[AJD] My apologies to the List and Melanie

[Dean VP]

Greg:

First of all let me say again. I made a serious mistake and I apologize for
it. I deeply regret what I said and even thinking it. I lost control of my
anger.

However, I believe it is part of this lists attributes to share information.
I also don't believe it is improper to shop around to find parts that one
can afford. That is how our competitive market works. Pricing one product at
$1,000,000 may work for some but the current market tends to be oriented in
the other direction. I am fully aware of the costs of salvaging a tractor or
creating a reproduction product. It is very difficult to make a profit. But
there is a limit to how much we are willing to pay. Where I draw the line is
when used parts prices are higher than available NOS parts and parts prices
that are too large a % of the value of the tractor being restored. There is
a limit. Either the prices of restored tractors have to be higher or there
is a finite limit on how much we can pay for parts to restore them. 

Some may be willing to put $8,000 into a restoration and then find the
market is only willing to pay $4,000 for the restored tractor. I'm not one
of them. I try to avoid that and am willing to shop around to avoid that if
at all possible. My logic is to have several projects going simultaneously
so as not to get into a situation where I have to have the parts right now.
I'll be very happy if I get anywhere close to my investment in the tractors
when I have to sell them. I suspect I won't come close. I think in this
regard vendors are misleading us. Sure I receive a certain amount of joy &
satisfaction from the hobby and that has to be taken into consideration.
Unfortunately today isn't one of those days.  

Therefore if I experience asking prices that are out of line with that
objective, I have to move on and try elsewhere. Now, should we share our
vendor experiences with others on the list or recommend places to get
products at a reasonable price? I think so. To me that is part of the
benefits of being a member of this list. And as a result benefits not only
list members but vendors who may need a little feedback. 

Sharps and all vendors have a right to ask anything they want for their used
or new parts. However, I have a choice as to whether I'm willing to pay it.
Or look for other sources. And let me assure you a little work and
perseverance will usually pay off handsomely. Others may not have the time
to do the leg work to do so. That is their choice as well. 

I found your comment about reproduction 800 Series hitch parts to be rather
interesting. I have been quoted prices for some specific reproduction 800
series parts in the past but I have never seen them show up on the market.
The prices I was quoted were not within my budget so I had to pass at the
time. Maybe they are another product that doesn't show up on web pages or
magazine ads. I sure would like to know about them if they are truly
available and at a price that I can handle. 

When I gave my workshop, at the last GOG of the Green, I tried to make the
audience aware of anyone making and/or selling NOS/Used or reproduction
parts. The Old Tractor Company was at the top of the vendor list. For some
odd reason we customers seem to have to pry out of some vendors what is
available. I have real problems with that. 

I appreciate a well done web site but what is more important to me and I
suspect others, is just being able to find out who has what for sale,
without having to make or send several phone calls, emails, etc. I suspect
that the prices of reproduction parts would come down dramatically if we the
customers knew where to get them. I suspect the sales volume would increase
significantly if we knew. Is there an artificial environment being supported
to maintain high prices?  I have no idea.

I now can see why there are so few reproduction parts suppliers entering the
supply chain.  It is a rather unpleasant environment to try to offer
additional products. I have experienced the full brunt of that today. If I
were younger it would only reinforce my desire invest more energy and
resources into it. Life is too short for this kind of stuff. 

However, that is for the upcoming generation, if there really is going to be
one that collects tractors at the level we are today.     




Dean A. Van Peursem
Snohomish, WA 98290

I'm a walking storeroom of facts..... I've just lost the key to the
storeroom door 


www.deerelegacy.com

http://members.cox.net/classicweb/email.htm



-----Original Message-----
From: antique-johndeere-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:antique-johndeere-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of
greg at theoldtractorcompany.com
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2005 7:03 PM
To: Antique John Deere mailing list
Subject: Re: [AJD] My apologies to the List and Melanie

A few further comments if I might-

I now strongly suspect my initial suspicions were correct Dean as sometimes
what gets said can 
prove to be far more important than initially thought.

Although supposed to be off list, here we go again with pricing protests?
Come on. Everyone 
catches a deal on Ebay or at a local auction, that's what makes it fun.
First it's Polk and now 
Sharp's? I can only imagine what's been said about me but I honestly could
care less. Used 
parts for me is easy. I have 300 tractors but sell little or no used
parts,end of story. It 
takes a tremendous amount of time and effort to offer decent used parts. The
Sharp's do and 
must set their prices where they feel they need to be to make a reasonble
profit. $200 levers 
are great profit centers but let's face it, the law of averages applies. You
win some and you 
lose some. Try to buy 300 parts tractors today. It can't be done. The
important thing is that 
at the end of the day you have to show a fair profit to be able to keep the
doors open. 
Overhead and investment in product and facilities play a very important part
in this as 
everyone is well aware.
I have never EVER found the Sharp's to be anything but honest, friendly, and
more than 
hardworking people who go above and beyond and are making their living at
this, not playing at 
it as a hobby or a diversion. I don't know too many other vendors who can be
reached at their 
business often before 7 am and after 10 at night. I also know for a fact
that a website is a 
tremendous undertaking, just take a look at my miserable excuse for a site-4
years old and just 
now finally getting an update, and I imagine they feel that the actual
product development and 
availibility for their customers is more important than getting some slick
pics on a site. The 
site will follow in time.

As I've said before, I've been in this game nearly 27 years and I've seen
them come and I've 
seen them go. My money's on Melanie. 

I normally stay as far out of this type of exchange as much as possible but
felt I had to speak 
up.
Ban me, tar and feather me, or ride me out of town on a rail, I felt it had
to be said.

'Nuff said.
Now back to your regularly scheduled programming

Greg




Greg Stephen
The Old Tractor Company
Stephen Equipment Company
PO Box 709
Franktown, CO 80116
303-663-5246
303-468-0377 FAX<<--GREAT WAY TO REACH ME!

On Fri Feb 11 20:01 , 'Dean VP' <deanvp at att.net> sent:

>I have sent a message to the public ATIS JD list that was never intended to
>be a public message and for that I apologize to the list and to Melanie. It
>was intended to be a private message. I was greatly disturbed by the
>messages that occurred today, on the list, and my intent was to release
some
>of that frustration privately. Well I messed up. There is no excuse. I
>sincerely apologize to all parties. 
>
>Dean A. Van Peursem
>Snohomish, WA 98290
>
>I'm a walking storeroom of facts..... I've just lost the key to the
>storeroom door 
>
>
>www.deerelegacy.com
>
>http://members.cox.net/classicweb/email.htm
>
>
>
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Antique-johndeere mailing list
>http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/antique-johndeere



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