Frustration with delivery

MODEERE · May 23, 2002

Thanks for the support.My dealer called me at work today before 8:00am to tell me that the screen was now showing it released so with the long weekend ahead I bet it will be another week. I called JD customer service today and after about 45min on hold talked to a rep Vicky, she did act concerned and tried to find out the holdup but we didn't have enough info to pin it down, she did say they had been having trouble with the tire or wheel supplier making deliveries on time to the factory. I have to feel some of this has roots in 9/11 with all the companys cutting production in the aftermath. My wifes grandfather was looking to buy a new JD lawn tractor and only got one because someone backed out of a deal.

TerryinMD · May 24, 2002

There are a lot of factors involved during the manufacturing process.

Sounds like the demand may be exceeding the anticipated capacity. Key word here is anticipated. A lot of the materials shipped now days are done as a "JIT" - just in time. With that in mind, if a supplier is behind in their delivery(doesn't matter what the issue may be), the manufacturing/assembly process is at risk. Since this is a new model and just being shipped to the public, some delays and slip-ups will occur. That is planned. However, if a major slip-up occurs. Issues... issues... issues.

Not being a JD butt-boy, just trying to put a little different spin on what might be the problem. At least most of posts seem to support the poor dealer (correct in my opinion), putting the blame on JD is probably more correct. However, they may be somewhat powerless in correcting the situation quickly. Chock it up to lessons learned - by all...

Terry

Pilgrim · May 28, 2002

Gentlemen,
I’m on week 5 of my 4110 order and the dealer told me today that my order still hasn’t been “released”. He still can’t give me a date. It’s funny because I saw the “inventory” order that the dealer already had in when he switched it to a Customer Order.
He said my FEL is in, and the MMM is on the way. Well I guess ALL I’m missing is the part that connects the 2 together, ya know, the part with the SEAT on it.
I’ve read here that calling JD is useless. It’s just a $16,000.00 sale blah blah blah. I feel like the 100 meter dash Olympian, when interviewed 4 months before running for the gold who states, “I gust gotta make sure I don’t peak before running for the gold”. Boys, I peaked too soon. I’ve gone from /w3tcompact/icons/love.gif to /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif to ambivalent.
Maybe it’s for the best. I have forgotten my own rule of “never love anything that can’t love you back”.
I’ve gotten back into my regular routine of wooden handles and wheelbarrows. Bust hump till you get dizzy then take a break. At least the barn got cleaned out in anticipation of delivery right? Right? Barn cleaned out, that’s good! Clean barn = Good.
Well thanks for letting me vent… again!
I’m gonna get a cold one and go stare at my CLEAN BARN!

Best of Regards,
A Pilgrim in Connecticut.

mbsil · May 29, 2002

Ask for the serial numbers on the tractor and ALL IMPLEMENTS!

Until you do there is no motivation for the dealer to stay on top of your order. Tell them it's needed for your insurance.

If they squeal, then they are being deceptive. Cancel your order and buy ORANGE or BLUE or anything NOT GREEN!

blurrybill · May 29, 2002

Mine is at the dealer now. I'll let everybody know how the transaction progresses, both good and bad. Hope I don't regret this statement, but at this point I feel good about how things will go.

Dealer informed that a recently ordered 4310 will not arrive for about 6 weeks. Production is in full swing, as are tractor orders.

Bill

crown · May 29, 2002

Maybe just a regional thing but the other day while I was enjoying some of my favorite leisure activity tractor looking/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I noticed two 4310 on the local Deere lot for sale. Good luck with the delivery and enjoy/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

bishoff · May 31, 2002

Just received a call from the dealer stating the 60"MMM with redesigned mounting hardware for my 4115 has arrived. By end of next week I'll be mowing on my own blades.

blurrybill · May 31, 2002

Great news, Walt. Have fun with the new mower and let us know how you like it.

Bill

Pilgrim · Jun 4, 2002

This past Saturday marked the 5 week “anniversary” of my 4110 order. On Friday I spoke to the dealer and he said that Deere said 20 more days to delivery. ASSUMING the 20 days is true and it takes a week to prep/deliver that would put me at about 9 weeks. I asked the dealer what percent confidence he put in that 20 day number and he said about 60%. Mother Mary!

Went to the Kubota guy on Friday and got a quote on a B7500, same setup as the 4110. Price, $750.00 more, delivery time, 48 hours! Marone!

So meanwhile I hump a couple of thousand pounds of New England field stone this weekend because the world doesn’t stop turning.

What do you do?
WHAT DO YOU DO?

A Connecticut Pilgrim.

frank_f15 · Jun 4, 2002

Pilgrim: is there any particular reason why u prefer the jd other than the kub costing $750 more(which i really don't understand) around here deeres are more expensive. be advised that i personally have NO faith in any dealers dates on delivery of anything that is on order. you might want to consider a change of color. but if u have your heart set on the deere then u have no recourse but to wait,and wait, and wait!

