In my opinion …

[Bald Rick]

…., and having read posts for and against, it’s not worth driving hours to look at a tractor, combine, forager or other large engine driven kit unless you really know what you’re looking at - and even that is likely subjective.
Why? Because:

What does it prove? Photos and video should determine its bodywork, pipes & engine, switchgear & dials and the state of the interior. Proper description by the seller should cover other details like hours, services, extras, etc
Also,a reputable dealer will stand behind the sale in any case as it doesn’t take much to have a reputation shredded especially in this age of social media.
And you won’t know if there is anything seriously wrong until you set the machine to work. Pootling about the dealers yard will only demonstrate that it goes forward & backwards

Am I wrong?

 

[Dave W]

I think 75% if things I sell the butter doesn’t view. And on nearly all sales it’s done purely through messenger/whatsapp/text messages. Very rarely a phone call.

Granted it’s relatively low value gear

 

[Bald Rick]

I think 75% if things I sell the butter doesn’t view. And on nearly all sales it’s done purely through messenger/whatsapp/text messages. Very rarely a phone call.

Granted it’s relatively low value gear

Funnily enough, it’s the cheaper stuff I would view … but only if it’s close

 

[Dave W]

Funnily enough, it’s the cheaper stuff I would view … but only if it’s close

Got a flail going out tomorrow. The full conversation went….

Hi. Can you do the flail delivered to me for £xxx+vat all in?

Yes no problem, can have it with you Friday.

Great thanks. Can you send me an invoice to…..
I’ll get it paid tonight.

thanks. I’ll confirm a delivery time the night before.


Man paid as he said and will get his machine tomorrow.
Entire conversation was 4 messages long.

 

[spin cycle]

I dunno....you get a 'feel' viewing .... little things ....oil drips on ground below for example....smell of the cab

I once viewed a tractor and noticed the top of the cab had some melting damage from the exhaust overheating....the dealer hadn't noticed...I believe him cos I've known him since I was 8

 

[Chae1]

…., and having read posts for and against, it’s not worth driving hours to look at a tractor, combine, forager or other large engine driven kit unless you really know what you’re looking at - and even that is likely subjective.
Why? Because:

What does it prove? Photos and video should determine its bodywork, pipes & engine, switchgear & dials and the state of the interior. Proper description by the seller should cover other details like hours, services, extras, etc
Also,a reputable dealer will stand behind the sale in any case as it doesn’t take much to have a reputation shredded especially in this age of social media.
And you won’t know if there is anything seriously wrong until you set the machine to work. Pootling about the dealers yard will only demonstrate that it goes forward & backwards

Am I wrong?

You don't really know if the person selling it is a stroker if you don't go and see it.

Plus get a good idea about them and business from state of there yard.

We once went to view a Fastrac near Preston and that was time well spent.

Wasn't really problem with tractor... But didn't buy it.

 

[Bald Rick]

You don't really know if the person selling it is a stroker if you don't go and see it.

Plus get a good idea about them and business from state of there yard.

TBF, I’m talking about mainstream dealers rather than independents

 

[Nearly]

Got a flail going out tomorrow. The full conversation went….

Hi. Can you do the flail delivered to me for £xxx+vat all in?

Yes no problem, can have it with you Friday.

Great thanks. Can you send me an invoice to…..
I’ll get it paid tonight.

thanks. I’ll confirm a delivery time the night before.


Man paid as he said and will get his machine tomorrow.
Entire conversation was 4 messages long.

Bloody tyre kickers.
I think when I bought 'Barbie' the sprayer you set the price after it arrived!
Still happy with her after 4 years.

 

[ollie989898]

Got a flail going out tomorrow. The full conversation went….

Hi. Can you do the flail delivered to me for £xxx+vat all in?

Yes no problem, can have it with you Friday.

Great thanks. Can you send me an invoice to…..
I’ll get it paid tonight.

thanks. I’ll confirm a delivery time the night before.


Man paid as he said and will get his machine tomorrow.
Entire conversation was 4 messages long.

Do you think this is because of your trading reputation or that you are well known/established?

 

[ollie989898]

You don't really know if the person selling it is a stroker if you don't go and see it.

Plus get a good idea about them and business from state of there yard.

We once went to view a Fastrac near Preston and that was time well spent.

Wasn't really problem with tractor... But didn't buy it.

