Knowing what to look for and where to look is the key to obtaining a good deal on a used tractor. To get started, you should know how to rapidly ascertain the age, condition, and typical selling price of any used tractor make or model. Then you’ll know exactly where to focus your attention. Last but not least, you must be familiar with the seven negotiating statements that will significantly reduce the asking price of any tractor, including the one sound that will take 10% off the price of any tractor.
Okay, let’s go back to the beginning. Doing some homework and becoming an educated buyer is the first step to scoring a great bargain on a pre-owned tractor. Let us commence at the very beginning. Don’t worry if the age of the used tractor you want to purchase is greater than your own. A used tractor is not like a used vehicle in many ways. Parts are available for almost any tractor, so you can keep it running for as long as you like. In addition, tractors, in contrast to your vehicle, are simple machines to repair. Remember these details as you shop for a used tractor.
A hydraulic system, or three-point hitch as it is more frequently known, is a must-have when shopping for a used tractor. The PTO, or power take-off, is an integral component of this setup. In 1939, Ford debuted their 9N tractor, which featured the first three-point attachment. Even though Farmall and John Deere were a little slower to market their versions of the three-point attachment, you should still find that the vast majority of tractors you look at come equipped with one.
Without the three-point hitch and PTO mechanism, you won’t be able to do much with your tractor. I suggest narrowing your search to trucks that have a three-point hitch. The next thing to do is to find out how old the mower is. The best method to figure out how old something is is to locate the serial number and then look up the information online. You can’t determine the age of a tractor by looking at it because, unlike cars, tractors only get updated every decade or two.
Tractor-related content is abundant on the web. Yesterday’s Tractors, located at YesterdaysTractors.com, is a great place to look up the production date of a tractor using the registration number. To look up details about a specific tractor, visit the site and select “Tractor Register” from the sidebar. You can also use this site to research the going rate for a specific model of tractor.
The quality of a used item, rather than its age, is what matters most. If you want to know how well a used tractor is in shape, you should see if it has a speedometer with an hour meter. There probably won’t be an hour meter on many earlier tractors. The level of petal wear, the amount of steering movement, and the presence of oil leaks are all good indicators of the quality of a used tractor. You can use these indicators of tractor health to make an informed assessment.
Don’t let the fresh coat of paint deceive you. It may be masking something else. Check the tires out as well. The tires’ tread depth is not necessarily indicative of their overall state. Look for fissures and dry rot. A high-quality pair of tires can cost you anywhere from $500 to $1,000 or more.
Naturally, you should test the starting and running of the machine. There could be trouble if a seller of a tractor cannot get it to start quickly and effortlessly. Get a mechanic’s opinion on the tractor’s condition. Tractors that are difficult to start in mild weather will be next to impossible to start when the temperature drops. Make sure there isn’t too much smoke coming from the tractor’s tailpipe after you power it up.
When you are finished inspecting the tractor for the aforementioned issues, you will likely know more about it than the proprietor does.
Next, you should do some price comparisons:
In addition to Yesterday’s Tractors, TractorHouse dot com and eBay are two locations to research prices. You can see how much similar tractors actually sold for on eBay by glancing at auctions that have already ended. You can use this data to your advantage during negotiations.
Finally, the worth of a used tractor can be greatly affected by the quality and quantity of the included equipment. Think about getting the vehicle back to your house as well. The inclusion of a trailer in any transaction is highly desirable.
The last step is to “Negotiate like a Pro” once you have all of this knowledge in hand. Learn the steps here.
Here are seven strategies for negotiators who would rather be doing anything else:
Make a lowball offer compared to what you think you’ll have to spend. Some individuals argue that “I have no interest in haggling and bluffing with you. For the truck, I have $5,000 in cash.” These customers typically end up haggling and spending significantly more than originally quoted.
If the other party offers a price, you must always act shocked and surprised. It’s a subtle way of telling the shopkeeper that they’re asking too much.
Don’t ever agree to the first price they offer, even if it’s lower than you were anticipating. If you respond positively too quickly, the other party will realize they have undersold the tractor. As a result, they might respond with, “Well let me clarify this with my partner.” Then he’ll claim his business partner wouldn’t accept the deal.
You should strive for more than that. Negotiate using this phrase at some point. This is a surefire method to get a better deal.
5 Make use of the “good officer/bad cop” method. Let’s use the scenario, “My wife would kill me if I bought your tractor at that price. My wife insists that I do not spend more than $3,500 on a used mower.”
Prepare yourself with knowledge, number six. Your ability to strike a favorable bargain increases in proportion to the thoroughness of your preparation. You could give the following example: “I’ve looked on eBay and other online sites, and tractors like this one never sell for more than $35,000.
Seven, never settle for a “fair” compromise. Make an offer that’s less than half the difference, as the other party will likely accept it. As a rule, you will succeed.
You can get the best bargain on a used tractor if you employ these strategies. Always be prepared to walk away from any negotiation; there are plenty of other excellent used tractors available.
Engineer, writer, and scholar sum up Jerry Minchey’s many hats. He ignores the fluff in favor of straightforward, non-technical explanations of hidden truths. As a consequence of his studies, he has published several books and made a number of video discs.
Used Tractor Reviews [http://www.UsedTractorReviews.com] is where you can find the most up-to-date information on used tractors (every hour). Used tractors of every description and price range can be found here. Information on where to find the best deals and lowest rates on John Deere tractors, as well as reviews of all John Deere tractor models, can be found on the John Deere Reviews website.
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