saw jinmar/farmpro tractor at flea market

[Soundguy]

I was taking some of my animals to the vet saturday for shots, and saw a tractor at a flea market which is situated right next to the vets office.

Upon further inspection, i noticed they looked like jinmas, and then I saw the homier farm pro sticker / signs.

I walked over, and started asking some -stealth- questions.
( I always like to ask a few 'ringer' questions first, to see what the dealer is going to say, even though i already know the answers.. lets me know the knowledge level, and possible intent of the dealer. )
Oh yeah, before I get into this, this is -NOT- an attack on chinese tractors.. instead, it just goes to show the negative impact that these tractors may get due to dealers selling them that don't know a thing about them!

Ok, I was looking the tractors over.. there was the 20hp 2wd model, and the 25hp 4wd / ps model.
( I still want one of these tractors eventually... something about them I like... especially the little one.. looks real maneuverable for mowing jobs ).
The guy walks over starts spouting off stuff, like .. 3cyl, diesel, etc. At some point I say 'Jinma?' to which he responds: 'No.. these are new units, not reconditioned'.
Again, I say ' But aren't these units manufactured by jinma, then spece'd for specific companies like northern tool, ( nortrac), and farmpro, etc?'
to which he responds: 'No, they are y--- something', as he starts to open the hood. I say 'They've got yong-dang engines in them.'
He says ' Yaeh.'
At this point, I already know that the dealer knows virtually
-0- about this machine, only a few buzzwords he's seen in a product flyer, and would obviously be no help in any kind of warranty / repair work, or even be able to answer specific questions about the unit.

These tractors would have a better name if 'reputable' dealers would carry them.

The last homier tent sale i went to, they had a nice spread of tractors, and i was looking them over. Even test drove a couple. ( yes, I liked them, and wouldn't be afraid to own one ).
The guy answering the questions knew just a little more than the other guy I talked too... But still din't know how to operate the tranny ranges, etc. After about a half hour of talking and looking them over, I had pointed out to him, the pto controlls, and the ranges on the tranny. At one point another customer asked him a question, and he actually sent the guy over to me!... I got outta there fast.
Again.. I'm not hate'ing on these little tractors... just pointing out terrible dealer practices... though, this sort of thing isn't limited to chineese tractors.

I frequent a few used tractor places looking for antiques to fix up ( I collect ford tractors ). I stopped at this one place on the way to a tractor show, because i saw an add for an 8n on their sign. It was really a late 9n, or an early 2n ( couldn't read the sn, was guessing off some of the mid revisions taking place between those units production ), anyway.. the dealer walks out and starts the spiel... I point out the big differences... fron/rear hubs, 3spd vs 4spd tranny, steering box, dash, throttle linkage differences, brake pedal placement on either side of the tractor, and lack of running boards. ( glaringly obvious indicators of 9/2n as opposed to 8n ).
Finally the guy calls up to the office to find out if they can giv e the tractor a slight discount if I wanted it.

Same thing again, when i stopped to look at an 8n at a dealers ont he roadside. He didn't even know what year it was... Due to ignition and steering box differences it was easy to pin down to a couple year range.. again he offered a discount. I was almost ready to buy when i noticed another ford on his lot. He said it was a jubilee ( it was really an NAA.. same difference though, jub's were 53's, naa's were 54's, etc ). I bought that one instead.. got a great deal too. He was happy and so was I.

These kind of dealers i wouldn't purchase from unless I knew everything I wanted about the machine in question... I wouldn't want to go in, and rely on their info to make up my mind on a purchase...

Makes you wonder how these guys stay in business....
Ok.. I'm off the soap box now...

P.S.

This really makes you appreciate the helpfull & dedicated dealers out there. Many of which are right here at TBN.

thanks

Soundguy

 

[DIYGuy]

That's the reason I picked mine up in a crate. By the end of assembly, I figured I'd have to know a bit more than the average sales guy.

There are a few reputable dealers who do know the product, they just don't travel around in tents.

In the NE you have Bolton Power Equipment (MA) and Coastal Tractor (CT).

DIYGuy (MarkS)

 

[EFC]

Traveling tool shows and Sanford and Son junk salesman are not tractor dealers. The dealers I know and work with are just like me and tractors are a real passion. We use them and work on them so we know how they work. I don’t like used car salesman selling tractors either and it does put them in a bad light but I know I would never buy one there and people who do get what they get.

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Traveling tool shows and Sanford and Son junk salesman are not tractor dealers )</font>

I agree with you in theory, but the fact of the matter is, that anyone that has a resale agreement with a jinma setting on his lot ( or under his tent ) is a tractor dealer... and in the end these tractors are getting the brunt of the displeasure, instead of it being directed where it should be.. unscroupuless people, comming off as dealers, with no knowledge or product support.

Soundguy

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Buying a tractor from a tent sale in front of the mall may not be the fanciest place, and the "salesman" may or may not know anything, and may or may not be unscrupulous, but I've bought plenty of new cars and trucks from various Ford dealers large and small, and the one with the largest, fanciest showroom may not necessarily be the best place to buy from. Even though they have the largest ads and the biggest building and most employees, the salespeople there don't know anything about the product line, and wouldn't think twice about making things up as they go along in their conversation with you. I'd rather deal with someone at the smaller place who admits they don't know, rather than someone who makes up the truth to make their sale.

 

[EFC]

They are tractor resellers not tractor dealers, big difference.

 

[heith]

I don't have anything to add Soundguy, I just liked reading your article.

 

[Redfisher]

You would think if you were going to sell something for a living you would try to learn as much about the product as you could.But then again thats just me. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[EFC]

That is my point, at the most basic level a reseller is just selling a product. No more no less if he has some knowledge of the product then it is a bonus and most likely an accident. A dealer is a person who sells a product and has intimate knowledge of the operation, maintenance and repair of the item he is selling. My neighbor owns a tow business, part of his job is to auction off abandoned cars every month. He has a resale license but he is not a car dealer, he has no knowledge of the cars he sells and could care less he just wants the cash. Homier just wants your cash, the guys selling the old Ford tractors that Soundguy talked with just wanted the cash if they were interested in be dealers they would have known more abut the tractors than him.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Some "salesmen" Take pride in being able to sell something that they know nothing about, the " I can sell anything " mentality. I have worked for many years in the technical support area and have grown natuarally leary of salesmen, as most of you technical types have. It is a learned behavior not a prejudicial one /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
NOTE: There are a few honest salesmen out there that know their product, but they appear to be in the minority.