Cub Cadet....gone
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GreenQuality
Silver Member
from what I see on web sites lowes web site, Cub cadet still shows up in there tractor line up ,also with the comeing of john deere.home depote shows no sign of dropping john deere or picking up Cub cadet.So the battle beings with a level playing field, deere against deere,I know for fact. that some cub cadet parts like belts and filters sold at lowes are in fact cheaper than going to the dealer.I know that Mtd has or had contracts with GMC,being that they are in trouble,with the plant closing around the states,I wonder how did this effect Mtd in some way? I'm sure it did.any dealer on this site? IS this a good move on the dealer behalf? and also on the consumer? who in fact will be buying solely from the dealer, price wise?
drunkmunkey
New member
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2005
- Messages
- 1
I know from experience that last year's Cud Cadet models have had some serious troubles. I replaced God only knows how many deck pulleys, belts, and engines on new Cubs, the 1550 series in particular. One case in particular comes to mind. This guy brought in his old Wheel Horse 520s (2) with more accessories than you could shake a stick at (I.E. PTO generator, three decks, rototiller, two blades, etc), and traded all this stuff for two 1554's. Two days later he comes back with one of them with about 12 hours on it. It's leaking oil. We find out the engine block is cracked, so, we warranty it out and put a new one on it. He comes back a few days later with the other one, the deck vibrates. Two of the idler pulleys were bent. THEN, he brings back the one with the new engine, it won;t move in reverse. Had to adjust the linkage. Can you imagine the money Lowe's has to put out to have all these tractors repaired at a shop? I don't blame them for telling Cub to shove off. I can go through our little mower junkyard and find about ten NEW Cub Cadet decks..all junk. I own a 1975 Cub Cadet 1650 and I love it. I would never own a Cub made by MTD. They just aren't a Cub Cadet.
GreenQuality
Silver Member
I don't care if you buy john deere, cub cadet, toro, simplicity, sears, etc.NO#1 if you buy a cheap tractor, your getting a cheap tractor, bottom line! say what you will! cheap is cheap! cheap+ cheap= cheap no matter what brand you buy!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
So I guess Kohler is shipping leaky engines to Cub/MTD? Can happen to any brand since none of them make their own engines.
I still think it's all marketing. Deere is one of the most recognized brand names in the entire world. What home owner/do-it yourself retailer wouldn't want it?
I still think it's all marketing. Deere is one of the most recognized brand names in the entire world. What home owner/do-it yourself retailer wouldn't want it?
GreenQuality
Silver Member
Modern tool & die. manufactures many private lable outdoor power eqeuipment,12 billion a year world wide . who knows you might own one under another brand name. from 3 wheelres to trail bikes.even bicycles and wagons,they even make snowmobiles to gap the year around sales. this is a offering to mower dealer in the snowbelt. and also found some news about a new transmission in the works from( mtd and torotrack) to use in there compact tractor, and lawn&garden tractors, zero-turn, suv ,and car,ect,,.. called Infintrack!
If any of you read my earlier post in this thread (you all do read ALL POST in a thread before responding don't you??) you will see exactly why Lowes is dropping Cub and how they see it as Cubs fault when Cub and the independent dealers see it as Lowe's fault.
It all boils down to the fact that when MTD and Lowes entered into the contract to sell Cub Cadet there were some "set up issues and selling issues" that weren't addressed which have lead to where they stand today.
Like I mentioned in my post I have not done 1, not even one single warranty repair on any 1000 sereis Cub Cadet that I have sold this year yet I can't tell you how many I have done for Lowes. Doesn't this seem odd? When you have people that are selling these machines as something they are not and then have other people putting the machines together that aren't really sure what they are doing there are going to be problems.
Home Depot has 3 more years left on their contract with JD, after that I would expect HD and JD to split ways and HD to start carrying the Cub line.
Bottome line is Cub Cadet has a much better residential line up than JD. What residential zero turn does JD have? Also heard yesterday that the Cub Cadet RZT will be in Lowes but will be sold under the Troy-Bilt name.
This, as I said in my earlier post, is a doubled edged sword...there are benefits and dissadvantages both ways. Cub will be in a big box store before everything is said and done, it just makes good business sense for them. Now if that is good business for me or not, time will tell...
