Looking tough on a BX tractor carrying potted plants in the FEL

[acohen100]

Yes, and then we all get to help them figure out how to change mower blades and find grease fittings

LOL, it's so true. Of course any of us in here working computer forums rather than the earth can qualify under that description as well, I suppose.

 

[DiezNutz]

...because this whole thread seems to be generalizing a type of purchaser...ME...and I'd like to clarify a few items...

This whole thread is nonsense Keith... lighten up a little and don't let it hit such a nerve. We all know we're smarter than to have made our purchasing decisions based on glossy brochures... or else we wouldn't be here. From what I gather, Mr. ACohen would fit his so-called "untapped market" scenario at least as well as you or I... which I attempted to remind him of himself with this comment and a wink and a nod:

Yes, and then we all get to help them figure out how to change mower blades and find grease fittings

...but I see a HUGE number of "working" pictures, muddy tractors, modified tractors, and scratched tractors that oddly seem to be mostly BX with a few B's thrown in..

As a member of those "few B's", I represent that remark ... thanks for not forgetting about us.

 

[DiezNutz]

LOL, it's so true. Of course any of us in here working computer forums rather than the earth can qualify under that description as well, I suppose.

Not rather than, in addition to.

 

[KeithInSpace]

This whole thread is nonsense Keith...

Of course. I know it was. But for some reason, the whole discussion started hitting a little close to home. I didn't mean to "tackle" Mr. acohen100 and hope I didn't come across that way. I tried not to, at least. My apologies if I overreacted.

Just get a little touchy when I'M one of the suburbanite yuppies that never owned a tractor and has invested $20,000 so I can plant a shrub. Just a little too proud of what I've accomplished (and will accomplish) I guess and took the whole thing to heart.

No offense, "dig", or other negative connotation intended to anyone. Just sharing my thoughts on the subject. Happy smile.

 

[DiezNutz]

It's all good. Cheers

 

[bx24]

While I started this tread to take pot shots at these Kubota ads, having worked at a fortune 50 company for 20 years and been part of 10s of millions of dollars of procurement decisions, my humble opinion is that they are doing themselves a dis-service.

If you are talking about mowing lawns, it makes sense to show all types of potential buyers (especially affluent khaki wearing ones). I guess I almost feel bad about what I consider their blunder when marketing these smaller machines. When it comes to full size BH's etc, you expect 100% performance so brochures don't mean as much. But I can attest that I would have a very hard time convincing anyone I deal with to even consider one of these machines for some of our work once that I have shown them a picture of a housewife carrying a potted plant. These machines would be perfect in the utility business for many applications because they can do the work but they don't (by virtue of their light weight) cause property damage just getting to the job through someone's yard.

Oh well, I love mine and I will have to get a shot of mine with a potted plant so I can post the image with my TBN name

 

[ihookem]

I notice the adds are full of models in the pictures. I don't even think the tractors are moving. I do resent those people because they don't represent me. I also notice they market upper middle class guys for good reason, they have money, they won't work themselves to save money because they have money, and to some degree they want an image. They are a new market and marketing companies find these things out and get good money to do it. The guy who absolutely needs a tractor is going to buy one regardless and does not pay much attention to the adds, just specs. So it's the guy who really does not need a tractor but knows his life is a lot easier if he has one. I can tell marketing works by getting buyers to buy bigger tractors than what they need. The proof is in TBN. "What size should I buy?" is a big question here and 90% of the time they buy the bigger tractor cause they have no idea the power of a diesel. Ask any dealer and they will tell you it happens all the time. Big dreams a dealer on TBN named Art said once. This is kind of an image thing weather some like it or not. Pickups and suv's are the same image mindset. BIG! weather I need it or not I even hear folks on TBN and the diesel page.com. I see big diesels and suv's that will never leave the pavement.. Nothing in the bed and not even a trailor package. Cut owners to some degree are the same way but with a cut it's ok cause the little lawn mowers these days( 2-3 grand) last 500 hrs and their junk, go buy another and it's junk too, another 3 grand, but A cut will last forever if you just cut lawn if it's a diesel. Then you are not out any money in the long run and when you do need a pto or a fel you got it. Some even come up to me and say nice toy! That tells me many buy things like this but it's not really needed. I say ???!!!??? TOY? I sound cocky but I tell them I don't own any toys, I own tools . I buy them cause I need them and would die without my tools. Sometimes I plow my driveway twice a day when the wind blows, which is most of the time. I cut 22 ac of grass three times a year, plus my own lawn. I dig holes, rotto till to plant trees and gardens, Fel for snow and landscape and carry water to the trees and use my tractor so my back won't give out. Used to do it by hand and shovel but never again. My buddies are starting to figure out I can't say no and are useing it for things they can't do by hand but know they don't need a skid steer. My buddy right now is digging 35 holes for his deck and saving 35 bucks a hole. My Kubota 7510 may be the best tool I ever bought. And wish I would have went with a 7800 so I could pull a 6' cutter instead of a 4' on the 22 ac. Later Steve.

 

[N80]

I've never bought into this resentment/envy or whatever it is about soccer moms or metrosexual males driving Range Rovers, HumVees and Cadilac pick up trucks. Its stuff, folks. Who cares what motivates someone to buy a dieslel pickup, a motorcycle a speed boat a tractor or whatever. Its just things. Drive what you want and don't worry what other people drive. No ad is ever going to define me or you or anyone else. Don't let them get you down...or get you up. Getting resentful over an ad is nearly as bad as being motivated by one.

And I got news for you BX drivers when it comes to looking tuff. Its not possible!

I have an L4400 and when I'm on it I feel like I'm on a big powerful machine. When I look at pictures of me (6'4") on it, I look like I'm on a toy! For those of us driving anything smaller than a 7040, looking tough just aint going to be an option no matter what we have in the bucket.

 

[ihookem]

Good point n80, but I guess I resent them Is because when I'm forced to buy a product I need, I pay for those models on those tractors and Kubota pays them good and it came out of the Kubota I bought. I do resent some people that have enough money to buy a truck they will never need and I hear people say I need a truck and they don't. I need a truck with an eight foot box. I drive 30 k miles a year with all my tools. I went with a diesel for mileage and long lasting. I payed 35k for my gmc diesel and it wasn't even new or loaded. The reason they cost so much to some degree is demand from people that don't need them. So yes, their image made it hard to find an eight foot box cause most are short boxes and no one even makes long boxes cause long boxes are more for utility work trucks and not many pickups are for work any more, it's for image. But I still got it darn good. Also, It's good for them guys to buy a tractor too big cause when they figure that out it ends up on the used lot for guys like me .

 

[Volfandt]

I gotta admit, put a pretty / shapely lass on it, or holding it, or just standing beside it and it'll get my attention
But....
It won't convince me to buy it

I've got some original sales brochures on Wheel Horse's 1966 product lineup and even back then there was a pretty / shapely lass either operating one of the L&G tractors or situated somewhere in the pic off in the distance. Both the men & women looked like they were ready to go out to eat as opposed to doing yard work
There are some action shots though. Theres pics of them mowing, plowing snow, plowing a garden and towing a cart. And yes, there were potted plants in the cart. They were practically dressed to kill but working non the less

Theres one thing that American business is the best at in the world and thats marketing. Theres no doubt that Kubota USA has used all those customer feedback forms we've all filled out to better aim their product where the best chance of getting a buyer is.
If selling a BX to 100 yuppies that may never do no more than mow their estate with it keeps the price down for those of us that work it as a tractor, thats fine with me

I still think that fine lass thats standing beside the 2006 B3030 cab brochure is a mighty fine eye catcher