Off Brand

[Robert_in_NY]

Tim, I don't know where the whole off brand thing even started but this "off Brand" thread was started by a Mahindra owner. Tractors that I consider "off brands" are brands like Tafe and all of the grey market tractors that are so scarce that it is hard to find any dealer let alone model specific parts.

Brands like Mahindra, Long Agritrac, Kioti, TYM (don't they make some of the Mahindra's or vice versa or what is their connection?) and a few of the other smaller dealer networks do not count as off brands.

In all honesty, the whole off brand tag is kind of stupid. I don't care what brand of tractor you have, if you don't have a dealer near by then what good is it. Just talk to some of these guys who have grey market tractors. Even with the internet they have a lot of trouble trying to find parts regardless of the brand.

I really don't know why this thread was even started. Were there a lot of people calling Mahindra an off brand or something? If so where were they doing it? A lot of people are loyal to a brand for some reason but some of these Mahindra guys are making the green underwear Deere guys look good

 

[Dougster]

A lot of people are loyal to a brand for some reason but some of these Mahindra guys are making the green underwear Deere guys look good

Only because that lime green underwear doesn't fade in the wash like my Mahindra Reds!

Dougster

 

[Robert_in_NY]

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

Yes, Mahindra is a huge company. No one has said they weren't. But CNH is the largest ag company in the world and I think they are still the largest construction company also. Massey Ferguson was and may still be the top "brand" of tractor in the world. I think Deere is up there also. No one is saying Mahindra is a new company or a little start up. But they are fairly new in tractor standards to the US and as a lot of other companies will tell you, the US is one of the hardest markets to crack. Look how long it took Kubota to be readily accepted in the US.

However, it appears some of the Mahindra owners on this board have to keep beating their drums over what they think is a lack of respect for some reason. That or they just want to convince themselves they made the right choice, again for some reason that I don't know why. I do not recall seeing anyone bashing Mahindra but then again I am not suppose to be reading any of these Mahindra threads

 

[Dougster]

I do not recall seeing anyone bashing Mahindra but then again I am not suppose to be reading any of these Mahindra threads

You just weren't paying attention Robert. The most recent round of Mahindra bashing started in this (now closed) thread...

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/buying-pricing-comparisons/104903-hard-decision.html?highlight=off-brand+mahindra

... and then moved over here.

Robert - I can only speak for myself, but as far as I am concerned you are always welcome here... lime green shorts... baby blues... or whatever... okay?

Dougster

 

[shvl73]

Not that remotely care what color anyones tractor is but, I would think any decline in sales of compacts might be related to the slow real estate and new construction markets in the northeast. Money seems to be a bit harder to pry out of their wallets right now.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I was watching that thread but not too close but from what I remember you only had Lucky really trying to cause trouble. The rest of it was people discussing or trying to persuade the others that their tractor or brand was the better choice.

When someone post a question like the Hard decision thread it is actually a good thing with the thread goes like that. You get people talking about good and bad points of the tractor. It is much better then going to a John Deere board and asking about a John Deere tractor and having 100 greenies telling you it is the greatest tractor ever made by the greatest company ever

My thread about the best UTV went a similar route but that was a good thing as it let me see how people really looked at their machines. You can always tell the people who are brand loyal and try to push thier pick on you and you can easily tell the people who are just trying to help the original poster. You always get some garbage post which is why you ignore them or report them if they are brand bashing or abusive. Then the mods take care of it.

And the reason that thread was closed was because of FWJ. He took over Junkmans role as the official thread closer of TBN

 

[rtimgray]

Tim, I don't know where the whole off brand thing even started but this "off Brand" thread was started by a Mahindra owner. Tractors that I consider "off brands" are brands like Tafe and all of the grey market tractors that are so scarce that it is hard to find any dealer let alone model specific parts.

Brands like Mahindra, Long Agritrac, Kioti, TYM (don't they make some of the Mahindra's or vice versa or what is their connection?) and a few of the other smaller dealer networks do not count as off brands.

In all honesty, the whole off brand tag is kind of stupid. I don't care what brand of tractor you have, if you don't have a dealer near by then what good is it. Just talk to some of these guys who have grey market tractors. Even with the internet they have a lot of trouble trying to find parts regardless of the brand.

I really don't know why this thread was even started. Were there a lot of people calling Mahindra an off brand or something? If so where were they doing it? A lot of people are loyal to a brand for some reason but some of these Mahindra guys are making the green underwear Deere guys look good

Well danggit Robert - there you go....you're callin' my Yanmar F16D an off-brand tractor - you big meanie.

There probably are some orphan grey market tractors - and my F16 my be among them, and probably is for some parts. I feel I've probably already won my gamble, because we paid $4000 for the tractor and tiller in February of 1999. It had 492 hours on the meter. We just cleared about 1200 hours (which is not a lot of hours, I know - but this is primarily the yard mowing, fenceline bushhogging and post hole digging tractor). The only thing I've ever done is regular maintenance and install a battery. If I do end up needing parts, I imagine I can find them through my grey market sources or junk tractors - but first, I've got to need the parts!

There - I feel better - I just had to interject my experience with that particular brand.

Now, if we want to talk about a different experience, let me tell you about my Belarus 420AN.....

I think it was somebody with a Mahindra that started this Off-brand post and maybe it was just to bait folks into an argument (looked like it worked) or maybe just to post their point of view (nothing wrong with that). Just with my tractor history, obviously, I can't cast stones at others choices for what machines they feel are best for their applications.

 

[Dougster]

Not that remotely care what color anyones tractor is but, I would think any decline in sales of compacts might be related to the slow real estate and new construction markets in the northeast. Money seems to be a bit harder to pry out of their wallets right now.

Understood... but I was talking about the long-term trend, not variations in month-to-month sales or seasonal sales or anything like that. I was mainly focusing on overall market share in the New England market... and if JD's and M-F's market shares for utility and compact utility tractors haven't decreased markedly over the last 5 or 10 years, I will eat my Mahindra Red hat!

Dougster

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Well danggit Robert - there you go....you're callin' my Yanmar F16D an off-brand tractor - you big meanie.

Sorry about that

 

[VA Rebel]

Understood... but I was talking about the long-term trend, not variations in month-to-month sales or seasonal sales or anything like that. I was mainly focusing on overall market share in the New England market... and if JD's and M-F's market shares for utility and compact utility tractors haven't decreased markedly over the last 5 or 10 years, I will eat my Mahindra Red hat!

Dougster

Mahindra hat? Dont you mean Mahindra turban?