Machinery News
I rarely have problems sleeping the night prior to any auction but the night before the May sale proved an exception. Was it the comment I made in the previous sale letter of: “and we really could do with a yard full of John Deere’s to satisfy demand..” and the resulting entry of over 165 such tractors, was it the general comments from the trade that things could be tough following the flying sale last month, or was it indeed the vivid nightmare I had of being lynched on a John Deere 3400 teleporter by an angry mob of John Deere dealers chanting “not sold, not sold”. I’m not sure, but Monday night I slept soundly in the knowledge that we’d just had our best tractor sale…ever.!
With a whopping entry of 607 tractors featuring without doubt the best quality line up ever seen at Sutton or indeed probably Europe, Monday morning had an air of expectation, apprehension and nervousness. Had we over done the tractor entry particularly the JD line up, were the buyers from last month returning and could we repeat another cracking sale? Well as the hammer dropped on the last tractor at 6:20 pm all questions had been answered, it was better than we hoped for. Exactly 50% of the tractors sold and although trade wasn’t exactly startling, it was certainly quite brisk. Many of the bigger European buyers failed to appear but it was encouraging to see a new crop of buyers taking up the slack. Just over 90 JD’s sold and whilst the lower spec or high houred 20 series struggled, all 30 series flew with £60,700 being paid for a 2007 7930 direct from a local farming estate. 10 series were quite selective but again anything with TLS and 50kph attracted bidding. The older 6000 series all met with demand and a vast majority of these found new homes in Spain, Germany, Poland and other mainland European countries. Other marques met with strong albeit selective bidding. Massey trade was on the up particularly the 3000 series and newer models and overall 71% of these sold away. New Holland TS, TL and TM’s found new homes as did the better 40 series.
On the older models, trade was a little more selective. Massey Fergusons 500 and 600 series were in abundance although not perhaps the buyers for these. The even older 100 series did sell well mostly going to East Africa and Cyprus. On the Zetor line up, most of these did sell although prices were subdued partly due to the lack of Polish buyers but mainly due to the ludicrous reserves placed on some of the rustiest of wrecks.
The Machinery Section of Monday’s sale saw a good demand again for seasonal items such as hay tedders and sprayers, a large percentage of them going to new homes in Eire. Baler trade was disappointing with the large entry failing to diminish. 30% of combines sold. Horticultural items sold well with 100% clearance of small rotary mowers. Engines, spares and wheels also had a 90% clearance rate for good useable items.
A very good selection of Contractors Plant included 20 JCB 3CXs and 50 plus telescopic handlers. Although demand had eased slightly from an all time high in April, a good percentage sold with some prices going over reserve. Larger excavators are difficult to sell. Good quality mini diggers sell well particularly if we can find an end user. Masted forklifts, rollers and good compressors remain in demand for Middle Eastern Buyers.
Next sale is on Monday 16th June 2008.