The dealer insult was as follows: I bought a used 2015 Massey 1749 HST cab from him a month ago. Last week I did a part search on the Agco parts site and typed in the serial number to see the right parts diagrams. The AGCO site spits out information on the tractor that says the warranty started July of 2015 and ends July of 2020 and the tractor is a 2013 model year not 2015.
I think people are using terms in ways that they don't quite work in the tractor world. Tractors do have models, the model doesn't change every year. So arguably a 2013 tractor may still be current in 2014, maybe even 2015 if no changes have been made. My Apple Macbook is known as a "Macbook Pro, late 2016" as that's when that model was first made. But Macbooks made in early 2017 also have that same model designation - there isn't a "Macbook Pro, early 2017" model, and if I'd bought my Macbook in 2017 I wouldn't get to complain that they'd somehow sold me a 2016 laptop. So to me, there's a difference between:
- model year - which to me is the year that model was first made (in your case sounds like it's 2013)
- build year - which is when the tractor was built. It's not clear to me what that date is for your tractor - could be 2013, 2014, 2015
- purchase year - which is when it was sold new, and therefore when the warranty starts. Sounds like yours is 2015
I don't think model year is a reason to complain. Tractor models don't change every year, so unless there was a 2014 or 2015 new model, then the fact that the model year is 2013 doesn't impact anything. That model may have been built in 2014 or 2015.
I think build year is a little bit something to complain about, there's a difference between a 2013 built tractor and a 2015 built tractor, but so long as the model year didn't change, not that much difference. Unless the dealer specifically told you it was built in 2015, then if it was a 2013 model, built in 2014, and sold new in 2015, and they tell you it's a 2015 tractor, well, that's correct in the tractor world. Unless you specifically ask what year it was built, or what model year it was, then you won't get that specific answer (and it's correct to say most people don't care - what matters is what year someone started using it, as that's what's considered "how old it is").
I was not happy and went to the dealer to see what he intended to do about the misinformation and was basically told they didn't see that as an issue and didn't want to do anything. I was PO'd and said that was not acceptable. I paid for a 2015 and got a 2013. I made 3 offers to resolve this. One was for them to give me what I paid for the tractor as a trade in value on the new Kubota. Today they offered me $1,000 less than what I paid. They misrepresent the tractors age and then to make things right they will take the tractor back, if I give them another $1,000. I'm still fuming over this. I've already put about $2,200 into the Massey and now they want me to give them that plus another $1,000 for the pleasure of buying one of their new tractors for $30,800 more.
By the way I really liked the tractor but not the treadle pedal.
It's not clear when you bought the tractor, but I'm assuming you didn't have it since new, but have had it for long enough to have spent money on it - so you bought in 2016 or 17? From the dealer's viewpoint, you've had the tractor for a couple years, and they're offering you most of what you paid for it. It'd be pretty rare for a dealer to take a tractor back at the exact same price you paid, you've used it for a while (it has more hours, more wear, it's older), and they do usually try to make a margin. They also have costs in prepping a tractor for sale - they won't just take it from you and stick it straight on the lot, at a minimum they'll have the apprentice clean it, they may fix minor issues as well.
What did you spend $2,200 on? Just servicing / wear and tear, or have you added features to it? That would impact whether it's now worth more.
Bottom line, I'll go out on a limb and say that I think you might be asking too much. You bought a tractor you were happy with, used it for a while, you took it back to your dealer looking for an upgrade. You found a paperwork thing that feels a bit funny to you, but strictly speaking in the tractor world they probably gave you correct information. The dealer's offered you $1,000 less than you paid, which is a pretty good deal, so in my book they've come very close for something that they may not see as a real issue at all (i.e. when they finish talking to you they probably go out the back and say "what's up with that guy?") I actually think they're being pretty reasonable, and if they're your closest dealer and the only problem you have with them is this 2013 v's 2015 thing, I'd say that might not be a real thing, and maybe you should move past it.
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