Off Brand

[Robert_in_NY]

No you just go back to the old tried and true methods. Do you rember where you keep your snow shovel. When the Hyd cylinder on the JD went I was doing just what you suggested, clearing 14 inches of snow in the driveway. Solution get the snow shovels out of the shed and get the wife and kids out of the house. By the way even if the local dealer had the parts, and could do the work, how do you think you would get out of the driveway, Pray for a warm spell?

Well, my New Holland dealer would come to my house to repair my tractors if something broke

As for getting out the shovels, that doesn't apply in my case as I have 5 houses I need to keep cleared as well as a half mile driveway to the back pens. I have two loader tractors so that I always have one loader available if the other is busy.

But what about our older friends who have heart problems and you get a nice heavy snow dumped on them. Should they grab their shovels and just tough it up because they don't have a good local dealer yet. You said waiting a week or two wouldn't kill you but every year I hear about people dying from heart attacks as they clear snow the old fashioned way.

As I said before, dealer support is very important regardless of brand or usage. If you are one of those guys who only puts 10 hours a year on your tractor and you go to use it one day and it doesn't work and your dealer tells you oh well, get a shovel and do it the old fashioned way would you be happy?

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I personally know of a large number of instances where "name brand" dealers did not stock parts that were needed, and the parts had to be ordered, resulting in significant delays.

Here is a thread on the Kubota forum where Kubota owners are complaining about parts availability problems: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ng/89381-dealers.html?highlight=waiting+parts

This from the John Deere forum: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ydraulic-problem.html?highlight=waiting+parts

I must say though, I'm not impressed with JD part supply system. I have had the 2305 a my house for 2 weeks and made a deal on this thing over a week ago. I am still waiting for the cruis control and mulch kit for my MMC to arrive so he can get the tractor back and we can finalize our deal. Not that I need a mowing deck now, but I am shocked at how long it takes to get in a couple of parts and finalize this deal.

New Holland: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/nh-buying-pricing/81961-ford-1700-a.html?highlight=parts+problem

I have a 1700, have had it for two years. Nice tractor. I mow about six acres with it, using a Woods five-foot mower. Level land.

Parts can be a task to find. Some things can be found on ebay- like light bulbs. Be preapred to be a tinkerer sometimes with it. I had some electrical problems and had to rewire some circuits. I used I&T shop manual for reference.

So much for the myth that you can go to the dealer and get all the parts you need, and have the equipment running without waiting on parts.

I guess these folks wouldn't be having problems getting parts for their Kubotas, New Hollands and Deeres had they not bought off brand products, that way they would have had that great dealer network service everyone keeps talking about being a necessity.

Here I am stuck with a Mahindra where most parts can be overnighted, if they are not in stock. I am sure there are some parts, just as there are with NH, JD and Kubota, where I might have to wait for them.

Realistically, dealer network doesn't mean nearly as much in the age of the internet as it meant twenty years ago. If I didn't have a Mahindra dealer withing 500 miles of me there are a number of dealers on this forum that would be willing to ship me the parts overnight.

So you believe that because of the internet you don't really need dealers anymore? I mean if your tranny goes you can just call up another dealer and have it shipped to you and you can replace it in your back yard with just a screwdriver What good are dealers anyway Can't every tractor owner figure out what is wrong with his tractor when it dies in the field (oh wait, Mahindra has the 24/7 network, now why won't my serial number work )

I never said all dealers have every part made. However, the OP recently said that it doesn't matter for the average user if it takes 1-2 weeks to get parts. I am sure there are a lot of average users that would disagree regardless of what brand they have.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I think we all know where you both stand on this issue at this point. I suspect if you were sharing a cup of coffee at the local diner you would get along, but grabbing sections of each others posts and trying to use it against each other only provides entertainment for the rest of us. It hasn't really shed more light on the subject at hand.

But carry one if you must....

The entertainment is all mine, believe me!

I don't like to let false or misleading information stand. So let me clear up ONE THING in your reply. I DON'T LIKE COFFEE. Other than that Dave, we seem to be on the same page.

Beyond that, I find some of the "information" being passed along in this debate laughable to some extent, and pure BS to a greater extent.

The claim of being able to buy JOHN DEERE parts at 50% less than through Deere, and get them from the same place Deere buys them is absolutly ridiculous. How could anyone type such bilge with a straight face?

Sure, you can buy some aftermarket replacement parts for some antique models through some aftermarket sources, that some John Deere dealers would also be willing to sell, but A.) they aren't John Deere parts, B.) You couldn't get parts for late model/current model tractors, C.) and in all likelyhood, unless you are a dealer/jobber/repair business, you wouldn't get them at 50% of list price. Major parts for any current or late model tractors aren't going to be available through aftermarket sources. A great deal of these aftermarket parts aren't of anything like the quality of genuine Deere parts. If we're going to compare a new or relatively new Mahindra's parts availability, let's keep the comparable brand "new or nearly new". (Or try to find parts for that 1963 Mahindra????)

