What should I offer?

[reid5365]

I used to work for an older lady and her wife on the farm behind our house. Since then her husband has passed and she doesn't use this tractor at all anymore. It is a Massey Ferguson 265. Very faded paint and it has seen its share of work time. How much should I offer her. I dont have a lot but would like to get some input. Thanks Guys

 

[glennster]

here is a restored one i found on the net, without seeing the tractor, if its "field ready" maybe 2500-4000
massey 265

 

[supergrumpy]

a good running well maintained item with good clutches and tires is worth more than one that has been worked hard with no care and has sat outside and not started for many years

without a lot more info and details, you have presented an unanswerable question

it is worth what you are willing to pay and what she is willing to accept

 

[mtuck]

I seen a 240 sell at an auction a few weeks ago w/ 3500 hrs sell for $3700 in alright shape

 

[jason, NW Ontario]

Says it's 61 pto hp - a decent size, depending on your needs. Is cheap horsepower worth all the unknown repairs to a machine that might have its best days behind it? Evaluate what you'll absolutely need to replace/rebuild, and subtract that from a fair offer.
'Neglected' will have different issues from 'abused'. Don't rush into an offer. good luck.
Jason
MF 265 info

 

[reid5365]

It had 2 grand worth of repairs and maintence 3 years ago and it has maybe been used twice since then. Would 2 grand be too low ball of an offer or should I throw it out there???

 

[Anonymous-0]

Maybe you can tell her what a fair price is and then ask what she wants for it.Ive done this an gotten substantial discounts.

 

[Walt Davies]

That could be a couple hundred in parts and the rest labor better the original bill.

It worth what you want to pay and she is happy with. OK that's hard to understand you make and offer and she says no so you up it till you meet both parties are happy. Can't insult one who like to barter and if she is then look elsewhere because she wants more than its worth.
Walt

 

[Anonymous-0]

You are aware of what happens to your reputation when you STEAL from a widow ? Someone is going to tell her they would have paid more. Get a tractor price from the bankers blue book, a couple of prices from ads or have her choice of dealers price it TO you and her. LET HER SET THE VALUE!!! If out of your range walk away, no hard feelings anywhere.

 

[Anonymous-0]

A decent 265 in average to better than average condition will bring $4500 to $6000 in these parts. I've seen a few sell as low as $3500, but not very often. (We live in the same general area by the way)

 

[newfarmer9]

Over here in Ontario there are always several for sale at any given time...the one you describe would probably go in my area for somewheres in the $6000-$7000 range. I've seen a few of em with cabs and loaders, in decent condition, sell from dealer lots for $8000 and up. Best thing to do is offer a price that you would be satisfied with and is fair, and go from there.

 

[reid5365]

Gary im not trying to STEAL from a widow. Just asked a question and am in the blind as for what a fair price would be. How bout just some help on pricing and keep assumptions of what kind of person I am to yourself. Thanks and have a great night

 

[JoshuaGA]

I dont know. Really I think Gary is on the right track. Ask her what she would sell for. No hard feelings if she prices it.

JoshuaGA

 

[Anonymous-0]

Reid, please read ALL of my statement, I am NOT accusing you of anything, I was trying to point out to you that no matter what you offer somebody is sure to say that they would have paid more and maybe create hard feelings. That is why I never price someone elses equipment. Give her several options and let her set the price. As for price,there are to many unknowns, in my area you have a hard time giving an MF away, 70 miles to nearest dealer.

 

[Anonymous-0]

You said "It had 2 grand worth of repairs and maintence 3 years ago and it has maybe been used twice since then. Would 2 grand be too low ball of an offer or should I throw it out there???"

2 grand would be an insult, unless you are trying to get a "good" deal because she is an un-knowing widow. I was raised by a widow, and grew up seeing many "honest" men trying to steal her blind. Are you buying the tractor to keep and work, or buying it to turn a fast buck? Tom

 

[Anonymous-0]

Reid, how about trying to help the widow lady out a little. Why not offer to clean it up, charge the battery, clean up the fuel, and take it to an auction for her? She could probably use every nickel the tractor is worth at auction prices. You could still bid, then no hard feelings. Tom

 

[reid5365]

Im buying it to keep and work with. Im 19 with a hay business and thought it would be a good dependable tractor. Im going to talk with her and maybe offer around 4 grand i guess.

 

[Bruce Hopf]

Reid.
What you need to do is let her know that you are interested in the tractor.
You then need to ask her what she wants for the tractor. You just can't go and offer what you think its worth. You could insult her this way, and cause hard feelings between you. If she wants more than you can afford, try and work out some kind of arrangement with her, for payments.
Call your nearest Dealer and ask what it worth.
I've just looked up this tractor in my 2005 Tractor Blue Book, Trade in prices from your dealers allow $3720-$5370 and used retail prices range from $8600-$9920.
Your best bet is to ask her for her opinion. and go from there.
Hope this helps.
Bruce.

 

[dcarp]

Look at prices on external_link and similar sites. Give her the options mentioned above and let her set the price. It would be hard to do business being know as the person who scr**** the widow, so avoid that by giving her all the options. By then if you have looked at all the options you should know the value. If she sets it too low, offer to pay more. If she insists on the lower price, take it. Then help her out by doing more work for her at a lower rate. Good Luck.