So why do you buy Deere? Even when times are tough?

[TripleR]

Yep...about 40% of the "American made" icon, Harley Davidson, is imported.

Yep, I have one in my garage, Japanese gauges and every accessory I bought for it was made in a foreign country with the Harley Davidson logo on it.

 

[jenkinsph]

It's the way of business survival today. I'm curious, is there any product completely made in any country? Aside from food.
I just got a Lie-Nielsen chisel and the handle is made from American Hornbeam, the steel is A2 or O1, not sure which one but it might be completely made here from US steel. They do say "Made in the USA". Nice tools but pricey. The forging is done here, they're up in Maine. I have their planes too, beat the pants of the Japanese woodworking tools that are now the rage in my view.

Rob

I bought an Italian made table saw (at least I think it was made in Italy) SCMI panel scoring saw about 13 years ago and before I could use it I moved to Ruidoso and it has been stored until last week. Found out it is already considered obsolete. I wish I had all the old planes, chisels and tools I lost in a fire about twenty years ago. Been working the first cabinet job in many years this week, finding out about all the tools I can't find.

 

[RoyJackson]

Yep, I have one in my garage, Japanese gauges and every accessory I bought for it was made in a foreign country with the Harley Davidson logo on it.

I do know at least some of the handlebars, engine guards, jiffy stands and saddlebag guards are made in the US. The supplier is in Hanover, PA.

 

[rjkobbeman]

I do know at least some of the handlebars, engine guards, jiffy stands and saddlebag guards are made in the US. The supplier is in Hanover, PA.

After high school (San Bernardino, CA), I moved back to Rapid City, SD. I worked at the local Yamaha-Harley-Davidson dealer for a year or so before I joined the Navy.

Every now and then a jerk would come in and scoff at the accessories that were not made in USA. They would see something hanging on the wall, ask for it because they liked it, but would throw it back at me because it was made in Taiwan or something. Known for being ornery at certain times myself (naw, not me), I would remind them that half of their machine was foreign anyway! That would really *iss them off!

Mind you, I am a biker and own both a Yamaha and a Panhead... so this isn't coming from some anti-biker type.

 

[LittleBlueTractor]

Also, if anyone who does not buy Deere is reading, why don't you buy Deere?

It's not why don't I buy Deere in my case, it's why didn't I buy Deere. I'll admit I'm an unsophisticated tractor buyer. I did my best to compare prices with whatever I could find on the web. I got a pretty good case of sticker shock when I checked out (what I now consider to be) the "premium" tractor brands: JD, Kubota, NH, etc.... I looked at used ones and found the prices to be way to close to new ones.

I decided to take a look at 28 hp Mahindra, but saw a LS on the dealer's lot. It had all the features I really needed (not wanted) at a price I could afford.

I took into account many of the things the JD owners have discussed in this thread, but they weren't that important to me. I'm pretty sure it will handle everything I need it to do now and in the future, so resale value is a non-issue. I won't be using it to make a living so immediate access to parts is not important as I can always hire someone if there's something that has to be done in the meantime. (Trust me, with what I saved on the deal I can hire out a lot of work.) As LS is a pretty big outfit with lot's of tractors (rebranded and otherwise) in the US, I'm fairly confident I can find parts for it. That said, it's not perfect and there have been some disappointments (which I freely discuss in other posts in other forums.)

OK, so maybe I'm not riding the "BMW" of tractors, but I'm fairly sure it's not a "Yugo" either. I see it as a practical all-around solution -- kinda like a Subaru (which is what I drive.) I understand why you guys love that green, but LS blue is fine by me (so far.)

 

[D7E]

OK, so maybe I'm not riding the "BMW" of tractors, but I'm fairly sure it's not a "Yugo" either. I see it as a practical all-around solution -- kinda like a Subaru (which is what I drive.) I understand why you guys love that green, but LS blue is fine by me (so far.)

Many would say subaru is better than bmw

 

[arrabil]

Not anyone who has owned an AWD version of both....

 

[cspot]

It's not why don't I buy Deere in my case, it's why didn't I buy Deere. I'll admit I'm an unsophisticated tractor buyer. I did my best to compare prices with whatever I could find on the web. I got a pretty good case of sticker shock when I checked out (what I now consider to be) the "premium" tractor brands: JD, Kubota, NH, etc.... I looked at used ones and found the prices to be way to close to new ones.

I decided to take a look at 28 hp Mahindra, but saw a LS on the dealer's lot. It had all the features I really needed (not wanted) at a price I could afford.

I took into account many of the things the JD owners have discussed in this thread, but they weren't that important to me. I'm pretty sure it will handle everything I need it to do now and in the future, so resale value is a non-issue. I won't be using it to make a living so immediate access to parts is not important as I can always hire someone if there's something that has to be done in the meantime. (Trust me, with what I saved on the deal I can hire out a lot of work.) As LS is a pretty big outfit with lot's of tractors (rebranded and otherwise) in the US, I'm fairly confident I can find parts for it. That said, it's not perfect and there have been some disappointments (which I freely discuss in other posts in other forums.)

OK, so maybe I'm not riding the "BMW" of tractors, but I'm fairly sure it's not a "Yugo" either. I see it as a practical all-around solution -- kinda like a Subaru (which is what I drive.) I understand why you guys love that green, but LS blue is fine by me (so far.)

My McCormick CT65U is made by LS and I came to the same conclusion that you did. I got more for by dollar than I did with the premium brands.

 

[LittleBlueTractor]

Not anyone who has owned an AWD version of both....

Can't argue with that. BUT I have a co-worker that drives a BMW Z3. He loves it, but whines big-time every single time he has to pay the "premium" prices everybody charges for parts and maintenance to work on it. He tries to keep costs down by doing whatever he can himself, but the costs of parts (even off the internet) eat him alive.

I was reminded of that by some of the prices I've seen on TBN for rear remotes. I began looking into them for my S3010 after reading about hydraulic top links. Didn't think I could afford rear remotes after all that reading but decided to get a quote from a dealer anyway. Asked for a quote for a duel rear remote kit and was surprised to hear $165. Thought that was too good to be true, and it was. What arrived was the factory kit for a single SCV. I decided to just keep it because the price was really fair. I haven't seen anywhere near that low of a price for a rear remote on any other brand. (I'll be trying to install it over the coming weekend.)

 

[arrabil]

but whines big-time every single time he has to pay the "premium" prices everybody charges for parts and maintenance to work on it.

"Better" rarely costs less too. Everyone would have a Deere then.