Barn trophy?

[HappyTopster]

I see quite a few 3-5 yr old tractors with <50 hrs on FB market. Any caveats? Is it easy to manipulate the hour meter? I know in general it’s not good for machinery to sit unused. How do you assess if a tractor has issues from dis-use?
Thanks

 

[PaulL]

1. There can be scams. Deals too good to be true aren't true. Usually ask them for photos of something specific and obscure that you happen to have interest in - if they can't produce the photo they don't have the tractor

2. There's lots of stories about how few hours are just as bad as lots of hours. I don't think they are, particularly at 3-5 years. If it hasn't been sitting outside and hasn't been abused it'll probably be good buying.

3. It's not that easy to manipulate hour meters, and even if they have, the rest of the tractor either looks almost new or doesn't. Condition matters a lot irrespective of hours.

Some will be scams, but some will be real. People buy tractors then circumstances change, or they just have a lot of money and happily bought a machine they only use a little bit. If the machine is real, and the hours are real, and it's in good condition, then it's probably great buying.

 

[HappyTopster]

1. There can be scams. Deals too good to be true aren't true. Usually ask them for photos of something specific and obscure that you happen to have interest in - if they can't produce the photo they don't have the tractor

2. There's lots of stories about how few hours are just as bad as lots of hours. I don't think they are, particularly at 3-5 years. If it hasn't been sitting outside and hasn't been abused it'll probably be good buying.

3. It's not that easy to manipulate hour meters, and even if they have, the rest of the tractor either looks almost new or doesn't. Condition matters a lot irrespective of hours.

Some will be scams, but some will be real. People buy tractors then circumstances change, or they just have a lot of money and happily bought a machine they only use a little bit. If the machine is real, and the hours are real, and it's in good condition, then it's probably great buying.

Thank you. Good points! Esp about specific photo. How about request FaceTime where they do live walk-around? If I were selling I’d have no issue.
With no-tractor scam, they want you to show then rob you? Driving several hours to unknown location w/$20k in pocket seems sketchy. Sure makes having a tractor mortgage (buy new) a bit easier to swallow. I think $6k for motorcycle private sale was my largest cash outlay to a stranger.

 

[Scm]

start with photos and email before giving out your # to a potential scammer

 

[Hoserman]

Ahh Thats why you never travel alone. Safety in numbers and while looking over the machine in question you are content in the fact someone is watching your six.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Ahh Thats why you never travel alone. Safety in numbers and while looking over the machine in question you are content in the fact someone is watching your six.

I take a Wolf with me... It makes an attempted thief think they made a big mistake!

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

Lots of people buy tractors and don't use them. Kubota bets on it with zero APR. Just sayin'. Small tractors, speed boats, expensive side by sides and expensive RV's. Many times, are a flash in the pan.

 

[HappyTopster]

start with photos and email before giving out your # to a potential scammer

Thank you.

 

[HappyTopster]

Ahh Thats why you never travel alone. Safety in numbers and while looking over the machine in question you are content in the fact someone is watching your six.

I hadn’t been figuring on that at the onset but certainly see the importance now.

 

[HappyTopster]

Lots of people buy tractors and don't use them. Kubota bets on it with zero APR. Just sayin'. Small tractors, speed boats, expensive side by sides and expensive RV's. Many times, are a flash in the pan.

Come walking in like Rambo and Company. I like it!

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

Come walking in like Rambo and Company. I like it!

I edited out the Rambo part before you answered. But you have the idea. Cheers.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

I don't know for sure, but I don't think tractor hour meter roll backs are a thing. The condition of the tractor should tell all.

 

[D2Cat]

If you were interested in something I was selling and wanted FaceTime you'd be buying from someone else!

 

[PaulL]

I don't think they want you to turn up and rob you. They'll want a deposit or otherwise to take online payment. They don't exist, and the physical address probably isn't correct.

Again, lots of honest people out there. If you're going in person to buy it, and taking money with you, I reckon you're reasonably safe. Robbing people in person will result in you getting caught unless you plan to kill them as well.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Where I am, it’s common the sheriff departments have parking lot spaces assigned to online/in person sales transfers. I don’t know what other states and counties do, but I’ve used them in my state and so has at least one other member of this forum that I met at my county sheriffs location. Honestly that’s a great way for a personal transaction. Should make both the seller and buyer comfortable.

(I still always bring the schaeferhunds and plenty of other miscellaneous non floating back-up. )

 

[HappyTopster]

If you were interested in something I was selling and wanted FaceTime you'd be buying from someone else!

I don't think they want you to turn up and rob you. They'll want a deposit or otherwise to take online payment. They don't exist, and the physical address probably isn't correct.

Again, lots of honest people out there. If you're going in person to buy it, and taking money with you, I reckon you're reasonably safe. Robbing people in person will result in you getting caught unless you plan to kill them as well.

Thanks Paul. Yes, I suppose things would seem fishy and become more bogus as an inquiry progressed. Definitely “no” on the deposit/online payment.
For me the biggest obstacle for used tractors is that they are mostly 3+ hours away. I guess that’s why I want so much info up front, even to point of FaceTime which I personally never use. I’m just trying to eliminate the losers before driving all day. The risk/reward ratio is in play as in most ventures.

 

[HappyTopster]

Where I am, it’s common the sheriff departments have parking lot spaces assigned to online/in person sales transfers. I don’t know what other states and counties do, but I’ve used them in my state and so has at least one other member of this forum that I met at my county sheriffs location. Honestly that’s a great way for a personal transaction. Should make both the seller and buyer comfortable.

(I still always bring the schaeferhunds and plenty of other miscellaneous non floating back-up. )

Sure hate to have to turn a dishonest seller into a holy man.

 

[HappyTopster]

If you were interested in something I was selling and wanted FaceTime you'd be buying from someone else!

Were it you selling there’d certainly not be even an inkling of such a thing!

 

[Speed25]

When I sold my L, it was in this range. I bought it for certain purposes for my land that a smaller tractor couldn't handle. Once done with those jobs, I sold it for what I bought it for new and moved on to the smaller machine I need for general chores and maintenance. Like the OP, the buyer was a little suspicious since it was so clean. Garage kept and virtually spotless aside from some wear and tear in the bucket.

I'd been quoted $6k minimum by a few guys for doing the work (grading, clearing, rock relocation, tree removal) I bought the bigger tractor for, so in my free time, I'd do a little here and there where I could, and saved the $6k since the tractor was virtually free to own during that time. Sure, there was a little hassle and I had to spend an hour or two to sell the tractor, but it was well worth having the larger tractor for that stuff.

 

[William1]

When I bought my little BX25D, I looked around. Found a pristine used one, .... for $4K!!! 1/4 the price of new, not 30 miles from me. Contacted the seller. Now suddenly the machine was in Iowa. Ok... scammer obviously. Price alone raised suspicions. I said, what a coincidence, I will be visiting family there and will pick it up. Now it was 'already crated, at a contracted shipper' and the seller was in Alaska! Where??? My BIL is in the military there and will give you cash so we can avoid the IRS. Crickets. Saw the same photo on different sites with different sellers.
I've had mine for ten years or more now and under 300 hours. Just FEL and BH digging work.