Constructive Feedback from Former Potential JD Customer

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I would hope and assume that someone from JD Corporate pays attention to this site. There is plenty of good information here from true blue customers. Anyway to the point. I have been in the market for a CUT for a while now. As I am a novice to this all I have been patient and doing all my due diligence. Because of this my budget scope has expanded considerably. It is due to some great sales folks and especially the contributors to this site. In the process I have been very disappointed with my interaction with JD to the point JD is no longer part of my consideration.

I am a Salesman and I would say successful at what I do. Enough to have the extra money to spend on an item such as this. I have visited two JD dealers. One multiple times talking to different sales folks. One of the dealers was on a John Deere open house. When speaking with the sales folks I have explained clearly that I was completely new to tractors and what type of work I was expected to be doing. I also am in the market for a commercial walk behind mower ($5K-$7K range) With these dealer I was given the impression that they just did not give a crap about me and my business. Looking at all the $1M combines and other large tractors on the lots I felt as though these folks were their real customers and I was just a crumb. Also thinking ahead and if I had an issue that I would be even less than a crumb to them. I stated please feel free to email me (I rarely ever provide my email address) and/or call if they would like to continue the conversation. No calls, no email. The best attention I was handed was a brochure and a some guesstimates on costs. As a new customer you should engage and qualify. Build a relationship no matter how small they are.

So, sad to say JD has been eliminated from my search.

Overall as an American company (I know the engines are Yanmar) I wish the best for JD. I have heard second hand some of the other issues why the JD dealer may be acting this way but that is not pertinent to my search. I just hope that JD pays attention or they will continue to lose market share in the US and Globally.

Reading your 1st post, it seems you are hoping that JD is using the technology you are selling.

I hope you find a tractor and dealer that is able to appease you.

 

[ovrszd]

Reading your 1st post, it seems you are hoping that JD is using the technology you are selling.

I hope you find a tractor and dealer that is able to appease you.

Yeah, that was my point. Maybe not??

 

[AuburnAlum]

Reading your 1st post, it seems you are hoping that JD is using the technology you are selling.

I hope you find a tractor and dealer that is able to appease you.

I am hoping they use any companies version of my technology. There are about 50+ companies that make it and thousands of companies that use it. It is my hope that JD use it. I could care less if it is the version I sell. OR even better I hope that a JD employee that cares or is paid to care reads the post.

Sad to say there are too many members like ovrszd that live in a grumpy, pissed off world of paranoia and conspiracy.

 

[ovrszd]

I am hoping they use any companies version of my technology. There are about 50+ companies that make it and thousands of companies that use it. It is my hope that JD use it. I could care less if it is the version I sell. OR even better I hope that a JD employee that cares or is paid to care reads the post.

Sad to say there are too many members like ovrszd that live in a grumpy, pissed off world of paranoia and conspiracy.

I asked what your business is? Then I asked if you started this thread to further that business? Then I actually supported the notion that you might have better intent?

Now you attack me?

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I am hoping they use any companies version of my technology. There are about 50+ companies that make it and thousands of companies that use it. It is my hope that JD use it. I could care less if it is the version I sell. OR even better I hope that a JD employee that cares or is paid to care reads the post.

Sad to say there are too many members like ovrszd that live in a grumpy, pissed off world of paranoia and conspiracy.

I can easily see how someone like you (in the business) could post something like you did, but I can also see the other side of the coin from those of us who know nothing of the data mining business. Way too often, peoples' initial postings are rants about this or that.

When you get upwards of 8000 posts, then we will all take better heed of your constructive criticisms.

 

[rgr33]

One of the things I really like about this forum is that a poster can come on here and tell us all about a gripe or a good experience he has, and it hardly ever turns personal. It's the opposite of my favorite football board, where thing get ugly on the turn of a dime.
Auburn alum sees a serious flaw in the way John Deere treats their customers in the area he lives, especially since the local Deere owners were weeded out. I line all the way across the country from him, yet the situation out here in Oregon is exactly the same. It wasn't, until a mega store bought up nearly every small dealer with in 50 miles I bought my JD 950 from the local dealer many years ago, it was a great buying and later servicing experience. When I went to buy a new 30 hp unit, I couldn't get any help at all. I took some time looking over the new tractors on display, then couldn't even get eye contact from any of the staff. They clearly didn't want to be bothered. I left phone messages asking for help and pricing, never got a call back. It's really a shame, because I love my 950, and I really thought I would enjoy newer model with all the comforts a new tractor would have.
And I do, on my LS G3033h, and the implements I bought with it.

 

[AuburnAlum]

I can easily see how someone like you (in the business) could post something like you did, but I can also see the other side of the coin from those of us who know nothing of the data mining business. Way too often, peoples' initial postings are rants about this or that.

When you get upwards of 8000 posts, then we will all take better heed of your constructive criticisms.

I wrote this post for:

1- Anyone from JD reading this forum or monitoring or later. Perhaps it has some value as I originally stated
2- For anyone that would begin a tractor search like myself. The search capability of this site is helpful for most questions for novices.

