Should I be Concerned?

catsco · Apr 18, 2004

I'm still wanting to order a PT425 before the end of the month, but I spoke to a salesperson last week who was going to send info, video, etc. Still haven't received anything.

They don't really respond to e-mail.

Should I be nervous about paying $12K for a machine I haven't seen that seems to not have much of an owner's manual, has paint that washes off with gasoline, has been known to break in the middle, and uses 'commonly available' parts (like the hydraulic motors) whose manufacturer cannot be discerned, whose website shows the same motor for the Robin 22 HP and Kohler 25 HP?

Not trying to be sour grapes, but I've made too many mistakes in the past (think Simca, Opel, Yugo, Quadractor, Microsoft - - you get the idea) to throw any more $$$ away and incur my wife's wrath.

Life is hard enough buying stuff you CAN see and try out and return if not as expected. It appears that if you returned the unused portion of the PT, they will refund the unspent portion of your money.

BTW--thanks, Mossroad for all the information. If PT actually published anything or responded as you do, I'd have at least two! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Mark H.

MossRoad · Apr 18, 2004

Thanks for the kind words. Call them again Monday and tell them it is a follow up call to see if your information has been sent to you. If it hasn't, request that it be sent overnight as you would like to make a decision by the end of the month. They are kind of a quirky bunch. It is a well known fact that they do not reply to e-mail in a timely matter. This is one of the oddities of Power Trac and buying factory direct from them. But the meat and potatos of the issue is this... when you have a service question, they will sit with you on the phone while you sit next to your tractor and talk you through any problem that you may have. If you need a part, they will get that to you in a timely manner. The machine is rock solid steel. No cosmetics. A grinder, a can of primer and a can of paint is the only body touch up kit you'll ever need. Any repair shop can do any welding, should that be required. Any good lawnmower shop can deal with a Kohler engine. Any NAPA store can make you a replacement hydraulic hose. My personal maintenance kit consists of a grease gun with high speed grease, a spray can of grease, one adjustable wrench and a roll of paper towels... that's it.

Also, you have us here at TBN to support you, no matter what brand of tractor you end up purchasing. There are so many years of experience here for the major manufaturers and so many folks with years of background in repair and maintenance that I think the whole bunch of TBNers constitutes a virtual super computer at your disposal.

 Should I be nervous about... 
Yes. If you were not nervous about spending your hard earned money on a sight unseen tractor, I would question your sanity. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

But, I have some questions for you...
Have you looked at any other types of tractors? Have you taken any test drives and talked to the dealers? Have you made your list of "tasks that I want to accomplish with my new tractor"?

I didn't buy mine sight unseen, so to speak. I was very interested but refused to buy until I could sit on one and see for myself. I was fortunate enough to see one working downtown and asked if I could look at it. The guy let me hop on and told me it was for sale. I tried to buy it, but the guy had two of them and could not get out of the lease/purchase financing by breaking up the pair. He wanted to buy a larger one to go with one of the 422's.

Anyway, are you sure you want to purchase any tactor that fast?

catsco · Apr 19, 2004

Mossroad--Hi again!

You wrote:

( But, I have some questions for you...
Have you looked at any other types of tractors? Have you taken any test drives and talked to the dealers? Have you made your list of "tasks that I want to accomplish with my new tractor"?
)

Absolutely. I've spent more time researching and looking that I will probably spend used the tractor! (maybe a 'slight' exaggeration!).

In other forums, most notably Chinese tractors, I've been steered (or pushed?) toward Powertrac because of the type of property we own and what I expect to do with the tractor.

Not to mention that even the Jinma/Nortrac/Farm Pro tractor costs quite a bit more than the PT425 with the attachments I would purchase.

The PT would obviously not do some of the things the others would, like crop farming, and can't dig as deep with the mini-hoe as the larger machines with a backhoe would, but would certainly do the job.

Is Powertrac on the verge of going out of business or stopping manufacturing the tractor? I've read that they used to have dealers.

These things are huge red flags when dealing with any business.

Seems like 'quirky' might be an understatement; as someone mentioned in response to a previous post, not answering e-mail or returning phone calls is NOT the hallmark of a company with a good product.

If I ran my business that way, I wouldn't be a member of Tractorbynet since I would have no computer, no home, no food, and no hope!

Thanks!
Mark H.

MossRoad · Apr 19, 2004

As far as I know, they have been in business for over 30 years manufacturing mining equipment. The mining equipment looks very similar to the tractors... low, articulated units built tank tough.

