Dealer Deere protects arrogant dealers?

[bxowner]

I'm hoping that the one good thing that comes out of this recession is a 180 degree turn-around in dealer/customer relations. Let me give you an example - yesterday, my business partner wanted to get a new, rubber wrist band for his junk watch. The old one broke at the metal clasp. I suggested we go to the local drugstore (suggesting it's the "new Woolworth's" to town)... he said he wanted to go to the jewelry store. We walk in, the owner pops up, greets my friend by name - and when he realized he didn't have a band that would work, offered to order it that moment and have it in w/in a couple of days. Total profit margin? Likely 15-30 cents! But, a true example of eagerness to please - and hopefulness that my friend would remember it the next time he's interested in another watch.

Now, if your dealer - and every other arrogant (car/truck/tractor/computer/furniture/etc. dealer) learned this lesson, Ken, it would go a long way toward getting our economy off the floor. From the look of your signature line, you're not new to buying tractors.

Now, as an owner of a 2305, I'm a little more inclined to put up with poor dealership support because I'm a hack. I don't really NEED their support - and can put up with inconveniences every couple of hundred hours... but, I suspect you're actually planning on working that skid steer. So, I can appreciate your frustration and fully understand why you might pick a machine that's not ideal as a result.

 

[Ken45101]

One of my neibours down the road had a tt60. I have used it a couple of times and that has to be one of the most odd operator stations there ever was. He hated it as well. Ended up trading it on a 4720.

It's different than the Kubotas I'm used to, but I haven't found it to be a problem.

 

[yooperdave]

Our local JD dealer relocated a few miles away and built a huge brand new building.

I needed a replacement part, so I went over there, and I felt I was not worthy of their time.

They did not even get off their butt to help me get the part. Excuses and no action.

I then drove down to Fleet Farm and they were more than happy to facilitate my request.

Yooper Dave

 

[radioman]

I know what you mean about arrogant dealers. With My 3 neighbors with JD mowers, I decided to look at JD. There is a JD dealer about 5 mins drive from me and when I went in to look at some tractors, they couldn't be bothered with thier time to accomodate me. I was really turned off. My father bought a JD mower from lowes and needed support and parts from his local dealer and they asked him oh you bought from lowes, sorry we can't help you. What kind of sales call is that ?! I went to a kubota dealer about 30-40 mins drive and I felt I been treated like a real person who is interested in serving my needs for buying a tractor. He is a cub cadet,troy built,shtil,grasshopper, kubota dealer. I was interested in looking at the grasshopper mower since had attachments I could use and I ended up with kubota. Best money spent! Also I was treated fairly and nicely, dealer even took the time to accomodate me. AWESOME!

SO let this be a message to ALL dealers- esp. the ones I went in and they lost a sale to me due to attitude.

 

[bkennedy]

As had been said many times - you need a good dealer. I bought my 2210 from a dealer 15 min away. Many issues - they basically knew little about their product and made mistakes on several things, slow to correct them. Overall didn't leave me with a happy feeling - felt like I should have gone blue instead of green.

When I traded up to the 2520 I went to a dealer who is 1 hour away. Can't say enough great things about them. They deliver parts to me when they have someone out in my area. They are a phone call or email away to deal with any problems. Great advice, great service. I have recommended them to several others already, while I warn people not to buy any deere products from the local place.

 

[ddivinia]

As far as the investment goes I would say YES. It sounds like John Deere is looking after the Stockholder money. You advised you have already demoed a JCB unit for several days, are looking to demo a New Holland for several days. All this beg the question, if all the units are speced the same exactly what are you looking for.

It is hard to know with these skid steers until you run one. It is amazing the differences. The JD cab is tight for a guy my side. The electronic hand controls on the bobcat have a delay compared to the Takeuchi, the cat is easier to service, etc. I could go on for a while. I have been looking at compact track machines and I am sold on the Takeuchi. I wanted to like the JD machine, but the machine + the RDO dealer = forget it.

D.

 

[ddivinia]

As had been said many times - you need a good dealer. I bought my 2210 from a dealer 15 min away. Many issues - they basically knew little about their product and made mistakes on several things, slow to correct them. Overall didn't leave me with a happy feeling - felt like I should have gone blue instead of green.

When I traded up to the 2520 I went to a dealer who is 1 hour away. Can't say enough great things about them. They deliver parts to me when they have someone out in my area. They are a phone call or email away to deal with any problems. Great advice, great service. I have recommended them to several others already, while I warn people not to buy any deere products from the local place.

Dealer is one of the reasons I went all JD. The Kubota guys here aren't much help. Seems like employee of the week, etc. I went elsewhere.

D.

 

[kthompson]

With commercial equipment how can any company come up with your area where you must buy from? Makes no sense. I know two contractors who are based within 15 miles of me who have jobs over a 100 miles away and one of them uses some JD I know. So you are saying if a contractor in Utah were building roads in South Carolina and needed a JD dozer he would have to return to Utah to buy? Makes no sense at all. Not saying that is not what you are finding but it makes no sense. Know farmer here who uses only JD and he farms two locations about 60 miles apart, so which dealership must he deal with as there is one near each farm location. It makes no sense in real life.

Just wonder if anti trust laws (think they are the ones for such) would come into play but if within a company when there are other options (other companies) would doubt it.

 

[Scooby074]

Related to sales territories, what bugs me is the fact that with all the dealer consolidation thats taken place, really theres only 2 dealers in my province. While there maybe 6 dealerships, theyre owned by 2 parties. Theres no deals to be had here. Pretty much MSRP. Sort of like the gas prices in my province

 

[EddieWalker]

My brother just finished up a battle with Deere and their wacky way of doing business. He wanted a ride along lawn mower. Lowes has it for their price, but doesn't offer financing. He also has a ten percent discount coupon for Lowes that brings the price down a few hundred dollars more.

He went to the Deere dealer and asked what the price was on the same exact lawn mower. It was a few hundred dollars more then the sticker price at Lowes. He told them what Lowes is selling it for and that he wanted them to match the price so he could finance it with Deere. They have great rates, but he's not going to pay $500 more for the same mower. The dealer said no, the price is the price and they cannot change it per Deere headquarters.

My brother contacted Deere with an email, then after a few weeks turned into a 3 way conference call with the headquarters and the dealer to set the price to match Lowes. He stuck with it and got the right person involved, but it's just amazing at how dificult it was to buy the mower from the dealer. It really makes you wonder what they are thinking.

Eddie