Deere scared?

[DonWorrell]

They're scared to realize how many so-called Americans are willing to bypass domestic-based companies to buy foreign for a few bucks less. Seems to be no loyalty at all...

It's a race to the bottom.

Give me as good of an American built for near the same price and I will buy American. But you can't so I will buy Mahindra. My pickup is a Ford. Toyota might make a better truck but for the money I went with American. I am sorry but the tractor manufacters have stopped making affordable American tractors.

Sorry if my buying habits offend you. Oh by the way I served on the Air Force during Viet Nam so you and I can both have freedom of choice.

Don

 

[NTex6500]

Funny in some ways but sad in others. I feel if we get in a REAL world war were not gonna be able to manufacture the massive amount of weapons needed to survive much less win. Are we gonna get China to build weapons for us to defeat them? I think not. Wake up Americans!

Sorry to get off subject.

Bob as always you made some good points.

My 6500 Mahindra was manufactured in India and assembled in Texas. The Deere models it is in direct competition with are manufactured and assembled in India. My 6500 has a seat, battery and FEL manufactured in the USA. You tell me which is most American. As for our ability to defend ourselves, I am a machinist in the defense industry and it has become increasingly hard to hire machinists under 45 years of age. American youth have no interest in doing this type of work and due to the lack of training in schools the available pool of trained or experienced workers is shrinking dramaticlly.

 

[jwcinpk]

Wow I never expected this much light on this subject, but it is very good conversation. During a recent lunch with some Mahindra ad guys they mentioned that Deere had come after Mahindra over this ad. I for one wish Mahindra hadn't pulled it. For those of you who missed it, you missed a great peice of advertising genius. I for one don't see anyway Mahindra infringed on Deere's copyright by running an ad titled "Deere John I've Found Someone New". However I'm not a lawyer.
I too would buy american (and union) given a comparible product and price. To me it's about best price for the money. I have always thought Toyota made the best cars and trucks out there, just not the most for the money. That's why we drive Chevrolet. Doesn't make my dad too happy since he works for Toyota!
Mahindra makes some fine products as does Deere and they are both being considered for my next tractor.
Mahindra 7010 cab vs Deere 5425 cab.

 

[Dusty]

Reminds me of Pepsi and Coke..... they are always taking swipes at each other, and they both keep the lawyers busy trying to stop the others commercials from airing. A small local company took a swipe at coke by having their logo mascot, a polar bear pick up a can of coke, take a swig, spit it out and throw it away. Then he took a swig of Polar soda (pop / tonic, depending on where you live) and smile. Coke took offense and went after them. They dropped the ad campaign. I don't know if they had to, but it was probably cost effective to just drop it rather than fight, because it would have cost both companies money that would just be wasted. That is the way life is, you pick your battles, based on your economic strength.
Dusty

 

[Dougster]

Give me as good of an American built for near the same price and I will buy American. But you can't so I will buy Mahindra. My pickup is a Ford. Toyota might make a better truck but for the money I went with American. I am sorry but the tractor manufacters have stopped making affordable American tractors.

I go out of my way to buy American. My pickup truck is a brand new Chevy Silverado. My two cars are a Chevy and a Ford. My bike is a Harley. I check the labels on everything I buy and buy American whenever I can (which is getting harder and harder every day).

The whole tractor thing started for me with a fellow a couple towns over selling his used John Deere tractor w/FEL & BH. And when he passed on my offer and sold it to someone else, I went out looking for other, larger Deere's. The (yellow) Deere 110 TLB is still my favorite of all time in a pre-owned machine and I'd own one today but for a strange twist of fate re: timing of my layoff. However, the newest green machines turned me off cold with so many parts stamped "Made in CHINA." That was the end of my fixation on Deere. Suddenly I discovered Mahindra and the rest is history... and it didn't hurt at all that my FEL and BH were "Made in USA."

It's unfair to directly compare Deere's and Mahindra's impact on the US economy because Deere is into so much more than just smallish aggie tractors. Regardless of its newest factory locations, Deere is still quite the powerhouse in farm, commercial and construction-grade equipment. That's why it's so amusing to see them take a swat at those "new-kid-in-town" red machines!

