John Deere sold at Lowes & HD

[LBrown59]

there are many people who have never been to a tractor dealer.

But they sure find them fast and get there quick when their box store tractor breaks down.

 

[VABlue]

People that are buying the box store series lawn mowers don't always need a heavy duty garden tractor and don't see a reason to search out a dealership. They also probably think the box stores have better pricing. Not everyone has the luxury of great amounts of money to spend, or land to spend it on. To disparage those people is only making yourself look egotistical.

Some people make legitimate mistakes - getting a box store machine when they probably should get a heavier product. Not everyone knows the difference, sometimes we all learn the hard way. Now, the people that don't learn the difference and continue to get box store products for thier 5 acres of pasture... No sympathy for them!

 

[LBrown59]

1*People that are buying the box store series lawn mowers don't always need a heavy duty garden tractor and don't see a reason to search out a dealership.
2*They also probably think the box stores have better pricing.
3*Not everyone has the luxury of great amounts of money to spend, or land to spend it on.
4*To disparage those people is only making yourself look egotistical.
5*Some people make legitimate mistakes - getting a box store machine when they probably should get a heavier product.
6*Not everyone knows the difference, sometimes we all learn the hard way. 7*Now, the people that don't learn the difference and continue to get box store products for thier 5 acres of pasture... No sympathy for them!

1*Nor do they have to buy one from a dealer. That's probably the most likely one that they will need the dealer for.
2*But they're usually wrong.
3*Quite true that's why they need all the facts before they buy.
4*Giveing them folks as much info about buying a box store tractor as possible is not disparaging or egotistical.
5*Yep happens a lot.
6*Sad but true.
7*Rite on.

 

[Mith]

Not sure what you are saying because Honda DOES have joint ventures with chinese factorys.

Slightly random comment but alot of honda parts have made in USA on them now.

 

[ore540]

there are many people who have never been to a tractor dealer. sad but true. many of these people may be from more urban backgrounds and don't know what a dealership has to offer. at the same time they have been by a box store and seen the that they sell lawn mowers. when it is time to buy they go where they know. i have yet to pass the jd dealer and see a line of lawn tractors parked out by the street. they may be there but if they are they are behind the ag tractors where you can't see them.
good luck,

I believe in supporting local businesses, and do, but dealers aren't all treasures to be supported.

My local experience is that the JD dealer (where I bought my L120) doesn't have much time for the lawn tractor or lawn mower side of the business. They sell 'em but don't want to spend much time on you - sales, parts or service. Since the area's evolved into a pretty much suburban / hobby farm area I find that kinda strange.

I like the little tractor and would buy another JD mower, but not from the dealer. I might go to him if really stuck but pretty much do my own service and buy parts over the web. And I dont' think I should feel sorry that he doesn't get the business for a tractor or mower purchase if he doesn't want to work for it.

As a side note, it cost him when I bought the BX24 for my field/utility tractor. Even though he might have been a lot more focused on a larger machine, based on the other experiences I'd had I didn't even shop JD. Like many have said, the tractor brands are pretty close and it's often the dealer that makes the difference.

Of course, dealers and experiences do vary.

 

[Builder]

Since I originally posted this thread a while back, I started coaching youth football with another guy. He purchased a 120 at a box store and has had several problems. First one was delivered with a defective drivebelt which let go the first time he ran it. The box store brought him over a new unit.

Then the new unit developed a gas tank leak. They blamed my coach buddy on causing the leak saying he must have "run over a rock" to cause the leak. Now he's stuck with a box store JD with a tank that leaks.

He's pretty disgusted with JD. I've had to try to explain to him that they're a watered-down version of the tractor I own, a GT235 (7 years and only 1 problem-voltage reg went bad). I also paid $1,200 more for mine in 2001, so I guess you get what you pay for.

 

[bgi]

Since I originally posted this thread a while back, I started coaching youth football with another guy. He purchased a 120 at a box store and has had several problems. First one was delivered with a defective drivebelt which let go the first time he ran it. The box store brought him over a new unit.

Then the new unit developed a gas tank leak. They blamed my coach buddy on causing the leak saying he must have "run over a rock" to cause the leak. Now he's stuck with a box store JD with a tank that leaks.

He's pretty disgusted with JD. I've had to try to explain to him that they're a watered-down version of the tractor I own, a GT235 (7 years and only 1 problem-voltage reg went bad). I also paid $1,200 more for mine in 2001, so I guess you get what you pay for.

Couple issues with the store over this one.

1) Why bring a new unit if the belt is bad? Of course, if the "unit" they brought was a "belt" then that's OK.

2) What nimwit would claim a rock poked a hole in the gas tank? That's just nonsense. That's not the first 100 series I've heard of with leaky gas tanks.

Who's running that store?

Deere dealers generally prep these "box store" machines and ship them to the store. See if your buddy can identify the associated dealer and work with them to get the gas tank fixed.

Please tell me they didn't send a new mower over because one had a bad belt.

JD may have a recall situation on the leaky gas tanks. I've heard of several here in the past week.

 

[LBrown59]

Please tell me they didn't send a new mower over because one had a bad belt.

They probably sent him the one somebody returned because of a leaky gas tank.

 

[Shaman]

I've had to try to explain to him that they're a watered-down version of the tractor I own, a GT235 (7 years and only 1 problem-voltage reg went bad). I also paid $1,200 more for mine in 2001, so I guess you get what you pay for.

I won't get into the Brand X vs Brand Y thing, but Yes.
My friend asked me why I bought a used lawn tractor instead of a brand new one. I could not convince him the 2003 mower I bought used for $1800 and retailed for $5k in 2003 was a better tractor than a new $1800 tractor. He just believes new is better.

 

[LBrown59]

I won't get into the Brand X vs Brand Y thing, but Yes.
My friend asked me why I bought a used lawn tractor instead of a brand new one. I could not convince him the 2003 mower I bought used for $1800 and retailed for $5k in 2003 was a better tractor than a new $1800 tractor. He just believes new is better.

Looks like Builders friend has found out this isn't true < > He just don't know it yet!