New 5055E

[fieldman12]

My experience with the E series is not only assemble issues but cheap parts in general. Now don't get me wrong the E series is built very rugged but I have noticed small things like stickers, rubber hoses & boots are made out of a very cheap material. I have had cracks in hoses and boots that where perfectly fine the year before and the machine is kept inside out of the sun. I think if they would beef up the QA on the assemble line and get rid of the cheap hoses and stickers they would have a good tough machine. Oh, and make sure that the hydraulic issues that was melting fuel tanks is gone. We never had issues like this with any of the older 5000 series tractors.

The points about where assembly takes place should be noted for future purchases. Where the individual parts are made is information you'll hafta really dig hard to find. But where final assembly takes place is valid and important. In reading threads I seem to notice more assembly issues with tractors made in India than in Georgia.
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Just because the specs are written to a certain standard does not mean that JD will hold each location to that standard.

For example, Freightliner Over the Road Trucks moved their plants to Mexico. Instantly assembly quality went down. Again, not because of the nation they are assembled in, but more because Freightliner did not enforce assembly standards.

A smaller, yet just as important example. I wear Wrangler jeans. When I go to Wal-Mart to pick up a couple pair the first thing I look at is where they were made. If made in Mexico I don't even bother to try them on, I just pick up a couple and head for the check-out. They always fit me the same. But if made in Indonesia or some other such nation, I head for the exit. I'll come back when I can get Mexican made. Again, the standards are better enforced by Wrangler with their assembly plants in Mexico than they are elsewhere.

What disappoints me is that our "Premium" tractor brand, John Deere, has let this go. Very disappointing. Now I gotta treat JD like Wrangler and question country of assembly......

 

[MikePA]

While the cost reductions are seen almost immediately, even with the most stringent quality control standards in place, the outsourcing feedback loop, regardless of location, can be too long and too dispersed to affect a course correction before the damage to reputation is done. Once people have a bad experience with a brand, it's tough to get them back as a customer.

In this situation, it sounds as if the dealer is doing all they can to make it right.

 

[nhfarmer]

Hi all new here, We have been farming over 40 years now we have never bought a new tractor without having it dropped off on the farm to demo be for we buy it . Just my 2 cents. Like most everything today John Deere is not the same as it once was.

 

[ovrszd]

Hi all new here, We have been farming over 40 years now we have never bought a new tractor without having it dropped off on the farm to demo be for we buy it . Just my 2 cents. Like most everything today John Deere is not the same as it once was.

Yep, that's a dying art. Very very few buyers demo their equipment prior to purchase. I didn't demo my Kubota but the dealership was 400 miles from my house. Demo'd the JD.

Friend of mine is an auto salesman. Says 75% of his buyers of new vehicles drive it the first time when they are leaving the dealership after signing the papers. :confused3:

 

[MikePA]

Perhaps this is because people do more research, including videos, and arrive at the dealer knowing what they want. Just a guess.

 

[ovrszd]

Perhaps this is because people do more research, including videos, and arrive at the dealer knowing what they want. Just a guess.

I agree. And unless you are a huge customer, dealer ain't gonna send you home with a shiny new tractor to demo for a couple days without some sort of serious intent to buy, i.e., signed paper.

My Dad bought a new Ford 4000 in early 70s. In the Fall. Dealer dropped it off and Dad plowed with it for 2 days before going to dealer and paying for tractor.

When I bought my JD2210 I took it home and worked it doing 3pt work from Thursday evening to Tuesday morning when I went back in and agreed to buy it and paid for it. My shop had just burned and I worked the snot out of that little tractor doing cleanup work before agreeing to buy it. Dealer never even called to see how I was getting along. When I walked in 5 days later he looked up and said "What'd ya think"? I said I'll take it. Couldn't even try to dicker on the price. He made me feel like I was a valued customer.

 

[sixdogs]

I agree. And unless you are a huge customer, dealer ain't gonna send you home with a shiny new tractor to demo for a couple days without some sort of serious intent to buy, i.e., signed paper.

My Dad bought a new Ford 4000 in early 70s. In the Fall. Dealer dropped it off and Dad plowed with it for 2 days before going to dealer and paying for tractor.

When I bought my JD2210 I took it home and worked it doing 3pt work from Thursday evening to Tuesday morning when I went back in and agreed to buy it and paid for it. My shop had just burned and I worked the snot out of that little tractor doing cleanup work before agreeing to buy it. Dealer never even called to see how I was getting along. When I walked in 5 days later he looked up and said "What'd ya think"? I said I'll take it. Couldn't even try to dicker on the price. He made me feel like I was a valued customer.

That happened to me when I went to work in a smallish town a number of years back. I stopped in a jeweler's shop to look around and he wanted to send me home with a lot of valuable stuff. "Bring back what you don't want" he said but I didn't take anything home.

Fast forward to a tractor purchase and same thing. Guy said take it home and see what you think. I've bought a lot of things from that guy over the years. Sharp businessman, yes but also old fashioned nice guy and now my go-to Kubota and accessory dealer. I've also sent other buyers to him.

 

[fieldman12]

I drove my New Holland around the lot before I bought it new. When I bought my used skid steer I tested it 10 days before buying it. All the other places I called would not even give you a half a day demo. I seem to test used machinery way more than new machinery since I just don't know who owned it and why they traded it in. I mean lets face it a new piece of equipment should be nice and ready to go. Big equipment they are usually more open about allowing you to demo it but small stuff there more into you looking it over and driving at the dealer. Honestly though the E series should not be a whole lot different than the other 5000 series except for hoods, fenders, and a few other minor things. I will be sure to test my next machine if I ever by another new machine.

 

[nhfarmer]

Any dealer that won't let you demo is not a very good one. I think if you are a first time buyer you have to ask if they want to sell tractors they need to get a** in the seat. The E series is a ok tractor made with parts and engine from India I know we own one a 5075E great for what we use it for but it is not a M series. Not as comfortable or as quiet.

 

[ovrszd]

Fast forward to a tractor purchase and same thing. Guy said take it home and see what you think. I've bought a lot of things from that guy over the years. Sharp businessman, yes but also old fashioned nice guy and now my go-to Kubota and accessory dealer. I've also sent other buyers to him.

I call that Karma. He understands that his good actions will return to him over and over.