A little miffed

[plastikosmd]

Went to a Deere dealer the first time I was looking to buy a tractor, they wouldn't give me the time of day. Kubota got my money ever since.

Same thing happened to me at kubota. Miserable, useless and arrogant to boot.

So I drove to Deere was 2x further away but wow, what a breath of fresh air over the prior experience


Every dealer is different

 

[bigtiller]

I am shopping for the same exact model from the Deere dealership, Lowe's, and Home Depot. The same exact model. People are talking about different models. I don't care about a model that is $1000.00 more. I'm not buying it. So it doesn't matter in this conversation. It has also been implied that Lowe's and Home Depot sell a different version of the same model. I find this hard to believe. Can anybody show me that this is factual?
Eric

No they can not.

 

[paulsharvey]

I think your defense comes from someone who has never owned a small business. In the 40 plus years of owning a small business I NEVER slighted a small customer in favor of a big customer. Never. It is just not ethical. Bad business too.
Eric

Every business has its bread and butter customers. The ones that keep the doors open, and without them they would shut down; these guys will get taken care of. The one time; flash in the pan customer; is general not worth irritating those primary clients over.

I'm more approaching this from a Contracting stand point; let's say you have 2 or 3 contracts, that more or less keep you busy/feed/running; and a new company comes to town; they have a huge 3 year build out; and you Could do it; but you would have to burn those years long relationships to do it.

Car sales or Insurance or something, that's not my world; so I get that would be different.

If I was Mr JD; and some 'nobody' wanted a mower; but the guy I just sold a $300k planter needed parts; I know who I'm making calls for...

Not defending the salesman; but I understand. I would also be inclined to take my money to someone else. You don't want to be the 'side chick'; and that's valid; but the salesman knows who is cooking his dinner....

Edit: Or, and let's not rule this out; maybe Mr JD is an incompetent prick, and a losy salesman, and doesn't deserve your money

I will also throw out; years ago; was a commercial superintendent; and a rental guy (saleman A) was selling me hard; as long as prices where more or less 'in line' we could use whoever we wanted. I needed a 26 ft manlift in a trailer shop; call Saleman A. Call him at like 11:30am; he doesn't answer; I wait 15 minutes; call another company I had used for years; Yep we got it; ill bring it up by 5pm today. Around 1:30pm; salesman A calls back; What can I do for you? Me: Nothing, I already got it; if you want to sell/rent something, answer your phone. Mr Salesman A was pissed; but I didn't really care; I needed my dang manlift. Or coarse, as things go; the manlift turned into 3 or 4 more pieces before the job was done; and probably around 10k month, for 3 months.

 

[paulsharvey]

Kinda to bring it back around; I think Mr JD should have kept up with it; and you very well might have ended back up there for a 75hp tractor in 3 years; and then some impliments; and who knows what else. My guess is he lost the mower sale; and when you need something next time; Mr JD probably won't get a call.

 

[jyoutz]

Every business has its bread and butter customers. The ones that keep the doors open, and without them they would shut down; these guys will get taken care of. The one time; flash in the pan customer; is general not worth irritating those primary clients over.

I'm more approaching this from a Contracting stand point; let's say you have 2 or 3 contracts, that more or less keep you busy/feed/running; and a new company comes to town; they have a huge 3 year build out; and you Could do it; but you would have to burn those years long relationships to do it.

Car sales or Insurance or something, that's not my world; so I get that would be different.

If I was Mr JD; and some 'nobody' wanted a mower; but the guy I just sold a $300k planter needed parts; I know who I'm making calls for...

Not defending the salesman; but I understand. I would also be inclined to take my money to someone else. You don't want to be the 'side chick'; and that's valid; but the salesman knows who is cooking his dinner....

Edit: Or, and let's not rule this out; maybe Mr JD is an incompetent prick, and a losy salesman, and doesn't deserve your money

I will also throw out; years ago; was a commercial superintendent; and a rental guy (saleman A) was selling me hard; as long as prices where more or less 'in line' we could use whoever we wanted. I needed a 26 ft manlift in a trailer shop; call Saleman A. Call him at like 11:30am; he doesn't answer; I wait 15 minutes; call another company I had used for years; Yep we got it; ill bring it up by 5pm today. Around 1:30pm; salesman A calls back; What can I do for you? Me: Nothing, I already got it; if you want to sell/rent something, answer your phone. Mr Salesman A was pissed; but I didn't really care; I needed my dang manlift. Or coarse, as things go; the manlift turned into 3 or 4 more pieces before the job was done; and probably around 10k month, for 3 months.

That is no excuse for what the OP posted. He said he has had no reply for weeks. Maybe the priority customers come first, but not getting back to a prospective customer for weeks is inexcusable.

 

[etpm]

Every business has its bread and butter customers. The ones that keep the doors open, and without them they would shut down; these guys will get taken care of. The one time; flash in the pan customer; is general not worth irritating those primary clients over.

I'm more approaching this from a Contracting stand point; let's say you have 2 or 3 contracts, that more or less keep you busy/feed/running; and a new company comes to town; they have a huge 3 year build out; and you Could do it; but you would have to burn those years long relationships to do it.

