Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Everyone has to take their bottom line into consideration when making an investment. That’s why some of the most common questions we get asked are things like “what is the cheapest tractor?” and “what is the best tractor for the money?”.
The answer to those questions goes far beyond the initial price of the machine. That’s a good place to start, but there are tons of other factors to consider. We created this video to help put things into perspective, but welcome you to read the article as well!
It Doesn’t Start (or End) With Price
There is a lot of information to digest when you’re comparing tractors, with a huge variety of manufacturers, models, and prices.
Pricing itself is a complex issue that has as much to do with different business models as it does with product quality.
It’s important to outline things like:
- Financing terms & transparency
- Options & implements
- Parts, service, and downtime
- Specs compared to comparable machines from other manufacturers
and how they impact the overall cost of ownership for your machine when you’re shopping.
Financing: The Devil Is In The Details.
Financing is where affordability really starts to take shape—and where it’s easiest to get misled.
You’ve probably seen ads showing a monthly payment front and center. The problem is, that number doesn’t mean much on its own.
There are a few things that you need to know in order to get the full picture of the price of a machine:
- Interest rate
- Loan term
- Down payments and other conditions
Without the full picture, you could end up paying one dealer thousands of dollars more in interest than you would with another dealer.
There may also be situations where you have a tractor with a cash price and a finance price, and they’re different. It’s good to be aware if you’re paying to finance the tractor, or if the great promotional finance rate is free for you.
Many of our product webpages have a loan calculator feature built-in, and we encourage you to use them!
You can learn more about financing options with TriGreen here.
Tractor Dealer Differences
Full-service Dealers (Like TriGreen Equipment)
Some dealers have highly trained technicians, robust parts networks and logistics teams to provide service throughout the lifetime of the products that they sell. These additional services can mean a higher up-front price on their products.
The additional support provided by full-service dealers reduces downtime for people who rely on equipment to do their jobs – think commercial landscapers, farmers and builders.
But full-service dealers aren’t just for people who make their whole living running tractors. They can offer great support for people who are uncomfortable working on equipment, ordering the correct parts for it, or don’t have friends and family who can provide hands-on knowledge on it.
Partial-service Dealers
Other dealers may sell equipment as only portion of their business, without offering comprehensive service or other after-sale support. Equipment from those dealers may be cheaper up front but might not provide the additional services needed to efficiently and affordably maintain your machine for the long term.
Are The Specs Spelled Out?
It’s importantthat you compare apples to apples when shopping for tractors. If you get a quote on a machine from one dealer to use as leverage at another dealer, be sure that the second dealer quotes you for a machine that is truly comparable.
Look at things like:
- Horsepower
- Chassis size and weight
- Transmission type (there is more variety here than most people think)
Aside from the foundational specs of a machine, there are tons of options, upgrades and “premium” features that you will need to consider. This is especially true on higher horsepower tractors.
Options that you should ensure both dealers are quoting would be things like:
- Tire ballasting fluid
- Third-function loader kits
- Deluxe seats
- Upgraded 3-pt hitches
That’s certainly not an exhaustive list, but it should help you know what to look for.
For info on comparing John Deere tractors to Kubota tractors, check out our blog, A Fair Comparison: John Deere vs. Kubota Compact Tractors!
Tractor Package Deals
Tractor dealers will sometimes offer a discount when you buy multiple implements along with your tractor.
Financing implements in with your tractor often allows you to get a better rate – even as low as 0% if that’s what the tractor is being financed at – than you would if you came back to buy the implements on their own.
You can look at all of TriGreen’s tractor packages here.
Warranty
Understanding the warranty that comes with your tractor is another way to ensure that you are getting the best tractor for your money. John Deere’s warranty is straightforward and backed by trained technicians. TriGreen also offers a 10-year powertrain warranty on compact tractors that are serviced by us annually. You can learn about our TriGreen Secure Powertrain Warranty on this page.
Questions?
TriGreen Equipment is your North Alabama and Middle Tennessee full-service John Deere dealer. If you have any questions about the equipment we sell and services that we provide, please visit or reach out to one of our 28 locations.
