FarmTrac Troubles

[sseelhoff]

I wonder if it would be a good idea to write Bendetti and encourage him to follow this thread. Surely it would give him lots of ideas for things to check out, and his access might bring to light stuff that is helpful to the owners and dealers on here. Comments?

I'm willing to bet that he has already found it. If you look at his "quotes from dealers" in the article, they appear to be pulled from posts directly on this board. That would also explain why he doesn't identify the "dealers" providing the quotes, or many other sources in the article.

 

[taxpayer]

Being an old man,I've only got one thing to say to them."" I'm a senior citizen,"NOW WHERE IS MY __D*#M_DISCOUNT???

 

[rascoil]

Whoa! I just read that again. Worst possible case - I hope it doesn't happen - is that Textron will put the dealer's tractors through one of these liquidators' disposals. Maybe sell it on the same day as the other 900 tractors. Then Texron credits the dealer with what the liquidator sends them (net after fee), and takes out costs such as what they paid to repo-man for mileage, storage, and his fee to go fetch the thing.

Then they send this dealer a bill for the difference between the original invoice cost he agreed to pay, and the small amount recovered net after liquidation.

Somebody tell me why this can't happen. Brrr.

From what I can tell this is what has happened to him. They will sell of the tractors and stick him with the original amount less the fees. The word fees covers allot of ground, also in a negative way for the dealer. I guess they would treat it just like a auto repo. With all the bells and whistles. I wonder how many folks really did read there entire contract. I read things twice now and some times keep it over night and read it again. They know just how to fall in that gray area to keep big business safe from the little fish and out of court. This needs to be brought to public attention as much as possible. It needs to make it to the main stream media. A news network need to get a hold on this story.

 

[Charolais]

As told by Harold Reid of the Statler Brothres during their final concert; (Paraphrased)

A Rabbi, a Hindu Holy Man and a Lawyer were on the road late one evening, and decided they needed a place to stay. They stopped at a local farmer's house...(If you're expecting a farmer's daughter joke,stop reading). The farmer welcomes them to stay, but said that only two could stay in the house--one would have to stay in the barn. The Rabbi volunteers, and goes to the barn. A few minutes later, there's a knock at the door. The Rabbi explains that there's a pig in the barn, and he cannot sleep under the same roof as a pig.
The Hindu volunteers to go to the barn. A few minutes pass, when there's another knock at the door. The Hindu says there's a cow in the barn, and he cannot sleep in the same area as a cow.

The lawyer says he'll spend the night in the barn, and leaves. A few minutes later, another knock. When the door is opened, there stands the cow and Pig.

Kinda sums it up for me. LOL
And thanks to all for your digging and reporting. Keep up the good work. The dealers could have come out of this looking like the bad guys. If nothing else this will clear the good names of them. I know it doesn't replace money lost but you can't buy a good name. This long long thread is like a book. We're in the chapter where the snakes are being seen now. You see snakes ,you gather sticks,stones and what ever to take the head off the snake. I just hope all you dealers come out of this strong enough to pick up another line of tractor and continue to serve your areas well, with a good product that you can stand behind. When this is over it may serve each of you well to take the facts, put them together and have your local news paper or TV station run the highlights and show who forced what on who. Dedicated customers and dealers will still support each other as long as the customers know the truth. So keep that in mind. We all get knocked off our feet as we go through life. It ain't over till it's over though.

I'll keep reading as events progress. Thanks

 

[taxpayer]

Right On charolais! GREAT post----Taxpayer

 

[rascoil]

As told by Harold Reid of the Statler Brothres during their final concert; (Paraphrased)

A Rabbi, a Hindu Holy Man and a Lawyer were on the road late one evening, and decided they needed a place to stay. They stopped at a local farmer's house...(If you're expecting a farmer's daughter joke,stop reading). The farmer welcomes them to stay, but said that only two could stay in the house--one would have to stay in the barn. The Rabbi volunteers, and goes to the barn. A few minutes later, there's a knock at the door. The Rabbi explains that there's a pig in the barn, and he cannot sleep under the same roof as a pig.
The Hindu volunteers to go to the barn. A few minutes pass, when there's another knock at the door. The Hindu says there's a cow in the barn, and he cannot sleep in the same area as a cow.

The lawyer says he'll spend the night in the barn, and leaves. A few minutes later, another knock. When the door is opened, there stands the cow and Pig.

Kinda sums it up for me. LOL
And thanks to all for your digging and reporting. Keep up the good work. The dealers could have come out of this looking like the bad guys. If nothing else this will clear the good names of them. I know it doesn't replace money lost but you can't buy a good name. This long long thread is like a book. We're in the chapter where the snakes are being seen now. You see snakes ,you gather sticks,stones and what ever to take the head off the snake. I just hope all you dealers come out of this strong enough to pick up another line of tractor and continue to serve your areas well, with a good product that you can stand behind. When this is over it may serve each of you well to take the facts, put them together and have your local news paper or TV station run the highlights and show who forced what on who. Dedicated customers and dealers will still support each other as long as the customers know the truth. So keep that in mind. We all get knocked off our feet as we go through life. It ain't over till it's over though.

