Post by JasonB on Jan 27, 2016 19:37:15 GMT
Dealers.... AGCO needs to work on improving there dealer network and parts inventory to keep the brand alive. Also try to encourage the current dealers to be more aggressive and take an interest in selling the Brand. Know of a few dealers up here that were "forced" to take on Gleaner and don't seem to care about trying to sell the brand. Need to have guys and dealers willing to step up and support the Silver combine. AGCO/ Gleaner has done a great job with marketing the Super Series combines through the Road show video's and the various marketing materials that they release.
AGCO and Gleaner need to gain more trust from the farmers. Strengthen their parts network + dealers, get a marketing plan that works. If they can do that with a proven machine they will be all set. Truly believe the Gleaner is the most underrated combine on the market, yet everyone runs to the Green or RED dealer because of better dealers and parts.
Another problem is Gleaner has No smaller sized combine anymore for the smaller- mid sized farms. Case IH still has the 5140, and Deere has the S650 combine. Think Gleaner could sell an S95 Gleaner up here no problems, not everyone needs the S96, S97, or S98 Combine.
An S95 Gleaner with a 220- 250 bushel bin capacity, and a good match for a 6 row corn head. They certainly could make a smaller framed Gleaner Rotary again. Plus make the price a bit more attractive to the farmers as well.
The R55 Gleaner was a popular seller for our local dealer, then again Class 5 and 6 markets are more stronger up here then the bigger machines. Deere and Case IH sold a TON of Class 5 and 6 machines. Local Deere dealer sold a TON of 9560STS's, 9570STS's, and Case IH dealer up here sold a pile of 5088's, 5130's, and 5140's.
No option for Gleaner other then to go up to the S96.
Know when Gleaner dumped the R55 combine, those farmers that were loyal to Gleaner went to Deere and CIH when they were ready for their next class 5 machine.
Given Gleaner has a long history of Harvesting innovation, almost 95 years old, having a machine to meet every ones needs would be great.
While the current S9's are less heavy then the competitors machines, I would think a Class 5 Gleaner S95 would be a fair amount lighter then say an S98 or S97. Don't want to go to light, but think the less compaction you have the better. Of course if Gleaner offered tracks again for the S9's, that would change things yet again.