A little miffed

[rocco611]

I agree with bigtiller, if the sales people are not helpful talk to the store manager, sales people sometimes get busy, some get complacent and need to be reminded why they have a job. My local John Deere dealer is very professional and helpful but their prices are high. I bought a John Deere D170 riding mower from Lowes for half price that had been sitting outside for more that 3 years. The paint was faded the seat cracked and the battery was bad. the John Deere dealer still warranted the battery, and considered the mower as new from my date of purchase. Think of your new S140 as a riding mower and you wont be disappointed, it is not a tractor. Your mower has the Tuff Torq TL200 transaxle which is the Tuff Torq's lowest cost transaxle. if you just use the S140 for mowing flat somewhat level ground the transaxle should last the life of the mower. If you tow things around, pull implements of mow steep hilly ground the transaxle may not hold up. Changing the oil in the transaxle to synthetic will help it live longer but its a bit difficult to change the oil as there is no drain plug and transaxle has to be removed and turned upside down to drain it.

 

[John Golliver]

The dealer didn't jack you around, the forgetful/lazy salesperson did. After waiting for the quote that never came, you could have spoke with the service manager and he would have lit some fires to get you satisfied.

Also, the dealer purchased mower would not be delivered to you in a box. It would be thoroughly assembled, tested and ready to mow, unless you asked for it that way. And the mechanics there will be a lot more knowledgeable than the kids that assemble it at Lowes.

I bought a John Deere mower at Lowes. When I had problems they told me to take it to the John Deere dealer. You have to watch out when buying at box stores. They usually don't sell the quality of mowers offered at the dealer. Do some research before you buy. All John Deere mowers are not the same quality. Same with Husquarvana and other brands.

 

[Farmdog267]

The 100 series Deere units will be the same at the box store as at the dealership. I work for a 5 store dealer in Pa and we hear that the large ag dealers don't put much effort into the riding lawn equipment category; most sell it simply because they have to. Good luck with the new S140!

 

[DanBick]

Typical experience with tractor salesmen in general (not just green). I can't get any of them to act like they want to sell me a 36 to 39 HP tractor. They undoubtedly do not work on commission.

 

[Buzzard7]

So my wife and I decided to buy a new lawn tractor, a John Deere S140. The closest Deere dealerships are all pretty far away. And they are all owned by the same company. Anyway, I contacted the closest one and got a price over the phone. However, the salesperson needed to work up a quote. I heard nothing for about a week. Then the person called me, apologized for the late quote, clarified a couple things, then crickets. So after nearly another week goes by I look again online for the same S140. I find it for sale assembled at Lowe's and Home Depot, not in a box like the Deere dealerships offer. Closer too. By a lot. And $250 less.
I know, it's not a high dollar purchase compared to other offerings from John Deere. But now I'm waiting two weeks for a quote that over the phone is already $250 over what Lowe's and Home Depot are offering and the thing comes in a box. Not assembled like the other folks.
Maybe I'm just too low dollar. But how can they expect me to even look at them for other purchases if they are already charging me more for something that I need to put together. Am I wrong? Is a dealer gonna be that much better if I have a problem than Home Depot or Lowe's? If they can't even put the thing together but still charge me nearly 10% more because they are a dealer?
Anyway, I realized today that the dealer decided that I'm not worth the money to even give me a quote, especially since I have been completely polite and even enthusiastic about the upcoming purchase, but still haven't received the quote that the salesperson told me I needed to purchase the S140 lawn tractor.
So, I'm a little miffed that I spent the time emailing and talking to a John Deere dealership representative and still have not received the quote necessary to buy a machine from a Deere dealership. Even though I'm only spending a lousy $2799.00. Tomorrow we will be spending our money at Home Depot or Lowe's.
Eric

Buy the JD from Lowe's. It's the same mower and will do fine.

 

[IllinoisMike]

So my wife and I decided to buy a new lawn tractor, a John Deere S140. The closest Deere dealerships are all pretty far away. And they are all owned by the same company. Anyway, I contacted the closest one and got a price over the phone. However, the salesperson needed to work up a quote. I heard nothing for about a week. Then the person called me, apologized for the late quote, clarified a couple things, then crickets. So after nearly another week goes by I look again online for the same S140. I find it for sale assembled at Lowe's and Home Depot, not in a box like the Deere dealerships offer. Closer too. By a lot. And $250 less.
I know, it's not a high dollar purchase compared to other offerings from John Deere. But now I'm waiting two weeks for a quote that over the phone is already $250 over what Lowe's and Home Depot are offering and the thing comes in a box. Not assembled like the other folks.
Maybe I'm just too low dollar. But how can they expect me to even look at them for other purchases if they are already charging me more for something that I need to put together. Am I wrong? Is a dealer gonna be that much better if I have a problem than Home Depot or Lowe's? If they can't even put the thing together but still charge me nearly 10% more because they are a dealer?
Anyway, I realized today that the dealer decided that I'm not worth the money to even give me a quote, especially since I have been completely polite and even enthusiastic about the upcoming purchase, but still haven't received the quote that the salesperson told me I needed to purchase the S140 lawn tractor.
So, I'm a little miffed that I spent the time emailing and talking to a John Deere dealership representative and still have not received the quote necessary to buy a machine from a Deere dealership. Even though I'm only spending a lousy $2799.00. Tomorrow we will be spending our money at Home Depot or Lowe's.
Eric

That’s an MTD lawn tractor. Never has that been thru a John Deere factory

 

[tacticalturnip]

That’s an MTD lawn tractor. Never has that been thru a John Deere factory

I bought a John Deere mower at Lowes. When I had problems they told me to take it to the John Deere dealer. You have to watch out when buying at box stores. They usually don't sell the quality of mowers offered at the dealer. Do some research before you buy. All John Deere mowers are not the same quality. Same with Husquarvana and other brands.

They're not, nor have they ever been, made by MTD; the same tractor sold at Lowes is sold at dealers. They're made in Greenville, TN at the John Deere lawn and garden pant there.

I don't know where you're getting this information, but it is simply wrong.

 

[tacticalturnip]

One can argue their quality, but at the end of the day the 100 series is, and has always been, John Deere.

 

[rScotty]

Several years ago my son and I went to our John Deere dealer and walked around in the rain to pick out a 50 horsepower tractor we were ready to purchase. No salesperson ever showed up. We went in the showroom and sat there for half an hour and people would walk by but never offered to help. WE bought another brand and have been very happy with it!

Here it is again, and from another new member. This JD attitude has become a common refrain from newbies and old hands alike. Hardly a week goes by when someone doesn't post about how poor the service is at the John Deere tractor dealer. Common comments are, "arrogant" and "not interested".

So why is that? And why is is been so consistent for 15/20 years now? Is it some sort of marketing strategy? On other brands and dealers we hear some good and some bad....but nothing so consistent as the JD attitude. Like it or not, that attitude has become part of their trademark. Why did they do that?

rScotty

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Green with envy?