I think my John Deere dealer is becoming "lazy"

[RollingsFarms]

I have been using the same Deere dealer for about 15 years. Before a larger franchise bought them out they were a small, local dealership. When the larger dealer bought them out they retained most of the people from the old one. Everything went right on along like it always did. However, here lately I'm noticing they're getting lazy. I'm not the only one experiencing this either. They're becoming lazy to the "average" farmers(ie. under 1,000 acres) in the area too and seem to cater to the mega-farms now. It seems like now when I want a price quote on something I never hear back from them. They use to email you back the next day but apparently they don't do that now. I go into the store and ask about a piece of equipment and they say they'll order it, take down my name and number, make a copy of my drivers license, won't take a down payment (even though I've offered, hoping to speed up the process). I never hear back from them! I ordered a $300 suspension seat for my 910A last year, they told me "It'll be in, in a couple weeks, we'll call you". Never called. I recently ordered a front end loader about 2 1/2 weeks ago, same answer "we'll call you in a couple weeks". Nothing yet. I was talking to a friend of mine who owns a cow farm and has about 200 head. This guy spends $$$$ at the dealership. He was telling me he was trying to get a quote for trading in his 4440 for a 7330. They told him "we'll come look at it in a couple days". They finally showed up 3 weeks later and then low balled him REALLY bad on the price. They used to give VERY fair trade-ins and this 4440 would sell in 5 minutes flat around here but apparently they weren't interested the way they dragged their feet on getting him a quote and knowing he was VERY interested in buying a brand new 7330. what in the world is going on with Deere all of a sudden??? The local CASE IH dealer is small, but man is he cleaning up with customers the Deere dealer has pretty much run off. The Deere dealer I'm speaking of is owned by the same family that have 4 other stores beside this one. You can't go the any of the other stores and buy because they'll ask you "where do you live?" and when you tell them they'll say "oh just go talk to so and so at your local store." and I'm thinking "I did! he won't call me back, that's why I'm here!" I just can't figure out why the salesman are so lazy all of a sudden. Is anyone else experiencing this? It's VERY frustrating. I'm seriously considering becoming a CASE IH, New Holland, or Kubota man here shortly because I'm getting really frustrated with this. I'm usually a very patient customer but when this is happening to others, I know something is going on and it's not just me.

 

[murphy1244]

All the JD dealers are going that route, They better wake up or Kubota or NH are gonna knock them out of the utility market.

 

[RollingsFarms]

All the JD dealers are going that route, They better wake up or Kubota or NH are gonna knock them out of the utility market.

Well the other closest tractor dealers to me are New Holland and Kubota (same dealer) and Case IH. I sure am starting to see a buncha blue, orange, and red around here. I'm not talking about just hobby farms or weekend warriors, I'm talking farmers that farm for a living. I've also noticed the other 3 dealers are really starting to change their inventory and are bringing in 130 and below horsepower machines. Lots of them too! My Deer dealer has a lot FULL of utility tractors but good luck trying to get a quote on one. The service department is another thing my Deere dealer is starting to slip against. They will keep your tractor a minimum of 2-3 weeks but the other dealers have you in and out in MUCH less time for the same problem. What happened to Deere being able to get parts fast? Why am I having to wait so long for a seat or a loader? Don't they keep some stock of things like this? you would think out of 5 stores that ONE of them would have a loader or a suspension seat.

 

[murphy1244]

Sorry to hear about your problems might be time for a change when your ready to get another tractor. I am not loyal to any brand. I myself am sick of hearing how great green is.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Sorry to hear about your problems might be time for a change when your ready to get another tractor. I am not loyal to any brand. I myself am sick of hearing how great green is.

Well a good friend of mine who has some chicken houses is trying to get me to go Case red because that's what he did after the Case dealer beat the quote of our Deere dealer by thousands and from what I hear he's a pretty nice guy to do business with. I've heard that from lots of people. I'll have to pop in there oneday and see what he says. I'm happy with my Deere equipment, would like to buy some more, but I get the feeling they don't want my money.

 

[murphy1244]

Well a good friend of mine who has some chicken houses is trying to get me to go Case red because that's what he did after the Case dealer beat the quote of our Deere dealer by thousands and from what I hear he's a pretty nice guy to do business with. I've heard that from lots of people. I'll have to pop in there oneday and see what he says. I'm happy with my Deere equipment, would like to buy some more, but I get the feeling they don't want my money.

Green turning down the green, That just ain't right.

 

[oldnslo]

Deere corporate made the decision that ALL of their dealers must own multiple franchises in different locations. This shut down very good family owned and run dealers in this area. I have never seen so much NH Blue or AGCO machinery in this area in the last 20 years as you now see in 2 days. Be interesting to see how many dealerships are still standing in a few years.

