FarmTrac Troubles

[redlevel]

Man, I feel for you. You have what I consider one heck of a strong tractor, but because of management screw ups in the company the Farmtrac tractors aren't bringing any money. I'm one of those "vultures" who have been lurking on eBay waiting for a nice Farmtrac like yours to go up without any reserve. It appears as if the new ones the dealers are trying to liquidate for "under dealer cost" and they are only getting bids for about half of their asking price. I don't really need another tractor, but if I can buy what I consider a great tractor for less than half price, I'd have to consider it. It's really unfortunate for the dealers and current owners who want to get rid of one though. It appears as if the only buyers are people like me who want to steal one; figuratively speaking. Good luck to you.

The question is, "what's going to happen to all those blue tractors sitting on the hill behind my dealer's shop?"

Sooner or later there will have to be a fire sale unless they (someone? Textron?) takes all the tractors out of the country and disposes of them overseas. Those tractors are sitting on the lots getting older and older. The paint is fading, the seats are cracking, the tires are "taking a set," the batteries are probably dead on a lot of them, and they are generally deteriorating. Some of the tractors I know of had been sitting on the lot for over a year before this started back in January.

I was sort of accused earlier for "wishing the dealers would go out" when I expressed a similar sentiment. That isn't the case at all. I will continue to do business with my dealer as long as he is selling tractors. I bought from him before he was a FT dealer, and I will continue to buy from him, probably used now, though.

I figure the tractors on the lot are worth about 50% of what they sold for before the debacle. I would not pay more for a 2wd 545 than I would for a 10 year old NH of about the same hp in good shape with a thousand hours on it. I know I can get parts for the NH. I probably could for the 545, but it would be a gamble.

I have a 535 that should have another years warranty, and I bought a FEL as an add-on with the "less than zero" financing. Supposedly, the new tractors sold now have some kind of warranty. This doesn't mean beans to me unless someone decides to honor my warranty and send me my rebate check on the financing. Why should I believe the promise of a warranty when I have a tractor that no one will work on under warranty?

Dealers, don't get mad with me. I know it isn't your fault, and I don't blame you. I am certainly not wishing anything bad on anyone, especially the dealers.

I am waiting for a half-price sale, though.

 

[SESS]

I hope that Textron is following this site right now and reading these comments.

 

[redneckford]

reckon textron has someone with enough computer skills to look up ebay india and see what an escorts tractor is really worth without all that corn on the cobb math----think you will find where all the money went!!!!it ain't on freight????????

 

[bluechip]

50 cents on the dollar is a little extreme. Parts for these tractors will be available, the manufacturer is still in business (all 3 FArmtrac factories continue to operate) if you want a bargain, now is probably the best time, buy from a dealer, get a tractor that runs and works properly with Textron supplied warranty. Wait for the auction, get a tractor that has been sitting unassesmbled in the weather for a few years. I suppose you can take your chances at the auction (if it ever happens) if so, better buy 2, one for parts. of course then it costs 100 percent anyway.

 

[tommybr]

Contact Textron to ask them if there will ever be a half price sale..........I don't think so ...............(866) 715-5515

 

[redlevel]

Contact Textron to ask them if there will ever be a half price sale..........I don't think so ...............(866) 715-5515

What do you think will happen to them?

 

[tommybr]

Time will tell............

 

[redlevel]

50 cents on the dollar is a little extreme.

I won't be bitten twice by the same dog. What did NC419N say, even Farmtrac dealers "look at me like I have the plague" when he talks about trading his FT. When even FT dealers don't want one in trade, that should tell you something about what they will bring.

It ain't fair, and it's really a shame, but that's about the way it is.

"Time will tell" - - - - - -does that mean the blue tractors will sit out another year before something will happen?

 

[Dargo]

It ain't fair, and it's really a shame, but that's about the way it is.

I really do have to agree with you. It isn't fair, it is a real shame and it is what it is. I think they are one heck of a tractor otherwise I'd have no interest in one at any price. I consider myself a potential buyer because it is an undisputed fact that they are not getting bids anywhere remotely close to prices that are described as being below dealer cost and my bids often are the highest offered. I have no way of knowing what dealer cost is because I am not a dealer. However, for a few months now the highest bids are coming in about half of what that "below dealer cost" asking price is.

I'll agree with you all day long in saying that the tractors are good tractors and they should be worth more than that. The sad fact is that they are not. As long as they are being priced where they are, they continue to sit exactly where they are. And, I readily admitted, I'm sort of a vulture by trying to buy one for about half of what they sold for a year or so ago. It is painfully obvious that I'm not the only person doing so since bids like what I am willing to offer are about the top bids or offers being made. I really do hate it for the dealers. I do not view them as the bad guys at all. However, as a consumer, I can't pay them but about half of what the tractor normally would sell for and it seems there are plenty of guys around just like me. It's a heck of a tractor but I can't help but feel that I'd be rolling the dice by buying a tractor without any true factory warranty and with a real possibility that parts availability could be a challenge. Again, I want to wish everyone who owns a FarmTrac the best of luck as well as the dealers and the company. But, as unfair as it is, they aren't going to move them the way things are without selling them for around fifty cents on the dollar.

 

[tommybr]

I won't be bitten twice by the same dog. What did NC419N say, even Farmtrac dealers "look at me like I have the plague" when he talks about trading his FT. When even FT dealers don't want one in trade, that should tell you something about what they will bring.

It ain't fair, and it's really a shame, but that's about the way it is.

"Time will tell" - - - - - -does that mean the blue tractors will sit out another year before something will happen?

The dealers hands are tied..............they have no control over the price unless they are willing to take a major loss.....................this situation "is what it is"...............until the "powers that be" tell them otherwise.....