Car sales or Insurance or something, that's not my world; so I get that would be different.

If I was Mr JD; and some 'nobody' wanted a mower; but the guy I just sold a $300k planter needed parts; I know who I'm making calls for...

Not defending the salesman; but I understand. I would also be inclined to take my money to someone else. You don't want to be the 'side chick'; and that's valid; but the salesman knows who is cooking his dinner....

Edit: Or, and let's not rule this out; maybe Mr JD is an incompetent prick, and a losy salesman, and doesn't deserve your money

I will also throw out; years ago; was a commercial superintendent; and a rental guy (saleman A) was selling me hard; as long as prices where more or less 'in line' we could use whoever we wanted. I needed a 26 ft manlift in a trailer shop; call Saleman A. Call him at like 11:30am; he doesn't answer; I wait 15 minutes; call another company I had used for years; Yep we got it; ill bring it up by 5pm today. Around 1:30pm; salesman A calls back; What can I do for you? Me: Nothing, I already got it; if you want to sell/rent something, answer your phone. Mr Salesman A was pissed; but I didn't really care; I needed my dang manlift. Or coarse, as things go; the manlift turned into 3 or 4 more pieces before the job was done; and probably around 10k month, for 3 months.

My business certainly had several great customers that provided most of my income. These customers changed over the years for their own reasons. Some were customers for nearly the complete run of my business. Nevertheless I never treated a potential customer poorly like I have been treated. In fact, there have been times when I was so busy I could not take on new business in the time frame needed. So I was honest with a potential new customer and told them I was just plain too busy to even quote new work. This worked well for me, being honest. And I never ghosted a customer. Or a potential customer.
Eric

 

[buckeyefarmer]

If I was Mr JD; and some 'nobody' wanted a mower; but the guy I just sold a $300k planter needed parts; I know who I'm making calls for...
.

Sales vs parts are different people in the tractor places I go to, and usually more sales people than parts.

 

[alpacalips]

At my work we have a 4052r and a couple older Deere garden tractors. Our local dealer, who we bought the 4052 from several years ago, is in the middle of farming country. (Lots of combines and large articulated tractors.) The sales guy is nice but it's been like pulling teeth to get him to sell us attachments, especially anything that has to be ordered. The guys in the shop can be downright bitter if they're forced to work on anything less than a $200k machine. The good news is the guys in the parts department are great

 

[Mart5130]

So my wife and I decided to buy a new lawn tractor, a John Deere S140. The closest Deere dealerships are all pretty far away. And they are all owned by the same company. Anyway, I contacted the closest one and got a price over the phone. However, the salesperson needed to work up a quote. I heard nothing for about a week. Then the person called me, apologized for the late quote, clarified a couple things, then crickets. So after nearly another week goes by I look again online for the same S140. I find it for sale assembled at Lowe's and Home Depot, not in a box like the Deere dealerships offer. Closer too. By a lot. And $250 less.
I know, it's not a high dollar purchase compared to other offerings from John Deere. But now I'm waiting two weeks for a quote that over the phone is already $250 over what Lowe's and Home Depot are offering and the thing comes in a box. Not assembled like the other folks.
Maybe I'm just too low dollar. But how can they expect me to even look at them for other purchases if they are already charging me more for something that I need to put together. Am I wrong? Is a dealer gonna be that much better if I have a problem than Home Depot or Lowe's? If they can't even put the thing together but still charge me nearly 10% more because they are a dealer?
Anyway, I realized today that the dealer decided that I'm not worth the money to even give me a quote, especially since I have been completely polite and even enthusiastic about the upcoming purchase, but still haven't received the quote that the salesperson told me I needed to purchase the S140 lawn tractor.
So, I'm a little miffed that I spent the time emailing and talking to a John Deere dealership representative and still have not received the quote necessary to buy a machine from a Deere dealership. Even though I'm only spending a lousy $2799.00. Tomorrow we will be spending our money at Home Depot or Lowe's.
Eric

The Deere’s sold at Lowe’s and HD are not good quality and you will end up trying g to get any repairs done at Deere. Spend more on a different brand or buy from a dealer that repairs what they sell. This is still poor service for that dealer

 

[buckeyefarmer]

They are all built to a price point. It doesn’t matter the color paint, at a price point they all use same engines, transmission etc, only difference might be the frame. You can go to any lawn mower repair shop. The price on all flavors goes up with better engine, better transmission etc.

 

[Grumpycat]

The Deere’s sold at Lowe’s and HD are not good quality and you will end up trying g to get any repairs done at Deere. Spend more on a different brand or buy from a dealer that repairs what they sell. This is still poor service for that dealer

We have covered that already. The S140 under discussion is exactly the same model at the box stores as at the John Deere dealers. You are correct in that JD has made special box-store cheapened versions but those have differing model numbers.

However dealers are required to honor warranty service no matter who sold the mower. Do not know how JD compensates dealers for warranty work but often it is below market prices so dealers will balk at warranty work on something they did not sell.

