I think the ebay feedback is important. On the other hand, you can't just read the numbers. Feedback is posted relatively quickly after the transaction so it really doesn't tell whether the tractor broke many times later. It means the tractor showed up and was functional at the time. When looking at feedback make sure the feedback relates to tractors and not something else (not potholders). Everyone should realize that there are scams to pad your ebay feedback with phony transactions (i.e. sell to yourself under a different user name). So you really have to look at the history of the buyer too.
I guess part of the problems on ebay is low expectations. Some buyers assume that they might be taken and when the tractor arrives and appears to work well they post positive feedback. I'm sure there are dealers who do good work refurbishing units and occasionally use ebay to sell tractors. Ebay is, however, one more step distant from the seller than the face to face transaction with an individual. Buy a tractor based on a picture from someone far away? I guess you could do well, but I'd much prefer a friendly knowlegable person with a good reputation (I bought my FX28D from the Hoyes site unseen based upon converstations and their reputation on this board--nicest guys I've ever met). I guess I just want to know someething about the person's reputation other than a number. Anyone can sell a tractor and Ebay's feedback helps but can be scammed or pumped up.
Everything has its price. Even a junk tractor. Just don't think that a junk tractor is anything but that. I'm not saying that vietnamese tractors are junk, but there is that possibility. A vietnamese tractor sold at auction is one more level of anonymity.
Everyone here is trying to save money by going grey market. The question remains are the viet-reconditioned units better, worse, or the same as the direct-from-japan units? The implication the viet-dealers web sites make is that their tractors are better because they have had some sort of reconditioning process (they implied a complete teardown and rebuild). I guess the question is what was done to the tractor and to what quality standards? We have no way of judging without a trip to Vietnam. Obviously, the direct-from-japan ones can't have had much done because of the labor prices in japan. They have to have been working and probably have been working all of their existence. They probably need maintenance, but little else. I doubt the vietnamese ones are better. It wouldn't make sense to recondition a working tractor, so the vietnamese rebuilds were not working when they went there. Maybe they were working, were used hard until they developed a major problem and then went to the "rebuild shop". How long had they sat broken before making the trip to the "rebuild shop"? A machine of any type does not do well just sitting. Are the vietnamese rebuilds equivalent to the direct-from-japan ones--maybe, maybe not. Certainly if they use the wrong parts or do shoddy engine work they will be worse than the direct-from-japan ones and eventually turn they will turn into parts or project tractors or just sit in someones barn or garage. Our problems is we have no way to know. Viet dealers will talk up the rebuild process. Those that go direct-from-japan route will never believe in it.
For my money, if you aren't a mechanic, try to get a known quantity from someone you think you can trust. On the other hand, cheap labor allows different economics. If some viet rebuilder were doing a great job, they could make a market by branding their tractors (i.e. call it a yanmar-saigon just like American car dealers are selling certified used vehicles). I have yet to see this practice for the vietnamese rebuilds--it is almost as if the reconditioners are trying to hide where the tractors were reconditioned. Maybe it is just the US-Vietnam history, maybe not.
All in all, there will be good, bad, and in between tractors from vietnam. I would like to hear from dealers who sell them and from dealers who used to sell them (and why they stopped). Anyone here who sells greys (and gives service) who got some from vietnam? Were they better, worse or the same? Are you still buying from vietnam?
Certainly those still buying vietnamese rebuilds will be in favor them. Those that never bougth them will be against them. I'd like to here from dealers who used to buy, but went back to the direct from japan units and why. Of course these dealers will have reasons--please tell us.
