Tractor Weights Online, Through Branded Dealers, and from Salvage Yards.
- Most Original Equipment Manufacturers (Branded Tractor Manufacturers) do NOT produce their own tractor weights in house. They usually source them from 3rd party iron foundries. Many of these foundries also produce “aftermarket” tractor weights using the same materials on the same machinery.
- Most online retail outlets source their tractor weights from other distributors. These other distributors usually source their weights from other wholesale distributors, importers, or occasionally, directly from an iron foundry. Tractor weights are rarely the primary business of the online retailers. It is often just a sideline where they can take orders easily, mark up to their desired profit, and ‘drop-shipments’ or ‘blind shipments’ to the customer from a contracted wholesale distributor are common.
- Your local brand dealer is probably well versed in the tractors they sell, but consider weights to be a minor accessory and often depend on the recommendations in their sales manuals. Due to the number of profit takers (iron foundry, original equipment manufacturer, distribution centers, transportation, spif programs, and brand dealers) the selling price can be pretty high by the time it gets to the actual customer.
- Some brand dealers operate their own online retail stores. We find lots of the online information on tractor weights to be incomplete and often wrong. Their IT and marketing departments will know a lot less about tractor weights than will those engaged full time in the tractor weight business. As brand dealers, their loyalty is primarily to the brand and they rarely include all the options available for a particular tractor model.
- Online auction sites and tractor salvage yards: Tractor weights usually hold their value very well and online auction sites and salvage yards are sometimes a great place to find obsolete and rare weights for older equipment. Unfortunately, as with many online retail outlets, we find that the people offering these weights are not primarily engaged in the tractor weight business. The details are often wrong, especially in regards to the part numbers and equipment that the weights will actually fit. Few have return policies and even fewer offer real warranties. Some are even offering new weights they acquire or ‘drop ship’ from a distributor.
- Minimum order quantities and or high shipping costs should be a red flag. Free shipping is never free. The shipping cost is built in and subsidized by each customer. With most free shipping, you are helping to pay the shipping costs for other customers.
- Things are changing. This website is the result of the many inquiries we have received over the years urging us to offer a complete online tractor weight store. At TractorWeights.com, tractor weights are our real business. Yeah, we have a few cast iron products (like stage weights, anchors, and door stops) that are not tractor weights; but those items are our sideline and not our primary focus. We don’t sell tractors, or seat covers, or tire chains, or oil filters. We live and breathe tractor weights, all day every day. We don’t offer free shipping, but we do offer the best rates we can get from the trucking companies. Unlike others, the origination source (imported or Made in the USA) is noted on each of our cast products. We know what weights work best for most applications. We know how to install them and yes, we know how to make them. We have been doing so for a long time.
This website is our first attempt to offer a real end to end online experience. We strive to provide enough information for a person to make a correct decision. Let us know in the comments how we can improve. We are tractor weight people and not computer experts. Your input will be truly appreciated.
This blog is general information only, representing the opinions of the author, and does not cover all aspects of the subject matter. Use of the information contained herein is voluntary.
