Constructive Feedback from Former Potential JD Customer

[SARG]

I have always had a negative opinion of John Deere dealerships. They are much like the BMW or Cadillac auto places. They have a certain clientele that they cater to and if you don't appear to have bags of expendable cash they simply don't want to waste their time talking with you.

I suspect that's why I have two blue machines.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I would hope and assume that someone from JD Corporate pays attention to this site. There is plenty of good information here from true blue customers. Anyway to the point. I have been in the market for a CUT for a while now. As I am a novice to this all I have been patient and doing all my due diligence. Because of this my budget scope has expanded considerably. It is due to some great sales folks and especially the contributors to this site. In the process I have been very disappointed with my interaction with JD to the point JD is no longer part of my consideration.

I am a Salesman and I would say successful at what I do. Enough to have the extra money to spend on an item such as this. I have visited two JD dealers. One multiple times talking to different sales folks. One of the dealers was on a John Deere open house. When speaking with the sales folks I have explained clearly that I was completely new to tractors and what type of work I was expected to be doing. I also am in the market for a commercial walk behind mower ($5K-$7K range) With these dealer I was given the impression that they just did not give a crap about me and my business. Looking at all the $1M combines and other large tractors on the lots I felt as though these folks were their real customers and I was just a crumb. Also thinking ahead and if I had an issue that I would be even less than a crumb to them. I stated please feel free to email me (I rarely ever provide my email address) and/or call if they would like to continue the conversation. No calls, no email. The best attention I was handed was a brochure and a some guesstimates on costs. As a new customer you should engage and qualify. Build a relationship no matter how small they are.

So, sad to say JD has been eliminated from my search.

Overall as an American company (I know the engines are Yanmar) I wish the best for JD. I have heard second hand some of the other issues why the JD dealer may be acting this way but that is not pertinent to my search. I just hope that JD pays attention or they will continue to lose market share in the US and Globally.

I understand your frustration. I have been in sales too. But when I'm searching for something like this, the last thing I do is let a salesman "sell" me. I make up my mind by doing research on product and price and then I go in forewarned and forearmed. Maybe if I had a small question as to which type of tyne would he recommend on local soils. I prefer NOT to be swarmed by some ________ type of salesman. They only matter at the day of the sell and maybe some help with warranty, what matters truly with the dealer is whether they'll be there 13 years from now to give you support and parts. My dealer has been in business for decades. Many of the cheaper brands have not lasted the 13 years since I've bought mine.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I would hope and assume that someone from JD Corporate pays attention to this site. There is plenty of good information here from true blue customers. Anyway to the point. I have been in the market for a CUT for a while now. As I am a novice to this all I have been patient and doing all my due diligence. Because of this my budget scope has expanded considerably. It is due to some great sales folks and especially the contributors to this site. In the process I have been very disappointed with my interaction with JD to the point JD is no longer part of my consideration.

I am a Salesman and I would say successful at what I do. Enough to have the extra money to spend on an item such as this. I have visited two JD dealers. One multiple times talking to different sales folks. One of the dealers was on a John Deere open house. When speaking with the sales folks I have explained clearly that I was completely new to tractors and what type of work I was expected to be doing. I also am in the market for a commercial walk behind mower ($5K-$7K range) With these dealer I was given the impression that they just did not give a crap about me and my business. Looking at all the $1M combines and other large tractors on the lots I felt as though these folks were their real customers and I was just a crumb. Also thinking ahead and if I had an issue that I would be even less than a crumb to them. I stated please feel free to email me (I rarely ever provide my email address) and/or call if they would like to continue the conversation. No calls, no email. The best attention I was handed was a brochure and a some guesstimates on costs. As a new customer you should engage and qualify. Build a relationship no matter how small they are.

So, sad to say JD has been eliminated from my search.

Overall as an American company (I know the engines are Yanmar) I wish the best for JD. I have heard second hand some of the other issues why the JD dealer may be acting this way but that is not pertinent to my search. I just hope that JD pays attention or they will continue to lose market share in the US and Globally.

I wrote up a rant about the lack of professionalism in tractor sales in 2014.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...s/316129-lack-professionalism-sales-rant.html

 

[AuburnAlum]

I wrote up a rant about the lack of professionalism in tractor sales in 2014.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...s/316129-lack-professionalism-sales-rant.html

Great post and thread. I read all six pages of it and agree with your points. One point another posted stated that a salesman should not have to concern themselves with lower dollar sales. My quota has been well into the millions sometimes tens of millions during my career. Worked for Apple selling B2B back before it was popular and the iPod just had come out. Some of my sales to this day are less than $1K. Some sales take years to develop. I am a salesperson who advises and educates but never push. I would like to say my customers trust me because I care no matter what the size and willing to advise.

I don't expect sales folks at dealers to jump out to meet me. With all my experiences thus far I have had to ask to speak with someone which is just fine. Right now the salesman and dealer winning the race is answering my question on all my questions on the functions. The leading dealer is able to ask the question: "Why would I want to spend $5K more for L4701 and a L4060? What do I get for that extra spend?" And the leading dealer/salesman is able to articulate and answer, the JD dealer answered (JD products of course) "Well, for an extra $5K you get a whole lot of bells and whistles."..and hands me a brochure. Really?