As you can see I follow up with new information on my more positive experience. Hopefully also valuable for those that would care, not you tex. I honestly could have cared less if anyone replied.

What was the point of: "When you get upwards of 8000 posts, then we will all take better heed of your constructive criticisms."

Was is to be some sort of cyber bully proving you have more right to be here than I? " I deserve more respect because I have 8000+ posts?" Grow up.

 

[ovrszd]

I wrote this post for:

1- Anyone from JD reading this forum or monitoring or later. Perhaps it has some value as I originally stated
2- For anyone that would begin a tractor search like myself. The search capability of this site is helpful for most questions for novices.

As you can see I follow up with new information on my more positive experience. Hopefully also valuable for those that would care, not you tex. I honestly could have cared less if anyone replied.

What was the point of: "When you get upwards of 8000 posts, then we will all take better heed of your constructive criticisms."

Was is to be some sort of cyber bully proving you have more right to be here than I? " I deserve more respect because I have 8000+ posts?" Grow up.

I say this with respect.

Calm down. He wasn't talking about you with his 8000 post comment. Don't be so offensive when it appears someone might be questioning your logic and purpose in your posts.

Lastly, if no one replied I doubt that JD or any other manufacturer would pay much attention to your thread with 0 replies/views.

 

[ovrszd]

I wrote this post for:

1- Anyone from JD reading this forum or monitoring or later. Perhaps it has some value as I originally stated
2- For anyone that would begin a tractor search like myself. The search capability of this site is helpful for most questions for novices.

As you can see I follow up with new information on my more positive experience. Hopefully also valuable for those that would care, not you tex. I honestly could have cared less if anyone replied.

What was the point of: "When you get upwards of 8000 posts, then we will all take better heed of your constructive criticisms."

Was is to be some sort of cyber bully proving you have more right to be here than I? " I deserve more respect because I have 8000+ posts?" Grow up.

I say this with respect.

Calm down. He wasn't talking about you with his 8000 post comment. Don't be so offensive when it appears someone might be questioning your logic and purpose in your posts.

Lastly, if no one replied I doubt that JD or any other manufacturer would pay much attention to your thread with 0 replies/views.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I wrote this post for:

1- Anyone from JD reading this forum or monitoring or later. Perhaps it has some value as I originally stated
2- For anyone that would begin a tractor search like myself. The search capability of this site is helpful for most questions for novices.

As you can see I follow up with new information on my more positive experience. Hopefully also valuable for those that would care, not you tex. I honestly could have cared less if anyone replied.

What was the point of: "When you get upwards of 8000 posts, then we will all take better heed of your constructive criticisms."

Was is to be some sort of cyber bully proving you have more right to be here than I? " I deserve more respect because I have 8000+ posts?" Grow up.

Trust me, there are people that you could stuff money in their pockets and they would go away mad. All too often, people sign up to air a grievance (which you did), and then they don't follow up. I'm glad you followed up. I hope you find what you need. I didn't like it either when JD consolidated. Keep us updated on your experience. Maybe some can learn from it.
Good day.

 

[MMagis]

Why did you even waste the time to reply? I wrote this post because I am in the business of customer satisfaction. I sell technology that does automatically search for sentiment on JD (or any company) for that matter. Companies focus on blogs and forums as they are the best indicator of customer sentiment and what customers are talking about. They may even have 'ghost' members that read these individually.

I replied because I was baffled why someone would write such a letter, but rather than send it to the John Deere Corp, posted it on some internet forum. I'll be honest, I was not familiar with such software. However, rather than posting this here and just "hoping" JD uses such technology, why don't you take the guess work and send it to them? Seems pretty straight forward to me.

 

[Kubota 2350]

I think it's the luck of the draw, when I started looking I went to Kubota cause it was the closest dealer, guy really didn't have time for me, next stopped at the Case dealer, no salesmen to be found, when I ask, the guy said their around here somewhere, I waited for 5 to 10 minutes and left.
Then on to the Deere dealer, ask to see a salesman and was at his desk, and then out in the tractor I had asked about, sitting in the cab with the engine running.

So it's all a matter of where and when you happen to show up, I think they all want to sell you a tractor, some more than others.

 

[slaveToHorses]

I am also in western Oregon and as another poster comments, we used to have a bunch of JD dealership in the area. They had different emphasis and I never had issues finding someone to talk to. Now they are all one big company. The stores are more fancy but they lost the personal connection.
I used to actually know my sales guy and we would hang out if he wasn't busy. He would show me pictures of his latest restoration project.
Nothing like that any more.

 

[1MOA]

If you want to see JD's corporate emphasis look at any issue of the Furrow magazine. I get it since we have bought 3 tractors from them I guess. Every issue has adds for high end tractors and the associated electronics.
I admit I like most of the articles but the reality is they have put lots of money into those lines so that is what they ( and by association , their dealers are pushed to sell)
I will say the sales people have either been non existent but in all honesty every purchase I have ever done I already knew what I wanted and what I wanted to pay for it so the dynamic "sale" was not there.
I will say that the JD web page for info on their tractors is abysmal with no way to look at the tractor specifications between similar models unless you want to start another separate search and the implement search is even worse and the comparison ther eis even more important.

