Dealer Deere protects arrogant dealers?

[two_bit_score]

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

That is an interesting story. My observation is that the JD dealers prices have matched Lowes/HD on the mowers. The dealers your brother went to must be a real piece of work.

 

[ddivinia]

They base it on your address for financing, billing, etc.

D.

 

[Scooby074]

Eddie: what model mower was it? I was under the (seemingly incorrect) impression that Deere set the price that the big boxes could sell at? For the dealerships protection deere setting the price makes sense. I know that at least here, Home Depot and Deere have the same prices on the 100 series mowers.

 

[Ken45101]

Dealer is one of the reasons I went all JD. The Kubota guys here aren't much help.... I went elsewhere.

We have one Kubuta/Case/IH dealer like that. Fortunately, we also have three other Kubota dealers within reasonable distance and they are good to work with. And at least Kubuta doesn't try to force you to work with only one dealer.

Ken

 

[EddieWalker]

Eddie: what model mower was it?

I don't know. I saw it on the trailer, but it was dark out and now it's at his place. I'll have to ask him what the model number is, but he wasn't sure if it's 23 or 26hp. My zero turn is 26 hp, so I was mostly just curious of his oppinion between the two. He borrowed mine last week. His view was that the Scag was a faster, better mower, but he can drink beer on his Deere. There is also a $6,000 price difference between the two, as I think he said he paid around $2,000 for his.

Eddie

 

[Shantycoke]

I guess I've found out why some JD dealers can be arrogant.

A couple of months ago, I went into the local JD dealership, interested in skid steers (with joystick controls) and a 60 hp tractor. The salesman did show me what they had in skid steers, but had nothing to show me with hand or joystick controls nor could he locate one for me to even get a feel for how it handles even in the dealer's lot.

When I asked about 50-60 hp tractors, he told me they were "in that direction". Go look for myself, no salesmanship at all.

I ended up going to the local Kubota/NH dealer who was happy to spend time with me over several days, set up both Kubota and NH tractors side by side so that I could compare them closely. I finally decided on a NH TT-60, it's in my barn now.

I finally found a Deere forestry dealer a little futher away who has exactly the Deere skid steer I am interested in. He is even willing to bring it to the farm for me to try out. BUT because of Deere's dealer protected areas, he will get penalized 10% if he sells to me.

Geesh, Deere thinks I should order out of a brochure instead of dealing with a good dealership who is willing to work with me?

Oh, did I mention that I already had a JCB demo unit here for two days and the NH dealer has offered to let me try one out for a few days? But Deere expects me to commit to a purchase just on their glossy brochure?

I'm getting really turned off at Deere's approach to serving customer's needs. As as (small) Deere stockholder, I'm wondering if this is really a company that I want to invest in.

One of the reasons I have had three Kubota tractors and never a John Deere is because of the arrogance of our local dealer. May even be the same one you dealt with. I know I've cost him a mint due to the fact I tell everyone I know in the market for a tractor about him. Funny thing is, is the fact that many others have told me stories of similar dealings with him.
Pat

 

[DieselnHooters]

We have one Kubuta/Case/IH dealer like that. Fortunately, we also have three other Kubota dealers within reasonable distance and they are good to work with. And at least Kubuta doesn't try to force you to work with only one dealer.

Ken

They do here in Canada

 

[LBrown59]

We have one Kubuta/Case/IH dealer like that. Fortunately, we also have three other Kubota dealers within reasonable distance and they are good to work with. And at least Kubuta doesn't try to force you to work with only one dealer.

Ken

What county is this in?

 

[LBrown59]

What county are yuou in?

One of the reasons I have had three Kubota tractors and never a John Deere is because of the arrogance of our local dealer. May even be the same one you dealt with. I know I've cost him a mint due to the fact I tell everyone I know in the market for a tractor about him. Funny thing is, is the fact that many others have told me stories of similar dealings with him.
Pat

How's he staying in business then?

 

[Shantycoke]

What county are yuou in?
How's he staying in business then?

He stays in business because he sells John Deere. Folks have been buying Deere equipment for generations, and I'm sure, without a doubt, that if he didn't have the John Deere name on his sign in front of his dealership he would be struggling. Around here, you look in hay fields this time of year, you'll most likely see an old green tractor that did the work, and a fella is likely to buy the same brand of equipment that his dad or grandpa used to put up hay, corn or whatever. Daddy handed this fella the business, and he grew up knowing he had a following. Also, some folks are more tolerant of a horses rear end than I am. A fella puts it to me one time, and then I spend my money elsewhere. It seems that I have some beef with J.D., which I don't. Just the local dealer.
Pat