTime conversation or send you vid clips of the tractor. If a pic is worth a thousand words then a vid is worth 10 thousand because you can learn a lot from listening, seeing it operate and such.

2 of them had minor issues which weren't discussed or known about prior to purchase but I was able to fix relatively easily. The big thing was for me was savings. In each purchase I saved thousands even after shipping was figured in. Most dealers that I have seen if they know there is chance there is a major mechanical issue won't even list it and will send it directly to the auction lot.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

This is probably more common than I think, but what are people thoughts on this?

Im in the market for my 1st tractor and im having a lot of fun looking and researching, but im finding that the right used tractor isnt around every corner! I have a buddy who runs lowboys in the lower 48 and he can help me ship one back if I purchase one out of the area. This opens up a lot more opportunities for me but what are the pros and cons of doing this? Anyone have experience in buying a tractor you havent seen? What questions would you ask the seller? Would you trust most sellers when they say "its pretty nice"??? I feel like a can find a really good deal on the tractor I really want... BUT I can see getting burnt on an experience like this as well, and I dont have thousands to loose!

Whats your advice/suggestions?

Thanks!

The wild card here is not the tractor, boat or vehicle condition as much as it is the head of the buyer. Some people are not able to trust themselves or others so naturally buying sight unseen is out of the question because they know their limitations. For others buying sight unseen can be as exciting as a trip to the river boat.

Humans are basically honest.

Where one is spending $3300 or $33,000 is another factor in my case.

Life is a gamble at best. Risk means different things to different people.

Knowing one's limitations when it comes to taking risks is the most important thing in my view.

Some will shop online for spouse and others would never do such think.

 

[airbiscuit]

If only a spouse came with a warranty or a lemon law

 

[the old grind]

No wonder I do so poorly on dating sites. Maybe I could list the terms of MY warranty.

 

[fried1765]

If only a spouse came with a warranty or a lemon law

I think they should come with predetermined trade in values.... for age, and number of years used.

 

[rew1953]

I think they should come with predetermined trade in values.... for age, and number of years used.

Are we still talking about tractors?

 

[milkie62]

I found a Kubota M6800 with only 320 hrs that was about $8k cheaper than anything around me. Was about 400 miles away. Did an overnite trip with my wife to look at it. Was everything dealer said it was and he even hooked me up with a trucker for $600. Basically $1.5/miles loaded. This was back in 2012.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Are we still talking about tractors?

Some are the same ones posting on the You might be getting old thead so it's hard to know what the subject may be from post to post.

 

[fried1765]

Are we still talking about tractors?

Nope!
Not at the moment.

 

[TractorGuy]

Bought both of my tractors online. Neither showed up as I hoped but I came out okay on value. I did have to do a lot of work and spent thousands more on repairs and upgrades after I got them.

 

[swampbuggy77]

When buying from a distance, what痴 the best way to find a shipper? A lot of the transport companies just seem to be brokers that add crazy markups.

 

[goeduck]

I am not the type to buy sight unseen but I am not in a remote location with little selection. So I can see people doing it, hopefully with caution.

 

[rScotty]

I find that I learn a lot about a tractor - and the seller - by requesting that he make a very complete video with good sound of it starting cold, warm, working, looking around at all the areas of the engine, axles, transmission. And operating everything.

If I like what I see and hear, I'll like the tractor. Or at least I have so far. I've bought from 1000 miles away and had good luck. I also turned a few down.
For shipping, Either the sellers or myself have always been able to find someone with a partial load willing to take a small to medium size tractor for reasonable. Farmers do hauling in the off season, and some retired guys do too. I've never had to haul something the size of our 310.
rScotty