Sad day in Victoria Tx

Kyle_in_Tex · Jul 18, 2009

Deere has revoked the dealership association with Victoria Farm Equipment which has been a deere dealer for over 20 years. This is horrible as the family that owns this was told by deere to sell to a "multi-dealer corporation" or risk losing their dealership. I think this is a pathetic path taken by Deere. The business will stay open and probably take on a new line. This is not a case where incompetency and lackluster performance ruled. This family was known to be honest and treat people with respect with many long term employees. There is a big hole in the area now without JD representation. This sure casts a dark shadow on my opinion of corporate deere wet behind the ears big diploma behind the desk worthless college punks up there making decisions while living lavish lifestyles in the quad city country clubs. And corporate Deere punks, if you're reading, get a dictionary out and look up the word scrupulous. Read it out loud and memorize it. When you retire at age 40 and rich, think about it when you lie in bed at night before you go to sleep. Think about the people that you cost their job and livelihood.

I'm probably sure that Victoria Farm Equipment didn't do everything by the book, but they tried to keep their customers happy with the resources at hand.

Nuff said for now....

Victoria Advocate | John Deere franchise cancels franchise with local dealer

texasjohn · Jul 18, 2009

hadn't heard this..hope it does not happen to the local JD dealer who sells a range of feed, tack and JD smaller tractors. Guess JD is doing like GM.... culling the dealership herd. In a Darwinian economic climate, dealers will get pushed out of the dealership nest simply because they are there... and there is "no room" for them although they have done nothing wrong.

two_bit_score · Jul 18, 2009

IS there a 'rest of the story' like some commenters alluded to at the bottom of the article?

Scooby074 · Jul 18, 2009

Same thing happened here. All the smaller dealers have been bought and are now controlled by 2 large multi-dealership organizations. Shure doesnt help the consumer.

PSDStu · Jul 19, 2009

The same thing happened here a few years ago with our local JD dealer.... then we were supposed to get a Sunsouth I think who was supposed to build a new JD dealership.........but I think because of the economy they might have changed there mind....because although they have a sign up about a new dealership opening soon.....it's been at least 2 years that the sign has been up.

Spudland_Dave · Jul 19, 2009

two_bit_score said:
IS there a 'rest of the story' like some commenters alluded to at the bottom of the article?

I bet there is a little more to the actual story, what I heard happened to my dealer here was Deere gave them the choice of either upgrading/updating/modernizing their location or sell out to a multi-store dealer in the general area...the owners were of retirement age with no kids in the dealership so upgrading to a new shop was a little out of the question for them. The way I look at it was this was gonna happen sooner or later...and to be honest with you, the changeover was smooth and business there a year + later at the new shop under new management is pretty much the same as before, in some respects its gotten better....while i miss the "Old time feel" of the old shop, this new shop is setup nicely.
Deere hasnt been saying "your fired" to its dealerships, but outlining a number of items/features/ehatever that they would like to see in all dealerships...its up to the individual dealership to decide what to do....

BUT...on the other hand, I'd also have to say Deere's master plan of eliminating dealerships will only serve to harm their sales....a big factor in the decision making process of buying my tractor was dealer quality & location of said dealer...if Kubota (or any other top tier MFG) would put a quality dealership in my backyard, I could be very well driving an Orange, Red, or Blue machine....and I dont think I'm alone in that mentality.

MikeInEburg · Jul 19, 2009

My local Kubota dealer was Deere dealer for years. Until they gave him the same choice - sell to a multi-store operation or lose the dealership. He went Orange.
Mike

Kyle_in_Tex · Jul 19, 2009

Spudland_Dave said:
I bet there is a little more to the actual story, what I heard happened to my dealer here was Deere gave them the choice of either upgrading/updating/modernizing their location or sell out to a multi-store dealer in the general area...the owners were of retirement age with no kids in the dealership so upgrading to a new shop was a little out of the question for them. The way I look at it was this was gonna happen sooner or later...and to be honest with you, the changeover was smooth and business there a year + later at the new shop under new management is pretty much the same as before, in some respects its gotten better....while i miss the "Old time feel" of the old shop, this new shop is setup nicely.
Deere hasnt been saying "your fired" to its dealerships, but outlining a number of items/features/ehatever that they would like to see in all dealerships...its up to the individual dealership to decide what to do....

BUT...on the other hand, I'd also have to say Deere's master plan of eliminating dealerships will only serve to harm their sales....a big factor in the decision making process of buying my tractor was dealer quality & location of said dealer...if Kubota (or any other top tier MFG) would put a quality dealership in my backyard, I could be very well driving an Orange, Red, or Blue machine....and I dont think I'm alone in that mentality.

I can tell you that their dealership is/was a 1st class facility with a nice clean showroom, plenty of parking and a very, very large service bay. they kept a great supply of parts, everyday handy stuff and a bunch of JD hats, shirts, and collectables. All in all, a nice place to stop and browse even if you don't need anything. My guess is Deere wanted them to sell to Shoppa's which is a multi dealership company that covers east of Victoria along the gulf coast.

Scooby074 · Jul 19, 2009

And, after these consolidations, im NOT liking these new stores. Seems like these fancy new Deere stores are more like home depot than a tractor store. Floor space is dedicated to everything from kids piggy banks and lunch boxes to umbrellas and deere t-shirts.

With the lawn mowers shoved into the corner, along with a small 2305. Rest is all that other junk.

Gimme a tractor store darnit, one where im not scared to sit greasy parts on the counter!!!

Plus these high cost, fancy dealerships arent going to keep consumers costs down with all that overhead.

two_bit_score · Jul 20, 2009

Kyle_in_Tex said:
I can tell you that their dealership is/was a 1st class facility with a nice clean showroom, plenty of parking and a very, very large service bay. they kept a great supply of parts, everyday handy stuff and a bunch of JD hats, shirts, and collectables. All in all, a nice place to stop and browse even if you don't need anything. My guess is Deere wanted them to sell to Shoppa's which is a multi dealership company that covers east of Victoria along the gulf coast.

I remember driving by the Victoria dealership and it DID look nice and professional from what I saw.

Don't you have a long time single location dealer right there in Giddings? Are they getting the same treatment?

Not trying to be confrontational but sometimes there is more than one side to these stories.

BTW, I was really saddened when I drove through Giddings the other day and a lot of pastures on 290 looked more like they belonged between Odessa nd Andrews instead of between Brenham and Giddings. Everyone needs rain.