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

[Rob-D]

I have a problem with a company like Milwaukee that now makes their tools in China, yet charges the same price as if it were made in USA.

I have a problem when choice is taken away from me. I'd like to be able to choose between some quality made tool from the USA, Canada, Europe, or Japan versus some cheap Chinese made Harbor Freight POS.

OK, how good is Chinese Milwaukee stuff? I have a grinder that I got from, I think Home Depot, that is excellent quality. It comes down to the quality control of the product whether we're talking about Deere, Milwaukee or Ryobi which is exclusive to HD.

And you do have a choice, if you don't like Milwaukee because you think the quality is inferior, than you don't have to buy it. For me it's not where it's made but how and that determines whether I buy it or not.

A country that can't or won't provide for itself is doomed to failure.

I just read a commentary from the editor of one of my trade magazines talking about the end of cheap labor in China.

"Cheap Labor in China? Not for long"
...."But at some point demand exceeds the supply of workers, and the changing balance forces wagers to rise. This happened before. Workers of the first industrial revolution in the UK saw stagnant wages until about 1840, after which pay grew dramatically. Wages in Japan didn't change much until around 1960 and then rose rapidly thereafter"

Leland Teshler, editor, "Machine Design"

The world is in a transition, we are jumping from one continent to another for the cheapest labor, energy and materials. Watch Africa, it's the next place you'll see products coming from.
Will we survive, will Deere survive? That's a state of the Empire question and there hasn't been an empire since the dawn of recorded history that has remained on top for an extended period of time. Unfortunately we're following the Roman Empire.

Will I buy Deere in 10 years? Maybe, maybe not, it depends whether they can maintain the quality, parts delivery and resale value. If they can't I'll go elsewhere... it's my choice!

Rob

 

[Rob-D]

The L Series you buy at a box store is the same you would buy at a dealer. Our local JD dealer sets up the box store models for Lowes and Home Depot and will do any warranty work. Why anyone would buy from the box stores and not from a dealer is a mystery to me.

It's price! I think it stinks and I won't do it to a good dealer. Buy cheap from a chain and then expect to go to a dealer for parts, advice and warranty work.

There's a word for that. Wh@re!

 

[arrabil]

I talked to my dealer about the cheapo mowers. He was upset Deere makes them at all. "The STX38 will be remembered as the downfall," he said. BUT, he was not upset about the warranty arrangement. They get paid the same from Deere to fix them and they put all the Home Depot / Lowes people at the back of the pile. Way back. So I guess there is no need to feel too bad for them.

 

[Rob-D]

I talked to my dealer about the cheapo mowers. He was upset Deere makes them at all. "The STX38 will be remembered as the downfall," he said. BUT, he was not upset about the warranty arrangement. They get paid the same from Deere to fix them and they put all the Home Depot / Lowes people at the back of the pile. Way back. So I guess there is no need to feel too bad for them.

Good! Glad to hear the dealers benefit!

 

[mjncad]

Why anyone would buy from the box stores and not from a dealer is a mystery to me.

Convenience (a.k.a. laziness). The BBM LA's are the same price as the dealer LA's. At least in Colorado, buying from the nearest dealer gets you a 2.9% AG sales tax rate versus the 7.5% - 9.63% sales tax rates at BBM depending in which city the store is in. A few years ago, I took a friend up to the dealer as he was all ready to buy one at BBM. What he saved in sales tax allowed him to get the next model up, along with a salesman who explained the pros & cons of the models he was looking at.

OK, how good is Chinese Milwaukee stuff? I have a grinder that I got from, I think Home Depot, that is excellent quality. It comes down to the quality control of the product whether we're talking about Deere, Milwaukee or Ryobi which is exclusive to HD.

And you do have a choice, if you don't like Milwaukee because you think the quality is inferior, than you don't have to buy it. For me it's not where it's made but how and that determines whether I buy it or not.

Since Milwaukee offshores the manufacturing to China, I will consider them; but they are no long on my 'Buy no questions asked list.' In other words, if I think it's a POS, I won't buy it. For the sake of argument, let's say the Chinese product is of equal or greater quality than an American made Milwaukee. Why should I cheerfully hand over my hard earned cash to Milwaukee when they don't pass the cost savings from offshoring to China to the end user?

Do I have a problem with the Chinese improving their standard of living? Not in the least; but I do have a problem with it coming at the expense of Americans.

Watch Africa, it's the next place you'll see products coming from.

