SASKATOON – A fight between Kubota Canada and dealers wanting to sell used tractors has left some people wondering who to believe about the Japanese tractors.
Recently, Kubota Canada ran advertisements in The Western Producer warning farmers that second-hand Kubota tractors brought to Canada did not have many of the required safety features.
But dealers handling the “grey-market” tractors said some of the tractors are almost identical to new tractors Kubota is trying to sell.
“They’re so paranoid. They think they’re going to stop people from buying these used ones,” said Barry Ghiglione, of Handyman Rental Centre in Saskatoon.
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Ghiglione said there is nothing different about the second-hand tractors except they’re about half the price of new models.
“We’re fighting and arguing with them over the promotion of their own damn product,” said Ghiglione.
Jim Culbert was technical service manager for Western Canada with Kubota for almost eight years. He now works with Ghiglione selling the tractors, ideal for acreages, and said, “these tractors are quite similar to Canadian models.”
Culbert said Kubota Canada, based in Markham, Ont., has told its dealers if they sell replacement parts for the second hand tractors their contracts will be cancelled.
“They’re threatening the dealers by the parent company if you get involved with these tractors or we’ll pull your new contract line.”
Ghiglione said the company is taking the wrong approach. Many people can’t afford new tractors. If they buy a second-hand Kubota tractor and like its performance, eventually they may buy a new tractor.
Standards not met
The company has said the tractors intended for the Japanese market do not meet some Canadian safety standards.
Sharon Doepker, librarian with the Prairie Farm Machinery Institute in Humboldt, Sask., said there are almost no regulations regarding used equipment.
“In Canada, you can sell anything your little heart desires,” said Doepker.
While there are generally accepted industry standards for farm equipment there are few government regulations requiring safety features on used tractors.
In Saskatchewan roll-over protection is required and in Ontario safety guards are required, but only until the tractor is sold.
“There aren’t any standards,” Doepker said.
Kubota officials did not respond when contacted on the matter.