Dougster

 

[TomKioti]

That's why it's so amusing to see them take a swat at those "new-kid-in-town" red machines! Dougster

I guess they really took it personally. Like I stated before it's actually validating Mahindra more than helping Deere. Were talking about it aren't we?

 

[swines]

Which models have the parts made in China, and where do I look on the tractor to find the parts stamped, "Made in China"?

 

[Dougster]

Which models have the parts made in China, and where do I look on the tractor to find the parts stamped, "Made in China"?

Can't say that I remember the specific model numbers with the Chinese parts, but the markings were obvious to anyone looking for them and I do remember the New Hampshire dealer explaining that they were relatively new machines aimed at being more price competitive if that helps. Had quite a discussion with the salesman who seemed not to want to admit that "Big Green" had sold out. I confess... all I could think of at the time was "Jimna" and why should I pay more for a lime green Jimna? I know that's unfair... and as I said before, the Deere 110 is *still* my favorite TLB of all time... but I was extremely disappointed to see that even "Big Green" had sold out for the sake of a few dollars more profit.

The only good news is that it opened my "Buy American" eyes and made me consider the alternatives. I found my Mahindra and the rest is history.

Dougster

 

[AchingBack]

Which models have the parts made in China, and where do I look on the tractor to find the parts stamped, "Made in China"?

When I looked at JD two years ago, one of the first things I noticed was on the JD 790 compact loader assembly - MADE IN CHINA. I swear, I almost ran out of the show room. The salesman told me it was just the loader, not the whole tractor. However, not knowing the whole truth, I decided to pick up my cards and leave. I have no idea if any one thing on my Mahindra 2615 is made in China or not. There certainly isn't anything that indicates so, and I've been all over it for the past 18 months. I hope it is China free. I really don't want to know either. Kinda like the person who doesn't read labels in the supermarket. If I don't know what's in it, it will taste better.

 

[Poboy]

THE 2615 HAS NO CHINA PARTS ON IT AND NONE OF THE OTHER MAHINDRA`S HAVE CHINESE PARTS ON THEM EXCEPT FOR THE TRACTOR THAT IS BEING PRODUCED IN CHINA BUT THIS MODEL IS STILL IN DEVELOPMENT AND WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE QUALITY IS UP TO PAR.

 

[swines]

Can't say that I remember the specific model numbers with the Chinese parts, but the markings were obvious to anyone looking for them and I do remember the New Hampshire dealer explaining that they were relatively new machines aimed at being more price competitive if that helps. Had quite a discussion with the salesman who seemed not to want to admit that "Big Green" had sold out. I confess... all I could think of at the time was "Jimna" and why should I pay more for a lime green Jimna? I know that's unfair... and as I said before, the Deere 110 is *still* my favorite TLB of all time... but I was extremely disappointed to see that even "Big Green" had sold out for the sake of a few dollars more profit.

The only good news is that it opened my "Buy American" eyes and made me consider the alternatives. I found my Mahindra and the rest is history.

Dougster

Hmmmm....see...that's the problem. People make statements that get extrapolated, fabricated, and then applied to all pieces of equipment from a certain manufacturer. I looked all over my Deere equipment and couldn't find anything marked "Made in China."

But, then again when I purchased the equipment I made sure none of it WAS made in China. I guess you just have to shop a little more carefully from any manufacturer to get the equipment you want?

As far as I can tell, on CUTs the ONLY piece made in China is the main castings on the 300x loader. That hardly qualifies as, "selling out," or as making a JD a "lime green Jimna."

My 300cx loader is marked, "Made in Welland Ontario, Canada." I guess Deere must have "sold out" to the Canadians? Or, is that okay....?

 

[Dusty]

There are a lot of parts that are made in both the USA and Canada, that are marked as such, but are made of steel manufactured in China and other countries. It is next to impossible to buy anything that is 100 % USA made today of 100 % USA raw materials.

