Truth in advertising...?

[MessickFarmEqu]

I followed a link on a manufactures website and noticed this spec sheet (brand removed so we can try and have a discussion about this rather than creating a flame war). Notice as you go down the list how the models they compare to are constantly changing... however the model I blanked out did not. Unbelievable. Under the attachments they also picked loaders that are the wrong fit for that model. The Kubota L4740 uses the LA854 loader... the LA724 does not even fit. At a glance its so easy to miss these things, but the more you look the more you find. The importance of being an educated consumer seems to grow every day.

(Btw.. said company is not a competitor in my area)

 

[beenthere]

I'm color blind and only see "green"

But your point is well taken.

 

[Dmace]

They may have listed the model number of the loader wrong but the specifications that are posted for the loader are still for the LA854. The specs are listed on this PDF on the Kubota site. Obviously this was not an intentional mistake to mislead consumers since the LA724 has even lower specs.

I am sure Kubota never made a mistake like listing the wrong model number in a comparison chart.

I don't see the point of this post besides trying to put down another manufacturer which is no surprise from you. I am sure anyone can tell which manufacturer is the red one...

 

[Mike Costello]

I don't think he was dissing anyone's product, but merely pointing out the ad as a poor apples to apples comparison. Anyone not knowing the basics about tractors and equipment could easily be misled whether it was intentional or not. I hope somebody didn't pay big bucks to have that ad put together.

 

[TripleR]

Yeah, I think he was just pointing out "buyer beware". I personally wouldn't pay any attention to comparisons made by any company, red, red, orange, orange, green/yellow, blue, yellow gray.

 

[dave1949]

I see nothing nefarious, just the usual sloppy work I see all the time in many places; tractors or otherwise
Dave.

 

[LRTX1]

They may have listed the model number of the loader wrong but the specifications that are posted for the loader are still for the LA854. The specs are listed on this PDF on the Kubota site. Obviously this was not an intentional mistake to mislead consumers since the LA724 has even lower specs.

I am sure Kubota never made a mistake like listing the wrong model number in a comparison chart.

I don't see the point of this post besides trying to put down another manufacturer which is no surprise from you. I am sure anyone can tell which manufacturer is the red one...

I agree with above said.

To me it looks like a copy and paste error. Three out of the four categories have matching model numbers. Not A+ in the advertising QC department for the mysterious "RED" brand.

 

[tsteahr]

They may have listed the model number of the loader wrong but the specifications that are posted for the loader are still for the LA854. The specs are listed on this PDF on the Kubota site. Obviously this was not an intentional mistake to mislead consumers since the LA724 has even lower specs.

I am sure Kubota never made a mistake like listing the wrong model number in a comparison chart.

I don't see the point of this post besides trying to put down another manufacturer which is no surprise from you. I am sure anyone can tell which manufacturer is the red one...

I also agree with this. In addition, the NH 3050 specs are also accurate and the JD specs are accurate (except I can't find a spec for the 400cx loader). The only issue I see with this chart is incorrect model numbers in several places. Sloppy, Yes. False advertising? Not that I can see. Each product is accurately represented, despite the model numbers.

What was the purpose of the OP again?

 

[John Clark]

Kind of makes me suspect 'bronze member' status has nothing to do with experience?

 

[tsteahr]

So this isn't about false advertising?

 

[Grandad4]

Another part of this... notice the red brand did not compare to something like the M5040 or its blue and green equivalents because the specs wouldn't favor the red brand so much. Offering a small utility frame tractor in the compact market seems to be a key part of this red brand's marketing strategy, but the chart makes an apples to oranges (and blueberries and alfalfa ?? ), comparison. If a buyer didn't know to also look at the utility models offered by the other manufacturers, this chart could certainly be misleading.

 

[wampum]

(Btw.. said company is not a competitor in my area)[/QUOTE]

Your area does not go out 50 miles? You must really sell local. One location is less then 30 miles from your one location,according to map quest. 100 years ago that may not have been local,but its only a 1/2 hour drive now. If I lived near you I would check out all the dealers within 50 miles I could,that's local to me. People that live between you and them are actually closer yet,its possible to be 15 miles from both of you. I do not own a red one but several of the specs trump the orange. Some of the specs showed the orange ones trumping the red,some favored the blue and green. That weight is impressive over a 1000 pounds more then orange. The best thing to do is go try all the tractors in my area(I even checked your dealership out while I was visiting my boy), then get a spec sheet from each dealer and do the math yourself. Like car stealers I trust no dealership. When it comes to buying none of them are paying your bills,they have their own to pay. So they will get as much out of you as they can,that is just life. I do not hold that against them,I know that going in. But when I see a dealer bad mouth another brand,red flags go up. To me this thread started as more negative then positive.

