Dealers passing old inventory as new

[Coyote machine]

Tractors arent cars.


If the tractor is in NEW condition, ie: paint is fine. rubber too. Low hours, not previously sold, Seat not damaged etc.etc.. Then year of manufacture isnt important. Its more about condition.

Yes and no. Features differ from one year to the next, so if I'm looking at a 2013 brochure from the manufacturer and think because of it, and no information to the contrary from the selling dealer; then I may not get what I am paying for if I'm not informed about the leftover 2010 on the lot, (or whatever year the tractor I'm considering was actually built). Maybe new is the wrong word here - possibly we should substitute current model year, manufactured in the current calendar year.

Maybe tractors, like cars should be required by law to have a sticker on the tractor stating year of manufacture, list price, options included, etc. Sure would end a lot of the confusion, and possible lying, misrepresentation, etc. yes?!:thumbsup:

 

[Coyote machine]

Tractors arent cars.


If the tractor is in NEW condition, ie: paint is fine. rubber too. Low hours, not previously sold, Seat not damaged etc.etc.. Then year of manufacture isnt important. Its more about condition.

Yes and no. Features differ from one year to the next, so if I'm looking at a 2013 brochure from the manufacturer and think because of it what I'm buying is current calendar year manufactured, and no information to the contrary from the selling dealer; then I may not get what I am paying for if I'm not informed about the leftover 2010 on the lot, (or whatever year the tractor I'm considering was actually built). Maybe new is the wrong word here - possibly we should substitute current model year, manufactured in the current calendar year.

Maybe tractors, like cars should be required by law to have a sticker on the tractor stating year of manufacture, list price, options included, etc. Sure would end a lot of the confusion, and possible lying, misrepresentation, etc. yes?!:thumbsup:

 

[bandaidmd]

I was driving a people mover shuttle at our local county fair, all the tractors are new loaners from local dealers.
Strangly enough the one I was on the hour meter wasnt working, now that my friends is passing off old as new.

 

[brain55]

I was driving a people mover shuttle at our local county fair, all the tractors are new loaners from local dealers.
Strangly enough the one I was on the hour meter wasnt working, now that my friends is passing off old as new.

Yeah that's not right and likely illegal.

 

[aczlan]

Yeah that's not right and likely illegal.

Agreed.

Aaron Z

 

[RedHawkRidge]

I think there's another problem with buying a "new" that is not the current year's model. At some point you may be looking to trade in your tractor that, when you bought it, the actual mfg year wasn't that big a deal to you. Maybe you got it a little cheaper than the current year price. Now your friendly dealer is going to offer you a trade-in value that is based on its age. I would imagine auto trade-in's are more sensitive to to model year than tractors, but I'm sure the discount you got on that 2011 over a 2013 is going to come back at you some day.

 

[MFRED]

Condition and hours have always been more important to me on trade value. Model year is something that has carried over from autos in the last ten years or so. Many times manufacturers change things in the middle of the year. Early/late serial number is more important in such cases. Auto manufacturers confuse it too much in my opinion. Seemed like January this year they were already selling 2014 model year vehicles.

I do agree that a leftover or " birthday" machine should be disclosed during the sale process. Give the option of it with savings or a recently shipped model. Usually there are incentives to push old stock out.

I can see how it would be a sticky situation in today's market with shrinking corporate inventories. Many times you rely on field inventory to close a deal and no one wants to lose a sale.

As a question would a machine that ships in November or December of 2012 be alright to sell as a new 2013? even in December of this year? Just wondering what opinions are on how old is okay before disclosure is needed.

 

[LD1]

Yeah that's not right and likely illegal.

Agreed.

Aaron Z

Or could it possibly be that something just broke and was not reported????

I have had nothing but flawless performance out of my kubota. BUT....the tach cable did twist in two at 0.3 hrs. I probably had 10 or 15 hours on it before the replacement was delivered under warranty (that I replaced).

So it is possible that it is just dumb luck, or it could indeed be that the dealer is a bit shady????

 

[brain55]

Or could it possibly be that something just broke and was not reported????

I have had nothing but flawless performance out of my kubota. BUT....the tach cable did twist in two at 0.3 hrs. I probably had 10 or 15 hours on it before the replacement was delivered under warranty (that I replaced).

So it is possible that it is just dumb luck, or it could indeed be that the dealer is a bit shady????

You're right it could be just be coincidence. But definitely something to make one go hmmmm.

 

[aczlan]

Or could it possibly be that something just broke and was not reported????
I have had nothing but flawless performance out of my kubota. BUT....the tach cable did twist in two at 0.3 hrs. I probably had 10 or 15 hours on it before the replacement was delivered under warranty (that I replaced).
So it is possible that it is just dumb luck, or it could indeed be that the dealer is a bit shady????

