DEALER WARNING!

[Anonymous-0]

The dealer isn’t always reputable!

If you think buying a used tractor is going to be any less risky
from a dealer, read this.
My recent purchase was my fourth tractor in about 8 years and
the first from a dealer. Its an ‘85 ,Ford 545A 4x4 loader tractor,
which I paid $7,500. for. I thought I was gaining on the learning
curve but in hindsight, I was lucky, too. All my previous
purchases were field ready tractors. I bought this one hoping it
would be the last. It had the features I was looking for, a newly
rebuilt motor and front differential and was listed by - a dealer
from Tenn., over 1,200 miles away. The ad stated the machine
was in “A-1” shape. I’d seen this dealers name on the YT site
before and when I talked to him, I felt confident he was an
honest, reputable person. The price was several thousand less
than I’d seen so I urged him to disclose any issues there were so
that I wouldn’t be surprised when I arrived. “No, Steve, this
tractor is in A-1 shape”.
Well, he had jumper cables on the battery when I arrived. There
was no hood on it and the one they tried on it was from a
different model and didn’t fit. They did give me a new hood and
exhaust, as well as a new seat. Once I saw it and the loader
work, I loaded it up and headed home. Once here, I realized the
gauges weren’t working. Soon after, I found the loader control
wouldn’t raise the bucket - and one hose connection was
leaking. I took it to my tractor mechanic who told me there was
no wiring harness, it had the wrong key switch and wouldn’t
operate the glow plug (explaining the charger on the battery).
He’s figured it needed $2,500 in parts and that it had probably
caught fire.
I emailed, sent a letter and called. I talked with Mr. K.C. Arnett
Jr. and he said he’d call me back. I’m still waiting...
I know I paid a low price for that tractor, but it was nothing like
it was advertised as, and by the time I spend the money fixing it,
I could have bought one locally and saved a lot of time and
aggravation.
So, the least I can do is warn others about this dealer and hope
he loses some unearned business. He’s certainly not losing any
sleep over our transaction.

 

[Anonymous-0]

"I know I paid a low price for that tractor, but it was nothing like it was advertised as, and by the time I spend the money fixing it, I could have bought one locally and saved a lot of time and aggravation."

At least this way you will KNOW what you have when you are done.

Keep yer stick on the ice.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Could it be that most machinery dealers do the majority of their business within something less than a 1200 mile radius. If they need to dump junk best not to do it in their back yard. My point is there may be many good reasons to deal close to home. Also buyers beware

 

[Anonymous-0]

My thoughts exactly. Nothing wrong with selling your wares over the internet, but a buyer who is 1200 miles away is an easy way to unload less than desirable merchandise.

 

[Anonymous-0]

You have to be careful here close to home too Rick. The neighbor bought one from Discount Dave north of Remus. Dave had bought it in Georgia,brought it home in the spring during a warm spell,neighbor bought it soon after. We got a cold snap the night it was delivered and it had water in the radiator and tires. Froze up and broke the block. Dave didn't tell him where it had come from,so he had no reason to think it wouldn't have antifreeze that time of year.Ya just never know.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Thanks for the heads-up...

I've been taken to the cleaners both close to home and far, far away. In my experience with dealers (both implement and car) it has never been that great. A person ends up paying a premium because the dealer claims the tractor/vehicle has "been through the shop and checks out to be A-1." This seldom is the case, they just give a quick power wash and tire shine, make sure the safety equipment works (brakes, ABS, air bag, etc.) and stick it on the lot.

I've had much better luck buying from private individuals.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Since he said it was in A-1 condition he has to deliver it that way. I would take the time to look into recouping your extra cost though the local courts. It may not get all your cost back but it will make a dent in his profit and that's worth the trouble to me.
Walt

 

[Anonymous-0]

rrlund, just curious how close are you to Remus,MI? I have a really good lady friend that lives NW of Remus..

Keith & Shawn

 

[Anonymous-0]

Problem is, the "local courts" will have to be the seller's local courts- which are 1200 miles away.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Should have walked away when he saw how rough it was. Once he made the decision to pay the man it was all over. Unless he gave him a written warranty the courts would laugh this right out the door. The dealer shouldn't have lied about the condition, but if he was unhappy with the condition he shouldn't have bought it. Don't buy something knowing well it has problems and complain later that you got screwed. He didn't hold a gun to his head.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I dealt with K.C Arnett, Jr. before and even though my problem was relitively minor, I found him to be a person I would NEVER do business with again. I even wrote him up in the YT Buyer Seller Feedback Forum. He still advertises in this Forum and uses his wife's name, etc. That's a sure sign of a person you don't want to do business with.

I my case I bought a two piece Ferguson/Ford tractor jack that I was specifically told was complete. When I recieved it, the front part was missing. I tried to contact him several times and he never replied. The man is not to be trusted.

You should also write this up in the Buyer Seller Feedback Forum

 

[Anonymous-0]

Luke,
Its not that easy to walk away when you've just spent 2 days driving
with a trailer purchased specifically for the trip. Yes, I'm the fool
for wanting to believe in someone because he was selling the
tractor I really wanted. Still, I'm not a spring chicken and I've never
dealt with anyone so devoid of a sense of business ethics. Since the
sale I wrote about, I just sold a tractor to a gentleman from
Ontario, 8 hours away and I mailed him the worst looking parts of
the tractor, so he wouldn't be surprised or upset after driving here.
He took one look when he got here and handed me a check,
thanking me for the disclosure.

 

[Anonymous-0]

If the dealer's community has a Better Business Bureau, you should make a complaint to them. They will often try to mitigate a dispute with a business and they keep records on complaints so others can research the reliability of a business. If the business is an authorized dealer for a major brand, I would also complain to the manufacturer - they don't like bad publicity and they also collect information like this. It could possibly influence a decision later if someone else wants their franchise.

 

[Anonymous-0]

If it was so bad why did you buy it , Did you not look at it or drive it first ?

 

[Anonymous-0]

I know how you feel. All you can do now is make the best out of a bad deal. Now days a lot of peoples word don't mean much. If you can do the repairs your self you might make out ok. Stan

 

[Anonymous-0]

" Its not that easy to walk away when you've just spent 2 days driving with a trailer purchased specifically for the trip."

It is a bummer, to go on a trip, only to find something was misrepresented. But, since you saw the tractor was not in good condition, why didn't you just cut you losses and refuse it? Or, perhaps negotiated the price down, as an allowance to fix the problems. ?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Did you even look at this tractor before forking out$$?

this guy may have lied about the condition of the tractor but you shoulder a lot of the blame for not checking the tractor out.

did you even stop to wonder why it was several thousand $$ cheaper than others you found??

 

[Anonymous-0]

No sympathy here- 'A-1 condition', whether from a dealer or private party means as much as 'restored'. No legal basis. First of all, was there a 'warranty'?. No dealer or private seller is going to warrant anything that is going 1200 miles away. You expect him to send a serviceman half way across the country? You also bought it well under expected price, and now want repair/compensation? It is your responsibility to 'notice' the lack of wiring harness, bad gauges, etc., when you look at the item. Poor choice to badmouth a dealer via the internet when the responsibility rests with the buyer. If he had given you a signed warranty and did not live up to it, that's another thing, but obviously not in this case.

 

[Anonymous-0]

a fool and his money are soon parted ,next time take your repair man with you since you don't know your butt from a hole in the ground about tractors you will be money ahead .