The Wife forced me to go to an antique mall last night. It was kind of fun, seeing things I have not seen in alot of years.
While there I saw a sears catalog from 1980. I thumbed through it till I got to the garden tractors. I figured the top of the line model would be around $900 - $1200.
No way, the top of the line was a 18hp 6 speed garden tractor at $2799! That is not to much difference from the price of the top DGT today.
Originally posted by Ed_GT5000 The Wife forced me to go to an antique mall last night. It was kind of fun, seeing things I have not seen in alot of years.
While there I saw a sears catalog from 1980. I thumbed through it till I got to the garden tractors. I figured the top of the line model would be around $900 - $1200.
No way, the top of the line was a 18hp 6 speed garden tractor at $2799! That is not to much difference from the price of the top DGT today.
I don't know how and why except maybe improved manufacturing practices? Outsourcing the manufacturing? Cutting corners? But it seems to be a great deal to buy it at the same price 24 years later.
I remember in the early 70’s, the estate I worked on took delivery of
a Gravely 4 wheel ride on (not sure if 400 or 800 series).
The tractor alone, no attachments, $2800.00. mg:
You could buy a car for that much money back then !!!
It is interesting how certain products rise and dive due to the times and some stay around the same. If memory serves me, I can think of the following few:
1985 Loaded luxury car - about $25k, now $45k - $60k
1985 VCR - $600 to $1000, now about $150
1985 Standard PC IBM Computer $1500 to $2000 now $700
1985 Tablesaw $500? Now $500 - $700
1985 House (Boston area) $125k, now about $400k
I think some manufacturers have constantly changed their methods to hold certain products around the same money. Robotics, outsourcing, more plastics, etc...
If I stop and really thought about it, there is no way I could swing buying a tractor today, if an average one had risen to say $7k.
Originally posted by posullivan
If I stop and really thought about it, there is no way I could swing buying a tractor today, if an average one had risen to say $7k.
I think that statement really hits the nail on the head. It boils down to a matter of economics for the manufacturers. Price them beyond the reach of the average Joe then you might as well shut the doors. That's a market driven promise.
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