All kidding aside, I believe Deere might end up selling only large stuff and combines...If this is the case, they could close half the dealerships.
Our dealership is dependent on hay farmers and stuff mostly smaller than 125HP.[/QUOTE]
I'm expecting the exact opposite, large stuff and combines are not where the slacks and sweater vests see returns on their investments. The big stuff is not an easy sale, margins are low, and you almost always have a trade that demands more dollars than most of us take home in a years time. These guys are educated buyers that know what they are talking about and demand a vendor that does as well. Knowledgeable help costs money, plain and simple. That does not fit sweater vest boys business model of cutting operation costs while maximizing profit. His model entails not paying employees, stupid high shop rates, parts matrixes, and screwing your customers over on their trade value, sweater vests are not risk takers...not by a long shot. Being vest guy in the know, undoubtedly he is an internet shopper therefore why wouldn't Fred the farmer do the same. I mean no brainer, who wouldn't buy a 30' folding finishing disk from amazon.
With an ever depressed commodity market and continued fragmentation of property the corporate farms have begun their rise. This crowd is likes to costs also and demands volume discounts set forth by the manufacture with only a small kick back to the fall out guy. The quick dollar with no risk involved is the 40 hp compact utility, zero turn, and a UTV to the 63 year old with 3 million in his Merrill Lynch account. These guy wont use the tractor 30 hours a year they wont slow pay but you can make the overpay. All that said, I'd like to thank Ethanol and everyone involved. Not only have you kill my weedeater, but you are to blame for the sweater vest take over. Don't believe me, just wait, the starbucks sipping patagonia vest king is coming to your town soon enough....and he drives an audi.
Yea, I ranted a little there, my bad. And for the record......i work for a j-off that wears a sweater vest