New Tractor Sales Are Declining

[Sid Post]

Problem with that is, most people won’t hire you without a legit degree. We’ve been conditioned to believe that degrees, especially ivy league degrees, are a guarantee of intelligence.

I hear this frequently referred to as degree inflation. Do I really need a community college Associate's Degree to run a cash register at Walmart?

Probably when you consider the sad state of affairs at most High Schools today.

A good work ethic in today's youth is missing in a large majority of them. Mommy and Daddy either want them to have everything they never had or, are missing from a significant portion of their lives so they grow up to be people that many won't recognize as being from the same family.

My sister's kids are this way in many regards. Coming from a conservative farm family, they are now advocates of liberal policies and lean towards socialist thoughts.

 

[TN8Man]

Elon Musk recently stated he would continue to cut prices if required to keep his factories busy as long as Tesla doesn't sell at a net loss. I was considering a Toyota RAV4 Prime but with the price change it's more expensive than a Tesla Model. Y long range dual motor with a trailer hitch. Same goes for Jeep Wagoneer. He has predicted all lights will be back on green by mid 2025 and he wants to be fully ramped and pumping. Both are different vehicles from the Tesla model. Y. but neither are the other two considered hard working farm trucks.

Elon is a smart guy to be the first to publicly announce he would cut the price of the Tesla due to market conditions.

I think Elon knows the market is going to get much worse.

 

[scootr]

Some manufacturers front inventory to good sellers...I do retail sales and product support. I have to buy everything in advance. So it's up to me to know my market. I have to stock the right stuff at the right time.

 

[Sid Post]

There certainly are but I think it depends on the career field. In some cases, you either know it or you don't. As the job market gets more and more difficult to fill the technical roles you will either see that work offshored (We offshore a large percentage of our technical roles) or companies hiring entry level non degree students and putting them through a boot camp or internship.

I would much rather see them bring in kids from the US and put them through internships than to have it off-shored. That off-shore solution doesn't help our economy or young workers

Technology would be the perfect field to do this in.

Apprenticeships are awesome in Germany! These provide real-world practical skills in whatever job field a student wants to pursue. I knew one young man who dreamed of being a "sweet baker" and a young girl who wanted to be a mother. The girl was the one that really surprised me when she left each morning to go to a local farm with 3 kids to learn how to care for them and run a household. The young man went to the bakery each day and learned how to make some really nice things.

In the USA, Home Economics, wood shop, and similar trade schools like classes are largely a thing of the past. Thankfully, the area a grew up in has a Vo-Tech so, some students still have a chance to learn marketable trade skills but, that isn't an option for most students.

 

[Sid Post]

I believe the MSRP/List prices will remain high but, the manufactures will increase the incentives (cash discounts and/or low interest rates) on equipment.

Mike

Yes, that is what I am seeing. $5K rebate and an extra 3% from the factory or heavily discounted finance terms.

 

[Sid Post]

No idea who Dilbert is.

Cartoon targeted at engineers and similar trades.

 

[Sid Post]

If you hire someone without a degree but has the experience and proven performance then they should hire in at a higher compensation compared to the person with a degree without experience. People that stay at the company and move up the ranks based on performance with or without a degree can be very valuable to the company.

Things didn't work that way for the big corporations I worked for. Non-degreed people could promote to a certain level but, never above a small team lead position.

If you can't check the Bachelor's degree box, you would never promote into any meaningful leadership role. Whether your degree was appropriate for the job position was not a requirement though! This got us a lot of leaders who really did a terrible job and thought it was just the people below them being jealous or sabotaging them. Micro-management never helped these leaders either and often led to high attrition rates.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Declining population decreases all types of sales.

 

[finn1]

Things didn't work that way for the big corporations I worked for. Non-degreed people could promote to a certain level but, never above a small team lead position.

If you can't check the Bachelor's degree box, you would never promote into any meaningful leadership role. Whether your degree was appropriate for the job position was not a requirement though! This got us a lot of leaders who really did a terrible job and thought it was just the people below them being jealous or sabotaging them. Micro-management never helped these leaders either and often led to high attrition rates.

That’s generally how it was in our company. There are always exceptions, though.

