JD Warranty Policy

Acolar · Apr 8, 2009

If a customer needs warranty service on a JD will any dealer perform the work?

For example, if you purchase a machine out of state or move to a different state will your local JD dealer service the machine during the warranty period even though the machine was not purchased at the servicing dealer?

Thanks

C-Range · Apr 8, 2009

The dealers will do the work but they don't like it. I guess they don't get paid much, if anything, for warranty service so it's a loss for them. They'll do the work because they are hopefully getting a return customer.

At least that is what I was told by a JD dealer I spoke to recently.

nmu98 · Apr 8, 2009

I use 3 different dealers, and I have never had an issue taking a tractor to a dealer where I did not buy it. For any large repair i use our Ag dealer, and i never buy from them since they are very high on prices.

If a dealer gives you crap about it, or a guilt trip, they are more than likely trying to "force" you into working with them in the future.

Spudland_Dave · Apr 8, 2009

ensoll said:
I guess they don't get paid much, if anything, for warranty service so it's a loss for them.

ROFL! At least where I was previously employed (related field) Nothing could be farther from the truth. They get paid for their time & labor, and then some. IMO if a dealer could do JUST warranty work, I'm sure they would.

I know dealers around here even mail you postcards saying "Your warranty on your model XYZ is ending on whatever date" so call us and make an appointment to get it checked out if anything is going on...

If a dealer gives you crap, IMO thats a sign...what got me into a Deere over any other color is the local dealer treated me like a million dollar customer when I was getting parts & service help on a 20 year old machine I picked up off "the side of the road"...I figured if they treated me like that on a machine and person who "wasnt their problem" then they would surely treat me right on a new one. And they sure did and continue to do so.

rcrcomputing · Apr 8, 2009

ensoll said:
The dealers will do the work but they don't like it. I guess they don't get paid much, if anything, for warranty service so it's a loss for them. They'll do the work because they are hopefully getting a return customer.

At least that is what I was told by a JD dealer I spoke to recently.

I'd dump that dealer like a hot rock.

C-Range · Apr 8, 2009

Well, Acolar, it seems you've heard a couple of different points of view, opinions, impressions, whatever you want to call them. What do you say you check with your local dealer and report back what they tell you? I'd like to hear it myself.

greenmule · Apr 8, 2009

If not,what would the warrenty be worth?

Of course they have too.

AndyMA · Apr 8, 2009

There have been hundreds of posts on this subject and the general concenus including that of many dealers who have posted is that dealers geberally loose money on waranty work.

Andy

mfreund · Apr 8, 2009

AndyMA said:
There have been hundreds of posts on this subject and the general concenus including that of many dealers who have posted is that dealers geberally loose money on waranty work.

Andy

I would have to respectfully disagree. The dealer doesn't lose money, if the tech is good, waranty work pays what it takes. If he isn't the technician looses $. What the dealer complains about is the dealer could make MORE $ by having the technician do easier and more productive customer pay work.

The dealer is not out actual $ to do waranty work. I suppose you could make the argument the dealer looses $ due to lower tech production. Which is why it is important they send their technicians to Deere school to keep up on all the new technolgy.

C-Range · Apr 9, 2009

mfreund said:
I would have to respectfully disagree. The dealer doesn't lose money, if the tech is good, waranty work pays what it takes. If he isn't the technician looses $. What the dealer complains about is the dealer could make MORE $ by having the technician do easier and more productive customer pay work.

The dealer is not out actual $ to do waranty work. I suppose you could make the argument the dealer looses $ due to lower tech production. Which is why it is important they send their technicians to Deere school to keep up on all the new technolgy.

This seems sensible and fairly consistent with what that dealer told me. I remember him saying something about how dealers get paid a fixed amount for a given warranty repair from JD and that it usually doesn't cover their actual cost. I can see where he'd have left off the part about the work going to a less skilled technician.

As if I weren't scared enough already....!

KML · Apr 9, 2009

Well, here's what John Deere has to say about it.

