I guess I just don't understand...

[Cramblit26]

Am I cursed? What am I doing wrong? I must be missing something here...

So, as I've stated on another thread, about resale, I had sold my little blue tractor to an uncle....or so I thought.

After about an hour or so of showing him around the tractor and everything about it, he backed out.

On to plan C. contacted a few other dealers about a possible trade in only to hear back that neither the tractor itself nor my awful generous asking price ($10-$11K, 170hrs, 2yrs old) are worth it.

I don't get it. The XJ2025 is a phenomenal little work horse, very capable of everything you ask of it, within obvious reason. I absolutely love it. I'm just in need of a larger machine with more capacities and capabilities.
I enjoy the LS brand so much that I absolutely want to buy another one!

What am I missing here? I don't feel like my asking price is ridiculous. Why won't the dealers even humor the idea of a trade in on it? Because it's gear drive? Still doesn't make any sense. They'll do alot to try to sell you the machine, but when you want to buy another from them, they scoff at the idea of taking the very one they sold you in on trade. And these aren't some small hole in the wall dealers either. I've actually asked a couple out of state even...

It's very frustrating to say the least. Sorry for the long winded post.

Any insight would be appreciated, hopefully help me keep level headed about the whole ordeal.

 

[RSR]

Am I cursed? What am I doing wrong? I must be missing something here...

So, as I've stated on another thread, about resale, I had sold my little blue tractor to an uncle....or so I thought.

After about an hour or so of showing him around the tractor and everything about it, he backed out.

On to plan C. contacted a few other dealers about a possible trade in only to hear back that neither the tractor itself nor my awful generous asking price ($10-$11K, 170hrs, 2yrs old) are worth it.

I don't get it. The XJ2025 is a phenomenal little work horse, very capable of everything you ask of it, within obvious reason. I absolutely love it. I'm just in need of a larger machine with more capacities and capabilities.
I enjoy the LS brand so much that I absolutely want to buy another one!

What am I missing here? I don't feel like my asking price is ridiculous. Why won't the dealers even humor the idea of a trade in on it? Because it's gear drive? Still doesn't make any sense. They'll do alot to try to sell you the machine, but when you want to buy another from them, they scoff at the idea of taking the very one they sold you in on trade. And these aren't some small hole in the wall dealers either. I've actually asked a couple out of state even...

It's very frustrating to say the least. Sorry for the long winded post.

Any insight would be appreciated, hopefully help me keep level headed about the whole ordeal.

I don't have any experience buying/selling tractors but here are my observations (take them for what they're worth - not much)

Bruno's lists an XJ2025 for $14,145, which means they'd probably sell it for about $13,000 in person. The price you are asking $10-11k, seems fairly reasonable if you are selling directly to someone. But, at that price I don't think it gives the dealer much margin to deal with, considering they will need to go over it to make sure it's working well, keep it on the lot, pay someone to sell it, etc. My guess is they would be trying to sell it for $10-11k, which means they would need to buy it at more like $8k to make it at all worth their while.

My other comment is, be patient. There was an interesting study done years ago where it was found that on average, realtors sold their personal homes for more money than their client's homes. The higher selling price was not due to anything nefarious, but rather, was a result of inexperienced sellers being willing to accept the first offer just to be done with it. An experienced seller (i.e., the real estate agent) understood the value of the property they were selling, and weren't afraid to turn down lower offers and wait for the right one to come along.

 

[Cramblit26]

I don't have any experience buying/selling tractors but here are my observations (take them for what they're worth - not much)

My other comment is, be patient. There was an interesting study done years ago where it was found that on average, realtors sold their personal homes for more money than their client's homes. The higher selling price was not due to anything nefarious, but rather, was a result of inexperienced sellers being willing to accept the first offer just to be done with it. An experienced seller (i.e., the real estate agent) understood the value of the property they were selling, and weren't afraid to turn down lower offers and wait for the right one to come along.

I do appreciate the reply. And I understand completely that dealers need that margin, I get it.
Your advice does not fall on deaf ears. But what I don't understand is that there were some dealers I talked to that would simply not take it in on trade, regardless of what they gave me for it.

Thanks though.

 

[Diggin It]

Despite the simple fact that LS is a much larger player than most realize, there just aren't enough around for there to be a second hand market. People that buy them keep them. They generally only get sold if that owner wants to upgrade to another LS unit.

They've only been selling in North America under their own name for a little over ten years and in a market that's dominated by word of mouth and tradition biased to a few major brands. Almost no one knows that LS makes at least some of those larger brand machines.

I'm more curious about why the family member balked.

