Thoughts on buying remotely from a dealer & shipping -- anyone near East Peoria IL?

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Thoughts on buying remotely from a dealer & shipping -- anyone near East Peoria IL?

I'm in Northern California, and there's really not much of anything that's new-ish on the used market other than a couple BX's which people quickly outgrew. I've found a somewhat... er, rather, attractive tractor in Illinois; it's at a dealer, or I'd never consider it. Still, I'm leery about buying something sight-unseen, though it's still got a few years of powertrain warranty left on it (bumper-to-bumper is over).

The price, including shipping, I believe makes the transaction possible. Anyone ever done this - buy unseen & ship?

Anyone near East Peoria IL that might pass by and take a look and not buy it for yourself? :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

Re: Thoughts on buying remotely from a dealer & shipping -- anyone near East Peoria I

Its hard to believe you can't find something a bit closer to you. Even if it costs more, it will be offset by the shipping from IL to CA, won't it?

 

[paulfun9]

Re: Thoughts on buying remotely from a dealer & shipping -- anyone near East Peoria I

I don't and wont buy any big ticket Items without actually seeing it and inspecting it for myself first. I have just seen too many people unhappy with the deal afterwards to ever be confident enough to do it.

 

[Wagtail]

Re: Thoughts on buying remotely from a dealer & shipping -- anyone near East Peoria I

The only way that I could conceivably consider something like what you're proposing would be to involve a local dealership as the initial shipping destination, having them 'vet' the tractor before final payment is made.

Other than that, no.

 

[boggen]

Re: Thoughts on buying remotely from a dealer & shipping -- anyone near East Peoria I

i do live near east Peoria, but i will not go look for ya. for simple matter of, person buying needing to physically inspect it and take a test drive in it. used tractors can be all over the place, as in wear and tear, spots were leaks are, how well it runs, how much power it has, etc...

craigslist.org
searchtempst.com (to search multi craig cities near you at one time)

tractorhouse.com (agriculture equipment)
machinerytrader.com (industrial equipment)

to note it. be careful of craigslist scams. search for same tractor or truck / car on google and you will normally find same thing listed in multiple cities across the country. that in itself signs of a scam. and most likely the ad will be down voted within a couple hours as being "to good to be true", and in that a scam.

============
when i went looking for a TLB (tractor loader backhoe) i ended up tagging 13 or so backhoes off of tractorhouse. they all looked good picture wise. and within budget, a couple above budget just to see difference.

took a day, and drove to all of them early morning vary late at night getting back home. 15 plus hours driving. when showing up, some of them i did not even want to test drive. once i saw them up and personal. due to i just spent hours driving there.i went ahead and test drove them anyhow. and some of them were extremely poor shape as in no power what so ever. even though larger engine and larger hydrualic system on them. tires worn out, more leaks and nocks and high pitch noises coming from motor. etc.... if i bought without personal looking and test driving. i would have been out of a lot of cash. i did end up finding one that is good and ended up buying. that was mechanical good.

with above. sight unseen and not test driving for yourself. just a bad idea all the way around.

 

[777777]

Re: Thoughts on buying remotely from a dealer & shipping -- anyone near East Peoria I

To be the voice of dissent, I have done so. Live in Canada and purchased a tractor in Ohio. Did not see it in person.
Spoke with dealer, saw extensive pics, had him do videos of it running and functioning, asked him to have a check done by his service techs and send it to me on their letter head. Checked reputation of dealer.
Was satisfied with everything and proceeded to do the deal. Had transport from Canada pick up, customs brokerage took care of border crossing and it was delivered a short distance away from my home to a local dealer who agreed to let trucker unload there on a ramp. Otherwise, would have had to get a roll off to unload from truck.
Tractor was exactly as described when I saw it and drove it home.


Seamless and

 

[Milo]

Re: Thoughts on buying remotely from a dealer & shipping -- anyone near East Peoria I

I would consider buying remotely especially from a dealer if the owner or salesman came across completely honest. I request a complete history and disclosing of any and everything that's not perfect with lots and lots of high image pics. I've bought a few pretty expensive used motorcycles where I flew out and rode them home and all met or exceeded my expectations. If you get the slightest odd feeling from the person, or the pics they send are poor, just move on.

If a member would volunteer to give it a look over and check functions that would be a bonus. It's something I would be glad to do we're it near me.

 

[MossRoad]

Re: Thoughts on buying remotely from a dealer & shipping -- anyone near East Peoria I

I bought my machine factory direct sight unseen and had it shipped from the factory in VA to here in IN. But it was brand new, not used.

I don't know why we tend to think of new as OK not to see it, but used needs a touchy feely... like we can see anything internally wrong with our eyes anyhow, and it takes a knowledgeable person to see stuff that IS visible as well.

I guess we trust used tractor salesmen about as much as used car salesmen.

 

[TheMan419]

Re: Thoughts on buying remotely from a dealer & shipping -- anyone near East Peoria I

I bought my machine factory direct sight unseen and had it shipped from the factory in VA to here in IN. But it was brand new, not used.

I don't know why we tend to think of new as OK not to see it, but used needs a touchy feely... like we can see anything internally wrong with our eyes anyhow, and it takes a knowledgeable person to see stuff that IS visible as well.

I guess we trust used tractor salesmen about as much as used car salesmen.

Probably because the new one comes with a warranty and if there is a problem it will be taken care of.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Thoughts on buying remotely from a dealer & shipping -- anyone near East Peoria I

I recently saw an attractive price on a mower on the internet, seemed to be from a reputable dealer and all looked fine, that's not the point. I sent a few reasonable questions that I had since I couldn't be there and kick the tires.

Got no answer and in the meantime went to a semi-local dealer and did kick the tires and in doing so realized that I wanted the larger of 2 sizes I was unsure as to which to buy to suit my purposes, something I wouldn't have known with out kicking. I paid a goodly amount more for the one I bought but I have already realized that it was money well spent. The money is gone but the mower is here and it's the right one. Good decision.