Q. Who can do warranty work?
A. An authorized John Deere dealer. To locate your closest authorized John Deere servicing dealer go to John Deere Home Page Redirect and click on dealer locator. (Note: Lowes and The Home Depot are authorized retailers but are not authorized servicing dealers.)
From here:

http://www.deere.com/en_US/homeowners/media/pdfs/WarrantyFAQ.pdf

Warranty and Support for Migrating Machines:

John*Deere - Homeowners - Warranty Information - Migrating Machine Policy

The only thing they caution against is crossing regional markets and the U.S. and Canada are considered one market. Unless you buy a machine from another continent you should be good. Or at least that what the liturature says

Spudland_Dave · Apr 9, 2009

IMO, I still dont buy it about dealers loosing money in any way/shape/or form by doing warranty stuff...I'm chalking this up to the quality & honesty of dealer you have. Why I feel that way is how my own dealer treats me and what I've heard from other people as well with OTHER dealers.

-Why & how can one dealer go OUT of his way and Above & Beyond the call of duty to do warranty work (or ANY work for that matter) on a machine and some other dealers give the customer the cold shoulder?

Just last week I had some warranty work done on my 3520...they picked it up Monday AM and said it should be back home by Wednesday the latest..well things happened and while the tractor was fixed on Wednesday they couldnt bring it back home till Friday...when I got home Friday night the tractor was neatly parked back in its place with a nice JD T-Shirt sitting on the seat....

You cant tell me that my dealer is taking it in the shorts for me and everyone else they service...

C-Range · Apr 9, 2009

How about having your service completion date go from "...it will just take a few days" to nearly two weeks because "a town machine came in and, well, you know how it is, they get preferential treatment". Nice, huh? Two thumbs up! Woohoo! Awesome dealer. Awesome.

Edit: Apologies for getting off the topic. I stand by what I originally said about warranty service transfer as it came right from the horses mouth, or one of em anyway. And the long and short of it is KML is right. None of this other gibberish matters; just look at the JD policy and there's your answer.

greenmule · Apr 9, 2009

Thats right,of course they have to. And they make money on it,can anybody believe a dealer would work on any vechicle if he didn't make money on it?He might not be making as much as he would like,but,you can bet he's making money on it,ain't nothing free.

Now,when he has to is another point,bet if he's got people that bought the tractor off him,he will probably take care of it first,just makes sense,on the other hand,if he thought he could talk you into trading he might put you at top of list.

wxboy · Apr 9, 2009

I had a dealer tell me flat out that they would not service my tractor under warranty because it wasn't purchased there. Let's just say that after their answer I won't even buy an oil filter from them and I certainly will never take my tractor there for out of warranty service.

greenmule · Apr 9, 2009

Well,you shoulda got a lawyer,called their corperate number,called better bussiness ,state attorney general,etc.
Cause what they did was illegal.[not getting throwed in jail illegal,of course,but getting sued illegal].

Was that a deere? John deere,the big green thing? Bet it was a deere.

Cyclone Jake · Apr 9, 2009

wxboy said:
I had a dealer tell me flat out that they would not service my tractor under warranty because it wasn't purchased there. Let's just say that after their answer I won't even buy an oil filter from them and I certainly will never take my tractor there for out of warranty service.

I would think their dealer agreement with Deere would require them to perform warranty work regardless of where the machine was purchased.

wolc123 · Apr 10, 2009

In my own experience with new JD tractors, which is limited to an M my grandad bought in 1950 and a 4120 that I bought in 2005, there has been no problem since neither required warranty service. The M needed a valve job around 1975 but we tackled that ourselves and the 4120 has not needed anything yet. Both tractors were not purchased from the closest dealer due to better prices from further away. I get my oil filters from the expensive guy around the corner from my farm but that is about it. Questions such as this might be a big deal with lesser brands but I wouldnt worry too much with a JD since the problems you fear are unlikely to occur.

BIGWES · Apr 10, 2009

FWIW, A friend that works for John Deere told me that they get
paid a flat rate for warranty work which is less than their $70
hourly rate. The dealer can also face a chargeback from John
Deere if they did a questionable warranty or if the failed part is
not valid.

wxboy · Apr 10, 2009

Yes, it was a John Deere dealer. I knew they were wrong to say it and I wasn't happy with their response but I've been disappointed so many times by that dealer it didn't surprise me one bit. I really don't know how they are still in business.