Today's biggest tractor price difference

[kiwi pom]

How do we know the foreign dealers are operating on a level playing field with UK ones?
UK dealers may have higher costs than German ones.
Everyone's dead against supermarkets sourcing cheaper from abroad and want them to stock only British food, isn't that a kind of price fixing?

 

[Guy]

Good point but the actual retail and dealer discounts are different, this points more to the manufacturer than the dealer

 

[oil barron]

The op has simply highlighted that tractors can be bought cheaper from abroad. From what I can gather the manufacturers warranty is still valid, giving piece of mind and removing the risk factor.


To me and I am sure to many others this is useful information, the savings are too large to ignore, So why the bitterness?

Like the Guinness, I'm not bitter.

Just seems a bit of advertising based of comparisons of unknown models to his own winking emoji pricelist for the Uk.

 

[oil barron]

Hi, well one way to find out .. we agree a specification, you obtain a valid quote and so will I, then we can compare. It's not a plug as I'm not actually selling anything ..

Newholland T7.185, 50k powercommand, quickie Q66 loader front links and PTO. 1800hrs.

 

[Robt]

I recall in 2007 I was contacted by a customer looking for a new 7530 Apower.
The UK had a waiting list of 6 months . The customer was about to order a Fendt as he really needed a CVT.
I found him a brand new machine in Germany, cheaper than what he was quoted.
His local jd dealer was brilliant and undertook all warranty work.. why? Because he bought a John Deere product not a Fendt.

Guy you know the score there is no money in warranty repairs. His dealer sounds like a genuine nice person. They still lost the deal. Sorry but you take the cream and they get the hassle. What was in it for them?

 

[Guy]

Selling him another Deere in 3 years ?
Selling him servicing and parts (now there is money in that) And brand loyalty.
Manufacturers heavily support hire firms with migrating machines going all over the country on lorries, which Inassume need back-up, what's the difference?

 

[Robt]

Because if it’s a bad one, that dealer will lose out. Then in three years time he will buy off you again as you were cheaper!
Think of this....
Say his and his neighbours tractors both break down on a Sunday. ....one bought from him one bought from you..... how annoyed would you be if you were the loyal neighbor and you got the same service from dealer as the other chap? Say there was only one loan machine ..... or would you, GUY, loan him a machine? How do you compare your margin to a dealer margin?
Personally I respect what you have achieved but I do feel you have it in for the uk dealer.... without them your business couldn’t exist as you wouldn’t do warrant work.

 

[Guy]

I agree with a lot of what you say ... except
I do not have it in for the UK dealer at all. I believe in choice and fair competition.
Unfortunately both of these seem to be lacking in the UK ag new machinery trade.
if you want a new new tractor of any make you either buy from your local dealer or not at all.
I agree a lot is down to back up but it's also down to a conscious decision to remove choice and competition. It is that that I have a problem with.

 

[Robt]

Ok, well sell cheaper yet offer the same service? That is your choice. I think your beef is with the price tractors are sold to uk dealers so why undercut them?

 

[Superted820]

also they cant refuse to work on a tractor just because you bought it from a different dealer

Ha! Someone ought to tell the Fendt dealer here that. Something along the lines of ‘you didn’t buy it from us? Not our problem then.’

 

[Guy]

Ok, well sell cheaper yet offer the same service? That is your choice. I think your beef is with the price tractors are sold to uk dealers so why undercut them?

On each deal (pretty much) the manufacturer is included in the negotiations, extra discount is dished out, when needed. Be under no illusion, authorised dealers are as fed up as customers with the constant price rises.
Selling the machines is low margin..

As a manufacturer TM told me- "a dealership is profitable and self sufficient on parts and workshop, machine sales are a bonus"

Manufacturers need to know that anti competitive behaviour isn't acceptable. If getting more authorised dealers in the UK, and more choice isn't an option then what are consumers supposed to do ? Choice should be there outside the UK. What stop a UK authorised dealer buying in the EU? Nothing. Excep possibly the manufacturer of course

 

[TomD]

No, It was for a customer. Iv not even divulged the model ...

I'm just trying to illustrate, and encourage looking further afield ...

But when supermarkets look further afield for produce farmers are up in arms surely you need to support local dealers?

 

[Guy]

But when supermarkets look further afield for produce farmers are up in arms surely you need to support local dealers?

I agree dealers do need supporting ... but I don't think it's fair for any manufacturers to 1) remove competition 2) adopt anti competitive practices 3) manipulate/inflate the prices UK farmers (and dealers) have to pay.
Now I'm not pointing the finger at any manufacturer in particular but the industry as a whole.

 

[jd6820]

I stand to be corrected but does everyone's laptop speak to a JD tractor?

Pretty sure JD have this pretty well tied up.

@jd6820

Got on this thread a little late, but I have an aftermarket diagnostic kit that will talk to a range of tractors on a basic level and on John Deere and Massey it will perform nearly all functions of a dealer tool, it does fall short occasionally which can be frustrating but I’ve always worked round it. Costs a fair whack though!

So you aren’t stuck with a dealer but the laptop is only as good as the person using it. You need a lot of knowledge of how things work to make use of the information it gives you. I forever seem to be purchasing technical manuals for obscene amounts of money just so I can stay current and have a high level of competence, required when diagnosing and repairing these systems.

 

[T Bourne]

that's a more interesting comparison

so why not start a "virtual" tractor dealership bringing in tractors to order ?

Hmmmm, "TFF tractors/marketplace."

 

[nick...]

Hmmmm, "TFF tractors/marketplace."

Good idea but would anyone actually use it.think it woukd work for implements but don't know about tractors.i think Anglian farmers will supply implements but no much to go wrong compared with tractors
Nick...

 

[claas860]

You’re not going to want to buy the used electrobollox tractors of today in ten years time. They’ll be a huge liability imo.

We said the same in 86 when the 3000 series masseys came out !

 

[Iben]

Have bought my last four tractors from england (s/h tbf), I source them, agree the deal then go to my local dealer of that brand and tell them, I do the deal through our local dealer and they add a margin for themselves.

I am happy having the machine I want at a total cost I am happy with, dealers are happy as they got their cut and I still get good service.

I see no reason why that wouldn't apply if I bought a new one from guy, if he could potentially save me £20k for same spec tractor, I would be happy to put 10% of that to local dealer to keep them sweet.

 

[B R C]

@Guy have you looked at pricing if other machinery, as really the tractors look relatively cheap compared to cultivators, drills etc I know they are made in smaller quantities but even so...
I purchased an Italian log splitter via a French dealer a couple of years ago, saved £500 on a £2500 tool, not a huge amount but 20% difference and enough to be worth doing. Very easy as well

 

[Clive]

Have bought my last four tractors from england (s/h tbf), I source them, agree the deal then go to my local dealer of that brand and tell them, I do the deal through our local dealer and they add a margin for themselves.

I am happy having the machine I want at a total cost I am happy with, dealers are happy as they got their cut and I still get good service.

I see no reason why that wouldn't apply if I bought a new one from guy, if he could potentially save me £20k for same spec tractor, I would be happy to put 10% of that to local dealer to keep them sweet.

Sounds like charity to me