John Deere sold at Lowes & HD

[unit40]

Your snide remarks and sarcastic attitude certainly don't help anything.
Just because you don't agree with me on certain points don't mean you have to act like a jerk.
It's time you cooled it.

Sorry Larry,
I thought you were attempting to annoy us with your constant postings all over the net by presenting a question that could not really be answered accurately by any of the members because you omit variables needed for us to offer an educated opinion. Once you let us make our assumptions you let us know that we are wrong because only you have the facts in hand that we needed. It seemed as though you were playing a game with us, odd as that may be. It seems as though you know more about the subject matter than anyone and seem to be able to rationalize your own answers. If you are planning to make a purchase I am sure you will make the logical one.

 

[WayneB]

Interesting reading the responses to where "John Deere" manufactures it's equipment and this pointing at China!

I happen to work in an industry that moved out of the US in full force to manufacture in China and now India (Circuit Board Assembly). The number of jobs lost in the New England area over the past four or five years alone is unbelievable. Not really documented numbers, but it is over 6,500 electronic engineering jobs, Gone!

Blame can be placed on a number of things, but mainly Global Manufacturing, which created all kinds of Tax breaks for corporations to move offshore for manufacturing.

With all of the restrictions placed on US manufacturing facilities it is no wonder we are looking for places to make cheap products with no concerns for the employees, environment, and nothing we buy today is intended to be fixed. (just a throw away world). It just drives people up the wall to find out our big American Corporations are building offshore and then bringing product back into this country Import Tax Free. Their concern is the bottom line for the shareholders and not the average Joe out on the street.

So the next time one of us go to a Wal-Mart or Home Depot to purchase something try to find something made in the United States!

 

[jimmoore]

I just bought a John Deere EZ425 $3,999.99. It is a go getter!!

 

[jimmoore]

23 hp briggs and stratten v twin ohv, 48 inch deck. it has cut my mowing time from 4 hours to 2 1/2

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

Home Depot offers a 30 day return on outdoor power equipment. I decided I did not like the LA 140 after all and returned it.

the rear-end is sloppy
mower drive belt keeps jumping off from the idler pully
non-serviceable transmission
loses power on hills
spins without having weights on rearend going up small hills
plastic bushings in the front axle instead of bearings


Maybe I am aspoiled by my GT 225, but I really think Deere did themselves a disservice by entering the cheap lawn tractor market. I even wrote a letter to John Deere. People see "John Deere" and they think "tradition, quality and service, not "John Deere made by Fisher Price..."

 

[Shimon]

I really think Deere did themselves a disservice by entering the cheap lawn tractor market.

I couldn't agree more. This is what happens when bean-counters make business decisions. They only care about the bottom line...not the customer, not the reputation of the business, not the quality of the product...only the bottom line.

 

[unit40]

I had an orange John Deere I bought from Home Depot. It was a Scotts L2548. I shimmed the front and rear wheels to remove the excess play. But the tractor was well built and never had a serious problem with it. But you get what you pay for. For what it cost it was a great bargain. I knew it wasn't a commercial machine and didn't expect too much out of it. But there are many readers of Consumer Reports out there. CR tested lawn tractors and the Deere came in as a best buy with the best repair record too. That helps a lot with their sales. But there are other Deere products such as trimmers, blowers and push mowers that don't seem to get much attention regarding their quality. There are much better and more superior products out there. But bashing the low end Deere riders because of what....they aren't commercial units? It must tell you something about the "real'Deeres then. People expect a Deere to be the benchmark. That argument alone attests to their reputation.

 

[kwolfe]

I used to own an L120. I just recently purchased a used GT235. The L series was made to compete with all the other rebagded MTD products. People like to own JD, however some folks just cannot justify shelling out big bucks for a new unit (LX, GT, X series, etc.)

My old L120 did a great job at mowing 2 acres. I could mow as fast as the machine would go, and it would give a good cut. It was a little bit loud, but not intollerable. It would pull a garden cart without issue. I got rid of it after I tried to pull a plug aeorator loaded with cement blocks. It would not do this well. Tranny sounded like it was straining a bit. Need wheels weights also. At the time, I thought because it has bigger rear tires, that it was a garden tractor. DUH...WRONG! Should have done my homework ahead of time.

My, new to me GT235, is a much heavier tractor (deck, frame, tranny). I don't think I will have any trouble with the aerator this year. Then again, it is a true Garden Tractor.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Shaman]

John Deere had to enter the mass market in order to continue to compete.
If you expect 3k+ quality out of a 1.5K Box Store Lawn Mower, your confidence is misplaced. You really do get what you pay for and the margin is too small on the lower end for the machines to have a great deal of difference.

In Archery, it is the same debate.
PSE went box store and everyone talked down to them.
But in the end, Bowtech brought on Diamond, Hoyt brought on Reflex, and even Mathews has brought out Mission (though still a 'dealer' bow).

Manufacturers can no longer give up the low end if they want to remain competitive within the market. You can hate JD for it, but it is the way it goes right now.

 

[Builder]

I used to own an L120. I just recently purchased a used GT235. The L series was made to compete with all the other rebagded MTD products. People like to own JD, however some folks just cannot justify shelling out big bucks for a new unit (LX, GT, X series, etc.)

My old L120 did a great job at mowing 2 acres. I could mow as fast as the machine would go, and it would give a good cut. It was a little bit loud, but not intollerable. It would pull a garden cart without issue. I got rid of it after I tried to pull a plug aeorator loaded with cement blocks. It would not do this well. Tranny sounded like it was straining a bit. Need wheels weights also. At the time, I thought because it has bigger rear tires, that it was a garden tractor. DUH...WRONG! Should have done my homework ahead of time.

My, new to me GT235, is a much heavier tractor (deck, frame, tranny). I don't think I will have any trouble with the aerator this year. Then again, it is a true Garden Tractor.

Just my 2 cents.

I own the same tractor. It's treated me very well over the 6 years I've owned it. It pulls a 48" Brinley plug aerator no problem, even with a concrete lintel on top in the aerator tray.