Yanmar imports - continuing at the same pace?

[California]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( But those units look so nice that I think they create their own demand. -California

I'll take a used tractor in good mechanical condition any day over a tractor with a cosmetic make over to cover up problems. -kenmac )</font>

That's my personal taste (good mechanicals, appearance irrelevant), my sig photos prove it!

But I think gorgeous rebuilts, either bogus or legitimate, will sell themselves to the first-time weekend suburbanite who will judge value, in his eyes, on impressive appearance. Why does anyone buy a car over say $30,000? Mostly to portray an image without any practical need for advanced features. Same reasoning. I think there is a potential market here for tractors that are guaranteed as reliable as they are pretty.


[Edited for clarity: parentheses and photo added]

 

[arthr31]

You guys are being pretty tough on the folks that may have purchased rebuilt/whatever tractors.

A lot of the time they have been told that the engines, clutches, transmissions, etc. have been rebuilt and/or reconditioned (again, yet to be properly explained). I bought my recon 1601 'cause the dealer did right by me and also claimed and stood by the work that was done.

sometimes good looks of a unit play into the perceived value. if you have something that is rusted out and shabby looking it won't attract the first time buyers or the un-educated consumer. Second, third time around you might get a different perspective, henceforth a different buyer. The same guy that purchased the shiny recon might just by the rusted old tractor which works....

Don't alienate anyone. Look at the parts/repair opportunity as a chance to upsell, maybe even resell....

If someone opens an ISO 9001 shop with resale capabilities, I'll run a N.E operation for you, no doubt!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Most importantly, keep tractoring, and keep happy. -art

 

[ym2610]

This may not be the right place or time for this, but my 2 cents worth is that its sad that we in USA can't be responsible for our on actions, what I mean is that (Yanmar wont sell parts to the USA ) because of a law suit, I don't know for sure but if its like most law suits, the owner was probably doing something he didn't need to be doing on it, even if he wasn't Yanmar still won't sell because one or two people in the USA can't be held responsible for their actions /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif, this makes me mad, great tractor, but because it don't have a shield (don't stick your hand there) it don't have a ROP ( stay off the steep hills) its to dangerous for the USA, can't sell tractors are parts because they would be responsible if you get hurt on it, this is BS, if you buy it your responsible for operating it right, Yanmar is not the only tractor that someone has got hurt or killed on, I do agree with CAL on the manuals should come in English, and be with every tractor sold. I do hope that one day Yanmar will change their mind, but I don't blame Yanmar right now, I wouldn't sell them or parts, next they will go after the US sellers, I hope this never happens, but it won't surprise me, for now all you sellers and aftermarket parts guys keep up the good work. I hope to keep my Yanmar a very long time. sorry I just had to vent. Thanks Robert

 

[EFC]

If the tractors were actually rebuilt you could not afford them. Vietnam doesn’t buy parts from Japan. I am in Japan every month I talk with the dealers over there about Vietnam. They all say that if Vietnam did buy parts from Japan they would exhaust the parts supply almost overnight. The tractors they rebuild being an inch away form junk require so many parts that Japan could not supply them. If you did rebuild a Vietnam tractor to ISO specs my guess based on knowledge of parts prices in Japan a normal tractor would average 20k each retail.

When a manufacturer builds a tractor they have an obligation to have parts on hand for a particular # of years. The bean counters do the math and give the company a guestimate based on typical use and life expectancy of how many of each part are needed to meet that regulation. They do not take into consideration third world countries grabbing hulking carcasses and bringing them back from the dead.
If anything kills the grey industry it will be VN salvaged junk.

I was having dinner last time I was in Kobe with a Yanmar rep and he made reference that VN was the answer to Yanmar’s export problem. I asked what he meant and he politely smiled and ended the conversation. I took it that if VN ate up all the parts then Yanmar would not look like the bad guy for not selling parts. So far though VN chooses to make their own parts so maybe my guess is incorrect.

Either way there are lots of third party companies building parts for greys now, thanks to some great established legitimate importers. So even without Yanmar we can support the tractors we sell for years to come.

Buck

 

[BruceR]

I don't hold anything against those who buy or even sell VN recons. But let the consumer know exactly what they have in hand.
Put the pencil to the price of parts for a complete rebuild; engine, clutch, hydro, etc. I don't see where it can be done without cutting some major corners. I have yet to see an ad for recons that dosen't give an impressive list of NEW parts in each and every tractor. Of course, in the fine print it states "as needed". Well Heck no it won't need that new piston when you have a pile of used ones that you can make fit, a can of flat black Krylon ( I doubt they would spend the extra cents on Rust-o-leum ) will make that muffler good as new won't it ?

You would miles ahead to take an "A" class machine to begin with and do the cosmetics on it. Maybe even run the seat down to the trim shop for a little tuck and roll, wouldn't that impress the neighbors. My suburbanite transplant neighbors have new Kubotas to impress each other, but they all looked sideways at each other when they found out that my shiney new tractor ( a little rubbing compound and wax for the sheet metal, a 50-50 mix of Wesleys Whitewall Cleaner and Kerosene for the frame , engine and tires ) was really 26 years old and was purchased for what they put down on theirs.

As far as ROPS and shields, I am a believer, even the safest operator can have a momentary lapse. However, I spent a lot of time looking at US branded tractors in my price range and none of them had saftey equipment either.

You have a great idea California, but I don't see it comming to fruition as you have laid it out. You can bet someone else already thought of it. I thought the same thing would be nice to do with classic autos when I worked in a restoration shop. Only problem was that they would cost more than an a new one. Made much more sense to provide the labor and let someone else foot the bill.

Bruce

 

[kenmac]

I looked at & could have bought a v. n. rebuild. I bought the same size tractor same price from Fredricks. New or recovered seat ,paint job, new steering wheel, lights, sway chains, etc; This was not a junked out tractor that was pieced together in v.n. I have had no warranty or parts problems.Can you get a 6 mo.front to rear of the tractor warranty from v.n. ? Most I've seen offer 3 mo. engine & or power train warranty only.