Why no new reviews?

[Bob_Skurka]

the tractor reviews suffer from a selection bias. . . and as you correctly point out, that the reviews are mostly done by new owners.

The huge problem with that is that these new buyers do not understand the benefit of one design versus another design. Theirs is best because that is what they bought, even if something else can be demostrated to be objectively better. They are blinded by some loyalty to justify the money they just spent.

it is useful to allow new owners to indicate whether their new purchase met their expectations

I tend to disagree simply because many of these new owners review their tractors BEFORE they have much experience with the machines. Further, they use words that are very imprecise like "powerful" and often apply it to their tractor with surprise when they don't realize that almost ALL tractors of that size offer similar capabilities. What good is a review from a tractor newbie that was written after 10 or 20 hours from a new owner? Honestly, if RoyJackson, or Soundguy bought a new tractor and he reviewed it after 10 or 20 hours then I would trust it because they have a frame of reference of how the tractor should perform based on their operation of other equipment.

How about a 1 year of ownership minimum prior to posting in a new section called "Long term reviews"? The standard would be that only owners who had a year of experience on the tractor

This is a very good idea. It would be even better if the operator had experience with other brands or other types of machines, but a 1 year & 100 hour minimum seems like it would at least flush out the new buyer bias.

Perhaps some format could be instituted by TBN that also asks some specific questions like the cost of the 50 hour service AND what is included in that service. Also if the owner transported the machine to the dealer, the dealer transported it free, or for a fee. Also a list of other expendatures (if any).

It also should be noted that ALL owners have some level of bias, nobody is truely bias free.

 

[Bob_Young]

Bob, that's an example of the 'perfect' being the enemy of the 'good'. If a review isn't written just so by someone who's a TBN somebody, then it's useless.

Give us a little credit. It's not hard to see who's writing from a state of tractor induced euphoria and who's making (or trying to make) an honest assessment based on fact. Posters which indicate the type of jobs tractor X was purchased to do and then describe how well it did that job perform a useful service to those wondering whether tractor X is enough to do similar work.....all without needing a wide exposure to the competing brands.

Sometimes you have to read between the lines to get this information, but if the review has been posted, at least it is there. If Joe Tractorguy reports he traded in his BX23 on a new L39 and praises it's trenching ability to the skies; you at least know that the BX wasn't cutting it for Joe. If you have similar work, the BX is probably a poor choice.

I'm in agreement that periodic reports as the tractor-owner relationship matures would hold great value as would reports of any follow-on maintenance/repair difficulties. Still a review posted "out of the box" records first impressions which are often important. Granted, you may see a dozen "there's no cup holder" gripes for every "HST lacks power on hills" or "3pt hitch lacks lift", but I'm willing to endure the chaff for the wheat.

One thing to remember is that by the time an owner has accumulated 100-200 hours on his machine, that model has often been supplanted by something newer. At that point a review will have little value for someone buying new.

One thing's certain; if the review system/policy continues as it is, we'll never see any reviews from Soundguy, RoyJackson or any other current or would-be TBN luminaries.
Bob

 

[MtnViewRanch]

So in order to give a review that is worth reading, you need to.

A--- Have over 100 hrs time on said tractor.

B--- Have over 100 hrs time on another brand equal of said tractor in order
to have a frame of reference.

I suppose that the months or even years of research on the different brands should also be listed so that the reader would have some sort of idea of where the reviewer is coming from and why the decision was made to purchase said tractor.

I would have to say that when restrictions are put in place in order to place a review, or that you need to list your qualifications to make the review, that there will be even fewer reviews than there are now. The reviews need to be taken for what they are, a report from the owner, good, bad, or otherwise. They are only a reference.

It would be nice if you could add a supplemental review attached to an original review, but that option does not seam to be available.

 

[Harvster]

............ a 1 year & 100 hour minimum seems like it would at least flush out the new buyer bias.......

The problem with something like this is it's easy to find exceptions. For example, say I worked on a sod farm for the last 10 years and have logged hundreds of hours on a dozen different tractors and implements. I finally buy a new tractor for myself and am not qualified to review it for a year? ( not the case, by the way, just a thought). I would just as soon see all reviews and decide for myself whom I choose to believe. If I see "Gee whiz this tractor has lots of horsey powers and sure is fun to play with on the weekends when I'm out here in the Hamptons" I may not put as much faith in that as a review that begins with "well growing up on the ranch in Kansas, all the tractors we had...". And even if I'm buying a new product or a new model of car or whatever I do believe there is some value in at least some initial impressions and opinions to go by other than the manufacturers' literature.

 

[RoyJackson]

I am surprised none of the operators or moderators have chimed in on this thread...especially since it appears one cannot post on the reviews page.

Well, if it does get up and running, I would like to see a request that reviewers own or operate their equipment for 6 months prior to reviewing. Six months should give an owner/operator enough experience to express his or her thoughts about their purchase and if they would buy the same tractor or other equipment again.

As far as strict "rules"...no...this is supposed to be a fun and (somewhat) informative website. Let's leave it that way.

 

[DK35vince]

Well, if it does get up and running, I would like to see a request that reviewers own or operate their equipment for 6 months prior to reviewing. Six months should give an owner/operator enough experience to express his or her thoughts about their purchase and if they would buy the same tractor or other equipment again.

Also owners who previously gave a reveiw should be able to replace their older reveiw with a new updated version once they had a chance to put on extra hours/years on the machine.

 

[JerryG]

I am surprised none of the operators or moderators have chimed in on this thread...especially since it appears one cannot post on the reviews page.

Maybe they are waiting to see what the membership posts about the reviews before they say anything.

