Favorite Color or Dependable Dealer

Maka · Mar 10, 2005

This is what the Deere dealer in my area tells his customers. He says that I sell a good tractor but how long will I be around. I was just told by a vendor that they are now up for sale and have been on the verge of closing for some time.

This dealership only changed hands a few years back. I suspect their overhead is way to high, tractors way to expensive and reputation around here not so good and people are buying other brands.

I find it ironic that their sales tactic is exactly what is happening to them and now Deere owners may have to go 70 miles away for service.

The bigger farms here are getting smaller so they don't sell much of the big stuff and with myself, a Kubota dealer and a NH dealer all within a mile of each other the Deere guys are having some trouble it would seem.

I laughed at them when they came to a local show where I sold several tractors and when they went by made the comment about just more foreign stuff. I challenged them on who makes many of their tractors and where. He was a bit miffed and moved on quickly.

JD, Kubota, NH etc. are fine tractors but there are many other equally fine machines available and to dismis them is foolish. Didn't some of the "American" companies do that to Kubota.

Oh well, to each his own and good luck.

Maka

DavesTractor · Mar 10, 2005

azzxx,

I think you and I will disagree on most points, but that's ok. I can disagree in a real friendly manner, and it appears you can as well.

What the Big 3 undoubtable have is a more established dealer network, and that has value. Mahindra for example, is and will continue to be a major player, and there is nothing 2nd rate about the machines, but there are a few dealers out there that lack top notch service and parts departments. This is changing, but it takes some time.

I just sold a 7520 4x4 and honestly I would take it over the equivalent Big 3 machine, even if the price were the same. It's that good. And the smaller machines built in Japan by Mitsubishi are of extremely high quality. They stack right up against Kubota with no worries.

As for resale, I've never had a used Mahindra (or a Branson)on the lot for more than a few days. It helps that we are an established dealership with a good rep, that keeps the resale value up in our area. I suppose if there was not good local support and brand recognition, resale would be less. Everyone recognizes John Deere, so on average that helps their resale anywhere in the USA.

So your points are acknowledged and not without merit, but we certainly are on opposite ends of this spectrum.

I do think there are poor tractors out there that people should stay away from at all costs, but we can't lump all "other" tractors as inferior.

That's my $0.02 worth, but to each his own.

Indydirtfarmer · Mar 10, 2005

I can't miss out on the fun, so here's my $.02 worth. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I buy MOSTLY used equipment. I farm, as well as run a tractor oriented business. From time to time, I need new equipment. for instance, 3 years ago, a $225,000 combine. I need a STRONG, ongoing relationship with at least a couple dealers. I favor John Deere equipment, although a good bit of my impliment roster is of mixed color(s) /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I stick with Deere mostly for 2 reasons. One is the longstanding relationship with a couple dealers, who wait on me hand and foot. I never have to beg for help. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif The other is a consistant history of quality equipment that ALWAYS holds good value come trade-in time. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The average tractor user, in a home-owner situation, will never use a tractor hard enough, long enough, or often enough to see one completely spent. I have taken several tractors to that point. (and beyond) THAT is when you can appreciate the quality and design that goes in to Deere's AG equipment. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

For the casual user, there may or may not be good cause to choose brands specifically because of make. Likewise, the dealer might not be all that important. But when your income/livelyhood depends on those folks, it's good to pick BOTH a reputable dealer AND a solid brand. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

That's MY situation. Yours may well be different. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Like my dad always said, "That's why they make chocolate, strawberry, and vinilla....So everyone can have what they want". /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Dargo · Mar 10, 2005

azzxx, I've only owned tractors from the "big 3". However, I've owned at least one from each, and stayed completely green for many tractors. The reason I have only owned them is a bit different, but not completely, from yours.

I have to say that the area in which you live plays a big part. Where I live, there are no "real" dealers close except the big 3. That leaves the big 3 to compete fiercely with each other. That being said, when I priced a Kioti from a dealership about 50 miles away, it was every bit as much as a Kubota. And, given that 2 Kioti dealers close to me have closed (or dropped Kioti in one case) in recent years, I just don't have that strong secure feeling for that line. I'm not by any means saying that they are bad, only when they are the same price as Kubota, it's no hard decision for me.

The other brand tractors that are sold around me are typically sold from small implement dealers who stock 2 or 3 "other" brand tractors out in front of their garage / shop. They are likely good people, but again, I just don't get that feeling that they will be able to weather good times and bad, and be there for certain in the future. The guy who has that small of an amount invested in his franchise doesn't have that much to lose if he drops them.