I would be the same. Product/service only as important as the person(s) involved. If I didn't like the look of them, I wouldn't buy.

 

[benny6910]

Personallly If the machine is a few hrs away I will ask for picture of the bad bits to be shown so I don’t waste my time driving to look at it. It saved me a day earlier this year going to Norfolk to look at a trailer. If the bad bit look ok then I’d always go and look if it was a higher value item.

 

[Dave W]

Do you think this is because of your trading reputation or that you are well known/established?

No idea. I have a few repeat customers but generally it’s someone new most times

 

[bobk]

…., and having read posts for and against, it’s not worth driving hours to look at a tractor, combine, forager or other large engine driven kit unless you really know what you’re looking at - and even that is likely subjective.
Why? Because:

What does it prove? Photos and video should determine its bodywork, pipes & engine, switchgear & dials and the state of the interior. Proper description by the seller should cover other details like hours, services, extras, etc
Also,a reputable dealer will stand behind the sale in any case as it doesn’t take much to have a reputation shredded especially in this age of social media.
And you won’t know if there is anything seriously wrong until you set the machine to work. Pootling about the dealers yard will only demonstrate that it goes forward & backwards

Am I wrong?

Don't agree , machines talk to you , there might be no obvious faults , although you can normally find something but you get a gut feeling as soon as you start it
Then again I'm weird

 

[Nearly]

I've driven to look at tractors after asking that they be left unstarted that morning.
Got there and engine's warm to the touch and just got back in the car.

 

[bobk]

I've driven to look at tractors after asking that they be left unstarted that morning.
Got there and engine's warm to the touch and just got back in the car.

I just rock up . a warm tractor is a bit of a warning imo

 

[FonterraFarmer]

…., and having read posts for and against, it’s not worth driving hours to look at a tractor, combine, forager or other large engine driven kit unless you really know what you’re looking at - and even that is likely subjective.
Why? Because:

What does it prove? Photos and video should determine its bodywork, pipes & engine, switchgear & dials and the state of the interior. Proper description by the seller should cover other details like hours, services, extras, etc
Also,a reputable dealer will stand behind the sale in any case as it doesn’t take much to have a reputation shredded especially in this age of social media.
And you won’t know if there is anything seriously wrong until you set the machine to work. Pootling about the dealers yard will only demonstrate that it goes forward & backwards

Am I wrong?

What you see is what you get, pay accordingly.
Even new equipment can turn to shite.

 

[bobk]

What you see is what you get, pay accordingly.
Even new equipment can turn to shite.

Not if you buy bombproof classics

 

[carbonfibre farmer]

I dunno....you get a 'feel' viewing .... little things ....oil drips on ground below for example....smell of the cab

I once viewed a tractor and noticed the top of the cab had some melting damage from the exhaust overheating....the dealer hadn't noticed...I believe him cos I've known him since I was 8

The yard of many bargains obviously didn't turn you off

(I must see what else I can dig out )

 

[PSQ]

FFS, always view before buying.

Not quite as relevant as I only usually buy 'used' from a genuine on farm dispersal, but flew Edinburgh to Stanstead to look at a pair of NH TX6x's at a sale near the airport.
Looked clean in the pictures, but it was only when speaking to the driver who was being made redundant that he pointed out the boss told him not to bother cleaning out the bean haulm after harvest 8 months before and it was a shitshow inside, and you needed to hit the hydraulic solenoid with a hammer to get the unloading auger to move, etc. A long way to go for a coffee and a bacon roll.
Two weeks later there was another sale a couple of miles from the first sale at Matching Hall, peach of a late model TX66, made the 2nd journey worth while.

 

[Chae1]

FFS, always view before buying.

Not quite as relevant as I only usually buy 'used' from a genuine on farm dispersal, but flew Edinburgh to Stanstead to look at a pair of NH TX6x's at a sale near the airport.
Looked clean in the pictures, but it was only when speaking to the driver who was being made redundant that he pointed out the boss told him not to bother cleaning out the bean haulm after harvest 8 months before and it was a shitshow inside, and you needed to hit the hydraulic solenoid with a hammer to get the unloading auger to move, etc. A long way to go for a coffee and a bacon roll.
Two weeks later there was another sale a couple of miles from the first sale at Matching Hall, peach of a late model TX66, made the 2nd journey worth while.

We once went to look at a Claas combine at farm sale, brother dropped the stone trap and couple large rocks fell out!

They were soon removed.