Frustration with delivery

[blurrybill]

Just heard today that the 4310 won't be shipped until 10 days after the well-established original date. Further, a message was left for me reporting that "mower attachments" were recently recalled.

Anyone hear of a recall on any parts related to 60" new JD mid-mount mowers? JMIII, is this in your aresenal of knowledge.

I had planned to travel this week to pick up my extensive list of attachments along with the tractor. Send sympathy. I'm frustrated; tractor was officially ordered April 6. Now, it supposedly won't be shipped until May 27 and it will take a few days to install 4th and 5th diverter, the extra line for the 4in1 and general setup. With the reported mower fiasco, I don't know when I'll get my machine. It doesn't make sense to travel several hours and not be able to have the mower deck. I really need info on this. I have been quite patient and now am annoyed with JD.

Is it time for me to request serial numbers on all this equipment? Please advise, ye all-knowing TBN members. If you don't have answers, just let me know you "feel my pain" as one of our fearless leaders used to say. Thanks.

Bill

 

[beenthere]

Sorry to hear of your problem. Seems I just heard at my dealer something about waiting for a mower for a 4310, but did not hear what the details were.
Darn frustrating to have to wait any time at all. I remember when I was waiting for my 4300, and the time just stood still - no other way to explain it.
Deere was way too popular when the 4000's first came out, and waiting was the name of the game. I wonder if their popularity is the same problem now. Too many dealers playing the 'I better get mine first' game.
Anyway, hope it comes soon.

 

[Steve_in_Ont]

When my tractor was delayed, my local NH dealer let me use a Toro ZTR that he had traded for... When the tractor came in, he brought it to me, and took away the Toro... However, the tractor did not get shipped with the mower that I wanted... so... he let me use a 3ph finish mower that he had sitting around... When the ordered mower arrived, he then brought it out to me to swap.

I'd suggest that you look for similar solutions to your frustrations.

This kind of service is what seperates the real dealers from the boys (and, unfortunately is the primary reason why I did not buy JD...).

Good luck!

 

[glennmac]

As of last year, two things were significantly hurting JD on deliveries. For the 4300 series, they implemented a factory build-to-order system that did not work well. They went so far as to admit this as a contributing cause of business losses in one of their quarterly statements. Secondly, a big facility in the Midwest where they manufactured or stored mower decks burned down. It was very hard to find mower decks for much of last year. I don't know if these problems are still affecting Deere's inventory and deliveries, but it sounds like they might.

 

[Egon]

Bill:
Be of good cheer. Think of all the hours going by the tractor is not beign worn out and the tool box does not have to be filled.
Egon

 

[blurrybill]

Guess that toolbox is a great deal cheaper, huh, Egon? It's just frustrating when one deals in good faith, checks periodically and hears that everything is on schedule and then I am the one who calls and finds out the information. Won't know until tomorrow the details of this reported mower deck or attachment part recall. I'm just blowing out the frustration I guess. BTW, weren't you supposed to be arriving in Iowa soon with some of those boulders? Don't rush out here quite yet, I don't have a tractor to move them around. Of course Bob A. from New York has one. Maybe you and Bob can travel together. Better yet, maybe I should buy from Bob's dealer and you can bring it all together. Just trying to be creative....

 

[Egon]

Bill:
Nothing more frustrating than waiting for a new toy. Remember the anxiety in the days before Xmas presents could be opened.
Egon

 

[rancar]

Bill,

Sorry to hear of the delays with the delivery of the 4310. To be frank with you, I think this is sort of normal. I placed by order for the 4710 on March 22ed. I was first informed that delivery to the dealer would be the week of April 16th, then a few days set-up, and finally delivery to my place by end of April. This isn't how it played out. The tractor arrived late to the dealer by about a week, then there were delays in receiving some of the attachments. I was told that everything was ready to go to be delivered to me over a week ago and all they were waiting on was a toothbar which was delayed. There wasn't anything to do but wait. Finally, everything was delivered to me on May 17th.

I haven't heard anything about recalls with MMMs. Ask your dealer to fax you a copy of the marketing bulletin that informed him of this. This should give you all the specifics regarding the nature of the recall.

In regard to installation time for the 4th and 5th SCVs....if your dealer has done this before, it shouldn't be all that time consuming. JD informs all dealers what the standard shop labor charge (hours) on this should be. Dealers are supposed to comply with this. Ask your dealer for set-up time and I would expect him to comply.

I sympathize with your wait Bill....but they say trials and frustrations worketh patience (always a good character attribute to have). /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Have patience with this dealer unless you know he's trying to pull something like those dealers you were trying to work with in Iowa. The fact he hasn't kept you abreast of things may not mean anything...he may have a dozen different customers he is working frantically with to satisfy their needs. Keep good communications lines open with him and try to get him to explain the nature of these delays. Even though delivery may be a week or two later than what you planned, I suspect two months from now, these annoying delays will be pretty much forgotten. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Catch you later....
Bob

 

[bishoff]

My 4115 was ordered early March, came off the line 22 Mar and arrived at the local dealer two days later. The 410 loader was attached and arrived at my doorstep 29 Mar. So far so good. When I asked the dealer about the 60" MMM and 450 Tiller they said "shortly".
The latest word (v3.0) is that the tiller was recalled and the MMM production was halted for engineering redesign. Production therorectically started 17 May and delivery slated for 31 May. The cracking noise you hear is me crossing my fingers.
Calls to JD customer relations were to no avail (Thanks Bailey, for returning my calls not.)
Got to give the dealer Larry Davis of St James MO credit though; he loaned me a Howse 60" 3pt grooming mower so I could keep the homestead looking nice.

Bottom line: Still waiting for the 60"MMM, went to a 60" KingKutter tiller and, as a first time JD customer, dissapointed in the order execution.

 

[JC4HD]

blurrybill, Sorry to hear about the additional delay! Having to wait for my 4310 to arrive made time go really slow. From what I hear this time of the year delays are to be expected... especially on a brand new model! Be patient as Bob said before you know it the wait will be only a memory!
As a 4310 owner all I can say is it is worth the wait!