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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Buying tractors unseen

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Harley

01-19-2005 18:28:00




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Don't even want to post down below where the knives and guns are flying around, but I have 100% positive feedback after having bought and sold over 30 tractors on ebay, none of which were seen before bidding, and only got took once, but having already gone through that book not going there again. Just got back today with two tractors I bought from David B's dad and grandad, after seeing a picture of the H, and part of the back tire of the M in the same picture, and both were better than stated. Both tractors started right up, ran out of the garage and onto my trailer, and I couldn't have been happier. Like some stated below, you have to get a feel for who you're dealing with. If I had to drive all over the country to look at a $1000.00 tractor before bidding on it, I just as well stay home and not even try. Now if I was spending 5,6,7, or 10,000 bucks on a tractor I was planning on taking out and busting a hump in the field with, I could see driving to check it out, but it has been so good the last couple of years getting to meet, know, and deal with honest people who just want to get along. It all goes back I think to treating people like we want to be treated. You be a jerk, and it will come back and bite you in the a$$. Just an observation, Later, Harley

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Bill R

01-20-2005 17:39:34




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to Harley, 01-19-2005 18:28:00  
I've been buying and selling for about a year now and its becoming full time quickly. I know I am a young guy in a business that not many young guys are in but I like it. I have bought over the phone, photos, internet, auction, and in person and have had mostly good experiences. And if you are buying a lot of 50 year old tractors chances are you're gonna get a few that are not up to par. I have sold a lot and when the customer picks it up it always starts and runs and is always melted off if its winter time and it's outside. You've gotta roll with the punches.

Bill R

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abane

01-20-2005 08:14:04




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to Harley, 01-19-2005 18:28:00  
A person can do what he wants in buying a used or worn out tractor on line but when I buy one , I want to see, drive and check it out before I buy.I bought one online just by looking at a picture and talking to the owner and both were decieving.People will say or do anything to get rid of junk.I know pretty well what to look for now but didn't know then.You soon learn your lessons ,espesially when money is involved and lost a couple of times.

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Lou Kocon Jr

01-20-2005 05:49:23




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to Harley, 01-19-2005 18:28:00  
In my opinion, "only got took once" is once too many but like I said, that is just my opinion!



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txblu

01-20-2005 05:24:40




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to Harley, 01-19-2005 18:28:00  
Bought 3 from pics on the internet and a verbal follow up. 2 were delivered (for a price) and were based upon acceptance at delivery. Both were good tractors and I still have one. Sold the other to a friend who just had to have it.
The 3rd I went and got and it was a real deal. Much better than I expected and I enjoyed the trip.

My 2c.

Mark



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RAB

01-19-2005 23:36:52




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to Harley, 01-19-2005 18:28:00  
Harley, when you say "you have to get a feel for who you"re dealing with", you are spot on. I always ask some questions on the condition, especially if a photo is from the wrong angle.
Analyse the reply - if it sounds evasive, too good to be true, etc, ask more Q"s. I write to get the responses in writing and can often see if someone is bullshitting from the different replies, or is being as honest as one would expect.
Hard copy Questions and Answers may be very useful to refer to in the case of you thinking the deal was not so rosy.
I think you should always start from a slightly "distrusting" angle with any large investment and become more trusting as time progresses - better than the other way round when your cheque has been cashed. But you must not appear untrusting to the vendor at any time, unless you have definite grounds for this, in which case you simply say thank you, but no.
Regards, RAB

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toomany cases

01-19-2005 22:39:57




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to Harley, 01-19-2005 18:28:00  
Hi, In the last 5 years I have bought 15 Cases of various models and all older than 1948. I do not buy for resale and I have been burnt only once. That was by a person who gave me the feeling that something was not right. Tractor looked good but it sure wasn't when I went back to pick it up. Enough said. In 70 years I've learned when you give trust, you get trust back 99% of the time. That has been true from New York to California and North into Canada.And yes I drive to pick them up after I have bid on them just based on picture and conversation with the party. Granted these prices range from $300 to $1500. Not your hi dolar dealings. Chuck

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JoeMN

01-19-2005 20:42:39




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to Harley, 01-19-2005 18:28:00  
Can you go wrong paying 1500 for a 560 IH standard? Just to brush up on asking prices,I serced several large sites including YT. Also,the Case-IH dealers in North America used equipment,Fastline,and Agdealer. IH 560 diesels ranged from 3000 to 9900 dollars.Only one,a 560lp was under 1500,and it had issues. Nobody advertised the highly collectible 560 wheatland at any price. The buyer,who says he has all day every day to sit at the computer,could have(probably did) discovered the same thing in 5 minutes. A new Case-IH this size must be at least 30,000. That classic 560 must be worth at least 5% of that.

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Iowa560

01-20-2005 17:43:02




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to JoeMN, 01-19-2005 20:42:39  
I've bought two tractors (Farmall 560 and Farmall 856) on EBay and over the phone and have had good luck with both even though they were not quite as good as I imagined but I am an optimist.



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mud

01-19-2005 19:04:24




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to Harley, 01-19-2005 18:28:00  
over the past 7 or 8 years i have bought 2 tractors found online. 2 tractors local. only one i got hurt on was local.

i have sold one of them tractors online and still get emails from the feller from time to time and that was 3 years ago.

one thing i have had trouble with is selling the tractor i got burned on. you can put money into these old machines, can't you? holy moses. i have spent another pocket full to make my dud right. it is nearly right and still cant sell it. lol!

i found out the hard way that you cant expect the other feller to be as honest as you are. i want to trust folks because i want to be trusted my own self. if i say i dont know, that is what i mean. if i say it needs such & such, well then it does. i expect the same from others. dont ya'll?
mud - stuck with a dud that will someday be a treasure!