OTOH out of warranty work is work at the rate the dealer sets. So if the dealer doesn't want to service what they didn't sell then it is lost business.

 

[Torvy]

I always thought it was moronic of dealers to balk at warranty for for stuff they didn't sell. Do good work and build a relationship. Sales leads are worth money, so losing a bit on the warranty can net more down the road. Maybe not with every customer, but some will spend later and others will tell their friends.

 

[etpm]

We have covered that already. The S140 under discussion is exactly the same model at the box stores as at the John Deere dealers. You are correct in that JD has made special box-store cheapened versions but those have differing model numbers.

However dealers are required to honor warranty service no matter who sold the mower. Do not know how JD compensates dealers for warranty work but often it is below market prices so dealers will balk at warranty work on something they did not sell.

OTOH out of warranty work is work at the rate the dealer sets. So if the dealer doesn't want to service what they didn't sell then it is lost business.

Thanks for your post. I see stuff like this online all the time, where the dealerships supposedly sell a model number of a machine and it is better than the same exact model number sold at a big box store. This defies logic. I don't know why people believe that a company as big as John Deere would expose their reputation to the harm it would cause by selling two machines with the same exact model number where one machine is inferior. Why do people believe this stuff?
Thanks,
Eric

 

[paulsharvey]

Dealers don't like to do warranty work, because the Techs don't want to do it, they get reduced labor rates on manufacturer warranty work. The manufacturer does cover the cost, But at a much reduced rate then paying work.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I had a place fight me on warranty work, tried to claim I put bad gas in. I had to raise holy H with them. I bought from them before, but they lost me as a customer.

 

[MHarryE]

Don’t know if things changed but when I bought my mower at Lowe’s, it had a sticker for the nearest Deere dealer on it. That dealer was 40 miles away. Lowe’s stocked common parts (blades, filters) but for work, which I never needed, it was take it to the Deere dealer who had assembled and prepped it for Lowe’s. My place has 2 acres of hilly ground which proved too much for the low end Deere and it’s transaxle was really weak by the end of 3 of our short seasons. I got a 4wd diesel with 1 less horsepower that will mow the lawn in half the time. But for a few years I got to proudly wear the Deere owner cap Deere sent me.

 

[Grumpycat]

My place has 2 acres of hilly ground which proved too much for the low end Deere and it’s transaxle was really weak by the end of 3 of our short seasons.

Hydrostatic transmissions need periodic fluid change. The low end hydrostatic transmissions do not specify a service interval, just replace the entire transmission. The common Hydro-Gear EZT for example. The oil is serviceable (is common 20W-50 motor oil) but only the newest production has a drain plug. Prior versions had to be removed to be drained.

 

[rScotty]

I think your defense comes from someone who has never owned a small business. In the 40 plus years of owning a small business I NEVER slighted a small customer in favor of a big customer. Never. It is just not ethical. Bad business too.
Eric

That's right.
I've had large customers ask for special treatment and they get it - in a certain way. For example I might stay late on a night I normally would go home .... and work until the wee hours for a large customer. He's earned that right. But I wouldn't favor large or small customera just based on money.
Doing that would negate the reason why both kind of customes came to my shop in the first place.

Also, large customers eat up disproportionately more time. For that reason I was never convinced that a large customer was better for me financially than a handful of smaller ones. In fact, I've often wondered about that. Still not sure..... although the smaller ones do tend to be more enjoyable and more of why I went into business in the first place.

rScotty

 

[rScotty]

Thanks for your post. I see stuff like this online all the time, where the dealerships supposedly sell a model number of a machine and it is better than the same exact model number sold at a big box store. This defies logic. I don't know why people believe that a company as big as John Deere would expose their reputation to the harm it would cause by selling two machines with the same exact model number where one machine is inferior. Why do people believe this stuff?
Thanks,
Eric

I agree. It doesn't make sense.
As to, "Why do people believe this stuff?"....

Selling the same model in different outlets has been going on for decades in the mechanical world - long enough to have thought about it.

My thought is that a lot of the misinformation comes directlyfrom the mouth of the salesmen at the big dealers. They may not have any real evidence or knowledge that their own branded product is different from the ones at the competing stores - but it is only human nature for them to imply such.
rScotty

 

[tacticalturnip]

Hydrostatic transmissions need periodic fluid change. The low end hydrostatic transmissions do not specify a service interval, just replace the entire transmission. The common Hydro-Gear EZT for example. The oil is serviceable (is common 20W-50 motor oil) but only the newest production has a drain plug. Prior versions had to be removed to be drained.

Hell, most lawn tractors these days use either the T40 or K46 transaxles, and those are sold as non-serviceable without a drain plug. Yet, at least for the K46, there is a place where a drain plug would go, and TuffTorq has a service interval for it. These things are left out at the request of the purchaser, and that says something.

That said, the K46 doesn't deserve the reputation it has; it's an excellent transaxle for a consumer lawnmower. However a lot of models that once had the K46 now use T40's, and as far as I understand those were developed for rear-engine riders!

You can extend the life of your basic lawn tractor by taking on your hills first, when the oil is at it's coolest.