I have some good friends that worked at the one dealership and deere even wanted to buy their active and current parts and equipment back when they shut them down. That dealership is now a multi line dealer and doing well.

 

[Verticaltrx]

I grew up on all Deere equipment and still really like it, but don't like what I'm seeing with the whole dealer network thing. Recently our local dealer was bought out and merged with a larger group of dealers and I can honestly say the people they brought in are some of the most incompetent people I have ever done business with. There is one guy in the parts dept. that is still there from before and he is good, the others I won't even talk to. Mostly I just look the part number up myself online and give it to them. Sales is almost as bad, I had to order the rear remote kit for my 5203 through Whole Goods and it took three salesmen to figure out which kit I needed, then figure out a discrepancy in the pricing. That actually worked out in my favor, they priced it based on the 2006 price printed in the literature they were looking at, didn't realize it had gone up $300 in the past 6yrs. What idiots... and I wasn't going to say anything.

Before I bought my 5203 (I was actually looking at new 5045d's) I went to many different dealers and test out numerous tractors. Looked at a MX4700, one of the Kubota dealers I went to was worthless and wouldn't deal at all (quoted MSRP as his only price), another was very good an accommodating, best cash offer of almost 15% off MSRP. Then looked at a New Holland Workmaster 45, dealer was also very good, they were willing to negotiate and gave me a lengthy test drive to really test the tractor out. Best dealer experience by far was at the Massey Ferguson dealer. I was interested in the 4wd 2605 model, they didn't have any on the lot so he called up a recent customer who bought one and got the OK to let me come out and test his tractor. The dealer drove me 20mi out to the customers property so I could test out the tractor. Both the New Holland and Massey salesmen followed up with a call a couple days after I dealt with them to see if I was still interested. In the end I found the used 5203 at a good savings over the rest so I went that route. If I hadn't I probably would have a Blue or Red tractor in the barn.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I really like my deere, but the salesman that I deal with is horrible about calling me back anytime I have a question. I have his personal cell phone number and it still doesnt matter. I have asked for some quotes on a rear windshield wiper and a suspension seat and nothing. I have pretty good luck with the parts department because I either order online or have a part number when I go in. The service is ok, butthey only have one mechanic doing the work. I have a kubota dealer(and heavy equipment) pretty close by that I use for anything but green parts though.

 

[fieldman12]

I have a feeling Case IH is about to over take Deere in big ag sales if they are not careful. I know several years ago I could order a Deere part and have it within one to two days. It now seems like it's taking allot longer to get things. I know last fall I had a little harder time getting price quotes on my 5055E but around here overall the crops where really good and the crop prices where high. Most farmers where trying to buy equipment before the year ended which swamped the dealer. I see really no big advantage to doing away with the small dealerships. If that little dealer has been around for twenty or so years selling there product than I feel there is no need to get rid of them. Some areas have different needs as far as equipment goes and maybe some customers are more comfortable with smaller dealerships. It has worked with Deere for over a 100 years so why change now? I hope Deere sticks to there roots and listens too and takes care of there customers and dealers that has got them where they are today.Solid.Stable.Still John Deere...The new Case IH equipment is very nice. How many of you go to tractor pulls these days?? There is allot of nice Case IH tractors at the pulls.

 

[jd670]

Sounds like Deere is repeating a cycle they did back in the late 70's and into the 80's before they woke up. They thought their green paint would sell themselves with little to no haggling. I remember alot of the local dealers wouldn't take to you seriously unless you had cash or huge down payment. some of their tv adds would even say..."it pays to spend a little more on a john deere". If you had a trade in of any other color, it wasn't worth anything. Well when NH came out with the boomer tractors and Kubota came out with sub compacts, Deere saw their market share drop. Dealers started to deal and Jd came out with alot of new product and a little lower price. Way too many good tractors on the market now for Deere to act this way.

 

[scobrado]

I had similar results from the huge JD dealer in Ore. They bought up all the JD dealers and cater to corporate ag and construction accounts. I put in a simple request for quotes on 3032E and 3038E tractors and a couple implements using the JD 0% 60 mo. financing. What I got was a super sketchy series of emails culminating with a brief email (not a real quote) offering a used 2011 3038E that wasn't eligible for the JD financing. But I was told I could get "good" financing (but no actual terms specified) for the used tractor. They obviously don't give a hoot about me or my business.

I got a better price and a real quote on a new 3038E from the only other JD dealer in Ore., which is a lawn & garden shop. So they only sell up to 100 HP.

I am getting better pricing from the mega dealer on parts and supplies, however. The price on 5 gal. of hy gard was almost double at the lawn & garden shop. So it really pays to shop around.

