Used Tractor Prices

Used Tractor Prices

By Jerry Minchey

The final step is to know the seven negotiating statements that will drastically lower the asking price of any tractor -- including the one sound that you can utter that will knock 10% off the price of any tractor.

Buying a used tractor is not like buying a used car. Also, unlike your car, tractors are relatively easy to fix.

The Internet has a wealth of information about tractors. When you get to this site, click on "Tractor Registry" in the left Nav. panel to find information on any tractor.

To determine the condition of a used tractor check to see if it has a tachometer that includes an hour meter. A lot of older tractors won't have an hour meter. Also look at the tires. Check for dry rot and cracks.

Of course, check to see how the tractor starts and how it runs. If the tractor is hard to start in warm weather, it will be even harder to start in colder weather. After you start the tractor, check to see if there is excessive smoke from the exhaust.

Seven negotiating techniques for people who don't like to negotiate:

1. Offer way less than you expect to have to pay. Some people say, " I will give you $5,000 for the tractor and that's it." These people almost always end up negotiating and paying a lot more.

2. Always gasp and act shocked and surprised at the other side's first price. Without saying a word, this lets the owner know that you think their price is totally unreasonable.

3. Never, ever say yes to the first price they quote you. If you say yes too quickly the other side will know that they priced the tractor too low.

4. "You've got to do better than that." Always use this expression sometime during the negotiations.

5. Use the "good cop/bad cop" technique. For example, say, "I would love to buy your tractor at that price, but my wife would kill me. She's dead set on me not paying more than $3,500 for a used tractor."

6. Arm yourself with information. For example, say, "I have checked eBay and other Internet sources, and tractors like this one never sell for more than $35,000."

7. Never agree to split the difference. The other side is almost always willing to split the difference, so offer less than half of the difference.

Don't forget that there are a lot of good used tractors out there, so always be willing to walk away from any negotiation.