So why do you buy Deere? Even when times are tough?

[TripleR]

I think John Deere sold out quite some time ago as we have owned several John Deere mowers over the years, 185 I think 265, 425 and none of them have been the quality I associate with John Deere. Cub Cadet has also done this, but I never considered them on a par in the first place.

I am also disappointed in the number of machines that are not made in this country, but I guess that is the global economy.

I will however still consider John Deere the next time I buy a tractor; really like the 6000 Series.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

You're missing the point.

Besides you can do things with a tractor you can't do with a 110. How about a mid PTO? Front snow blower? Can't get it on the 110. JD doesn't even list implements like they do with tractors.

Cost? How about 44 grand for a 110.

You're comparing apples and oranges, not everyone in business needs a 110. If I'm in business and all I'm doing is pulling a landscape rake or tiller the last thing I need is to plop down 44k for a 110.

Rob

I am not missing any point, and for the record I guess your 2000 Series comparison to the 3000 Series is an apples to apples comparison? Just stating if I owned a business, which I don't and I was going to do any real work, which I am not, I would want a 110. In my make believe business I do not need a snow blower or any 3 point attachments. For you a 110 might be the last thing but for my "pretend" business it would be my first investment.

 

[DiezNutz]

Where has JD "sold out" other than the LA Series lawn tractors at THD and Lowe's?

Not to split hairs but... you're forgetting about some Z's... and that's just riders...

Really? Kind of an odd question from a JD salesman with the SN "BleedGreen"... You should already know how little "JD" there actually is in some equipment with the JD name on it, without me having to point it out. Do you really even know what you're selling?

Big Ag equipment excluded... hopefully JD is still smart enough not to screw up their bread & butter. The fact that they've sold out at all is what folks should find troubling... is this as far as it will go?

How is Deere "selling out" when all of the major manufacturers have entry level units selling at big box stores?

So, are Kubota and NH not major manufacturers, or have I been missing the Orange and Blue displays at my local BB's?

I'm not really a "BleedOrange" guy, either. If I was a BleedOrange guy though, and Kubota pulled some of the same crap (who knows, they might someday!), I know I would be displeased and it would mess with my pride. I might even go buy something green in protest.

...because JOHN DEERE was a household name for so many years, and trusted by EVERYONE. Not as much now.

Yeah, that's mostly my point... it's unfortunate. And what's worse, it seems/seemed completely unnecessary.

 

[beppington]

... because JOHN DEERE was a household name for so many years, and trusted by EVERYONE. Not as much now.

Yeah, that's mostly my point... it's unfortunate. And what's worse, it seems/seemed completely unnecessary.

Here's why:

 

[om21braz]

If the underlying finances looked as good as that chart, I'd would have bought DE years ago. An equip. mfg. company with a net profit margin of less than 5%, 10 times more debt than cash-on-hand? IMHO, I can't see the wood for the trees - maybe that's why I'm broke LOL.

 

[mnbowhunter1960]

All I can tell you for sure is my 2007 3320 is the best money I have ever spent on a machine that never ceases to amaze me.

 

[BleedGreen]

Not to split hairs but... you're forgetting about some Z's... and that's just riders...

Really? Kind of an odd question from a JD salesman with the SN "BleedGreen"... You should already know how little "JD" there actually is in some equipment with the JD name on it, without me having to point it out. Do you really even know what you're selling?

Big Ag equipment excluded... hopefully JD is still smart enough not to screw up their bread & butter. The fact that they've sold out at all is what folks should find troubling... is this as far as it will go?


So, are Kubota and NH not major manufacturers, or have I been missing the Orange and Blue displays at my local BB's?

I'm not really a "BleedOrange" guy, either. If I was a BleedOrange guy though, and Kubota pulled some of the same crap (who knows, they might someday!), I know I would be displeased and it would mess with my pride. I might even go buy something green in protest.


Yeah, that's mostly my point... it's unfortunate. And what's worse, it seems/seemed completely unnecessary.