 

[jenkinsph]

I understand your frustration. I have been in sales too. But when I'm searching for something like this, the last thing I do is let a salesman "sell" me. I make up my mind by doing research on product and price and then I go in forewarned and forearmed. Maybe if I had a small question as to which type of tyne would he recommend on local soils. I prefer NOT to be swarmed by some ________ type of salesman. They only matter at the day of the sell and maybe some help with warranty, what matters truly with the dealer is whether they'll be there 13 years from now to give you support and parts. My dealer has been in business for decades. Many of the cheaper brands have not lasted the 13 years since I've bought mine.

I do my own research and decision making, list the options and line items I want. When I go in I am looking for the best price for said equipment. Both of the dealerships I have used have been in business for many years. Both have been fair to me and pleasant to deal with. Some sales people are good and others need improvement to put it mildly. For the most part Deere can't be held responsible for the individual salesman at any dealership. That goes for all brands too.

 

[AuburnAlum]

For the most part Deere can't be held responsible for the individual salesman at any dealership. That goes for all brands too.

I completely disagree. JD should feel and be responsible for the individual salesman. Because of multiple bad salesmen they have lost my sale and lost it for good. How much does that equate to them in the long run? How many cases like mine as this happened? All Salesmen should be on commission. This is a guarantee they have ownership of the sales.

jenkinsph you clearly have experience with tractors and all functions. Especially on JD. Since Christmas there have been 20 new members added to this site. Some novices like myself, some with experience with JD or other brands. ALL of them are potential JD customers. All perhaps looking for that new or next tractor. If JD does not care about the salesperson that meets them when they come through door of the dealership they have completely screwed themselves on the chance to make would you say at a least thousands? Hundreds of thousands of dollars on them?

After doing some more research it is clear JD is all about volume and there are no more 'small' dealerships. All the dealerships are parts of larger organizations that are by no means small with a single location. This is not the case with Kubota or the other brands. JD has much more control and historically has seemed to force itself upon the dealer and should do something about it. Start to care about its customer the first time they walk through the door of any JD dealership.

 

[Spindifferent]

I sure hope that JD is listening.

For what it is worth, I've had great JD sales service from both a huge AG dealer and a smaller non-AG dealer. I'm a small-fry in a big green sea of monster tractors, but I've felt valued none-the-less by my local dealers.

My product purchase strategy typically doesn't depend on a sales person offering their advice; I just need them to print the invoice and take my money after I've done all of the necessary product research.

That said, your local dealer pre-purchase experience may be an indicator of their post-sales attitude. While JD makes great products (like Apple), post-sales service is a really important consideration in any large purchase/investment.

In my opinion, post-sales service and support is much more important than the pre-sales experience. As you evaluate other tractor brands, keep the service aspect in mind.

Good luck on your tractor journey!

 

[oosik]

Hmmm--- I wonder. Does JD really not understand the role of a "qualified" salesperson. I doubt it. Does JD really not want the business from smaller buyers - I doubt that also. However, their push to become "large corporate" while other brands remain "family loyal" seems to have a damaging effect on the overall product. I think large & fast has had a very negative effect on several other brands also.

This is a very good reason to devote more time to research of the dealership, its customer loyalty, its continuing service; along with the color of tractor you anticipate buying.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Most all of the JD faithful were very upset at the "consolidation" forcing dealers to own multiple locations.

There were many posts on it back a few years ago.

To each their own. I'd rather do my homework on places like this great website than hear a salesman trying to tell me what I want to hear. I want to make my own decision.

Some would want to hear arguments as to why a company's tractors are better, some don't want to hear bashing.

 

[jenkinsph]

I completely disagree. JD should feel and be responsible for the individual salesman. Because of multiple bad salesmen they have lost my sale and lost it for good. How much does that equate to them in the long run? How many cases like mine as this happened? All Salesmen should be on commission. This is a guarantee they have ownership of the sales.

jenkinsph you clearly have experience with tractors and all functions. Especially on JD. Since Christmas there have been 20 new members added to this site. Some novices like myself, some with experience with JD or other brands. ALL of them are potential JD customers. All perhaps looking for that new or next tractor. If JD does not care about the salesperson that meets them when they come through door of the dealership they have completely screwed themselves on the chance to make would you say at a least thousands? Hundreds of thousands of dollars on them?

After doing some more research it is clear JD is all about volume and there are no more 'small' dealerships. All the dealerships are parts of larger organizations that are by no means small with a single location. This is not the case with Kubota or the other brands. JD has much more control and historically has seemed to force itself upon the dealer and should do something about it. Start to care about its customer the first time they walk through the door of any JD dealership.

You can hold the employer responsible for his employees in most cases but not the product supplier. You can hold Deere responsible for the structuring of the large mega dealerships, that is their doing/manipulating. You should send a letter to the dealership owner voicing your opinion of his employees.

As a small business owner for most of my life I can say that I am responsible to the customers not the suppliers of products where my employees are concerned. Your issue is the dealer and their employees and it would not matter which brand you look at. Whether buying a new auto, truck, tractor or tv set the manufacturer is not the blame for the employee's lack of salesmanship.

I have all Ford trucks and Deere tractors because these two brands have the best dealerships in my locale. If Chevy or Dodge, Kubota, Kioti, New Holland were well represented with good dealerships I might have different equipment. There is no doubt in my mind that all of these brands are competitive and make good equipment. Blind brand loyalty is for suckers imo.