 

[tsteahr]

Another part of this... notice the red brand did not compare to something like the M5040 or its blue and green equivalents because the specs wouldn't favor the red brand so much. Offering a small utility frame tractor in the compact market seems to be a key part of this red brand's marketing strategy, but the chart makes an apples to oranges (and blueberries and alfalfa ?? ), comparison. If a buyer didn't know to also look at the utility models offered by the other manufacturers, this chart could certainly be misleading.

This model comparison "cherry picking" seems prevalent in many/most of the Red marketing comparisons. However they are not unique in this. Cherry picking has been done in every competitive marketing industry for as long as advertising "comparisons" have been made. The chart posted in the OP is just another example of why these marketing charts are essentially useless.

What would be far more useful would be some sort of objective, third party verification of manufacturer claimed CUT specs. Unfortunately there is no Car and Driver or Road & Track of the CUT industry.

 

[Dmace]

What would be far more useful would be some sort of objective, third party verification of manufacturer claimed CUT specs. Unfortunately there is no Car and Driver or Road & Track of the CUT industry.

Well technically there is but (surprise! surprise!) Kubota does not participate in these test which is why Nebraska does not allow the sale of new tractors from this manufacturer in their state. There is no reason not to participate unless you don't want the truth in your specs to be published.
NE Tractor Test Laboratory

 

[tsteahr]

Well technically there is but (surprise! surprise!) Kubota does not participate in these test which is why Nebraska does not allow the sale of new tractors from this manufacturer in their state. There is no reason not to participate unless you don't want the truth in your specs to be published.
NE Tractor Test Laboratory

That is a very good site. Mostly higher HP machines (which makes sense). I did not see any models under 40hp and only a few under 50hp. I suppose there is not much reason to spend the effort to test little recreation / landscaping machines.

 

[dave1949]

Well technically there is but (surprise! surprise!) Kubota does not participate in these test which is why Nebraska does not allow the sale of new tractors from this manufacturer in their state. There is no reason not to participate unless you don't want the truth in your specs to be published.
NE Tractor Test Laboratory

I never realized that. Thanks.
Dave.

 

[DmansPadge]

Well technically there is but (surprise! surprise!) Kubota does not participate in these test which is why Nebraska does not allow the sale of new tractors from this manufacturer in their state. There is no reason not to participate unless you don't want the truth in your specs to be published.
NE Tractor Test Laboratory

There is a good Kioti owner response!

 

[Duffster]

Well technically there is but (surprise! surprise!) Kubota does not participate in these test which is why Nebraska does not allow the sale of new tractors from this manufacturer in their state. There is no reason not to participate unless you don't want the truth in your specs to be published.
NE Tractor Test Laboratory

So what do the Kubota dealers in Nebraska sell?

 

[kenstrac]

I followed a link on a manufactures website and noticed this spec sheet (brand removed so we can try and have a discussion about this rather than creating a flame war). Notice as you go down the list how the models they compare to are constantly changing... however the model I blanked out did not. Unbelievable. Under the attachments they also picked loaders that are the wrong fit for that model. The Kubota L4740 uses the LA854 loader... the LA724 does not even fit. At a glance its so easy to miss these things, but the more you look the more you find. The importance of being an educated consumer seems to grow every day.

(Btw.. said company is not a competitor in my area)

Puffery
About once a month Messick Farm knocks other mfg's that he dosn't handle if you go through his past postings and the ones that have been removed you will see what I am talking about.:ashamed:
When I was looking to buy a new tractor I ran across a dealer like that I made my purchase somewhere else,he seems to be the only dealer on here that resorts to this type of brand bashing.

 

[dodge man]

Well geez, imagine him thinking his stuff is the best. Do you want to go to a dealer that doesn't. I'm guessing he just noticed the model number of the loader was wrong and didn't actually look at the numbers. I'd just say he pulled the trigger a little to quick on bashing there ad.

I think the Nebraska thing was talked about recently, and they had tested several models in the past. No one really new if every single model that you sold needed tested, or if Kubota thought it was worth the effort to do it. Think about all the different model, engine, loader, transmission, etc combinations available through Kubota. How can they test all of these?