Pricing a King Kutter 72" Tiller

[fried1765]

Might you beat that price in a couple of months?
Maybe.....
I bought a 60" KK tiller on sale, on the internet, from Blaine's Farm & Fleet (Wisconsin), and they shipped it to me in Massachusetts.
Blaine's shipping for that long distance was only $130, and there was no sales tax.
$1400 delivered..... but that was a 60" KK, and it was a Blaine's sale last Spring.
I thought $1400 was a GREAT total price!
I think $1665 (+ tax), at your local farm store is a fair price for the 72" KK.
You will like the KK tiller. It is built like a tank!
Only caveat: KK paint work STINKS! They use no primer, and apparently do no prep. The paint seems to chip off when you walk by it!

 

[jcummins]

Might you beat that price in a couple of months?
Maybe.....
I bought a 60" KK tiller on sale, on the internet, from Blaine's Farm & Fleet (Wisconsin), and they shipped it to me in Massachusetts.
Blaine's shipping for that long distance was only $130, and there was no sales tax.
$1400 delivered..... but that was a 60" KK, and it was a Blaine's sale last Spring.
I thought $1400 was a GREAT total price!
I think $1665 (+ tax), at your local farm store is a fair price for the 72" KK.
You will like the KK tiller. It is built like a tank!
Only caveat: KK paint work STINKS! They use no primer, and apparently do no prep. The paint seems to chip off when you walk by it!

Yes it does...in fact you can hear it pop as you walk by and the paint chip falls.

 

[ovrszd]

Bought mine used, 10 years old, always stored outside, paint is in great shape.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I bought my KK 72" tiller in 2014 for $1295 and no tax which was a good deal at the time. $1695 in 2016 sounds like a pretty decent deal. If you have a registered farm number like I have or in many instances just tell them it is a farm purchase and no tax is applied to purchases.

The comments about the KK paint are accurate and applies to almost any brand or any thing. When I worked quality assurance in construction, paint of purchased equipment was always an issue. No one does sand or bead blasting prep of surface unless there is a QC inspector present to assure it is done properly even if you are willing to pay extra for it.
Granted some paints are better than others at durability but without a descent surface profile, even the best paints will come off when dinged by a rock or other hard object or after months of exposure to moisture.

Recoating of paint is not that expensive if one wants to keep equipment pristine. For me, a few dings are not an issue. Even if the equipment rusts a bit, it is going to outlive me and I could care less how it looks to a potential buyer at the estate sale after my death.

 

[ovrszd]

Found a pic. I consider this paint in very good shape for 10 year old, parked outside implement.

A 10 year old Kubota tractor parked outside won't look this good.

 

[fried1765]

****!

My King Kutter back blade, tiller, and box blade are all less than 2 years old, and are stored inside.
Perhaps the paint quality/application was better 10 years ago.
Other current KK buyers report the same in KK reviews: KK paint job STINKS!
I suggested to KK that they switch to an epoxy paint, but I am certain that they consider paint to be only an appearance/sales/cost issue.
Just get the product out the door, looking good, and do so as cheaply as possible.

Bought mine used, 10 years old, always stored outside, paint is in great shape.

 

[ovrszd]

****!

My King Kutter back blade, tiller, and box blade are all less than 2 years old, and are stored inside.
Perhaps the paint quality/application was better 10 years ago.
Other current KK buyers report the same in KK reviews: KK paint job STINKS!
I suggested to KK that they switch to an epoxy paint, but I am certain that they consider paint to be only an appearance/sales/cost issue.
Just get the product out the door, looking good, and do so as cheaply as possible.

Yeah, I think that's common anymore. I'm thinking the paint on mine isn't the same paint as they use today.

I'll brag on KK just a little here. I bought it knowing little history. Sent KK an email with the Model number and Serial number asking them the age. They emailed back the same day. Told me the month and year of manufacture. I thought that was good of them.

 

[bjr]

I gave $1400 for one 5 yrs. ago. The case plate was leaking (the store discounted it) and I had to reseal that. Now I'm look $500 and some for new tines. I've quit doin' Freeby jobs as now, I GET TO BUY new tines. I had one neighbor sayin' he wanted me to hurry up and get them new tines on there 'cause he needed his garden tilled. I just smiled and shook my head. I think he got the message and got into his pickup and drove off. Just be aware that ground engaging tools wear and you can't go do work for other people for free. bjr

 

[ovrszd]

I gave $1400 for one 5 yrs. ago. The case plate was leaking (the store discounted it) and I had to reseal that. Now I'm look $500 and some for new tines. I've quit doin' Freeby jobs as now, I GET TO BUY new tines. I had one neighbor sayin' he wanted me to hurry up and get them new tines on there 'cause he needed his garden tilled. I just smiled and shook my head. I think he got the message and got into his pickup and drove off. Just be aware that ground engaging tools wear and you can't go do work for other people for free. bjr

Very easy to tell who your friends are when you have "tools". It's not the ones who come around asking about using it. It's the ones that have a true need but never ask. Those are the ones I volunteer to help.

One of my neighbors at my farm is a HUGE farmer. Multi-Millions of dollars in equipment. I voluntarily brush cut 15 acres of CRP for him this Fall that borders my farm. He didn't ask me to do it and tried diligently to pay me. Said he didn't want to "owe" me. I said consider it payment for lending me his bucket truck to prune some trees a couple years ago with no payment accepted.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

. . . For me, a few dings are not an issue. Even if the equipment rusts a bit, it is going to outlive me and I could care less how it looks to a potential buyer at the estate sale after my death.

Amen to that. I'm a function-over-form guy. I don't care what it looks like. I just want it to work.