It all boils down to the fact that when MTD and Lowes entered into the contract to sell Cub Cadet there were some "set up issues and selling issues" that weren't addressed which have lead to where they stand today.
Like I mentioned in my post I have not done 1, not even one single warranty repair on any 1000 sereis Cub Cadet that I have sold this year yet I can't tell you how many I have done for Lowes. Doesn't this seem odd? When you have people that are selling these machines as something they are not and then have other people putting the machines together that aren't really sure what they are doing there are going to be problems.
Home Depot has 3 more years left on their contract with JD, after that I would expect HD and JD to split ways and HD to start carrying the Cub line.
Bottome line is Cub Cadet has a much better residential line up than JD. What residential zero turn does JD have? Also heard yesterday that the Cub Cadet RZT will be in Lowes but will be sold under the Troy-Bilt name.
This, as I said in my earlier post, is a doubled edged sword...there are benefits and dissadvantages both ways. Cub will be in a big box store before everything is said and done, it just makes good business sense for them. Now if that is good business for me or not, time will tell...
Ledgemere Farm
Veteran Member
I used to be a die-hard Cub fan. It really pains me to see how badly MTD has really run them down the toilet. It is too bad since they were a premium tractor. I would still take an older one over a JD any day. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
LBrown59
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2004
- Messages
- 16,904
- Tractor
- 2003 Kubota BX1500/2004 Kubota Bx23/2005 Kubota BX1500
If it has mtd linked to it in any way .I don't want it.
EuropaChris
Silver Member
So far, I've been suitably impressed with my 2544. Granted, I only have about 15 hours on it, but aside from some cheezy grease fittings, it's been great, and indeed is a lot of value for the $$ compared to a John Deere in the same 'class'.
I was also very skeptical about owning an MTD product. I've seen horrors growing up in the late 70's watching axles snap off out of the tranny housings, etc. on Craftsman brand lawn tractors made by MTD after Roper quit making them for Sears. Just junk. My dad had a Crapsman by MTD tractor back then, and he spent more time rebuilding the deck, etc. than he did mowing with it.
But, looking closely at the Cub tractors, I thought the higher range tractors 2000 series and up, were pretty good.
But, look at Troy-Bilt. They bought out Bolens some years ago and took on the line of tractors and snowblowers, among other things. Bolens made some really good stuff. Troy-Bilt tillers are legendary. Now, Troy-Bilt goes belly up and is bought by MTD. Now the Troy-Bilt tractors are just rebranded Murray crap, and so are the snowblowers. They are laughable compared to my 'real' Troy-Bilt snowblower. Fortunately, it looks like MTD has left the Troy-Bilt tillers alone, but I'm wondering how long it takes before they screw them up, too?
Face it, most people are only concerned with how much horsepower and how big a cut for the lowest price. In America today, BIG and CHEAP sells. Quality is only a factor after the purchase turns into a pile of useless junk. Only then do people complain about how bad Brand X or Y is.
I'm surprised they haven't started making entire lawn tractors in China yet.....maybe they are???
Chris
I was also very skeptical about owning an MTD product. I've seen horrors growing up in the late 70's watching axles snap off out of the tranny housings, etc. on Craftsman brand lawn tractors made by MTD after Roper quit making them for Sears. Just junk. My dad had a Crapsman by MTD tractor back then, and he spent more time rebuilding the deck, etc. than he did mowing with it.
But, looking closely at the Cub tractors, I thought the higher range tractors 2000 series and up, were pretty good.
But, look at Troy-Bilt. They bought out Bolens some years ago and took on the line of tractors and snowblowers, among other things. Bolens made some really good stuff. Troy-Bilt tillers are legendary. Now, Troy-Bilt goes belly up and is bought by MTD. Now the Troy-Bilt tractors are just rebranded Murray crap, and so are the snowblowers. They are laughable compared to my 'real' Troy-Bilt snowblower. Fortunately, it looks like MTD has left the Troy-Bilt tillers alone, but I'm wondering how long it takes before they screw them up, too?
Face it, most people are only concerned with how much horsepower and how big a cut for the lowest price. In America today, BIG and CHEAP sells. Quality is only a factor after the purchase turns into a pile of useless junk. Only then do people complain about how bad Brand X or Y is.
I'm surprised they haven't started making entire lawn tractors in China yet.....maybe they are???