There was a history of the company somewhere... from what I can remember, someone in the company was interested in landscaping and they adapted the mining equipment knowledge to the tractors. Anyway, they just built a new facility on their property in Tazewell last year, so I don't think they have any plans on going out of business anytime soon. Even if they went out of business tomorrow, I would not be worried, as I can repair or replace anything on the tractor myself. I bought it with no intention of re-selling it. I will just keep putting updated parts on it if and when they start to wear out. I expect the rubber hoses to go first, just from experience. I expect the Kohler to go a couple of thousand hours before a rebuild. I have no idea how long the hydraulic ram seals, joints, hydraulic motors and pumps will last, but they, too can easily be replaced. I can fab up any attachment that I can think of, if needed. Or I could have them built. The design of their tractors is really an excellent platform to adapt to just about any need a homeowner or professional landscaper might have.

Trojan6 · Apr 19, 2004

I went through the exact same concerns you are experiencing about two weeks ago. After calling to request a video, they told me they were sold out and haven't finished any new ones. Kristy said she would make a copy for me personally, and it get it in the mail quickly. However, it still took about three weeks and repeated phone calls to finally get the video. My wife refused to let me buy one until she saw a video, despite all the resources available on the net. But, eventually the video arrived, the wife was convinced, and I put in my order (which hopefully arrives this afternoon). I have not seen or ridden one personally, but was convinced mostly due to this forum and my needs that it was the right choice. Time will tell, but I am pretty darn confident I made a sound decision.
Be forewarned though, the video and printed materials leave a lot to be desired once you finally get them. Best solution would be to find somebody with one near you that is willing to let you test drive. If you're planning on traveling through central Texas anytime soon, I'd be happy to let you hop on my 180. Good luck with your decision. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

FOURTEEN · Apr 19, 2004

.

"" They are kind of a quirky bunch. ""

Or, you could be interested in a tractor company with beautiful pictures, glossy brochures, fabulous videos, and fancy showrooms full of slick high pressure salesmen, all conspiring to sell you a JUNK product, built you are not sure where, by a company you have trouble pronouncing, that comes with a wonderful long term warranty which covers everything that could possibly go wrong except your problem which will, of course, be "normal wear or abuse"!!

.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

MossRoad · Apr 19, 2004

And once the warranty is up, you are going to pay for repairs yourself, no matter what the brand.

blackwell · Apr 19, 2004

I was by Power Trac a month or so ago and noticed five different groups looking at PTs at the same time that day. PT only has two sales people and they were using people from service and parts department to fill in. They were taking calls between talking to walk in costomers and passing messages to others to send out lit & videos. I was impressed with how much was getting done with such few people. I think PT has always run very lean, but I have always been able to get any info needed in a reasonable time. Granted, they do not have someone sitting at a computor ready to answer your e-mail instantly, but they have always replied to me within 24 hrs during work days, which is a lot faster than I reply to others. Unless you request otherwise, PT sends litature by regular mail which will take a week to get to CO.

" Going out of business"--I agree with others, these things could be repaired without factory support. I have a 5 year old, $50K phone system made by Nortel that no longer has parts available, I was promised I would never need to buy another phone system just expand this one, sure! I will replace the phones but I can repair my PTs. Power Trac is a strong and growing company which appears it will be around a long time. History on web site. They are building a new office and showroom, getting ready to add new production building.

"Parts Manuals"--PT parts manuals are simple, photos of each part with their part number and discription. They are all that is needed if you are looking to buy the part from PT, however if you want the vendor number PT or no other company is going to give you that info. PT does have some motors and pumps built to their spec, i.e. different shaft seals, bearings, reliefs, etc. It has been my experence that it is less expensive in the long run to buy PT parts than to look other places and waist time trying to be sure you have the right part. I have never had trouble getting the parts I need from PT.

If you can make the trip to Tazewell, I think it is worthwhile and would eliminate some of your fears.

I have always been different than most, I have believed I could use my insight and knowledge to pick good products, sometimes its worked and sometimes it hasen't. I did buy a $300K plane over the internet, sight unsean and have had it several years, still going strong. I have bought several collector cars that way, all ok. That phone system was bought face to face and it was short lived. Sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you.

It is easy for me to endorse Power Trac, I still think they are the most underated machine on the market. We now have six.

Good luck,
EB

BillG_in_TX · Apr 19, 2004

( I did buy a $300K plane over the internet )

Your name is really Mark Cuban, isn't it! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Sedgewood · Apr 20, 2004

I have always been different than most, I have believed I could use my insight and knowledge to pick good products, sometimes its worked and sometimes it hasen't. I did buy a $300K plane over the internet, sight unsean and have had it several years, still going strong. I have bought several collector cars that way, all ok. That phone system was bought face to face and it was short lived. Sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you.


Excellent post Blackwell. The more you practice practice practice honing your instincts the hungrier the bear gets. And when you win one it sure gives a bigger kick than choosing a paint scheme for your new cocoon. And when you loose one you get a great phone system story to entertain your friends with.

It's good to hear PT is expanding again - that's twice in what, two years? We may have to be patient while they work out a few growing pains.

Grab it and growl,
Sedgewood