OT-Some friend

I was at a swap meet a few weeks ago when i saw an old tractor for sale.It's an old model that my friend collects.I wasn't that interested so i tried to call my friend.I couldn't reach him and the owner was wanting me to make him an offer.I offered him half what he was asking and he sold it to me.He said he would deliver it to me when he went home that evening.He shows up with the tractor that evening and mentions my friends name.He asked if i knew him.When i told him i did he said,"Boy that guy doesn't like you" he called you an sob and a few other names,tried to get me to sell him the tractor and give your money back.I didn't mention this to my friend,but he hasn't talked to me since.He usually stops in 3 or 4 times a week. I saw him at a tractor show last week and he barely talked,i could tell he was mad.Funny thing,this isn't the first time this has happened to me.Another guy i considered a friend got mad at me over 5 years ago and still won't talk to me.It was the same kind of deal,we were not competing for the same tractor or anything,i just was there first.Seems to me a lot of tractor people get upset over nothing or really hold a grudge.I don't know,my wife says they were not my friends anyhow,were just using me.

Sounds like you're a bigger person than he is.He kinda sounds like a crybaby.Next time ya see him,act like he doesn't exist.Bet he'll go outa his way to get your attention!

With friends like him,who needs enemies!

I think your wife is right.Looks like a friend would be glad you bought a tractor the same brand as he collects.

If you don't want to keep it,ask him if he wants to buy it at twice the original price, as a friend would do.!

Enjoy the tractor, the guy sounds like a jerk to me. You could ask him if he is interested in the tractor and that you would be happy to sell it to him. Explain to him that you expect a finders fee!

I see than in farming a lot. We try to be friends, be we end up pretty envious of each other. Shows up in some people. I got a best of friend, but he gets that way once in a while. Can't explain it, but I can see it.

--->Paul

I'd sell the tractor then tell my "friend" that I had originally bought it with him in mind, but since he didn't appear to be such a friend, I got rid of it. The guy needs to learn a lesson.

Do exactly what your original plan was!
Being a better man isn't always easy but others may become better by your example.
You bought the tractor for a friend.Just because he acted as a lesser man does not mean you should.
You never know some day he might surprise you in a good way, if not you did not lower yourself.

Sounds to me like something I see talked about on here alot, someone "buys a tractor out from under the first man" for less then what the first man had offered or it had been offered to him for previously, and the first man gets mad. I"ve had the same thing happen to me over the years and personally I"d probably call someone like that an SOB too just because I was mad and if they knowingly did it I"d really mean it. However it was said the name calling probably wouldn"t/didn"t carry the same weight/tone when said that the man selling the tractor put on it when he told you about it. That"s something else I see all the time, some people love to embellish what they hear just to stir the pot. If you8r like most when you met him at the show he probably detected a "tone" to what you said or didn"t say just as you did to what he said or didn"t say. Personally, if the friendship matters to you, I"d be the bigger man and call him. Explain that you tried to call him and couldn"t reach him and the seller put you on the spot. You saw a deal and bought it just like he would have. I wouldn"t even mention the name calling because we"ve all said things when we"re PO"d about something that really didn"t mean anything other than we were mad and venting and in grand scheme of things none of it really matters anyway. If he is a real friend he"ll understand and things can go on, if he wasn"t a real friend then he can carry his a$$ on and your better off without him.

Go and pick up the tractor you can always use another tractor at home.

Reminds me of joke i once heard about 2 fellers selling the same tractor back and forth to each other. This guy isnt much of a friend!

I'd say your friend has a problem, and that problem is greed.

If he was truly your friend, he would be happy to hear that you got a good deal on something he collects, and he would be happy that you share an interest. His actions reveal the real person: he is not your friend, he is a user. Listen to your wife, she's right on the money.

Invest in some good dogs. Humans are too much trouble.

I have 2 sons that also collect JD's with me. We go to sales together or are always on the look out for one. Sometimes it gets difficult to let one of them have one I would have liked to have had or I am sure they feel the same way when I get one they wanted. So far we have struck a pretty good balance and enjoy doing it together. You can never count count on friends when it comes to money though I have learned.

Mike
Time to re-new your old friendship. If the facts are as i read them, you were'nt really interested in the tractor. Could even be that the seller had second thoughts and just wants to stir things up a bit.
Invite your friend for a cup of coffee, or a cool beverage. Find out what his top price was, then offer to split the difference. Eg: if he was expecting to pay $300 more than you paid, offer it for $150, or some other reasonable amount. This way you get a few bucks for your efforts, he gets a bargain, and you get your friendship back. Even if you break even, old friendships are re-newed and mis-understandings are resolved.
Just my thoughts.
Willie

Reminds me of the time I was at an auction and two brothers wound up bidding against each other. The auctioneer stopped the bidding and asked if they were aware of it.

One brother said, "I thought that was what auctions were for."

A friend of mine recently ran onto a 706 Farmall with a problem with coolant in the crankcase. Probably sleeve seals. He thought he could buy it for about $500. I told him if he didn't take it, I would. He took it.

I was kinda hoping he wouldn't take it, but no tractor is worth ruining a friendship over.

Your wife's a smart woman.

I've seen that happen. If he'd been smart, he would have told you if you decided to sell it, let him know first.

Money always brings out the true character of people!