I'll keep reading as events progress. Thanks

That is the best post I have read in a long time. You are dead one right. Customers will stand by a dealer when they know for a fact who is telling them the truth. You know these dealers are the local back bone of small communities and are big contributors to the economy of small towns. Every one just needs to make a little more noise. One thing I know is if you move to the center of the wheel you get allot of grease and a better ride. Until times like these when we need some grease to calm us down. Keep on a yelling and sooner or later some one will step up and do the right thing. I know movie stars do good with bad publicity but Industry don't fare so well. Plus greedy folks don't do so well in court when the truth is out. We the consumer will be the jury.

 

[Charolais]

Right On charolais! GREAT post----Taxpayer

Thanks. Just tried to put it in words like I see it. I did borrow the first part but thought it was fitting for the week.

Rascoil I'm sure glad you got your engine. I like your style. You are a man of action.

I'm working on a trade with my dealer now. Looking at trading in my 2610 Long for a Agrofarm 85. He started stocking the Deutz Fahr back in Jan. Going to keep my Farmtrac 80 and looking forward to his great support as always. He's the kinda guy that could sleep in the barn and the pig and cow wouldn't mind it. LOL Don't know how he'd feel about it though. LOL We've been dealing for 11 years now and as long as he's got something on the lot I need I'll keep showing up. I guess if it's a pretty cow or pig? Oh my I shouldn't have written that. LOL

If he reads this we'll be talking about a cow and a pig before tractors next time. LOL

 

[SESS]

"And thanks to all for your digging and reporting. Keep up the good work. The dealers could have come out of this looking like the bad guys. If nothing else this will clear the good names of them. I know it doesn't replace money lost but you can't buy a good name."-Charolais

I like your whole post, but I like these lines the most. But your absolutely correct-all of this we have been through doesn't replace the money lost, but WE cannot buy a good name. That has been my biggest problem through this all. We put our dealership name on every tractor that goes out, new or used. We send followup letters to every customer that purchases a tractor. We give them our home, cell and office numbers to call with any questions they have. People trust us because we did them good and we did the Farmtrac line good too. Just really gets you in the stomach to see your good name possibly tarnished. Always know-you remember the bad, alot longer than you remember the good. Thats wrong, but its true.

Now lets all have a good weekend 'cause there ain't no telling what next week will bring!

 

[case1570]

Lets try to bring a few things into perspective.
#1 The dealers are being represented by some of the best lawyers and associations out there. They have some good fire to bring in against the powers that be. They may seem to be quiet at this point but so far things are being taken care of by an OUTSTANDING group of people on this site. They will bring in what needs to be brought in, when it is time. Yes there are limitations to what they can legally do but I am very optimistic.
#2 The best way to hurt a rich man is to take away his riches or title/position. How? Let your suppliers know about other companies. Companies that can replace the corporations that are not playing fair. Find financing yourself, if you pay your bills, local banks will work with you, then you can take cash discounts. This will also make your supplier happier (and more profitable) along with the ability to sell more for less. If other companies could see how we have hung in under these terrible circumstances, with nothing but sucker punches, I think they would love to work with such a set of dealers. If you must stay where you are, ask to work with other individuals. Take their position, these guys usually have nothing but a title (very sad)
#3 Lets try to get the facts out to an even bigger media source, The "Southerner" has been a great asset but we need to, along with them, see if we can get nationwide attention. The "Inventory loading" would make a great national story. So many people have CUT's that it would generate great interest. The only problem with this, it may mean complete brand destruction. Not sure on this point. Please help me out.
It has been stated by others but thanks to everyone and please keep digging deeper.
Case

 

[taxpayer]

Another thing that should be of interest to Farmtrac dealers is a listing with Lewpack international of 900 new farmtrac tractors for sale.this can be found at LEWPACKINTERNATIONAL - Turnkey Inventory Management or just google lewpack. the only place I can think of that would have this amount of farmtrac inventory would be the farmtrac plant in tarboro. at first I thought the indians might have placed this listing with lewpack,but I noticed another listing of motorcycles. I checked and found that this was the inventory of American Ironhorse motorcycles. a company and it's dealers that are in similar situation as the farmtrac dealers and that Textron also holds the paper on,I rather suspect Textron placed this listing with lewpack.the ad states the price of these tractors will be well below dealer cost,which make it very difficult if not impossible for the dealers to sell the tractors on their yard.it seems to me it would be only fair for the dealers to be offered this same discount.how about some feedback on this.

It seems like a very long time since when,at 9:32am on march,31,2008 ,the Lewpack site was brought to everyone's attention on this thread by the above.I am humbled and grateful by the response generated. by your response,you have brought hope where there was only despair in many homes across the nation.to lose our livehoods would be heartbreaking,to lose our good Names UNSPEAKABLE.when good people join together to protect what we hold dear.Those who would destroy them,will find,the losses they will surely sustain be more that they had ever imaginged.I personally feel,it would wise for those in power,to stop thinking about how much money,they save for their side and start thinking about doing whats right for all of us.STAND FIRM---Taxpayer