 

[Zebrafive]

Several years ago the local JD dealer was bought out by a Mega dealer. Now they have ten stores. The former owners are now employees. They no longer deal with the "hobby" owners. Their mantra is "the price is the price, take it or leave it"

I rarely buy new, but if I did, I would give tractorslinger first shot before the Mega dealer. :drink:

 

[PMA]

Rollingsfarms. U talking about case international dealer in Bishopville. Good guys over there, see Brigg. Or if you go to the one in Williamsburg county see mike I don't buy nothing from S&K. I have JD equipment and buy parts from St Matthews. I have a JD tractor, disc mower, rake and tedder I bought from S&K. They ain't getting no more of my money. Long story.

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[RollingsFarms]

Rollingsfarms. U talking about case international dealer in Bishopville. Good guys over there, see Brigg. Or if you go to the one in Williamsburg county see mike I don't buy nothing from S&K. I have JD equipment and buy parts from St Matthews. I have a JD tractor, disc mower, rake and tedder I bought from S&K. They ain't getting no more of my money. Long story.

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S&K are exactly who I'm talking about! They've gone to crud here in the past couple of years it seems like. I date a girl that lives in Orangeburg and always swing by the John Deere dealer there. I've heard good things about them, I think they are the same one's in St. Matthews too? Guess Farm Equipment? I've never been to the Case dealer in Bishopville, but isn't the same guy that owns the one in Orangeburg too? That's who I've been hearing alot about from everyone lately. Pioneer Farm Equipment down the road sells NH, Kubota, and used to sell MF but don't know if they still do or not. I'm not expecting to have the red carpet rolled out for me, but man, when I want a piece of equipment and you tell me you'll order it and call me when it comes in, you should do just that! Don't expect ME to chase after YOU trying to give you MY money. Their salesman have also gotten bad about telling you what you do and don't "need" here lately. I tried to order the weight bracket for my tractor along with my loader and was told "you don't need that". in other words he wouldn't order it even after I said "I might not need it but I want it". I also didn't understand why the loader was going to cost me $5,900 plus pickup and delivery even though I have loaded rear tires, joy stick, brush guard already on my tractor. does the 553 loader cost more then $5,900 WITH all that stuff (loaded tires, brush guard, joystick)?

 

[ctlguy]

yes the 553 loader costs more if you do not have hyd's, controls , etc. $5,900 is probably about right for just loader, mounts, and bucket.

 

[RollingsFarms]

yes the 553 loader costs more if you do not have hyd's, controls , etc. $5,900 is probably about right for just loader, mounts, and bucket.

Glad I have that stuff then already!

 

[s219]

My local Deere dealer is part of a large regional company in VA and NC. They are allright, but definitely have more of a corporate vibe nowadays, and I haven't had a great sales experience there. Tried to buy several implements from them recently and couldn't ever get in touch with the right sales guy or get a call back from him. They are OK for parts -- I know the parts guy and he's also their Stihl expert, so we get along well.

 

[PMA]

S&K are exactly who I'm talking about! They've gone to crud here in the past couple of years it seems like. I date a girl that lives in Orangeburg and always swing by the John Deere dealer there. I've heard good things about them, I think they are the same one's in St. Matthews too? Guess Farm Equipment? I've never been to the Case dealer in Bishopville, but isn't the same guy that owns the one in Orangeburg too? That's who I've been hearing alot about from everyone lately. Pioneer Farm Equipment down the road sells NH, Kubota, and used to sell MF but don't know if they still do or not. I'm not expecting to have the red carpet rolled out for me, but man, when I want a piece of equipment and you tell me you'll order it and call me when it comes in, you should do just that! Don't expect ME to chase after YOU trying to give you MY money. Their salesman have also gotten bad about telling you what you do and don't "need" here lately. I tried to order the weight bracket for my tractor along with my loader and was told "you don't need that". in other words he wouldn't order it even after I said "I might not need it but I want it". I also didn't understand why the loader was going to cost me $5,900 plus pickup and delivery even though I have loaded rear tires, joy stick, brush guard already on my tractor. does the 553 loader cost more then $5,900 WITH all that stuff (loaded tires, brush guard, joystick)?

The JD dealership in Orangeburg and st Matthews is Blanchard. They are nice people to buy parts from. Dillion Tractor and Stucky Brothers merged to open Bishopville and Orangeburg Case International dealerships. I know the guy real good that runs the Bishopville CI.

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[rider0]

I have been using the same Deere dealer for about 15 years. Before a larger franchise bought them out they were a small, local dealership.

I thought you were describing my local Deere dealership. They don't do much but quote you MSRP and hand you a flier. It appears that much of their business is selling to the larger ag operations and leasing new hardware that they turn around and sell ("rental returns") with high hours for much more than a brand new machine in any other color. Nowadays I just keep driving...