Deere DDealers Disappearing - Time to Change Colors?

[Arcane]

I'm a weekend tractor guy, mowing 5 acres of fields, fixing stone walls, setting up gardens, and the rest of the week I'm far away in an office somewhere. Someday I'll leave the desk job and do some small time ag, but that may be 5 years away.

The nearby JD dealer that I bought my 4115 from 5 years ago got cut off by JD three years ago, and the one that I've been working with since then for parts and service was cut off in January. The nearest dealer is now nearly 50 miles away. I expect that this is part of a strategy by JD to reduce dealers so that they don't compete, but I have also heard that JD will someday open up a corporate-owned JD superstore, somewhere.

I'm unhappy with how long it takes to get parts and service through these former JD dealers etc. though its not their fault, and I think JD is crazy to make it so hard for me to get to a stocking JD dealer, but that isn't the point of this thread. I'm just thinking I ought to go orange. The two nearby Kubota dealers have good sale and service. Obviously I'd prefer not to lose money on trading one fine tractor for another, but I can't stand the downtime. I guess my question is: does good customer support trumpf everything else?

 

[wolc123]

The thing I like best about Deere is that there is seldom is a need for a dealer after the sale. I bought mine from a dealer 50 mi away, (4) years ago because they gave me a smoking deal. A lot cheaper than the best deal I could find on a comparably equipped, slightly less capable Kubota, and about the same as a slightly less hp, and significantly less capable (lift capacity, reach, etc) NH (Deere 4120, Kubota GL 4330, NH T?-40). I do have another Deere dealer about (5) miles away who I have visited 3-4 times to pick up oil filters. They are a small shop and were not able to match the price of the mega-dealer further away. It is nice to have them right around the corner when I need parts, but that has been a rare occurance so far. I have not needed them too much over the years for my 1950 model M ether. With some of the lesser brands, distance to dealer might be a big concern, but with the "big two" green and orange, it aint such a big deal.

 

[zzvyb6]

I call up a John Deere dealer, give them the part number (from their parts website), pay for it and it comes UPS 2nd day or next day if I pay extra.

The reason American manufacturing companies are going away is quite obvious, isn't it? If they made tractors in Nigeria, 1/2 the folks on this forum would own them, brag about them and swear by what a great deal they got. Then they would be begging for info on where to get a new seat cushion. The other 1/2 would just swear.

 

[Willl]

but I can't stand the downtime.

I'm curious as to what down time you've had with your 4115 ?

 

[Cyclone Jake]

The dealer model that Deere is moving towards is larger dealerships with multiple locations. The smaller dealers with lower volumes are being encouraged to sell out to some of the larger conglomorates. Unfortunately, it seems it will continue.

 

[Arcane]

I'm curious as to what down time you've had with your 4115 ?

This time, three weeks going on four for a hydraulic pipe.

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

Wow, I can have Mahindra parts out to customers arround the country, within a day to a week depending on what day of the week they ordered it ( they don't move much on weekends) and what mode of shipping they choose. (Next day, 2nd day, ground)

 

[Runner]

"The dealer model that Deere is moving towards is larger dealerships with multiple locations. The smaller dealers with lower volumes are being encouraged to sell out to some of the larger conglomorates. Unfortunately, it seems it will continue."

The bad thing about this is, if the dealer that happens to have all the franchises in a given area sucks, you have to travel a long distance to get away from them to one that you like dealing with....

 

[two_bit_score]

>>>I guess my question is: does good customer support trumpf everything else?<<<<


Some things you just don't miss until they are gone.

 

[two_bit_score]

I call up a John Deere dealer, give them the part number (from their parts website), pay for it and it comes UPS 2nd day or next day if I pay extra.

The reason American manufacturing companies are going away is quite obvious, isn't it? If they made tractors in Nigeria, 1/2 the folks on this forum would own them, brag about them and swear by what a great deal they got. Then they would be begging for info on where to get a new seat cushion. The other 1/2 would just swear.

Yep. The truth is, they would never even convince themselves that they got a great deal no matter how loud or often they bragged about it.