Deere has sold MILLIONS of tractors in the US. Isn't it logical that you can find a few isolated incidence of parts not being on the dealers shelf. Far more often than not, parts are with-in a days availability if needed. Like I said, I'm NOT the ultimate Deere fan, but give credit where credit is due, they have their act down pat.

I'm offering what I see as constructive critisizm. Mahindra needs to further their cause. Any REASONABLE person can see that. As I've said, I fully expect them to do so IN TIME. I have no issues with the quality or design of their products. My ONLY issue is with lack of dealer support in my area, which is by most accounts, a widespread problem at this juncture. No way I'd consider buying a new tractor with the PROBABILITY that there wouldn't be anyone nearby to handle any warranty issues, nor a nearby parts outlet. The internet can only "fix" so much. As a person who depends of the ability of a tractor to stay on the job, with zero down time, Mahindra isn't a viable option to me at this stage. I'm typical of most commercial/agricultural end users. If it doesn't work for me, it doesn't work for many many more for the very same reasons. In order for Mahindra to succeed in the US market, they need to shorten the list of those excluding them as a brand they might consider. To do that, they need a dealer parts and service network.

TIME........

 

[Tim_in_IA]

Thanks Guys for making me laugh this morning. If this thread is still going tonight I am breaking out the beer and popcorn and watching the show. You guys are gonna be best friends when this is over I can just tell .

 

[rtimgray]

You know, this is one of the reasons I had quit reading this board regularly for a while - this is the same argument that's been going on for at least the five years that I've been looking, and I bet it will be going on five years from now.

Why does anything have to be labelled as an "off-brand"? It obviously carries a negative meaning. Why not just call them different brands, competing brands, or (heaven forbid) the name of their brand. Don't have a Mahindra/Farmtrac/Kioti/Zetor etc. dealer in your area - it can be an "off brand" to you (as another poster previously mentioned, but that doesn't mean you have to go try to stir the pot with other folks by implying that their machine is an off brand.

Unless that's what you're here for.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

You know, this is one of the reasons I had quit reading this board regularly for a while - this is the same argument that's been going on for at least the five years that I've been looking, and I bet it will be going on five years from now.

Why does anything have to be labelled as an "off-brand"? It obviously carries a negative meaning. Why not just call them different brands, competing brands, or (heaven forbid) the name of their brand. Don't have a Mahindra/Farmtrac/Kioti/Zetor etc. dealer in your area - it can be an "off brand" to you (as another poster previously mentioned, but that doesn't mean you have to go try to stir the pot with other folks by implying that their machine is an off brand.

Unless that's what you're here for.

You asked! Here's a few reasons why.

A.) Where have you seen a post of mine referring to ANY brand as "off brand"? Don't I always refer to them as Mahindra? Show me otherwise, and I go away. The person who started this thread, entitled OFF BRAND, claims to be a Mahindra owner and supporter. Sort of a double standard there, isn't it?

B.) I came here AFTER several Mahindra owners/advocates came to another forum spouting off about how their favorite brand is THE CHOICE regardless of circumstances, when someone was looking at another brand that was obviously a better choice for HIS circumstances. I merely gave MY reasons why Mahindra WASN'T the prudent choice in that case, as well as why I haven't considered them in my case. The debate spilled over to here. The Mahindra forum isn't a private club, nor do I need to learn a secret handshake to post here.

C.) A certain Mahindra advocate was posting false and misleading information about another brand. Is it your contention that is permissable? Mahindra owners can slam other brands at will, even with out and out lies? But you're exemt from having your feet held to the fire over such as a divine right of Mahindra ownership?

 

[Dougster]

Why does anything have to be labelled as an "off-brand"? It obviously carries a negative meaning. Why not just call them different brands, competing brands, or (heaven forbid) the name of their brand. Don't have a Mahindra/Farmtrac/Kioti/Zetor etc. dealer in your area - it can be an "off brand" to you (as another poster previously mentioned, but that doesn't mean you have to go try to stir the pot with other folks by implying that their machine is an off brand. Unless that's what you're here for.

Obviously, some folks... mainly older, hardcore aficionados of the traditional brands and traditional ways... feel personally threatened by brands like Mahindra that are huge in the world market but just coming into their own in the US market in recent years. Let's be honest: The newer brands are driving dealers of the traditional brands out of business or forcing them to switch over to the new brands. It's happening all around me. All that owners of the traditional brands can do is moan about it and call the new equipment "off-brand" (Definition: "Of or being a product sold inexpensively under a relatively unfamiliar brand name and often considered inferior to better known brands.") Of course it is intended as an insult... and yes, that's what certain people are here for.