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Les...fortunate

01-20-2005 15:02:03




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to mud, 01-19-2005 19:04:24  
I know the feeling, Mud. I have dumped a heap of money into my SC and can"t find a single person interested in it for any price. So I guess I"ll just have to keep it!



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mud

01-20-2005 17:13:55




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to Les...fortunate, 01-20-2005 15:02:03  
maybe we should swap! lol!



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Sloroll

01-19-2005 18:38:45




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to Harley, 01-19-2005 18:28:00  
Ditto Harley. I am a hobbiest and not a dealer but the tractors I have purchased over the phone and online have been as good or better than stated. I did "ALMOST" get burnt once on parts and the people here at YT helped me out. I swapped some with David Grindle that was somewhat bashed below and was very happy with him. He was true to his word and even touched the tractor up for me so I would be pleased. I think he is a fellow that likes what he is doing, traveling and meeting people. Sounds like fun to me. Dad always said "Trust a trusting person" I still feel that there are no loopholes in a handshake amongst honest men. I will happily go blind into my next venture too. As you, I only deal in little number$ though.

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Dave Grindle

01-21-2005 04:25:26




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to Sloroll, 01-19-2005 18:38:45  
Hi sloroll (bill , right?) i have'nt started on the 504 yet - but i will get it done someday !!!.....i almost stopped to say Hi , but was rushed (concerned about the weather) -i went past your place in the almost freezing fog/drizzle about 8 thurs morn and back again about 8 in the eve. (in the same weather) ..... down in MO it was HOT & sunny ..... .i ran into ice when i was almost home , and then good old snow & cold once i got home ! And THANKS for the comendation - meeting nice freindly & honest people like yourself (and lots of others!) makes the critasism of 1 person seem mighty insignifigant

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Too Far Gone

01-19-2005 23:53:43




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to Sloroll, 01-19-2005 18:38:45  
Sloroll,I sell several used parts here in Mo,as well as buy a tractor to fix up and sell once in a while.I also have a small collection of farmalls That get restored as Im using them.I have dealt with Dave Grindle as well,and I couldnt ask for a nicer guy to deal with.Rob in Missouri



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JR in TX

01-19-2005 21:32:40




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to Sloroll, 01-19-2005 18:38:45  
I ain't even been down there to read that yet,but I bought a hm24 mower from Dave Grindle and he was nice and easy to deal with. He brought the mower all the way from wisconsin to oklahoma for 55 dollars. Also I told him I would send a check on the first but I didn't get it out till much later in the month and he never called looking for his money. Also, I forgot his address and sent to seperate checks by accident and he just tore one up. I have nothing but good things to say about him.

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Dave Grindle

01-21-2005 04:02:55




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to JR in TX, 01-19-2005 21:32:40  
Hey James ! it's guys like you & Rob & Sloroll (who i'm pretty sure would be Bill !?) that makes dealing with this old junk so much fun ! i just got back from NW MO. where i picked up a tractor i'd bt (unseen) from Mike Jones - he's another you can add to the "good guy" list (along with the other 99% of "tractor" people)..... .Rob - i woulda swung by your place if i'd had an extra day , i pretty much went non-stop (trying to beat the weather).1050 miles , blew out the manifold on my new (used) pickup so the turbo was'nt working right & really used the fuel , then the last 50 miles i drove with my clutch not releasing . i just can't understand why more people are'nt "tractor jockys"- it's such easy money !!!!!

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Too Far Gone

01-21-2005 09:51:20




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to Dave Grindle, 01-21-2005 04:02:55  
Hi Dave,I saw you advertising the grinder a few days back and knew you were gonna be in the area.How did that little Super H Turn out?Rob in Mo



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Dave Grindle

01-21-2005 11:05:29




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to Too Far Gone, 01-21-2005 09:51:20  
Hey Rob - i got the SH all tuned up & serviced , put on some different tires & a few misc repairs / originality corrections ... so it's ready for a full restoration , weather i do it or sell it to someone who wants one is still undecided - i'm leaning towards keeping that one cause of it's high ser. no. - but i do have a freind up in MN who wants a late 54 , & i always seem to have a home for cash too !??

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Too Far Gone

01-21-2005 21:34:55




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to Dave Grindle, 01-21-2005 11:05:29  
I know how that is Dave,but I am restoring a 560 Diesel to keep for sure.Ive got a JD 50 that Ive had for some time now,and its going to be for sale soon.Its not a total restoration.Its just a tight,good running little tractor I have worked on for fun,because Ive never had a 50 before,and it will really pull for a 2 lunger.I liked that Super H because it seemed like a good tractor that had just been ignored a little to much over the years,but you get in a pinch for cash,and its a shame you cant keep everything you like,aint it.Maybe I will see you again one of these days.Rob in Mo.

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Jerry Cent. Mi.

01-20-2005 05:41:32




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 Re: Buying tractors unseen in reply to JR in TX, 01-19-2005 21:32:40  
I always ask for the results of a compression check in writing. If I can't get it the deal isn't worth making unless its something I have lot of spare parts for and can't live without.



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