That atmosphere in my local area simply makes it rather difficult for me to seriously consider the lesser known makes. Therefore, in a way, I do heavily weigh the manufacturer and I also heavily weigh the dealer. Dang, I suppose that puts me sort of on the fence as well. I feel like I have an open mind, but I have to be realistic as well.

Bob_Skurka · Mar 10, 2005

Dang, I suppose that puts me sort of on the fence as well. I feel like I have an open mind, but I have to be realistic as well. 

As long as you have one foot on each side make sure you don't squat.

On a serious note, I think your point about your region and what is available is extremely important to many buyers, especially buyers who value their time. I've been by the closest Kioti dealer to me (in the next county) twice, no tractors either time I was there (he may sell them as fast as he gets them?). The next closest is 2 counties away and to be blunt, I'd be driving past so many other brands to get there that I would never even consider going that far. Within 15 miles of my doorstep I have at least 1 dealership for every major brand and several minor brands (Long/Farmtrac, Mahindra, Cub Cadet, Branson, AGCO, Case/Farmall plus JD, NH, Kubota) I also see Jinma's scattered about in front of fly-by-night shops every now and again. To be blunt, with all the choices here, I am going to limit my shopping to the brands near me, and cull the herd based on the dealerships quality. If the dealer is inferior, then the tractor is crossed off the list.

DavesTractor · Mar 10, 2005

( This is what the Deere dealer in my area tells his customers. He says that I sell a good tractor but how long will I be around. I was just told by a vendor that they are now up for sale and have been on the verge of closing for some time. )

Maka, this is what the local NH/Kubota dealership was telling people about me. I am going to an auction of their assets Saturday now that they folded up. They had a nice shop and are selling off the equipment, trucks, welders, parts, etc.

BarryinMN · Mar 10, 2005

John Deere auctioned off assets (dealer invite only) from their 40 acre complex in Bloomington, MN last week. They had 110 employees left rambling around the place. It used to be the warehouse & distribution point for JD in the upper midwest with rail & I-35W access..

Pix is a June 6, 1970 JD thank you letter from that office to my Uncle who bought a 140 lawn tractor.

Their 40 acres of prime suburban RE is for sale. The local Tax Assessors office also has the Mall of America property. The new Best Buy World HQ is a mile away.

Anybody want to guess the RE highest & best use value?

Tax subsidized construction may not be easy as Best Buy booted their entire IT dept out on the street when moving into the new building. 100's of $80-120K jobs gone to India & politicians left with egg on their faces.

bandit67 · Mar 10, 2005

( The closest tractor dealer to me is a Case dealer with a fabulous reputation. He is about one mile away. I didn't want a Case under any circumstance.)

Just curious why you think JD is so much more superior to Case, and therefore New Holland. As JD, Kubota, and Case/New Holland are considered the "big 3", I gather from your post that you believe there only exists a "big 2"? Some specifics on what you feel is so bad about Case/New Holland and why you'd pass up a stellar dealer that sells one of the "big 3" might shed some light on your comments. Interesting too, with all of the foreign made (not Japanese) components in the JD compared with the amount of American and Japanese components in the Kubota and CNH machines. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

DK35vince · Mar 10, 2005

If you like green thats fine by me, Buy it.
My previous tractor was green and a few years ago when looking to purchase a new machine green was one of the first machines I priced.
JD prices in my area were so HIGH I moved on. Purchased one of your so called "other brands" and never looked back.
I feel I made an excellant choice regardless of what you believe, Thanks..

CajunRider · Mar 11, 2005

Favorite color or dependable dealer will have some impact on my decision but neither will drive it. 6 months from now I'll be buying my tractor. LadyRider keeps the book and as far as she's concerned after 10yrs, the tractor will be depreciated to nothing. Top tier & second tier tractors can easily last 10 years so I'll just buy any one of those that tickles my fancy /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
It's interesting that many of my friends think nothing of buying a new car costing 25-30K every 5-7yrs, yet the same people agonize over a 20K tractor that can last a lot longer than the car.
For my farmer friends who need reliable tractor and fast service, they usually own these huge tractors costing a lot of money. They need both good tractor & dependable dealer.

For me, I've been taking my time in buying a tractor simply because I don't need it until around Sept-Dec 05.