That's one of the reasons the Chinese are dropping boatloads of cash into Africa. The last time I bought wood shims from Ace Hardware, they came from South Africa. They were better than any Home Depot shims.

Will we survive, will Deere survive? That's a state of the Empire question and there hasn't been an empire since the dawn of recorded history that has remained on top for an extended period of time. Unfortunately we're following the Roman Empire.

Sadly, you are right about the USA going down the tubes in a similar manner to the Roman Empire, Greek Empire, British Empire, etc ad nauseum.

Will I buy Deere in 10 years? Maybe, maybe not, it depends whether they can maintain the quality, parts delivery and resale value. If they can't I'll go elsewhere... it's my choice!

Agreed.

Rob

 

[MBDiagMan]

I wish that I could chime in with those who are happy with their John Deere dealer, but I can't. I ended up going about 50 miles away to find a dealer that was interested in my business and gave me a really good price. The funny thing is that the dealer that is so impressive is part of the same parent company as the local dealer that is so bad.

The local JD dealer used to have a good parts counter and I'm told that they still do. I used to buy parts from them for my haying equipment when I used to do my own baling and they were great. Hopefully this still holds true because now that I've bought the tractor, hopefully the only thing I will need the dealer for is parts.

As far as the machinery itself goes, I've never felt bad about buying green and "yeller." The first tractor I ever drove was green and "yeller" and I was age 8. It was an A that I drove to rake hay. I was too small to handle the hand clutch, so my Grand Dad got me going and I just kept driving until I was at the center of the meadow and then killed it. An experience that I will NEVER forget. Of course in later years, raking hay turned into a bore. Maybe that's why I feel at home on a green and "yeller" tractor.

As far as buying JD in bad times, the list prices are the same as any other name brand tractor. It's a matter of finding a dealer that wants to price it to sell. If you can afford ANY tractor in bad times and you are buying new, it might as well be green and "yeller."

 

[bp fick]

Deere decided some years back to go ahead and compete with the lawn mowers sold in front of Big Box stores. For better or for worse they made that decision and they own that decision.

The bought out a plant, I believe, from another company and began to produce this series of lawn tractor, to be sold at their dealerships and gave sales contracts to Lowe's and Home Depot, with service still done at local dealerships. This was all a Deere decision. Like it, don't like, Deere owns that decision.

They are 100% John Deere products. They don't just buy them from AYP or MTD or someone and paint them green. Nope. Up to snuff with their X series? Hardly, but they aren't priced the same either. Love them or hate them, that is fine. Buy one, don't buy one, that too is the consumer's decision.

But, don't pretend they aren't a Deere product. 100% John Deere.

BTW, what is anyone expecting for $2200-2600 anyhow? For the price, they are likely about comparable to anything else sitting out there.

 

[jenkinsph]

I don't think people buying the mowers give it much thought. When you consider the average person buying a Deere product at the BBS they are buying it because of name recognition and/or price. The discussion about whether to go to a full dealer to make the purchase doesn't cross their minds. Also the $1500 to $2600 for the mowers is a lot to spend in their eyes. These younger homeowners are balancing a budget where they can buy the new washer dryer and the new lawnmower. This is quite easy to understand.

While most of us are interested in tractors (on TBN) the rest of the world could care less.

 

[arrabil]

Also the $1500 to $2600 for the mowers is a lot to spend in their eyes. These younger homeowners are balancing a budget where they can buy the new washer dryer and the new lawnmower. This is quite easy to understand.

Well said. I've been there. Wasn't but ten years ago. When the JD dealer explained what would happen to an MTD mower on our newly purchased property and my wife and I realized he wasn't BSing or selling us but rather we just hadn't thought of it. We were even thankful we didn't have to learn it the hard way. But it was either buy a $4000 new or a $2400 used mower and with the baby on the way and the house insurance bill and the property tax bill and all the inspections and one income for a few months and and and.... They didn't sell Deere at Lowes back then or we would have bought one in a hurry without giving it a second thought.

 

[JD755]

I don't think people buying the mowers give it much thought. When you consider the average person buying a Deere product at the BBS they are buying it because of name recognition and/or price. The discussion about whether to go to a full dealer to make the purchase doesn't cross their minds. Also the $1500 to $2600 for the mowers is a lot to spend in their eyes. These younger homeowners are balancing a budget where they can buy the new washer dryer and the new lawnmower. This is quite easy to understand.

While most of us are interested in tractors (on TBN) the rest of the world could care less.

I would guess many of the BBS buyers wouldn't have a clue where to find a JD dealer, and probably think they only sell farm tractors there anyway.