Is every Deere dealer inflexible on lawn & garden?

[plowhog]

I narrowed a riding mower/lawn tractor down to Deere and Husqvarna. Husqvarna has made good strides with their latest model for 2017. A Deere x380 is probably better, but Husky is catching up fast.

Husqvarna dealers want to deal, offer services, fuel, delivery, discounts on implements and attachments, or whatever. My experience with Deere dealers is straight MSRP, no deals, no incentives, no delivery, etc. The posture I observed is pay full MSRP, come get it, and goodbye.

I realize Deere has a good reputation and they want to protect their brand. And have dealers make big profits. But isn't zero flexibility somewhat antiquated in today's modern world?

Has Deere locked their dealers down this tightly? One dealer did offer a slight concession. But I probably shouldn't describe it as I don't want to get anyone in trouble.

 

[beenthere]

Personally know several Deere sales people, and as one said once "My family has to eat too". Thinking it is mostly up to the salesman on how much room they have to dicker on price, but that "room" comes from their pocket. Unless corporate has some deals, or the dealership wants to move some items, then the salesman works from MSRP.

Your previous activity buying from the dealership or a particular salesman will enter into the amount of pencil sharpening they do for you. I find that loyalty with parts, service, and purchase will go a long way to coming up with a good price.
So you also have to sell yourself to the salesman, like it or not.

 

[Wagtail]

In my experience it all depends on the Dealership... and that's with any colour tractor.

My JD Dealership (and, yes, I'm happy to say "my") sold me the tractor(s) that I needed plus the implements at a fair price. They added a free first service at my property (which is a two hour - one way trip for them) into the deal.

Both of my tractors were delivered free of charge and fully fuelled. The same with all of the implements I've bought from them.


beenthere may have a point regarding 'selling yourself' to the salesman... I brought a 'local tractor owner' with me when I went to negotiate, all he did was sit, nod and drink coffee. But he did know* the salesman.

[Note: * Tasmania is a very small population State... I swear everybody knows everybody else. I've only lived here for 4 years and I'm beginning to run into folks, that I know, in unusual places.]

 

[RandyT]

Some of you may be overestimating the dealer profit in lawn and garden equipment. The days of 20% mark up are gone. Try closer to 4-6% in a lot of cases. And if it has set on the floor more than 90 days, the dealer is making payments with interest to the finance company. I have a chainsaw that I sell for $199. My profit doesn't even allow me to give you a 6 pack of mix oil, because the cost of the oil is more than my profit margin.

 

[Spindifferent]

For what it is worth, I received a discount from my JD salesman on the purchase of my 2016 X584. I do have prior purchase history with this dealership and salesman.

Like everything else, I suspect that deals depend on many factors including local competition, business conditions, factory incentives, time of year, business relationships, ... etc.

Best of luck with your shopping!

 

[BigBlue1]

I shopped at several dealers last spring to find and buy my x758. Some were better than others at discounts. But I don't believe any one of them quoted me MSRP. As with any large item purchase, lots of factors are involved, as mentioned above. Time of year (sales cycle, up/down time), inventory on hand, how much they want your trade, etc. All you can do it check around with several and get a feel, then decide which fits you best.

On thing I've noticed in my many years of buying though is that most times I've purchased a big item (car, truck, snowmobile, motorcycle, tractor, etc.) dealers are not willing at all to throw in any type of extra like clothing, accessory, etc. They will deal on the price of the item and your trade value but no 'extras'. I haven't figured out why that is. One time when I was young I bought a limited availability car at basically full MSRP (yeah, I was young and 'needed' it, but it lasted 16 years and a quarter million trouble-free miles so I'm ok with it) and the dealer wouldn't even throw in any swag with it. Finally got them to pony up something and it was a promotional t-shirt worth about $5 that they probably gave out at the auto show for free anyway.

Rob

 

[Deere Dude]

I am lucky if they throw in a cap that fits. The only time it seems where I didn't get totally shafted was when I had a JD595 for a trade in and they wanted one like that because they were selling a lot of that model at that time, he said.

Buying just plain outright seems to be the new norm in may places. Wait for a spring promotional of some sort and hope for the best. I used to be able to go into a furniture store, appliance store, hardware store, lumberyard or any other store and people would dicker for a better price and they would cave in a certain amount. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Now it is, here is a fair price, take it or leave it.

 

[buickanddeere]

Much of the overhead and dealer costs are the same on a 16HP lawn tractor or a 200HP field tractor.The 10% markup on a lawn tractor is rather thin vs 5-10% markup on the 200HP tractor.

 

[plowhog]

I have a purchasing relationship with one of the dealers. They gave a small discount on a Honda powered piece of equipment recently. Probably about 5%.

They won't budge on a Deere. Last month Deere had $500 off as a factory promo. This month and next, nothing. So about sixteen days ago, they could have profitably sold me a unit for $500 less, but now its "their way" or the "highway." Why did the numbers scramble in just sixteen days?

