Sad News - Dealer losing contract

[rockyridgefarm]

I called my dealer the other day and received sad news. After 75 years representing Deere & Co; Deere is splitting the sheets.

They are an Ag dealership, and the area they are in (like many) is moving away from the ag base. While they can sell all lines, as an ag delaer, it is the utility and larger tractors that matter, and they weren't hitting their quotas.

Sadly, there doesn't seem to be a way they can become a LG store, which seems like it would be a good match. A LG store near me has added CUTs and seems to be doing quite well.

Of course there are two or three sides to every story. I hope Deere realizes the fine representaion that they are losing. But I also know that companies have to maintain certain standards as well...

I will miss them.

 

[cowboydoc]

It is sad and I think Deere is going to really regret their moves. When this company moves out there are going to be four or five mom and pop stores move in selling every foreign made things with the flavor of the week name brand pasted on it. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[rdln]

My local dealer lost his Ag biz about 4 years ago, the biggest model he can sell now is the 5420.

Though he was able to work out a deal with a L&G owner pushing retirement age who also sold Polaris products to merge/buyout and combined the two in a new, more central building on the most busy highway around. Fortunately it seems to have worked out for him but I am sure he would rather still be ag. He still services all and sells parts for all.

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif good one doc, and if somebody doesn't like your comment, they can stay out of Deere posts.

 

[BarryinMN]

I agree

BMW motorcycles got into the upgrade or out kick several years ago. They found out that bikers did not want to go to a BMW car dealership for filters & advice.

Almost lost the good old days of walk in the front door, wander thru to the shop, find the fridge, open a cold one & join the conversation Saturday afternoons.

 

[txhawg]

Dealers used to be open Saturday afternoons? /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

I can't find one that is open anytime I don't have to work /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[froggy]

Deere's loss and maybe Kubtoa or New Holland's gain./forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[btolle]

Maybe that is why my local JD dealer doesn't stock any subCUT's. I tried to look at JD's when I was shopping and they didn't have anything as small as I wanted.

I think the manufacturers need to look at more than just the number of large tractors before cutting the dealer off. JD depends on customer loyalty as much as any manufacturer I know and a lot of that loyalty was because of the dealers who gave the customers excellent service for many years.

If they killed off the local dealer here someone wanting a JD would have to go at least 50 or 60 miles to find one.

That may be why the NH dealer quit selling NH's a couple of years ago and just sells logging equipment.

Bill Tolle
http://www.A-Buyers-Realty.com

 

[rockinmywaypa]

The JD dealer here opened in 1951 and is still in the shop every day. He has son daughter, 2 son in laws and grand kids in the business now too, some of the other employees spent 20 to 30 yrs working there. It's one of the biggest dealerships in the area and one that is a pleasure doing business with.They've sure treated me right in the past and is probably the biggest reason that I'am such a fan of Deere equip. I have seen a lot of corporate decisions being forced onto them along the yrs. though and probably in the long run has made them bigger and stronger as a result. Don't have a point to make I guess just thought I'd say that the people representing the business can have a profound impact on how the business is persieved in the public eye.