Could be bad luck, but it would have me looking VERY closely at the rest of the tractor.

I think there's another problem with buying a "new" that is not the current year's model. At some point you may be looking to trade in your tractor that, when you bought it, the actual mfg year wasn't that big a deal to you. Maybe you got it a little cheaper than the current year price. Now your friendly dealer is going to offer you a trade-in value that is based on its age. I would imagine auto trade-in's are more sensitive to to model year than tractors, but I'm sure the discount you got on that 2011 over a 2013 is going to come back at you some day.

Maybe. Most of the value is based on hours, condition and warranty (which starts at the sale) left.

Aaron Z

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

Condition and hours have always been more important to me on trade value. Model year is something that has carried over from autos in the last ten years or so. Many times manufacturers change things in the middle of the year. Early/late serial number is more important in such cases. Auto manufacturers confuse it too much in my opinion. Seemed like January this year they were already selling 2014 model year vehicles.

Perhaps it works different with MF, but to use the JD 4720 at some time a few years ago the HP was bumped up (forget the exact number and don't have time to look up) but for this illustration let's say it was a 10 HP increase from the old model to the new.

Based on your comments, as long as the paint is shiny and the unit looks new, it would not be a big deal for you if you thought you were buying and paying for the 60HP NEW model and instead the dealer gave you a NEW 50HP and didn't mention the difference or tell you?

And then comes trade time or buy used time and they both have the same value in your mind?

That's how I read what you have typed.

 

[MFRED]

Perhaps it works different with MF, but to use the JD 4720 at some time a few years ago the HP was bumped up (forget the exact number and don't have time to look up) but for this illustration let's say it was a 10 HP increase from the old model to the new.

Based on your comments, as long as the paint is shiny and the unit looks new, it would not be a big deal for you if you thought you were buying and paying for the 60HP NEW model and instead the dealer gave you a NEW 50HP and didn't mention the difference or tell you?

And then comes trade time or buy used time and they both have the same value in your mind?

That's how I read what you have typed.

Was the hp changed at a model year? I bet its better recorded as being changed at a serial number and That's where I would look upon trade. It seems silly that a manufacture would change hp in a series without a special designation. For example the MF 5400 series that hp was changed with the tier 3 engines, the hood styling was also changed for easy identification.
Also, I don't think I said it was okay to mislead a consumer as to performance or options, just that to me condition and hours are more important than the year.

 

[grm61]

Sometimes the dealer doesn't have an option to getting the current manufacture year. As a Dolmar dealer I ordered NEW saws for my inventory in 2012, but the date code on the saw when recieved from my distributor says it was made in 2010. the distributor will ship there older stock out first, without any input from the dealer. By what some people are saying I shouldn't be able to sell that saw as NEW.

The saws probably had never been started, or been stored laying out in the parking lot uncovered for 3 years

 

[SDT]

So you're saying its alright to lie to consumers? This has nothing to do with price. I'm the cheapest dealer in the US. Ask anybody on this site or anywhere else. I ship more tractors across the US from Alaska to California. What Im warning agaist is a dealer telling a customer they are getting a 2013 model and they get a 2011 model. This has to do with doing whats right. I know thats pretty hard to find anymore, but telling customers they are getting a 2013 tractor, when they are actually getting a 2011 is not right. Hard to believe anyone would disagree with that.
Not only are they getting a machine that is sitting OUTSIDE (find a dealer that puts tractors indoors, most sit outside. Don't fool yourself), they are getting different options than what the current model year may have. I have no problem if the consumer knows they are getting an older model, more power to you if you can save money.

In regards to "Consumers want the chepest price". There is some truth to this, but customers also want service, and don't want to be lied to. If it was all about price, you wouldnt be looking at John Deere.

Good to hear.

I'm currently in the market for a 4720 and am also in IN.

Send me an email or PM. I would like a quote.

SDT

 

[SDT]

I was driving a people mover shuttle at our local county fair, all the tractors are new loaners from local dealers.
Strangly enough the one I was on the hour meter wasnt working, now that my friends is passing off old as new.

Imagine that. No doubt they pulled the fuse.

I instruct my dealer to do that when my tractors are back for warranty work if they plan to have the key on for significant time.

I once had a new NH tractor back to the dealer for minor warranty work. It appears that the folks in the shop wanted to listen to the radio. The tractor had 25 more hours on it when it returned than when they picked it up for a few minutes work. Seems they left the key on overnight.

Interestingly, I sold that tractor when it had 49 hours on it, most of which was radio time.

SDT