Grey or Chinese?
- Thread starter Iplayfarmer
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buppy69
Platinum Member
You're comparing $90,000 equipment against $5000 Japanese and Chinese tractors. Just doesn't seem apples to apples to me.
Eugene
Eugene
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You're comparing $90,000 equipment against $5000 Japanese and Chinese tractors. Just doesn't seem apples to apples to me.
Eugene )</font>
I think you are misunderstanding. My point was, that it doesn't matter if you pay $5000 for a tractor, or $90,000, you are prone to defects, problems, etc...
Everyone slams the chinese tractors because somebody got one, usually from a crate, and something broke right off the bat. Wether they blew a seal, missing/broken parts, bad casting, etc... However, this happens with any brand, no matter the price.
Although the chinese tractors do not have the same quality control as Kubota, Deere, for what you pay you get a good tractor. If you purchase from a decent dealer you get warranty and support and it will work your small farming needs as good as any other tractor.
Eugene )</font>
I think you are misunderstanding. My point was, that it doesn't matter if you pay $5000 for a tractor, or $90,000, you are prone to defects, problems, etc...
Everyone slams the chinese tractors because somebody got one, usually from a crate, and something broke right off the bat. Wether they blew a seal, missing/broken parts, bad casting, etc... However, this happens with any brand, no matter the price.
Although the chinese tractors do not have the same quality control as Kubota, Deere, for what you pay you get a good tractor. If you purchase from a decent dealer you get warranty and support and it will work your small farming needs as good as any other tractor.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If you purchase from a decent dealer you get warranty and support and it will work your small farming needs as good as any other tractor. )</font>
And you say this on the basis of experience with how many of the Chinese tractors?
And you say this on the basis of experience with how many of the Chinese tractors?
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( </font><font color="blueclass=small">( If you purchase from a decent dealer you get warranty and support and it will work your small farming needs as good as any other tractor. )</font>
And you say this on the basis of experience with how many of the Chinese tractors? )</font>
Aside from the ones we have serviced, used and been around with neibours and friends. We have looked into them further. After speaking and visiting with several dealers and distributors. Speaking with their service department, etc... Then going and seeing several customers including one who is using them in a commercial enviroment with great sucess.
We currently have a demo. We have put this through the ringer. We used it to cut and rake a small field of hay last year. Do quite a bit of loader work and bush hogging. This exceeds the needs of most hobby farmers.
Although I cannot give you an exact number, I would say I have given it as fair a trial as anyone.
And you say this on the basis of experience with how many of the Chinese tractors? )</font>
Aside from the ones we have serviced, used and been around with neibours and friends. We have looked into them further. After speaking and visiting with several dealers and distributors. Speaking with their service department, etc... Then going and seeing several customers including one who is using them in a commercial enviroment with great sucess.
We currently have a demo. We have put this through the ringer. We used it to cut and rake a small field of hay last year. Do quite a bit of loader work and bush hogging. This exceeds the needs of most hobby farmers.
Although I cannot give you an exact number, I would say I have given it as fair a trial as anyone.
I'm not trying to convince people to sell their grey and go buy a chinese tractor. I encourage people to buy what they want and what suits them.
But bashing a product you have little to no experience with is silly. It accomplishes nothing and makes yourself look uneducated.
The John Deere and Kubota guys scoff at the grey market buyers. Yet you maintain it's a good product. It works all ways.
I could care less if thought that a Craftsman mower with a homemade front end loader is a superior tractor. That is your choice. But if you were going around telling people not to buy a John Deere because they were crap, I will add my 2 cents.
But bashing a product you have little to no experience with is silly. It accomplishes nothing and makes yourself look uneducated.
The John Deere and Kubota guys scoff at the grey market buyers. Yet you maintain it's a good product. It works all ways.
I could care less if thought that a Craftsman mower with a homemade front end loader is a superior tractor. That is your choice. But if you were going around telling people not to buy a John Deere because they were crap, I will add my 2 cents.
OP
Iplayfarmer
Super Member
I'm going to chime back in here. My friend decided to do something else with the money for now, so this all has become somewhat academic, but this discussion has been great!
<font color="blue"> ...this happens with any brand, no matter the price.
</font>
I would agree 100%. I have been in quality control now for 6 years (granted I'm doing QC in food, but many of the principles are the same), and I've seen the best processes get out of control at times.
HOWEVER...the distinguishing factor would be "How often does it happen?"
For instance, I am a dutch oven enthusiast. I know that if I send someone else to the store to buy a "Lodge" dutch oven I can be confident that the person will come back with a good pot. There will be no pits or defects in the metal, the lid will fit tight, and the handle will move freely, etc. There may be exceptions, but I haven't seen any yet.
I can buy a dutch oven for about half the price of a "Lodge", but I will go to the store and dig through piles of dutch ovens to find a good one. The good ones are almost an exception in some of the "off brands".
It sounds like we might be talking about a similar scenario with the japanese vs. chinese products.
<font color="blue"> ...this happens with any brand, no matter the price.
</font>
I would agree 100%. I have been in quality control now for 6 years (granted I'm doing QC in food, but many of the principles are the same), and I've seen the best processes get out of control at times.
HOWEVER...the distinguishing factor would be "How often does it happen?"
For instance, I am a dutch oven enthusiast. I know that if I send someone else to the store to buy a "Lodge" dutch oven I can be confident that the person will come back with a good pot. There will be no pits or defects in the metal, the lid will fit tight, and the handle will move freely, etc. There may be exceptions, but I haven't seen any yet.
I can buy a dutch oven for about half the price of a "Lodge", but I will go to the store and dig through piles of dutch ovens to find a good one. The good ones are almost an exception in some of the "off brands".
It sounds like we might be talking about a similar scenario with the japanese vs. chinese products.
johnk
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2003
- Messages
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- western NY
- Tractor
- Kubota GST Grand L3130 w/ 723 loader, Ags
The other Dutch Oven May have pits in it but the food will taste the same. All in the eyes of the beholder...
</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
HOWEVER...the distinguishing factor would be "How often does it happen?"
)</font>
That said, with a good dealer it shouldn't be an issue. Yes, you *might* spend more time at the service department. You might not.
You might spend $60,000 on a truck and have to sell it back to the dealer under lemon law.
If your dealer is good, no matter where it's made, you will be relatively headache free. Even in worst case scenario with a chinese tractor, you need to spend 100 hours in the service department. If you make $50 an hour, it costs you $5000 in time, you are still saving $5000 over a brand name equivelent. And I've never seen nor head anyone recently, that wasn't exagerating spending even close to that at a service department for chinese tractors.
HOWEVER...the distinguishing factor would be "How often does it happen?"
)</font>
That said, with a good dealer it shouldn't be an issue. Yes, you *might* spend more time at the service department. You might not.
You might spend $60,000 on a truck and have to sell it back to the dealer under lemon law.
If your dealer is good, no matter where it's made, you will be relatively headache free. Even in worst case scenario with a chinese tractor, you need to spend 100 hours in the service department. If you make $50 an hour, it costs you $5000 in time, you are still saving $5000 over a brand name equivelent. And I've never seen nor head anyone recently, that wasn't exagerating spending even close to that at a service department for chinese tractors.
EFC
Veteran Member
Crazymike, I think we are all happy with your excitement to be a Chinese tractor user/dealer. 6 years ago when I was the west coast distributor for Dong Feng I was excited also. I have learned a lot since then good and bad. Come back here after you get some time under your belt like… 2 or three years and we can have this discussion again. I for one wish you the best of luck with your dealership. You might even be the next Chinese tractor Czar.
Buck
Buck
