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

[MBDiagMan]

As far as JD at the BBS goes, as already pointed out, I think many people never see below the surface. Most of them are not stupid, they just don't have the time, desire or curiosity to do some research to learn the difference.

The analogy that comes to my mind is tires. For cars and even trucks/SUV's, the day is gone when you went and bought your favorite brand tire and had an idea of what you were getting. Todays tires, even within the same brand, run the gammut with everything from gummy rubber sports car tires that will last a few thousand miles all the way to the hard compound passenger car tires that will sometimes last 80,000 miles if taken care of and run primarily on the highway.

Most people don't even know that there is a treadwear number on the side of the tire that will tell them if it is a sticky tire or a long wearing tire. They think if they buy their favorite brand, that's the only decision they have to make. Then they get a high dollar Michelin or something without paying attention to treadwear numbers and then wonder why they only lasted 15,000 miles. Again, they're not stupid, they just don't know any better and don't think to do a few minutes of research on the subject.

My $0.02,

 

[beppington]

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.

9.63%????????? :shocked: :confused3: :confused2: :thumbdown:

I wonder what tax percentage level is generally considered socialism.

 

[rtimgray]

I would imagine the reason that JD decided to sell tractors at HD/Lowes is as simple as the volume of foot traffic walking in and out of the store on any given day. I have no idea what the figures would be, but I would guarantee that most Lowes/HD locations have thousands of people come and go each day (most walking right by the lawn mowers as you come in the doors) as compared to a JD dealership that may have a few dozen folks coming in and out.

Just my wild guess.

 

[Shazbat]

As far as JD at the BBS goes, as already pointed out, I think many people never see below the surface. Most of them are not stupid, they just don't have the time, desire or curiosity to do some research to learn the difference.

The analogy that comes to my mind is tires. For cars and even trucks/SUV's, the day is gone when you went and bought your favorite brand tire and had an idea of what you were getting. Todays tires, even within the same brand, run the gammut with everything from gummy rubber sports car tires that will last a few thousand miles all the way to the hard compound passenger car tires that will sometimes last 80,000 miles if taken care of and run primarily on the highway.

Most people don't even know that there is a treadwear number on the side of the tire that will tell them if it is a sticky tire or a long wearing tire. They think if they buy their favorite brand, that's the only decision they have to make. Then they get a high dollar Michelin or something without paying attention to treadwear numbers and then wonder why they only lasted 15,000 miles. Again, they're not stupid, they just don't know any better and don't think to do a few minutes of research on the subject.

My $0.02,

I would say that the difference with your analogy there is that the 15,000 mile (Or less) sticky sports tyre is still HIGHLY desired by some folks, and that the 80,000 mile no-feedback seemingly-made-of-concrete tyre desired by others.

With a modern litre+ sport motorcycle, you'd be lucky to get more than 2000-3000 miles out of a rear tyre, some far less than that. Does that make them worse than a 10,000 - 15,000 mile touring tyre for a different application?

edit - and I'm just suppositioning here, since I have no firsthand knowledge of big box store riding mowers, but based on what people are saying you could hardly compare them quality-wise to a competent set of sport rubber for an automobile.

Your point about consumers in general not knowing, of course, still stands

 

[mjncad]

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.

Exactly. I was in two Deere dealers yesterday and they both had LA's on the showroom floor.

9.63%????????? :shocked: :confused3: :confused2: :thumbdown:

I wonder what tax percentage level is generally considered socialism.

That 9.63% rate is the result of the city nearest me having a 8.6% tax rate, and the county cutting a deal with the developer of a new shopping center for a 1% PIF (Public Improvement Fee) to accelerate payback of the developer's investment in infrastructure. What's sick about the PIF is that it's added on after the sales tax is added onto merchandise total. A tax on a tax. I refuse to shop there unless I need an item costing less than $20 and I happen to be driving by.

 

[bp fick]

"Even when times are tough"?

The LA series also helps the dealerships. In many (most) suburban areas, there is always a large Deere dealership(s), with high visibility and well known to people. They cater to the municipalities, commercial accounts and all the landscaping/lawn service people. Their parking lots are usually jammed.

At one such store, with which I am very familiar, a bunch of LA series go flying out the door. The reason is simple. The sales staff points out the better features of the various X series nearby on the show room floor, but as has been said, folks on tight budgets, young buyers, and even "better to do" folks go home with a Deere they can afford.

I am not so sure that the dealers have not benefitted from having something that is priced right to offer. I'm sure the profit on them isn't huge, but what dealer is going to turn down selling them? Not many many, I suspect. They also are going to generate entry level loyalty and parts and service sales.

 

[Rob-D]

I would say that the difference with your analogy there is that the 15,000 mile (Or less) sticky sports tyre is still HIGHLY desired by some folks, and that the 80,000 mile no-feedback seemingly-made-of-concrete tyre desired by others.

With a modern litre+ sport motorcycle, you'd be lucky to get more than 2000-3000 miles out of a rear tyre, some far less than that. Does that make them worse than a 10,000 - 15,000 mile touring tyre for a different application?

edit - and I'm just suppositioning here, since I have no firsthand knowledge of big box store riding mowers, but based on what people are saying you could hardly compare them quality-wise to a competent set of sport rubber for an automobile.

Your point about consumers in general not knowing, of course, still stands

As I read his analogy he's not saying one tire is better or worse than the the other but that many consumers don't know the different aspects of tires just like they don't know the differences aspects of tractors, garden tractors and their functions. This, in my view, is why there grew a ridiculous embellishment of HP as the criteria establishing value in garden tractors. Most people had, and still have, no idea how to evaluate decks, transmissions and the chassis.
Rob

 

[MBDiagMan]

I would say that the difference with your analogy there is that the 15,000 mile (Or less) sticky sports tyre is still HIGHLY desired by some folks, and that the 80,000 mile no-feedback seemingly-made-of-concrete tyre desired by others.

With a modern litre+ sport motorcycle, you'd be lucky to get more than 2000-3000 miles out of a rear tyre, some far less than that. Does that make them worse than a 10,000 - 15,000 mile touring tyre for a different application?

edit - and I'm just suppositioning here, since I have no firsthand knowledge of big box store riding mowers, but based on what people are saying you could hardly compare them quality-wise to a competent set of sport rubber for an automobile.

Your point about consumers in general not knowing, of course, still stands

Yes, I have a Corvette with super sticky tires. For that car that's what I wanted, but I UNDERSTOOD what I was buying. For my pickup, though, I bought tires with a high treadwear number. I don't care to go road racing in my pickup.

My point was NOT that some people would not want gummy rubber tires, nor was my point to compare tires to mowers. My point was that MANY people have no clue that there is a difference and no clue how to tell the difference. To many people, the mower at the BBS is the same as the one at the implement dealer because they are both green and yellow.

 

[arrabil]

I wonder what tax percentage level is generally considered socialism.

and the county cutting a deal with the developer of a new shopping center for a 1% PIF (Public Improvement Fee) to accelerate payback of the developer's investment in infrastructure.

Gotta love it when a completely unnecessary political comment backfires like that.

I refuse to shop there unless I need an item costing less than $20 and I happen to be driving by.

You should consider actually refusing to shop there. And convincing others by explaining your example. A LOT of that will be the only way this kind of thing doesn't happen to us in the future.

 

[beppington]

Gotta love it when a completely unnecessary political comment backfires like that.

I don't understand this comment.

Sure my comment could be construed as an unnecessary political comment (that was such a shockingly high sales tax rate, I started thinking ...), but what backfire are you talking about?