 

[TheMan419]

That sounds like a crappy dealer, not JD's fault. I too looked at JD. Ended up with New Holland for my CUT.

The JD dealer was ok. I did not feel like a crumb, but for my needs the NH was better.

Also the NH dealer "felt" better to me. The salesman was attentive. I went in on Saturday to sign the papers and a couple of the service guys where there. They seemed pretty attentive and able to answer my questions. I think that is a lot more important than what color the tractor is.

 

[MORRISONSTEEL]

After doing some more research it is clear JD is all about volume and there are no more 'small' dealerships. All the dealerships are parts of larger organizations that are by no means small with a single location. This is not the case with Kubota or the other brands. JD has much more control and historically has seemed to force itself upon the dealer and should do something about it. Start to care about its customer the first time they walk through the door of any JD dealership.

Just curious how many single store Kubota dealers and the other brands you refer to would still be that way if they had as large of a product line up as John Deere, CNH, or Agco. Those are really the 3 big ag oems for NA and they all have Lots of multi store groups. I think comparing those two companies in that regard in incorrect, to support precision farming, etc, etc, requires a vast knowledge network. I am also curios how many Kubota dealers (as well as those others you mentioned) have a separate IS department to handle guidance, yield mapping, irrigation controls, etc etc like the above mentioned 3 do? I could be wrong here but I believe that CNH boasts the largest single owned dealer network.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Just curious how many single store Kubota dealers and the other brands you refer to would still be that way if they had as large of a product line up as John Deere, CNH, or Agco. Those are really the 3 big ag oems for NA and they all have Lots of multi store groups. I think comparing those two companies in that regard in incorrect, to support precision farming, etc, etc, requires a vast knowledge network. I am also curios how many Kubota dealers (as well as those others you mentioned) have a separate IS department to handle guidance, yield mapping, irrigation controls, etc etc like the above mentioned 3 do? I could be wrong here but I believe that CNH boasts the largest single owned dealer network.

thats a great post with great questions. Is it funny because Kubota is reaching that point where larger dealer groups are going to become necessary to support their increasingly complex product line, but they have decades of supporting the small guy and have been very successful by avoiding the corporate giant business model. There are really no perfect answers here. It will be interesting how this plays out in the future.

 

[crackerjack222]

I have told this story before so bear with me for repeating it. Many years ago (before internet) I was in the market for my first small tractor. I had my heart set on a Ford 2000. There was only one Ford tractor dealer in Houston at the time and it was across town. I made the trip and sure enough, there was a Ford 2000 on the showroom floor. I walked around it several times, looking it over. Finally, a guy comes out of one of the offices next to the showroom floor and as he was walking by I asked if I could get a price on that tractor. Without breaking stride he said "if you have to ask, you can't afford it". I thought he as joking around with me but he kept going. As he disappeared around a corner, I picked my jaw up off the floor and walked out. I went back across town to the Massey Ferguson dealer and wrote a check for a MF 235. I later learned that guy was the owner of the dealership.

 

[ovrszd]

I have told this story before so bear with me for repeating it. Many years ago (before internet) I was in the market for my first small tractor. I had my heart set on a Ford 2000. There was only one Ford tractor dealer in Houston at the time and it was across town. I made the trip and sure enough, there was a Ford 2000 on the showroom floor. I walked around it several times, looking it over. Finally, a guy comes out of one of the offices next to the showroom floor and as he was walking by I asked if I could get a price on that tractor. Without breaking stride he said "if you have to ask, you can't afford it". I thought he as joking around with me but he kept going. As he disappeared around a corner, I picked my jaw up off the floor and walked out. I went back across town to the Massey Ferguson dealer and wrote a check for a MF 235. I later learned that guy was the owner of the dealership.

The previous owner of our local JD dealer was that way. He walked by my wife and I without any acknowledgement, walked back past us the same way, no eye contact. I said let's go. Wife said who was that guy? I said the owner. She beat me to the truck, talking to herself the whole way. She took it personal.

 

[MORRISONSTEEL]

thats a great post with great questions. Is it funny because Kubota is reaching that point where larger dealer groups are going to become necessary to support their increasingly complex product line, but they have decades of supporting the small guy and have been very successful by avoiding the corporate giant business model. There are really no perfect answers here. It will be interesting how this plays out in the future.

Thank you, that was really my point. I don't believe that multi store dealer phenomenon is driven purely by oem greed as the op has stated. The future will certainly tell us but I believe for a single store organization to survive supporting a full scale ag dealership of any color it will have to be that "perfect storm" of absolutely amazing people working in harmony. The temptation for store owners to merge as one of the methods to grow their business and to support their customers will be to much to resist even without prodding by an oem.