JC4HD · Jun 4, 2002

Pilgrim... Stick it out! If you really want the Deere and are overall happy with the Dealer (most important) stay the course! Any time a "NEW and IMPROVED" Tractor comes out you can always expect delays! I waited what seems like a looooonnnngggg time for my 4310 and now that I have it I am sooooooo glad I did!
Hold On... it's worth it!

MReeter · Jun 4, 2002

Hmmm,Tough decision,wait 2 months or wait 2 days.Move more stone with wheelbarrow,move more stone with FEL.

Well,I know what my decision would be,but,it's not my money or my aching back...Good luck!!!

rancar · Jun 4, 2002

Amen!!!!!!!! Good things come to those that wait....waiting a few extra days or a couple weeks isn't all that bad....time goes quickly.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 4, 2002

mbsl... I agree with rancar. I went so far as to try a orange one. It was six months old with 35 hours on it................ I'll wait for my green.......... thanks anway P.S. the better the prize the harder and longer the wait. just like the kids at Christmas

Anonymous Poster · Jun 5, 2002

That's another excelent reason NOT to buy "any" tractor you can't try out on your own place!!! I really don't see how you guys can lay out so many $$$ and not even know for sure what you are getting!!! I've had a dealer drop a tractor off and let me try it to see if it's what i really want! How else would you know?
Do you buy your car's like that too???
Robert

blurrybill · Jun 5, 2002

Robert,

Over a year ago I was able to try out a JD4300 on my acreage - just with a mmm. I was concerned about the pressure required to operate the hydro pedals and, as a result, I was thinking New Holland Boomer or Kubota and was leaning toward Kubota. I visited implement shows oriented towards CUTs, talked with many, many people and read reviews and comments on TBN and elsewhere. Also talked with bro-in-law, farmers, read the paper and all ads every Sunday hoping to find the right machine used. I have researched this purchase for 4 years - even before I owned our wonderful property. I started out knowing NOTHING, but feel that I have spent enough time that I can make an informed decision. Part of that awareness has come from ghosting on this site and then, after becoming a member, corresponding with individuals much more knowlegeable than me about tractor topics. When JD announced the design changes, I decided that features that were most important to me were available - even though I didn't evaluate a 4310 on my place. Is there a certain degree of risk with a purchase of this type? Absolutely. Still, I talked with both local dealers and those from around the country and felt that I negotiated my best deal with someone with whom I felt comfortable.

So you see, it may appear that many of us are buying a "pig in a poke," but that is deceiving. Nevertheless, if my deal turns out to be sour, I'll share the info with those on the board, so that others can benefit from my experience. Hope this clarifies a bit.

Bill

rancar · Jun 6, 2002

Robert,

I'd have to echo what blurrybill just said. I researched JD 4000 series tractors for the past two years, went to equipment auctions, talked to people who owned 4700's and when I decided to buy in March, yes, I plucked down my hard earned bucks for the 4710 without even a test drive. So far, I've no regrets. The 4710 has performed flawlessly and it is everything I could ever expect in a compact utility tractor.

BTW, I bought a new 2002 GMC Silverado this past December on the 0% financing deals dealers had at that time using the same method as above. Again, no problems. I love the truck and have no regrets, again, without even a test drive.

Regards,
Bob Ancar
Cambridge, NY

bishoff · Jun 6, 2002

I got my blades.

The 60"MMM on order since March is now installed on my 4115 and does it look sweet. The dealer stated that the hold-up was the fact that this MMM is a one piece stamped 7ga steel and only one high capacity stamping press is availiable in the Moline IL facility where it's made. I think he meant 10 ga because it mic's out at 0.14" painted. This is the same thickness as my 49" bucket material.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 9, 2002

Robert : during my conversation with JD .. corporate.. (not my dealer) regarding my 4410 they informed me that I have 30 days from delivery to bring the tractor back... no questions asked. this came from a costumer service rep. at JD. that sounds like a pretty good kicking the tires test to me.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 10, 2002

Yes, that's not too bad, but for me, i'd like to have the tractor over to my place "before" i sign on the dotted line! It sure saves a lot of hassle if i decide it's not what i want. I may want to try more than one brand or size of tractor!

I did buy one of my Agco's from my dealer, that all though i did try it out, i couldn't put my rotavator on it right then. The dealer said no problem, put it on when you can, and if it doesn't work out, we'll come get it! I still have the tractor.

I tried out a skid steer one time. The dealer (different dealer) told me to try it for a couple weeks. I just couldn't get any traction with the darn thing, so i called him to have him pick it up. He said you need to have tracks on it!! Couple days later a mechanic showed up and put tracks on it! (he's 60 miles away) I could see that now even that it now had "traction", it wasn't going to work out, (wouldn't lift enough) so i called him again. He said "no problem" keep useing it, and we'll get it later. Well, after 6 weeks i felt bad, and cleaned it up, hauled it back to him. I was headed that way any way.

"If" you are serous about a piece of equipment, he'll deliver it, and let you make sure it will work for you!! When i'm buying a piece of equipment, he's one of the first places i check, even if it's a "short line" product.

All dealers should operate like that!
Robert