Chris
ducati996
Banned
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I know from experience that last year's Cud Cadet models have had some serious troubles. I replaced God only knows how many deck pulleys, belts, and engines on new Cubs, the 1550 series in particular. One case in particular comes to mind. This guy brought in his old Wheel Horse 520s (2) with more accessories than you could shake a stick at (I.E. PTO generator, three decks, rototiller, two blades, etc), and traded all this stuff for two 1554's. Two days later he comes back with one of them with about 12 hours on it. It's leaking oil. We find out the engine block is cracked, so, we warranty it out and put a new one on it. He comes back a few days later with the other one, the deck vibrates. Two of the idler pulleys were bent. THEN, he brings back the one with the new engine, it won;t move in reverse. Had to adjust the linkage. Can you imagine the money Lowe's has to put out to have all these tractors repaired at a shop? I don't blame them for telling Cub to shove off. I can go through our little mower junkyard and find about ten NEW Cub Cadet decks..all junk. I own a 1975 Cub Cadet 1650 and I love it. I would never own a Cub made by MTD. They just aren't a Cub Cadet. )</font>
I figure with all that experience you would least be able to tell the difference between an Lawn Tractor (1554) and a garden tractor (like the 1650 was), and would have the fortitude to compare the older 1650 to its comparable model from today (like the 3000 series).
Dont think for a second Deere's lineup in the LT line dosent suffer the same issues as does CUB regarding setup or returns I see plenty of those little toys sitting in my Deere dealers shop. Even Sears can be lumped in the same sad boat.
I'm not a fan of any of these machines because they cheapen the line for both Mfg. But its not to say people do not like them and have a strong following. Its always the weakest link in a product line that does the most damage across the board, so instead both MFG's help erode the price margins and price points by offering these models. They should scrap the lower end and just offer the LT and higher models. And dont bother with the box stores anymore
Duc
I figure with all that experience you would least be able to tell the difference between an Lawn Tractor (1554) and a garden tractor (like the 1650 was), and would have the fortitude to compare the older 1650 to its comparable model from today (like the 3000 series).
Dont think for a second Deere's lineup in the LT line dosent suffer the same issues as does CUB regarding setup or returns I see plenty of those little toys sitting in my Deere dealers shop. Even Sears can be lumped in the same sad boat.
I'm not a fan of any of these machines because they cheapen the line for both Mfg. But its not to say people do not like them and have a strong following. Its always the weakest link in a product line that does the most damage across the board, so instead both MFG's help erode the price margins and price points by offering these models. They should scrap the lower end and just offer the LT and higher models. And dont bother with the box stores anymore
Duc
ducati996
Banned
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I like your thought process Ducati but those big box store sales provide those companies with lots of $$$$ to invest in their "uper line equipment" )</font>
as a business owner (myself) and yourself, how much money (profit) is there when 50% or more is returned? I'm not sure it is 50% but my dealer friends tell me the figure is/was very high. Having direct dealings with Lowes as a vender, I know they take liberties in paying what they feel like paying for.
and the length of time can be as long as they like...
So the risk is both high $$ wise and product perception wise.
I see it as a lose/lose where the money should be spent on advertising the product correctly and having control over dealer selection and skip the box store mentality...
just an opinion of course
Duc
as a business owner (myself) and yourself, how much money (profit) is there when 50% or more is returned? I'm not sure it is 50% but my dealer friends tell me the figure is/was very high. Having direct dealings with Lowes as a vender, I know they take liberties in paying what they feel like paying for.
and the length of time can be as long as they like...
So the risk is both high $$ wise and product perception wise.
I see it as a lose/lose where the money should be spent on advertising the product correctly and having control over dealer selection and skip the box store mentality...
just an opinion of course
Duc
I know what you mean, but the problem again is that the unites being returned were not set up properly from Lowes and Lowes would just give them a new unit instead of fixing a small problem and see it as Cub's fault.
Again, in a perfect world Cub would be in a big box store, dealers would set the units up, and qualified sales reps would be selling them...but then again as a dealer there would be no big box stores and our sales would skyrocket...wishfull thinking I guess /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Again, in a perfect world Cub would be in a big box store, dealers would set the units up, and qualified sales reps would be selling them...but then again as a dealer there would be no big box stores and our sales would skyrocket...wishfull thinking I guess /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
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