Is what I heard right?

[slowrev]

"I can assume that McDonalds makes the "best" hamburgers in the world..., and GM makes the best cars in the world...? "

Not necessarially the best but the most popular ? Not the same thing, but perception is a large part of brand loyalty and sales sucess. One thing for Mcdonalds food (?) is that it is consistent everywhere, I guess that is a big quality standard.

Yes Kubota's were regarded as Japanese junk when they were first sold over here, now look where they are at. JD followed Kubota's lead and sold Japanese Yanmar tractors with a JD label for a while and most if not all of their under 50HP tractors are still made in Japan. Well some are assembled over here...... How perceptions change... In another 15 years or so we will be talking about high quality small tractors from China with the familiar green and yellow color scheme.

Pick out Whatever tractor fits your needs and budget, Any of them except maybe the "generic" Chinese tractors should be a good product. A good dealer is a must if you do not do your own manitenance and repair. ALL machines will have some problems from time to time. Good luck and enjoy /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[SteveH_CT]

I'm just having fun Rev - I think Bota's are top tier machines... I just enjoy challenging the logical leap that the biggest seller equates to the best machines. To be honest I am suprised that Bota has captured that large a chunk of the market - I'd be interested to see how focused that market study is (i.e. 20hp to 30hp, or is it broader, 20hp to say 50 hp).

 

[slowrev]

Steve,
Yes I realize this, I just wanted to emphasize that virtually all CUT's are imports and how that perceptions have changed on imported tractors. And also the perceptions related to brand loyalty.

Mcdonalds is consistent, but not too good. I figure their sales would drop drastically if not for brainwashing...err advertising target at the youth of the world.

On the sales stats, It would be really nice to see independent sales statistics on CUT sales in the US, Not worldwide. There should be some import statistics kept by the gummit or something like that. Maybe homeland security ? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I am going to start a survay asking this exact question in a few days.

As you guys suspected, Kubota's market share is dominated by sub 30 PTO HP.

I have seen second hand bits and pieces of these reports. The real things are closely guarded and only people at the top get ahold of as they are very expensive. I believe they buy them from a 3rd party company.

 

[BillyP]

<font color="blue"> It would be interesting to see a market share breakdown of brands by hp or by hp range/frame size. </font>

Bob, the strange thing is, this information has to be out there. Kubota, JD, NH and every other tractor company knows exactly how many of what models they sell.

Why is it such a secret /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

The way it looks to me, Kubota owns the subcompact market hands down. The CUT market, I think, would be a lot closer.

 

[timb]

What about doing something ourselves based on polling serial numbers? If there is sufficient knowledge among TBN members to be able to interpret a certain mfgs serial number nomenclature - we could do an informal pole of the lowest/highest serial numbers for that model among members.

Example - my serial number on my 460 loader (I forget the tractor number) ends in 39999 - implying around 40,000 loaders produced. Now I don't know how JD assigns loader serial numbers, that may be all JD loaders, not just 460's.

But something along those lines for the CUTs may be able to shed some light on production numbers. It would take lowest/highest known values and how the numbers are assigned - per model, per model variation, per frame size, or even per year.

A little scrubbing, massaging, and sorting and we could have our own 'in the field' production quantities.

 

[BillyP]

I reckon that would give us an idea of sorts. Or, some of the Dealers here could find the exact info needed. Surely they have a source of sales for different models /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

By the way, my 2002 460 loader ends with 20033. The 2002 4610 ends with 160631.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I agree with Bob.

My brother-in-law drives Dodge. Therefore, they are the best.
My brother drives Chevy. Therefore, they are the best.
I drive Ford. Therefore, they are the best (really). /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

Actually, IHC made the "Cub" in 1947, Deere made the "L" and "LA" a little before. Massey Harris (Ferguson) had the "Pony" as well as those made by Fordson, Oliver and Allis Chalmers.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

As far as tractors go JD got it's reputation for tractors as outclassing everyone back in the 60's

Right on. Before that, IHC dominated the market. They made some dumb managariel decisions in the late 50's/early 60's. JD came up w/ "The New Generation of Power" released in 1960 that sold like mad. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif