used tractor dealers

I've recently been searching for a used tractor. I've noticed that the tractor dealers don't seem very eager to sell their used tractors and are not willing to work with you to make a deal. They won't make repairs to a tractor on their lot even if I offer to pay for the repairs, and they make me wait a very long time to even show me their tractors. It's almost like I have to beg them to show me a tractor.

Anyone else had similar experiences? Have used tractors become such a hot commodity that the dealers just don't care anymore?

Depends on where you're shopping I guess. Some of the chain stores here have an "inventory reduction" auction every year and sell off their used stuff.

I have only once bought a used tractor from a dealer and that was last year. I was aware of the tractor and I knew they had just dropped the price so it did not surprise me when they did not want to negotiate any lower. It had a pretty good leak from a rear hub. I had them fix that and paid them to do it. It was a good experience overall. I had even mentioned to the guy that I wanted duals so he went on CL on his own time and called me to say he had found a set around the corner. Gave me the CL ad and I called and bought them. Seller dropped them at the dealer, trucker loaded the lot and brought it down state to me.

I know a couple of used tractor jockeys. A lot of the stuff they are setting on was bought in the last couple of years when prices were crazy. They really can't make a profit if they drop their prices.

Rick

I know a couple of used tractor jockeys. A lot of the stuff they are setting on was bought in the last couple of years when prices were crazy. They really can't make a profit if they drop their prices.

Rick

I'm not talking about price negotiations. I'm talking about common courtesy.

In one case, I was willing to pay the asking price. The tractor had a minor mechanical problem (according to the previous owner, the dealer broke this part while loading the tractor). I asked the dealer to replace the part (which I offered to pay for the part plus labor), but the dealer refused.

In another case, I called the dealer the day before and told them I'd like to come the following day and look at a specific tractor they had. The guy said fine. I arrived, gave them my name and the person I had talked to the day before. Then, I waited. Told them again, I'd like to look at a specific tractor. Then, waited some more. An hour later, I was still waiting to see the tractor.

(quoted from post at 15:09:12 09/10/14) I'm not talking about price negotiations. I'm talking about common courtesy.

In one case, I was willing to pay the asking price. The tractor had a minor mechanical problem (according to the previous owner, the dealer broke this part while loading the tractor). I asked the dealer to replace the part (which I offered to pay for the part plus labor), but the dealer refused.

In another case, I called the dealer the day before and told them I'd like to come the following day and look at a specific tractor they had. The guy said fine. I arrived, gave them my name and the person I had talked to the day before. Then, I waited. Told them again, I'd like to look at a specific tractor. Then, waited some more. An hour later, I was still waiting to see the tractor.

Click to expand...

hen i go to a dealer to look at some piece of machinery I phone ahead to let them know i'm coming. Then i just drive straight in the lot and go look at it it.
When i decide i like to buy it i go in and talk to the sales dude.
I'll be dammed if i would wait an hour for one to get his lazy azz out of his chair.
If he wants business he better pay attention to me fast or i'm gone and don't come back.

Way back when I was in high school and was hanging around with the neighbor kid all the time,I went with him and his dad to a dealer to look at a tractor that he knew was sitting out front. We went in to the office and the salesman was sitting on the edge of his desk looking at a golf magazine. He asked about the tractor and the guy barely looked up,didn't even put down the magazine at all. Had no interest in going out to show the tractor or start it. We left there pretty quick. Wasn't even all that long til the dealer was under new ownership.

I feel just like you. If they want to sell me the
tractor they should give me prompt attention.
However, I haven"t found a dealer willing to do
that, yet.

Some car dealers have also been the same way for decades or longer. For my part, if a salesman isn't there for an appointment I deal with whoever is there. If a dealer doesn't want to make repairs, I discount the price I will pay by 2 times what I think the repair will cost me. The dealer probably knows something I don't.

Some car dealers make more from financing their sales than from the actual vehicle sales. Once you say you would pay cash their interest fades.

It all depends on the local market. Always be prepared to walk away.

My experience is mostly with car dealers but some with tractors too but I try NEVER to buy a used tractor from a dealer and same with cars. They are on that dealers lot for a reason. Most "GOOD" vehicles/tractors get sold to a relative/neighbor or on craigslist by owner long before they get to a "dealer" That being said , once a dealer senses that you have half a brain (or more) they pass on you and hope a "know nothing" comes along to sell it to. I once stood and heard a used car dealer say to a customer that he was too fussy and to pick a different car on the lot or go to the other dealerships on the same road. All because the customer wanted the dealer to test/replace the alternator/bat. because they had to jump it to get it started to test drive. He wouldn't do it. It was to be the mans teen daughters first car and he just wanted assurance that it would start for her the next morn. No deal. Couldn't believe what I was hearing. BUY from the owner and let those dealers GTH.

Keep in mind that they need also to "keep the money moving" so to speak. Even if they do not make a profit from a sale, it is better to put the money someplace where it WILL make a profit rather than sitting for a long time in an overpriced used unit. Needless to say, they cannot keep doing that, but once you are into a unit too far, the best thing is to cut and run, and try to make a better deal the next time.

(quoted from post at 16:23:00 09/10/14) I feel just like you. If they want to sell me the
tractor they should give me prompt attention.
However, I haven"t found a dealer willing to do
that, yet.

Click to expand...

prefer buying private anyway.
I don't trust dealers,..i been stung by them a few times in the past when i started out in farming.

As B-maniac said in his last sentence,..let them GTH. :wink:

You are so wrong on the condition of used trade ins . Selling over 300 new tractors a year for the last 20 years I can tell you. We have dozens of folks the trade just like folks trade cars, they just want the latest thing or to stay in warranty. For tax advantage most time trading in the unit also favors the person buying the new unit. As for the original poster comments I think a lot of it depends on what dealer. We do not have specific uses salesman , they just all share and also share in the sale. Actually their may be more commission on the used than new. One thing I think customers fail to realize is how busy these guys are. My group have really little time do what folks call cold calls. They are following up on trying to locate a unit, answer customers questions, and in general stay pretty busy. Another thing is timing, some days might see 20 folks walk in wanting to buy a tractor then the next day maybe 2 or 3 so hard to have enough help all time. I don,t want a customer to have to feel like he is being miss treated or we do not take him serious but sometimes it is just a matter of take a number and wait..Just the way it is.

don656,
I think you hung around there about 55 minutes too long.

A good late model used tractor, same brand as they sell new,
they won't budge much on the price.
keeping the price of the used one close to the new ones will sell more new tractors. Which is the goal of course.

look for off brands.
They don't want them on the lot.
Why have a competitors tractor there for comparison to their new ones....

a beater that they want too much for? Be patient, leave your name and number with your offer. Might be surprised in a month or two.

get a relationship with small dealers who buy wholesale from big dealers. Tell them to call you if they get X tractor in one of their 'lot clearing' buys.

as far as their 'help', no thanks
When buying, I consider anything the seller says as .........
I want to look alone, if I like what I see, I just walk in and ask how much, and depending on their reply, for the key. They'll either just give it to me, or come out then.

I just spent a few months replacing my 105, and it was not fun. I apparently live in some sort of "void". Nothing in classified ads at all below $50k within well over 100 miles, nothing on the morning ads on the radio except a 4430 over $20k that has been advertised for months. The only thing on Craigslist was a 5288, said 500 hours on overhaul, looked it up and found it on consignment, drove 120 miles one way to look at it because they said it was good, lots of oil floating in the radiator. 4230 JD at the closest dealer 30 miles away that had many issues, only tractor there below $50k, next bunch of used tractors around $15k were a couple Cases about 70 miles away. Few and far between, and less than a handful below $40k. Finding time/days I could go look was difficult. One day drove over 300 miles one way and found few, and mostly junk, seals out/tractor needs split and not cheap, transmissions out or close, etc., less than a handful of tractors, all junk, circling back another way, no deals, and not willing to work on stuff like you said, work it in the deal even if paid for. Most anything to look at was 150 miles away. And either email and get absolutely no response at all, or call, and they 9 out of 10 times said they'd call back and NEVER did. Some "coming in" left my number, no call backs. Also, if I did call on one that I said I was going to look at, they'd go out and "prep" it, start it, get it warm, I didn't like that so I stopped calling. Also, people ahead of me, waiting, while looking for the same types of tractors. I only stopped at one tractor "jockey" that usually has an IH MX in. A couple around 120s there but not prepped. Both were the worst looking tractors I had ever seen, looked like they had been through everything, beat up, welded on, etc. He said he didn't know the actual hours, and they would be around $45k. One had a very stinky active mouse nest in the console, the other had a calendar from '05 in it.

Finally, one day, I had enough. Saw the 4240 online, pictures were the poorest quality I saw, like taken with an "ancient" cell phone from 10 years ago, small, low megapixel. Just decided I'd drive the 140-150, whatever there, didn't call. Drove it, a few leaks, but by far the best driving one I had seen the entire time, including $50k ones. The deal I worked out was basically I paid full price, but I asked if they had a loader there. The only one was off of a 4440, a DuAl 3100 with grapple, bucket, and pallet fork. They threw the loader in. I said any leaks or issues they saw around it, I'd pay to have fixed. I said I hadn't started haying yet and needed it soon and just to hook up and go. Anyway, they delivered it two weeks later (guess that's soon), with leaks. Hydraulic leak was too much to use by that time (loader hooked up, made it worse). They delivered it Saturday on Labor day weekend (think it was labor day weekend, I don't pay attention to holidays/weekends). Had to wait until Tuesday and drive 30 miles one way for parts before I could use it. I have only used it for 100 bales so far, but no issues. Under the cab is a little noisy but my 2510 makes the same noise in the same place. Starting Saturday looks like next week will be ok for haying so I will get a bit more, no where near done, but I should easily get more hay than the last two years with the better weather. I buy several truckloads of hay anyway every year.

About this tractor, I had figured if it wouldn't work out, I had a $45k and $55k one picked out near there, I was done trying to find one. I put on a few hundred hours on this one tractor, not as much as some, just knew I could get by with a "cheap" one, didn't see a reason to get "more" if I didn't have to. But, this place had a completely different "vibe" to it. The salesman was cussing around the paperwork, made fun of me a little, etc. This tractor was the one they were using on their lot, they had a heavy 3 point grader/drag thing on it. My thought was if they knew something was out or going to go, why would they be using it themselves? And it was obvious they were using it, not a made up story. It was traded in on a new tractor.

That's an interesting point you make. I hadn't thought of it that way. However, if the used tractors the dealers have are really no good, wouldn't you think they would treat a prospective customer better? They always treat me like they'd rather not be bothered with me. The dealers project the "we couldn't care less attitutde".

Your dealership sounds like a great place to buy a tractor. There doesn't seem to be any used tractor dealers in my area that show any common courtesy to prospective customers. Every used tractor dealer I go to just exudes the attitude that they would rather not be bothered. They make me feel like I am a total annoyance to them and that they wish I would just go away.;

Yesterday, I drove 2 hours to get to this used tractor dealer. I had called the day before to tell them I was coming and what tractor I was interested in. When I arrived, there were no customers there. I found someone, told him who I was and who I had talked to the day before and the tractor that I was interested in seeing. This person asked my name and then disappeared through a door (I assumed he went to look for the guy I talked to the day before). Ten minutes later he reappears, says nothing to me, picks up the phone and calls someone. Ten minutes later he is finished with this call, he then asks another guy at the parts counter if he had seen the guy I had talked to the previous day. That guy said no. I informed this guy that I was just going to walk out and look at the tractor myself. He said he would send someone out. I went out to look at the tractor. Thirty minutes later, I was still waiting for someone to come out with the key to the tractor. Finally, I gave up and left.

What amazes me is that this place seems to be thriving! Maybe you have to belong to some kind of club to get any service -- who knows?

Where is your dealership located? Maybe you have the only remaining dealership that treats people like human beings.

Sorry to hear that you had so much trouble finding a tractor, but it's good to know that I am not the only one facing the same frustrations with the tractor dealers.

I have also had similar experiences to yours where I call and ask about a tractor and the salesman will tell me it is in great shape. Then, driving several hours only to find out that this "sharp tractor" is a total piece of junk.

sounds like you are not in a good area to have alot of selection/choices close by.

I heard of a guy here who was looking for 50-60hp new JD

Local dealer wouldn't budge.

He ended up buying one over the phone in Georgia and had it shipped to Indiana (or southern MI) and with shipping SAVED $20,000.

Ya that's easier to do with new.

The JD dealer here has bought up most if not all the smaller local guys out. Building new tash-ma-hall (no clue how to spell that) dealer stores

another local used dealer/salvage guy here will have stuff on his lot for 3-6years with rusted rims with flat tires that were overpriced if in good shape won't budge a dime on them. He will come out and talk to you though. don't ask for parts prices. Called a year ago with no reply.

I have 6 tractors, all of them bought from private parties.
The oldest is a 62 Cockshutt 1800 i picked up for $500 delivered to my yard(broken IP shaft), the newest a 93 Belarus 925.
The first 2 i bought from neighbors, the 4 other ones via ads.The most expensive one was a Belarus 800 for 5 grand in 87.
2 tractors needed some fixing, most did not. The fixing i do myself.

A farm auction is also a good place to find tractors although i hardly ever go to one.

I bought 3 pieces of used "field ready" hay equipment from dealers and got stung all 3 times,.their notion of "field ready" is ..." ready to put in the field ",...it does not mean that one can hook it up and go.
Dealers can GTH, i never buy new anyway.