Also, the German apprentice programs are fine, but remember that there are also two university technical tracks. You pre determ which track you are entering. One is a more “practical” track, more akin to a high level trade school. The other is much more theoretical.People on the latter track tend to get advanced degrees and the higher paying technical and management jobs. Those in the first track get the more mundane jobs.

 

[Sid Post]

It would be nice, but not very likely to happen.

Factory incentives are picking up so, not so much a sales event but a discount all the same.

Personally, I don't care what they call it as long as it costs me less and the tractor I want is in stock or has a confirmed build date!

 

[Sid Post]

Anyone that buys a tractor right now is just asking to be fleeced. It's clear as day now this industry is headed for a major price correction. If consumers can hold off purchasing right now I believe they will be handsomely rewarded.

The Kubota I thought I wanted was $116K a few months ago, today it is ~$88K.

That is still ~$12K more than in 2019 Pre-COVID but, reasonable I think considering inflation's effects today.

 

[Sid Post]

Why do some ignorant assholes always have to drag politics into these discussions?

Political actions during COVID are a big part of the reason tractors are so expensive and hard to find these days. Then there are personalities whining about what working-class people like most of us are or are not doing. Yes my cows may be farting for global warming and my tractor might emit some Nitrogen but, people still want their steaks and breakfast cereals!

 

[Sid Post]

Insurance is the answer to theft.

I tried the insurance option but, the premiums were simply unaffordable. Perhaps finance-related insurance options are more palatable but, where I live theft and tornado damage along with taxes is simply beyond the means of many working-class people.

 

[scootr]

I'll have a large popcorn and soda please

 

[TN8Man]

Unlike AOC and her ilk, student debt forgiveness and a Tesla are not in my future. A new pickup at some point will find its way to me but, first is a bigger more productive tractor.

With living rural I wouldn't buy a Tesla or any electric only vehicle. I need much more range and pulling power.

 

[TN8Man]

Things didn't work that way for the big corporations I worked for. Non-degreed people could promote to a certain level but, never above a small team lead position.

If you can't check the Bachelor's degree box, you would never promote into any meaningful leadership role. Whether your degree was appropriate for the job position was not a requirement though! This got us a lot of leaders who really did a terrible job and thought it was just the people below them being jealous or sabotaging them. Micro-management never helped these leaders either and often led to high attrition rates.

My company is one of the top aerospace corporations but being a non-degreed engineer and manager was not the norm. You would mainly see it with people who move up the ranks within the company.

 

[tradosaurus]

Elon Musk recently stated he would continue to cut prices if required to keep his factories busy as long as Tesla doesn't sell at a net loss. I was considering a Toyota RAV4 Prime but with the price change it's more expensive than a Tesla Model. Y long range dual motor with a trailer hitch. Same goes for Jeep Wagoneer. He has predicted all lights will be back on green by mid 2025 and he wants to be fully ramped and pumping. Both are different vehicles from the Tesla model. Y. but neither are the other two considered hard working farm trucks.

I would rather have the Toyota Rav 4 Prime (plug-in) as I already have an EV and don't like range anxiety on trips over 100 miles.
I would also think towing with the Tesla would severely limit its range. No thanks.

 

[MossRoad]

Thread closed due to politics until further review.

 

[Sid Post]

With living rural I wouldn't buy a Tesla or any electric only vehicle. I need much more range and pulling power.

The Ford Lightning is a good option for many people.

Personally though, as an engineer looking at what it takes to mine all the rare Earth stuff in a modern EV, I am not convinced it is all that environmentally friendly, not to mention the child and forced labor practices to acquire them.

Then there is the issue of the electricity needed to recharge them. Not just a lack of infrastructure but, the quality of "clean" electricity to make an EV really Earth-friendly.

Modern efficient gas engines used in a lot of cars to me seems like a better all-inclusive solution for less negative Earth impacts to our normal lives.

Sure, a 4-cylinder Honda Accord won't pull my trailer with the tractor loaded but, how often do I really need to do that? My Honda Accord definitely isn't the best farm vehicle but, a sack or two of feed or, a few gallons of diesel are well within its capabilities.

 

[Muhammad]

Please keep your political opinions out of the thread, thanks.