I've spent a great deal of money on tractors and outdoor equipment in the last 18 months. This unit is one of the cheapest things I have looked at-- less than $5k. If they gave me 5% off that's only $250. If they would have even thrown in a gallon or two of pre-mix I think that would have sealed the deal. I just have a hard time being told to take it or leave it. Pay more for no good reason other than you are sixteen days late. Not a huge deal, but their $500 incentive last month, which is no longer possible, just might instead incent me to buy "anything-but-Deere." I'm seeing why so many people comment that Deere is very proud of their brand.

 

[fried1765]

I have a purchasing relationship with one of the dealers. They gave a small discount on a Honda powered piece of equipment recently. Probably about 5%.

They won't budge on a Deere. Last month Deere had $500 off as a factory promo. This month and next, nothing. So about sixteen days ago, they could have profitably sold me a unit for $500 less, but now its "their way" or the "highway." Why did the numbers scramble in just sixteen days?

I've spent a great deal of money on tractors and outdoor equipment in the last 18 months. This unit is one of the cheapest things I have looked at-- less than $5k. If they gave me 5% off that's only $250. If they would have even thrown in a gallon or two of pre-mix I think that would have sealed the deal. I just have a hard time being told to take it or leave it. Pay more for no good reason other than you are sixteen days late. Not a huge deal, but their $500 incentive last month, which is no longer possible, just might instead incent me to buy "anything-but-Deere." I'm seeing why so many people comment that Deere is very proud of their brand.

The "take it or leave it" attitude is something I just cannot stomach!
In today's internet world it just does not make much sense either.
Given "take it or leave it": Color me .... GONE!
Chances are, with a bit of patience, "leaving it" will produce a better deal elsewhere, Deere or not!

 

[MORRISONSTEEL]

Depending on your part of the country right now is prime mower selling season, not really the prime season for discounts. There are lots of retailers that will stick to a pre-determined margin especially when you are at literally the starting point of the highest point of demand for your product.

 

[beenthere]

I've been happy with the deals I've made over the years with my Deere dealer.
I'm also more impressed with the Deere quality as a whole, compared to any of the competition I've run or seen run by neighbors.

Not everyone will be happy, no matter what the deals are.. They likely buy a different brand.
As suggested by Morrisonsteel, timing is important..

 

[KEYBEAR]

Last Spring I bought a new John Deere X 758 . The local dealer gave me a trade price with my used John Deere X 750 . It was to high the sales guy low balled my trade and ask top price for the new tractor . I called around and bought a new X 758 250 miles from home got a bagger and all for less money . Now my local gets to service it .

 

[MORRISONSTEEL]

Last Spring I bought a new John Deere X 758 . The local dealer gave me a trade price with my used John Deere X 750 . It was to high the sales guy low balled my trade and ask top price for the new tractor . I called around and bought a new X 758 250 miles from home got a bagger and all for less money . Now my local gets to service it .

Service margins 65% and above, sales margins 30% and below. Your local dealer may not be that disappointed in losing a low margin sale, parts and service actually pay the bills.

 

[KEYBEAR]

Service margins 65% and above, sales margins 30% and below. Your local dealer may not be that disappointed in losing a low margin sale, parts and service actually pay the bills.

Please I do not care what the local dealer thinks ?

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Didn't you have problems with the local Kubota dealers? Maybe change your approach? You shouldn't have to (you are the customer after all) but might be less frustrating. :confused3:

 

[Wagtail]

Different geographic areas play a part in pricing. For the OP (and others), think of buying in Alaska or Hawaii. In those States, and other isolated markets, transport/availability are a large $ factor along with the relative population 'pool' of potential buyers. In those environments, a Dealer's reputation -fair price and, especially, follow up service/support- is what will get/hold customers.

Tasmania is similar = small population and we're an island... we factor in transportation costs for everything that needs to be shipped here from the mainland (or what we jokingly call 'the North Island' ) Reputation is king and 'word' quickly spreads as to who's the best.

Regarding 'goodies'... perhaps it's because I'm such a nice bloke but I received the standard Dealership 'ball cap' and the salesman gave me a Dealership bomber-jacket! :cool2:

 

[s219]

When I bought my X380 last spring, Deere had an incentive, I had a test drive coupon, and the dealer was offering a weekend special for some garden show. I didn't actually go to the garden show but the sales guy gave me that extra discount the day before, and it nudged me to make the purchase. Total was $700 off MSRP.

I don't know how the Husky mowers are in 2017, but when I shopped last spring, Deere was unquestionably better in many many ways. That is not true of the lower model Deeres, but once you get into the X series they really do make a fine machine with no equal on the market that I can see. I imagine the dealers realize that and probably don't see the need to compete with the other brands out there. No offense to Husky -- I own some of their products -- but their riding mowers just aren't in the same class as Deere, at least not in 2016 when I shopped around.

 

[jenkinsph]

When I purchased my x749 the dealer discounted my order 15% off msrp. That included the mower, 3ph kit, pto kit and mulcher attachment. They have been good to deal with and fair. That is all I can ask for and I recognize everyone needs to make a profit. That is why businesses open their doors.

 

[buickanddeere]

If you want a discount, shop when JD corporate is offering discounts .