As far as strict "rules"...no...this is supposed to be a fun and (somewhat) informative website. Let's leave it that way.

Would you really want to use a review that was posted just for the fun of it? Buying a tractor is a major purchase with a lot of money involved.
They need to have "rules" met before they can be posted. What use is a review from a member that compares their tractor to others if the reviewer only has 10 lifetime hours?

 

[joetria]

I just purchased a Kioti DK35SE Hydro. I only have 18 hours on it but i have to say that is really a fine piece of equipment. I looked at a lot of tractors but this had the the best overall design for a tractor this size. They thought of everything. the placement of controls is perfect, seat is great, pleanty of room to move on deck. The FEL loader control is near you so you don't have to hold your arm up to move it. The engine is quiet and starts very quickly. No smoke. Hydrostatic is the way to go. This is my first tractor. I have been looking for about five years (yeah, slow thinker) and finally came upon what i consider the perfect tractor. I have been so busy since i got it that i wonder how i ever got along without it. Joe

 

[Bob_Young]

Good idea, Joe. We won't let a disfunctional review system stop us. We'll just post the reviews here. Glad to hear you like your DK35. Anything about it you don't like?

Jerry, I've got no problem with "First Impressions" reviews. If I see the user has put less than 50 hours on the tractor, that's how I treat it. That type of review can give you a heads up on potential QC problems. If, out of three reviews of tractor X, two are raves and the third complains of the paint falling off on delivery; it tells you something.

You can say it wastes bandwidth, but no more so than all the tractor pictures everyone is encouraged to post (I like 'em too! ....Really!).
Bob

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I know the other tractor review website does ask owners how much experience they have with their machine. About 60% of the thousand or so reviews are from new owners.

 

[rback33]

I agree with a lot of what has been said here...

I don't think you can put "rules" on the reviews (if the fix they section ) We should have guidelines of some kind though... maybe even a "form" type of thing where u answer questions like hours on the machine and past tractor experience.... I am another guy that falls into odd areas on this. When I get around to buying, I will be a first time owner, but work for a loader manufacturer and get to see and use many compacts. I also grew up in rural Kansas working on a farm and have run many different tractors all the way up to 335 HP 4WD's. Until the section is fixed it is a moot point. Maybe there could be two areas... "First Impressions" and and another section after it's good and broke in...it could be a good area for threads like Bob's when he started that comparison thread several years ago that was recently revived.

 

[MikePA]

I am surprised none of the operators or moderators have chimed in on this thread...especially since it appears one cannot post on the reviews page.

1. Moderators have not chimed in (until now) because there's nothing we can do about the problem.
2. Having this thread in the General Buying forum wont catch Muhammad's nor Ibrahim's attention.
3. Muhammad has already replied in this thread with the status of the Reviews Section.

 

[RoyJackson]

"1. Moderators have not chimed in (until now) because there's nothing we can do about the problem.
2. Having this thread in the General Buying forum wont catch Muhammad's nor Ibrahim's attention.
3. Muhammad has already replied in this thread with the status of the Reviews Section."

Hi Mike...sorry, I don't often read the News/Feedback forum.
You're welcome to move this thread or close it.

 

[Hakim]

Personally, I think reviews are more helpful when various models of one brand are compared, or when various tractors of different brands are compared and there is some critical analysis of the features, designs, etc. and they are best presented by experienced users who have operated multiple machines over a period of time.

Actually we have sort of abandoned the "reviews" section, because there is a new site feature under development that will provide reviews and comparisons along the lines above.

We do not have an ETA for the review pages/section. It requires programming a new database structure, plus gathering a LOT of data, and page design. We are underway with it, but I just can't name a date at this time.

In the meantime, I'll ask Muhammad to lock off the current reviews section, since as you all note, it doesn't work correctly (at all ).

 

[EddieWalker]

I like the idea of a review section that allows those of us reading the reveiw to know more about the person posting the review. If I know they have so many hours on the machine when they post there review, I can base my opinion on that review allot better. I would love to see a folllow up section too. It would be extremly helpful to know how the dealer or manufacturere supported there products over the course of the ownership of that particular brand. I have a Century tractor that I've very satisified with. I have a dealer that goes out of his way to take care of me, but Century/Branson has left me stranded when I need certain parts. My first 50 and 100 hour reports would have been glowing, but with almost 300 hours on it, I'm less enthusiastic about the company because of their dealer support. If I wrote a review, I'd like to be able to update it from time to time.

Eddie

 

[61flattop]

All of the above is actually very importnat in my eyes. I dont find it important to try to make it only people that have excessive hours or time on the equipment and its equals to be able to post. In my opinion you would be negating possibly good information for a propective buyer. Buyers come in all shapes and sizes... everything from a guy that will buy a scut to mainly mow but move a little bit of dirt around about once a year all the way to a guy that will try to buy a scut and try to use it as a D9. All of this information from new posters to old posters are all very valid information. The only thing it does it gives the reader more information that must be decyphered. I do think the user needs to be required how many hours are on the machine and a break down of how each one is used. Example... right now I have roughly 30hrs on my new Massey......29 of those are working dirt and 1 of those is actually mowing. Now, in my younger years ( he he he he I just turned 35 ) I worked for a dirt working company, so I have experience quite a bit of different equipment... and I would think that my review would definitely be worth reading to somebody anyway. I think comparitive sheets like the one that Archery put together on the Deere, Kubota, and Massey would be beneficial as well....... That sheet helped me decide

 

[Muhammad]

Hi Guys,

We are working on a major overhaul of the reviews section, and in the mean time have been holding all reviews for release until then. But for your interest, I just posted a bunch of the new ones... for the time being!