He Sells Mower Parts By The Thousands
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If you need a part for a riding mower, LeRoy Oleson, Jr., likely has it. He has mowers by the hundreds waiting to be parted out and mower parts on shelves numbered in the thousands. His South Dakota farmyard is covered with mowers, and his buildings are packed with parts for mowers and more.
“I’ve got more than 1,900 riding mowers waiting to be parted out,” says Oleson. “The farm buildings contain more than 12,000 parts for riding mowers, skid steers, ATV’s, motorcycles and small engines. We also sell complete units, such as riding mowers, skid steers, 4-wheelers, 3-wheelers and motorcycles.”
Oleson estimates he has purchased more than 6,000 mowers over the years. He once bought 48 in one day. It all started with a good deal at an auction in the early 1990’s.
“I bought a riding lawn mower for not much money, got it running and put an ad in the paper,” recalls Oleson. “I had 25 to 30 calls. I did it again with similar results. For the first 5 or 6 years, I just sold repaired mowers, no parts.”
Oleson had such good luck reselling auction mowers that he started advertising to buy them as well as sell them. At one point he was spending $30,000 a year on ads. When the regional newspaper wanted to raise their rates, he switched to eBay and internet sales.
He also made the switch to selling parts. He quickly found that he could break down a Deere 318 he had paid a few hundred dollars for and sell the parts for $4,000. His parts have gone all over the world, from Russia and France to New Zealand.
“I sold 115 items on eBay in one day,” he says. “In one 2-day period I sold $18,000 in parts.”
Oleson no longer counts on eBay as it provides only a tenth the results it once did. Due to a discontinued relationship, he has started a new eBay account and is establishing a new website. His eBay user name is grassmonkey1. “I have had as many as 10,000 parts listed, but have only 1,100 at this point,” says Oleson.
Health problems in the past year also took a toll. With reduced sales, he has returned to being a 1-man shop. However, the business continues via his new website.
Oleson still buys mowers and other items at auctions and estate sales and by the truckload from other auction goers.
“I’ve been doing this for 25 years. I can look at something, and I’ll know what the parts are worth,” he says. “I’m still buying mowers. Generally people bring them to me from as far away as Oklahoma. If it’s something special, I’ll drive to the other end of the state.”
If you are having mower problems and need a part, Oleson suggests sending him a picture. “You can look under the hood and see what the model is and whether it is a twin cylinder or not, but a picture is worth a thousand words,” he says. “I can look at the shape of the part, and I’ll know if I have it or not.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dakota Outdoor Power Equipment, 44910 281st St., Parker, S. Dak. 57053 (ph 605 254-2599; bobcatman53@yahoo.com; www.facebook.com/mowerfreedom/).
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He Sells Mower Parts By The Thousands FARM HOME Lawn Mowers 31h 38 If you need a part for a riding mower LeRoy Oleson Jr likely has it He has mowers by the hundreds waiting to be parted out and mower parts on shelves numbered in the thousands His South Dakota farmyard is covered with mowers and his buildings are packed with parts for mowers and more “I’ve got more than 1 900 riding mowers waiting to be parted out ” says Oleson “The farm buildings contain more than 12 000 parts for riding mowers skid steers ATV’s motorcycles and small engines We also sell complete units such as riding mowers skid steers 4-wheelers 3-wheelers and motorcycles ” Oleson estimates he has purchased more than 6 000 mowers over the years He once bought 48 in one day It all started with a good deal at an auction in the early 1990’s “I bought a riding lawn mower for not much money got it running and put an ad in the paper ” recalls Oleson “I had 25 to 30 calls I did it again with similar results For the first 5 or 6 years I just sold repaired mowers no parts ” Oleson had such good luck reselling auction mowers that he started advertising to buy them as well as sell them At one point he was spending $30 000 a year on ads When the regional newspaper wanted to raise their rates he switched to eBay and internet sales He also made the switch to selling parts He quickly found that he could break down a Deere 318 he had paid a few hundred dollars for and sell the parts for $4 000 His parts have gone all over the world from Russia and France to New Zealand “I sold 115 items on eBay in one day ” he says “In one 2-day period I sold $18 000 in parts ” Oleson no longer counts on eBay as it provides only a tenth the results it once did Due to a discontinued relationship he has started a new eBay account and is establishing a new website His eBay user name is grassmonkey1 “I have had as many as 10 000 parts listed but have only 1 100 at this point ” says Oleson Health problems in the past year also took a toll With reduced sales he has returned to being a 1-man shop However the business continues via his new website Oleson still buys mowers and other items at auctions and estate sales and by the truckload from other auction goers “I’ve been doing this for 25 years I can look at something and I’ll know what the parts are worth ” he says “I’m still buying mowers Generally people bring them to me from as far away as Oklahoma If it’s something special I’ll drive to the other end of the state ” If you are having mower problems and need a part Oleson suggests sending him a picture “You can look under the hood and see what the model is and whether it is a twin cylinder or not but a picture is worth a thousand words ” he says “I can look at the shape of the part and I’ll know if I have it or not ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Dakota Outdoor Power Equipment 44910 281st St Parker S Dak 57053 ph 605 254-2599; bobcatman53@yahoo com; www facebook com/mowerfreedom/
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