Pricey harvester sale a steal
Why pay half a million dollars for a new harvester when you can buy the same model for just over $200?
One of the more expensive products up for grabs at the Central Districts Field Days is New Holland’s FR 600 forage harvester, priced at $500,000.
Three stalls over though, the same harvester cost just $225.
Admittedly, it’s a mere fraction of the size and lacks an engine, but that’s because it’s a model collectible.
Model Barn’s Jeremy Welsh said all his models were miniature versions of ‘‘real-life’’ machines, which is why they were popular.
New Holland hay and harvest manager Rod Gardner said as productivity demands increased, so did the power required - hence the price.
‘‘In comparison to other harvesters, this one has features such as an Intelliview touch screen monitor that can show the operator up to three viewing cameras.
‘‘It also has infrared sensors so the driver can see through the monitor that what’s being harvested is going into the truck.’’
Most of the company’s on-site machines were priced between $300,000 and 400,000. ‘‘We’re targeting contractors, farmers, pretty much anyone that’s got money,’’ Gardener said.
Its machines are at the higher end of the market, imported from Europe. But, they were unlikely to sell any of the 12 luxurious machines the company had on display, he said.
‘‘We’re here for brand awareness and building relationships with new and existing customers.’’
The event also attracted Hawke’s Bay woodworker Lindsay Dryden who frequently attends the Central Districts Field Days and those at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton.
His products ranged from $10 spoons to $200 chopping boards. His one-man company, Chop Mate, has a shop in Hastings, and supplied larger chains.
‘‘For my product, you need the foot traffic, which you get here.
‘‘There’s only a certain amount of people that will buy a chopping board.
‘‘[It’s] certainly better weather this year, which helps. You’ve got to come to these little things to keep a presence out there and to direct them to the other retail stores my products are in.’’
Dryden was expecting to sell about $4500 worth of stock.
‘‘Probably not as much as some of the others around, but people can walk past and see the product here and touch it. That’s something you can’t get on a website, which makes these events that bit more important.’’
The Central Districts Field Days continue over the weekend