Dougster

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Obviously, some folks... mainly older, hardcore aficionados of the traditional brands and traditional ways... feel personally threatened by brands like Mahindra that are huge in the world market but just coming into their own in the US market in recent years. Let's be honest: The newer brands are driving dealers of the traditional brands out of business or forcing them to switch over to the new brands. It's happening all around me. All that owners of the traditional brands can do is moan about it and call the new equipment "off-brand" (Definition: "Of or being a product sold inexpensively under a relatively unfamiliar brand name and often considered inferior to better known brands.") Of course it is intended as an insult... and yes, that's what certain people are here for.

Dougster

Obviously....You haven't got a CLUE as to why I'm here. Threatened? By WHAT? Newer brands driving traditional brands out of business? Oh, you're right. I see Deere Inc folding their tent and having a going out of business sale any day now. I suppose your reasoning is why Massey Ferguson/AGCO, NH, Kubota and Deere each individually own market share in the US that dwarfs all the rest of the industry combined?

I'm here because a few of you guys insist on making up your "facts" as you go along. Use tactics like TRUTH, OBJECTIVE OPINION, or maybe REALITY, and I'll go away. Keep up the ridiculous statements and I'm a happy camper at this forum.

 

[Tim_in_IA]

You asked! Here's a few reasons why.

A.) Where have you seen a post of mine referring to ANY brand as "off brand"? Don't I always refer to them as Mahindra? Show me otherwise, and I go away. The person who started this thread, entitled OFF BRAND, claims to be a Mahindra owner and supporter. Sort of a double standard there, isn't it?

B.) I came here AFTER several Mahindra owners/advocates came to another forum spouting off about how their favorite brand is THE CHOICE regardless of circumstances, when someone was looking at another brand that was obviously a better choice for HIS circumstances. I merely gave MY reasons why Mahindra WASN'T the prudent choice in that case, as well as why I haven't considered them in my case. The debate spilled over to here. The Mahindra forum isn't a private club, nor do I need to learn a secret handshake to post here.

C.) A certain Mahindra advocate was posting false and misleading information about another brand. Is it your contention that is permissable? Mahindra owners can slam other brands at will, even with out and out lies? But you're exemt from having your feet held to the fire over such as a divine right of Mahindra ownership?

FarmwithJunk,

In your defense yesterday I went back to the beginning of this thread and it did appear that the initial poster was taunting deere owners anyway. So I can understand your position. But we all have to remember that this is just a message board on the internet. Things are seen for what they are. We aren't splitting the atom here. Also, I've found that in life that even if you know you are right sometimes it is best to just let it go. Chances are you aren't going to convince the person you are trying to anyway. Or, sometimes what is more the case is that two people are saying the same thing but for some reason just can't see it.

I'm a Mahindra owner, but I also own a 2 cylinder John Deere 440ic crawler from the 50's, so I understand the importance of heritage. I also have a 300IH utility tractor loader. I help my dad keep to Farmall 560s going and his newer 1066. That is why I bought Mahindra in the first place. After I learned that they were trained by IH back in the day, that was all I needed to know. That and one of the larger IH parts companies in my area became the Mahindra dealer.

I also have 2 JEEPS so I love that Mahindra made and still makes the old rugged JEEPS. I can't wait to see their diesel invasion to the USA in 2009.

Guys, why don't we focus our energy on something more productive like figuring out how to add 10 remotes to a tractor or something interesting instead of worrying about where a fuel pump was made? Sound okay? A previous poster hit it on the head anyway. This is a GLOBAL economy. Have you ever heard how many countries are involved in making a Boeing airplane? I am pulling from memory here and I'm probably getting it wrong but I seem to recall hundreds of countries. I'd suspect the same for your automobiles, tractors, houses, and so on.

 

[Dougster]

I'm a Mahindra owner, but I also own a 2 cylinder John Deere 440ic crawler from the 50's, so I understand the importance of heritage. I also have a 300IH utility tractor loader. I help my dad keep to Farmall 560s going and his newer 1066. That is why I bought Mahindra in the first place. After I learned that they were trained by IH back in the day, that was all I needed to know. That and one of the larger IH parts companies in my area became the Mahindra dealer.

Let me just add that in no way do I take any pleasure at all in watching the local JD dealer packing up and leaving town... or watching my most local Massey dealer teetering on bankruptcy and only able to stock a 2310 or two. This gives me no pleasure at all. In an ideal world, I'd like to have more competitive choices and have every brand thrive. But that is not reality. All three new Mahindra dealers in my area this year used to be JD and M-F dealers. I know that meaningful sales comparison figures are hard to get, but you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that demand for the traditional green and red brands is obviously waining.

Dougster