1) What Zs am I forgetting about? The big box Z200 series run basic B&S engines and have HydroGear EZT transmissions with 1" axles - decent units with an affordable price tag, again these are homeowner units. The Z400 series run B&S and Kawi engines, have the same frame as the old 717A/727A commercial z-traks as well as the Kanzaki 10cc DUP (Dual Unitized Pump) with Parker wheel motors - also from the old 717A/727A commercial units. I have sold several Z445's both with the 54 and 54 High Capacity decks for light duty commercial service with no complaints at all. From there we have the heavier duty Z700A series (built off the Z900A commercial units) with Kohler Command commercial grade engines and finally the Z900A series of true commercial units with commercial grade Kawi engines. Where is the "selling out"?

2) How little JD is there in "some" equipment with the Deere name on it? Do you know, really? Or are you just going by what others say and/or post? The 2000 Series is made by Yanmar in Japan to John Deere design and specifications, it has been done this way for many years, and most people know that. Kubota makes the same size units in Japan to thier designs and specifications. MF and NH similar size units are made in Japan (yes I know NH has some LS/Korean units coming out) and are not designed or specified by MF and NH. (I sold MF for several years on the same lot as JD) If we move up to the 3000 Series we continue to use Yanmar engines (as do MF and NH use someone else's engine) with Sauer-Danfoss HSTs. The "e" in our "eHydro" transmission was researched, designed and engineered in house at Deere - the first (by far) electronically controlled HST in a CUT. If we slide over to the 3E Series we continue to use the proven Yanmar engine with a John Deere designed, engineered, and manufactured (in the USA) standard HST transmission. (Just a quick side note - the new transmissions in the new 5M Series units are also completely John Deere - from inception to manufacturing) Then on up to the 4000 Series tractors with John Deere PowerTech engines (2.4L models manufactured in Mexico) also using the Sauer-Danfoss HST with John Deere "e" technology. Have you been to our factories in Wisconsin, (Horicon) Georgia, (Augusta) or Tennessee, (Greenville)? I have. Have you seen a 7 gauge sheet of steel hit with a 3 million pound press to make a mower deck? I have. Please do not try and tell me how "little JD" goes into a John Deere product.

3) Big AG equipment - did JD sell out by manufacturing probably the finest Utility Tractors available over in Germany? Or the most dependable line - the basic 5D/5E tractors made in India?

4) Yes, Kub and NH are both major manufacturers - but they are major manufacturers without a real L&G portfolio to begin with. Kubota has their nitch - although it grows larger all the time while MF and NH are really still only AG based, MF and NH have some Z's, UV's etc (made by someone else) but really thier portfolio stops with the SCUTs - there is no other company that has the breadth and width that Deere does... Lawn & Garden, Golf, Commercial, Construction, Agricultural.

5) It seems/seemed completely unnecessary? In my personal opinion, I would prefer to not see the homeowner grade/big box models not be green/yellow and not have the leaping Deere logo and not have the John Deere name across it. But in the real world - John Deere would have exited the L&G business completely if they did not bring out the original "L" series big box mowers. Please dont say that it "seems/seemed" unnecessary when you dont know the whole story behind it. I was at the meeting where this was said, and I admit, none of us dealers were very happy. Sabre and Scotts (by John Deere) did not sell anywhere near the numbers that Deere needed them to. Is putting the Deere name on a decently built, lower priced, entry level lawn tractor available at big box stores worth also having the very well built, higher priced, high end lawn and garden tractors available only through dealers? I think so.

6) Do I really even know what I am selling? In a word, yes.

 

[RalphVa]

The JD dealer is the closest, had a price on the 4010 that was about the same as equivalent Kubotas many more miles away. It's just so close now to go get any parts I need. Absolutely no troubles with the 4010 tractor related. (Lost a couple pins and had wax in the fuel tank. PTO came off cuz I didn't snap it on correctly.) They DID set up the bush hog with the lift pins in the wrong location, easily corrected.

Ralph

 

[Rob-D]

I've got GREEN and ORANGE and I have no complaints about either. I always was, and still am a huge JD fan, but when it came to needing a backhoe, JD falls very short of Kubota in that area. Specs don't lie. So, for the first time, I went ORANGE, and as I said, have no regrets.

Carl,
I disagree about the BH.
Rob

 

[Rob-D]

All I can tell you for sure is my 2007 3320 is the best money I have ever spent on a machine that never ceases to amaze me.

Love mine too!

Rob