 

[Dougster]

Hmmmm....see...that's the problem. People make statements that get extrapolated, fabricated, and then applied to all pieces of equipment from a certain manufacturer. I looked all over my Deere equipment and couldn't find anything marked "Made in China." But, then again when I purchased the equipment I made sure none of it WAS made in China. I guess you just have to shop a little more carefully from any manufacturer to get the equipment you want? As far as I can tell, on CUTs the ONLY piece made in China is the main castings on the 300x loader. That hardly qualifies as, "selling out," or as making a JD a "lime green Jimna." My 300cx loader is marked, "Made in Welland Ontario, Canada." I guess Deere must have "sold out" to the Canadians? Or, is that okay....?

Apparently being clear, polite and honest here doesn't work. I never said that "all pieces of (JD) equipment" were made in CHINA. And I admitted that my initial thought of "lime green Jimna"... which you have taken entirely out of the pricing context... was unfair. And nevermind that I'd own a Deere 110 TLB today were it not for an unfortunate twist of fate. If you think I am somehow "anti-Deere", you are sadly mistaken. I am, however, anti-exported jobs... particularly now that my own job has been outsourced.

If you wish to miss my point entirely, be my guest. What was my point? It was that I personally go out of my way to "Buy American" whenever I can... even when it costs more... and even when it sometimes blinds me to the advantages of other products with substantial American content right under my nose. Just don't try to pass something off to me as the patriotic, all American alternative that's worth paying much more money for when I see the words "Made in CHINA" on it with my own eyes.

I am sorry that I don't remember enough details for you from last summer's tractor shopping trips. Never once thought to write down those darn JD part numbers. And the Canadians? Very nice folks. My whole family came to the USA in the mid-1800's from Quebec! Love French cooking too!

Enjoy your lime green machine wherever it came from. I'm sure it is very nice. Me? I like my red one.

Dougster

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Depending on what model you have, if its got a powertech engine in it - you can look for the made in Mexico label. It should be pretty easy to find.

 

[TomKioti]

They're scared to realize how many so-called Americans are willing to bypass domestic-based companies to buy foreign for a few bucks less. Seems to be no loyalty at all...It's a race to the bottom.

Wallyworld the WTO and megacorporate scumbags are leading the charge in the name of Globalism and so-called free trade and laughing (at us) all the way to the worldbank. Phewey! Don't get me started!

Sorry for the micro rant.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Wallyworld the WTO and megacorporate scumbags are leading the charge in the name of Globalism and so-called free trade and laughing (at us) all the way to the worldbank. Phewey! Don't get me started!

Sorry for the micro rant.

I totally agree. I think the Walmartification of business is one of the leading causes of manufacturing job losses here in the US. I refuse to shop there. It is interesting to read case studies about what they do with their "business partners" and how they literally force them to move jobs to China to cut quality and costs. Only a few companies have stood up to them and walked away. Snapper lawnmower was sold by Wallyworld for a while, Snapper got called in for a meeting and told to lower quality and manufactuer offshore or they would be dropped. Snapper said we won't do that, we would rather stop selling to you! I personally know companies that were treated similarly.

 

[TomKioti]

Good for Snapper! If it was only more. Something has GOT to change.

 

[Dusty]

Good for Snapper! If it was only more. Something has GOT to change.

It won't change until the U.S. Population changes there way of thinking. At present, people only think about cheap prices. We are rapidly becoming a third world nation economically. Our middle class is shrinking and our manufacturing job base is just about gone. All that is left are service jobs, and those will not sustain our economy. Our educational system is in shambles and our teachers unions are demanding more money for less work. The USA is in trouble, but the population doesn't see it that way. Our politicians spend money like it is water, and they are reaping the economic benefits that no one else gets with their job.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

Depending on what model you have, if its got a powertech engine in it - you can look for the made in Mexico label. It should be pretty easy to find.

The "Made in Mexico" label was easy to find on my good old USA Ford F-250

 

[TomKioti]

Very well stated Dusty.