X530 Pricing and Feedback

BT ND · Jun 22, 2011

bradkramer said:
Hi Jim,

"Still in crate" just means the dealer is waiting for nicer weather before they do the setup and park a few models outside. So that's a plus since the tractor won't have been sitting out in the elements for a few months. Price does include setup of the tractor, mower and blower. Sounds like they'll also deliver or loan me a trailer as part of the deal.

Suggested retail for the whole package is $8,970. My cost would be $7,820. JD has a $300 sale right now and I'd be getting another $850 off retail. (which, I understand, nobody pays retail)

Knowing what the used prices are and not having read anything negative about the 530... I'm pretty sure I'll be poorer but smilin' by the weekend.

Thanks for the comments on the rotating casters. Don't have them on my 50" Craftsman deck but can see where that'd be nice. Maybe I'll even clean the deck more than once a year.

Now I need to start shopping for an after-market weather enclosure... at least by next winter.

...Brad.

Brad, thanks for the info. How did you get the extra $850 off. I'm in the midst of purchasing a X534 from same dealer and can't get close to the deal you got. That includes the $500 retail price difference.

bradkramer · Jun 22, 2011

BT ND said:
Brad, thanks for the info. How did you get the extra $850 off. I'm in the midst of purchasing a X534 from same dealer and can't get close to the deal you got. That includes the $500 retail price difference.

Maybe they screwed up and gave me too good of a deal. I don't really know... I just emailed them and asked for a quote. Not much negotiation involved. I did use a $300 partner discount available as a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association. ($39 annual dues) The dealer gets that $300 reimbursed by JD so it doesn't affect any other discount the dealer might offer.

Maybe it was the timing... it was April and could have been a slow month with new garden tractors just arriving and ready to be sold asap rather than sitting in inventory. Or maybe there's more margin to work with on the 530's.

Guy I worked with at RDO is Tom Rehborg. TRehborg@rdoequipment.com

Good luck!

BT ND · Jun 23, 2011

bradkramer said:
Maybe they screwed up and gave me too good of a deal. I don't really know... I just emailed them and asked for a quote. Not much negotiation involved. I did use a $300 partner discount available as a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association. ($39 annual dues) The dealer gets that $300 reimbursed by JD so it doesn't affect any other discount the dealer might offer.

Maybe it was the timing... it was April and could have been a slow month with new garden tractors just arriving and ready to be sold asap rather than sitting in inventory. Or maybe there's more margin to work with on the 530's.

Guy I worked with at RDO is Tom Rehborg. TRehborg@rdoequipment.com

Good luck!

Thanks, I purchased yesturday. All said and done I only paid $300 more than you plus the $500 price difference. I guess that is acceptable since it is the heart of lawn mowing season. Thanks again.

ChuckinNH · Jun 23, 2011

Hmm, I love that seat on your X534. I looked at one the other day, and I was quoted about $7300, but it had the same seat as the X530 they quoted $6475 for. I was quoted $5875 at another NH dealer's yesterday for an X530 with the 54" mmm deck, and I thoght that was a good price. I thought the X534, and X540 came with the seat you show in your pictures, but I haven't seen one. Any input on that one? Think there is a chance that dealer swaped out seats with someone for a sale?

Edit: I went to the John Deere site, and it seems that JD has decided to cheapen the X534, and X540 by just offering the open back seats on all of them. Looks like you lucked out, and got one with the good seat before that brilliant decision was made. I still do like the tractor though, and the 4 wheel steer seems nice even with the loss in ground clearance.

BT ND · Jun 23, 2011

I've only seen 3 X534s and they all had the high back seat. Something funny is going on. I basically paid $7300 minus $300 instant John Deere rebate. That is with the 48" deck. I also bought mulch kit, snow cab, weights, chains, brush guard, 47" snowblower for $2000 more. Don't forget tax. It hurts but I love the tractor. I also had them throw in a extra set of mulching blades. I had to get something to make me feel better.

ChuckinNH · Jun 23, 2011

Thanks for your input. I miight have bought that X534 on the spot if it had your seat. I have a tumor on one hip, and that looks a lot more comfortable to me. Actually I mentioned wanting to see your type of seat on an X534, or X540, and he just pointed to the X534 with the other style seat. Now I know what to look for, and a little more about that dealership.
Thanks.

Dave2425 · Jun 25, 2011

bradkramer said:
RDO Equipment - Bismarck ND

Thanks for replying. I'll have to stop by the next time I'm in Bismarck.

jduser175 · Jul 3, 2011

bradkramer said:
Loving my X530 and Johnny Bucket!

Hey Brad,

I purchased the X530 in early June with the 2 bag powerflow, brush guard, 47" snowblower, front bumper and 4 suitcase weights. So far I am very happy with it. I am thinking about getting a Johnny Bucket and plow for it. How do you like yours? Is it worth it?

bradkramer · Jul 4, 2011

jduser175 said:
Hey Brad,

I purchased the X530 in early June with the 2 bag powerflow, brush guard, 47" snowblower, front bumper and 4 suitcase weights. So far I am very happy with it. I am thinking about getting a Johnny Bucket and plow for it. How do you like yours? Is it worth it?

The JohnnyBucket is great. Larger and heavier lifting than the John Deere 'power shovel'. I've found all kinds of uses (and excuses) for it. Moving dirt and backdragging my gravel driveway are the most obvious. But it also gets used a lot for just moving stuff around the yard... rocks, bags of mulch, landscaping tools, a 20 gallon tank for tree watering, and moving whatever else will fit in the bucket. And I'm feelin' cool driving to the mailbox. The list goes on. A lot of this could be done with a trailer, but that'd be more lifting and much less fun.

I wasn't sure it'd have enough downforce to really work my gravel driveway, but that isn't a problem. It'll easily lift the front wheels off the ground. I don't have the plow blade, but backdragging works well for leveling out the high spots and getting gravel back in the main drive path where the old gravel is turning to dust.

Getting it mounted was easy, but did take a few hours. (mostly due to reading instructions, losing tools, chatting with a visitor and so on). A couple bolt holes were barely aligned and it took a little coaxing for the brackets to fit. I believe I'll have to remove 3 brackets to mount the snowblower. If so then the bucket and the blower aren't easily interchangeable. Not a problem if you only make that change twice a year, but if you want to alternate between the plow and the blower you might have an issue. (I'm not sure yet, since I've never had my blower on the tractor).

Once the JB brackets are on the tractor the bucket itself can be attached or removed in a minute... just 3 pins and 2 electrical plugs. I mounted the 2 toggle switches just above the power lift handle, below the throttle and choke. The electrical harness is all prewired and cut to length, so that part was quick and simple.

I purchased the bucket doubler ($115) and highly recommend it. If you might be hauling things like lumber and fence posts the caddy arms would also be a good investment.

If anybody has questions or wants some specific pictures just let me know.

...Brad.

Johnny Bucket Jr. John Deere GTLX