Scam: Laughlin Farm Equipment, Butler MO, $39,500 wired for 2023 Kubota SVL97-2 never shipped

Verdict

Laughlin Farm Equipment of Butler MO is assessed as a scam in this case: the site advertised a 2023 Kubota SVL97-2 as "Excellent Condition, Ready to Work" for $39,500, and according to a buyer's account a bank wire for that amount produced no equipment or delivery documentation.

Company details

The following details are the operator's own published claims.

Listing claims

The listing for the unit carries a $39,500 asking price for a 2023 KUBOTA SVL97-2 described as "Excellent Condition, Ready to Work." The seller's verbatim text begins "2023 Kubota SVL97-2 Compact Track Loader 6 Excellent Condition, Ready to Work. This 2023 Kubota SVL97-2 Compact Track Loader delivers exceptional power, du..." The site marks the condition as UsedCondition.

Those phrases imply a present, inspected machine available for immediate sale and shipment or pickup. The listing does not, in the published excerpt supplied to this analysis, show service records, inspection reports, a bill of sale, a certificate of origin, or a carrier bill of lading.

What the buyer's account says happened

According to the buyer's account logged by the analyst, the buyer paid the full $39,500 asking price by bank wire. The buyer's account states that no equipment was delivered after payment. The buyer's account is the sole source for the payment and non-delivery in this file.

The account does not include copies of a sales invoice, receipts, a bill of lading, tracking numbers, or other shipping paperwork. Those documents are what a legitimate seller normally supplies before, during, or immediately after receiving payment for a used machine.

Domain and site signals

WHOIS shows the domain laughlinfarmequipment.com was created on 2026-10-05 and is registered through NameSilo, LLC with registrant privacy enabled. Nameservers resolve to Cloudflare via hans.ns.cloudflare.com and thea.ns.cloudflare.com. HTTPS is active and the homepage returns HTTP 200 with the title "Used Heavy Equipment For Sale | Laughlin Farm Equipment."

A brand new registration date is a strong operational signal that the site has little public track record. Privacy on the registration and the absence of published licensing information further reduce the ability to verify the operator through open records.

Checkable warning signs

• The listing claims "Excellent Condition, Ready to Work" but, according to the buyer's account, no machine was delivered after payment. That contrast is directly checkable by requesting inspection and shipping paperwork.
• The asking price of $39,500 is attached to a brand new domain created on 2026-10-05; verify WHOIS creation dates.
• The registrant uses a privacy service; look for a verifiable business registration or a publicly listed owner.
• The site does not publish service or inspection reports in the supplied listing excerpt; request written inspection records before paying.
• According to the buyer's account, payment was made by bank wire; ask for alternative payment options that include escrow or card processing.
• No dealer licensing or DOT numbers are published in the detected signals; search state dealer registries for the trading name and the Butler address.

What to verify before paying for a listed machine

1. Obtain a dated, signed invoice or bill of sale showing the seller, the VIN or serial number for the 2023 Kubota SVL97-2, and the agreed price.
2. Insist on a carrier bill of lading or shipment tracking that names the seller as the shipper and the buyer as the consignee before initiating a wire.
3. Request recent service or inspection records and, if possible, an independent inspection arranged through a local dealer or inspector.

Do not rely solely on a site listing when the domain lacks a verifiable operating history and when the seller requests an irreversible payment method, especially if the listing language promises machine condition or immediate availability but the seller cannot produce paperwork that confirms either.