 

[TripleR]

I believe Diggin It is on the mark. Our local LS dealer won''t take in anything on trade either.

 

[Cramblit26]

.
I'm more curious about why the family member balked.

He said he wanted more of the "skid-steer" feel. And the clutching and shifting was too much to deal with. In short, if he wanted to go the tractor route it was going to have to be a hydro.

 

[sodamo]

I pretty much agree with the previous postings. Unlike the auto market I don’t think there is much of a dealer trade in market at our level, maybe at the the larger, commercial sizes.
I’d list on Craigslist and be patient.
Being non hydro works against you. How may people do you know even have a standard shift car/truck? And of those that don’t how many wouldn’t have a clue how to drive one.

I’d love to pick up a smaller tractor like yours for my wife given the price etc. she has operated both my Case and Kioti, but not my LS - yet. BUT, she can’t use a clutch due to bad left leg. Even the Kioti she couldn’t do PTO stuff.

Maybe a compare and contrast discussion with uncle, but I suspect the non hydro is main reason. I know I wouldnt find a skid steer for close to that money.

Best of luck and keep us posted. I’m about to list my Kioti on Craigslist this week.

 

[atsah]

In short, if he wanted to go the tractor route it was going to have to be a hydro.

That makes sense.. Gear tractors in this size range are not easy to sell IMO..

 

[RSR]

I believe Diggin It is on the mark. Our local LS dealer won''t take in anything on trade either.

I have a hard time believing this. In theory, maybe, but what if you were willing to part with your tractor for $100? What about $1,000?

My point is, everyone has a price, it just might be unreasonably low for what the sellers expectations are.

 

[beckmurph]

Have you tried to sell your LS on your own?
Craigslist or maybe TractorHouse.

I have sold 2 tractors on Craigslist and 1 on TractorHouse.

It takes some time and patience, but you will get close to your asking price, vs a dealer.

 

[TripleR]

I have a hard time believing this. In theory, maybe, but what if you were willing to part with your tractor for $100? What about $1,000?

My point is, everyone has a price, it just might be unreasonably low for what the sellers expectations are.

Let's not take it to the absurd; all I am doing is what he has told me and several others. My brother and I have bought grapples and other equipment from him.

 

[RSR]

Let's not take it to the absurd; all I am doing is what he has told me and several others. My brother and I have bought grapples and other equipment from him.

You focused on the first paragraph only. Read the second to get my point.

 

[/pine]

History has proven time after time that there will always be consolidation regardless of the industry (fish get bigger by eating smaller fish)
...The problem with the small tractor industry...the big fish don't want to buy out the smaller lessor known outfits...they would rather see them go belly up...

markets will only support so many players...in economic slumps (aka recessions) many smaller fish that nobody wants to eat just go belly up...they have no choice...

IMO there is good reason to be leery of smaller, lessor know manufacturers in such a competitive market that is already controlled by a couple of behemoths...

 

[4570Man]

The part I don’t understand is the local dealer has a huge used lot but will never part with any of it. They just let it rust down.

 

[Cramblit26]

I appreciate the feedback fella's, it's helped me "de-stress" a little.
I'm crossing my fingers on this last dealer I'm working with. He's a lot further from me but gives me major hope.
I really have my sights set on that XR3135 hopefully with that "C"!

 

[Oldoak]

The first thing to keep in mind when attempting to trade or sell anything:

What it's worth to you or what you think it's worth may be way different to what a potential buyer may think its worth to them or a dealer on a trade-in. It doesn't matter the reason a person won't buy it or accept it on a trade deal. But I think you already found that to be true. And I'm not trying to be smart about it.

 

[mred2]

For anything to sell, you must have someone willing to sale at the price and someone willing to buy at that price.

 

[TSO]

A friend of mine is the sales manager at a good-sized New Holland dealer in the Detroit area. They sell residential but mostly commercial equipment. He said the last couple years he's had a really tough time selling any used equipment. Financing rates and terms for new equipment are just too attractive to make it worth paying a higher finance amount on a used machine with no, or reduced, warranty compared to a new machine.

He says when the economy goes down, that's when he notices used equipment selling at a better pace.

 

[3gunr]

A buddy had been looking for a tractor the last month or so i was trying to find good used ones on craigslist and his bil works for a large tractor dealer about 200 miles away every time we called on one they were sold already. He ended up buying a new Ls xr 4140. He,s happy.

 

[ovrszd]

Let's not take it to the absurd; all I am doing is what he has told me and several others. My brother and I have bought grapples and other equipment from him.

You being my mentor, can't believe you fell into this one.