Lack of Yanmar Tractors?

[arthr31]

The grays can cause lots of problems for yanmar. The grays weren't built with US-OSHA standards (ROPS, PTO guard, etc.). I'd think, if the were to support them, they'd have to retrofit each model with this stuff so they'd be legal.

Also, the selling of anything used hurts the purchase of new products. And, who knows what kinda non-compete agreements might exist between JD and yanmar.

but, i'm with you, I think they (grays) should be made easily available...

 

[thegreatrandini]

I bet my tractor meets safty requirements for a tractor built in 1977. Besides they did not sell it to me.... They could make som bucks selling me a pto sheild or whatever... and I did not have the money to buy a new tractor anyway..... So again I say the greys do them more good then harm.....

 

[Villengineer]

While I don't fully understand the reasoning behind YANMAR being proactive in it's attempts to prevent the sale of their "grey" models, I can understand why they would not openly support it. They are sure to have non-compete issues like was mentioned (old,existing, and potential business partners may be pushing them on this), I would imagine there are some legal issues dealing with liability, and it's very possible that there are some trade law issues either here or back in Japan. Also the not having money to buy new isn't really a valid argument as 1) they may lose sales to those who do have the $, but would rather pay less and 2) there are used tractors available from other manufacturers that aren't "grey" at all. It's also possible that they are simply trying to protect their brand name against some of the less scrupulous importers. Just look at the number of posts on this site dealing with those issues. Besides, just be glad that they let them in the country at all w/out having to be inspected to meet some OSHA or other requirement. If they treated them like cars, chances are they wouldn't be here at all.
By the way, having dealt some with patents and so on, if there were any way to make the laws and process more confusing or "grey" they will have to work at it. This system has nothing to do with our government's particular feelings about corporations and more to do with lawyers and loopholes.

 

[HuckBB62]

Ebay's losing big here. It's clearly not a trademark infringement as the tractor IS a Yanmar. If it were a knock off, it'd be open and shut. All it takes is someone with enough time and money to make Yanmar USA pound sand. Ebay should be ashamed. You know, I had a case of out and out fraud and they did nothing for me so I hardly think it's about what's right and what's wrong, I think it's all about the money. I think I'm not going to use ebay anymore. They offer virtual no protection for it's buyers, or sellers for that matter when they're individuals yet they're more than glad to profit from our exchanges. Besides all that, there's not any good deals to be had there anymore anyway.

 

[cfoxmd]

Who knows, maybe Deere sued them so now they have to pro-actively go and try to shut down the trade in tractors. I know there was liability from tacit support of the grey market by Yanmar USA dealers selling parts until Yanmar told the dealers they could lose their dealership. Surely poor "rebuilds" could hurt the brand name for new tractor sales (a 10 year history of rebuilds sold over ebay could many who were burned never buy a new Yannie. I wonder if they will go after the grey market dealers.

Soon maybe you will be selling tractors "formerly known as Yanmar"

 

[cfoxmd]

Just looked on ebay--seems there are some on ebay in Canada. Hmmmm. Wonder if ebay hasn't gotten to them yet, or if yanmar isn't going after Canadian sellers.

 

[Tractors4u]

Here are some points to ponder.

The grey market tractors were designed for a foreign market by Yanmar Japan. Yanmar USA is like a different division of Yanmar. Yanmar USA had nothing to do with the greys being brought into the US. People are buying these Japanese tractors and are assuming they will recieve support from Yanmar USA and when something goes wrong, they think that they can blame Yanmar USA and hold them responsible. Yanmar USA has been named in a couple of lawsuits where someone, through their own stupity has hurt themselves. They then call their lawyer and say "sue the big tractor coroporation for me". Yanmar USA's position is, "we didn't design that tractor for you, we didn't import that tractor for you!"

There was and may still be a non compete agreement between Yanmar and John Deere but these tractors are not part of that agreement. Is was an agreement that prohibited Yanmar from importing and selling NEW Yanmar tractors.

I am a Yanmar fan and I think that Yanmar is getting ridiculous, but I can understand their point.

If Yanmar does sell their tractors new in the USA again some day, they will owe a debt of gratitude to all the importers and sellers of the grey markets. Those people have really made a name for Yanmar.

 

[arthr31]

is there any possibility of yanmar selling new tractors in the u.s.? i think itd be pretty successful, theres definitely a devoted audience for their products...

 

[Inspector507]

Brent,
With the news of Yanmar working with some orchard owners in California some time back, maybe that is their intent. Maybe they are planning on re-entering this market with new units and want to shut down the importation of used Yanmars using any means they can, namely starting with eBay. If used are no longer available, people might look at a new one because of it's reputation.

 

[Tractors4u]

They will never completely shut down the importation. Kubota done this same thing about 10 years ago. After a slight pause some smart importers started importing the Kubotas with Zen-Noh decals. Wallace copywrited the Zen-Noh name to have exclusive rights to them. Zen-Noh Yanmars are next. Of course anyone with connections to an exporter in Japan could put their own name on the tractor and bring them in.

My question the ebay thing is this. Yanmar does not want the grey market Yanmars on ebay. What about the Yanmars designed for and sold in the USA like the 240, 330, 336, etc? Can Yanmar and ebay legitimately stop people from listing these tractors?