Buying Advice Why did you buy a John Deere?

Rockgod · Jun 7, 2012

TripleR said:
Our John Deere 2305 is still sitting in the shop after waiting on parts for over a month. The shop foreman called yesterday to apologize and to say he doesn't know when the parts will come in.

Until it's fixed I will continue to trailer the Kubota BX2660 between farms.

John Deere makes good equipment, but my experience with this tractor has not been good; as to the readily available part, I am still waiting...

I will consider and probably buy another John Deere, but I see them as no better than several other brands.

TripleR, what's wrong with the 2305?

Seems like a long time to be waiting for a part. Could the dealer just be busy? Maybe forgot?

Rockgod · Jun 7, 2012

I bought a Deere because it's American made, unlike the rest of you anti-Americans. You all know who you are!

shortthrow50 · Jun 7, 2012

Rockgod said:
I bought a Deere because it's American made, unlike the rest of you anti-Americans. You all know who you are!

hahahahhahahaha

kiotiken · Jun 7, 2012

CinderSchnauzer said:
Pardon me if your glowing endorsement of Kioti (above) seems to be at odds with your experience expressed in a post from last month.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kioti-owning-operating/243729-broken-again-loosing-faith.html

Perhaps, since I didn't take the time to read all 36 pages of the above post or the original post referenced

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kioti-owning-operating/218090-my-new-ck-30-a.html

I may have missed something. I also did not take time to read all of your thread where in your words you "whine about your cab problems"

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kioti-owning-operating/230081-new-comfort-cab-ck30-review.html

I leave it to the OP to draw his own conclusions.

Wow, didn't you post a fairly similar reply in another thread with the same links, looks like I have my very own TBN groupie or ummm, stalker:shocked:

I don't think I ever claimed that I've never had issues with my Kioti CK30. Unlike my Deere where a bearing backed up and blew an 8 inch hole in the rear diff, my CK30 never left me stranded, all my issues were either minor or did not prevent me from using my tractor until I was ready to let my dealer fix it.

If you're trying to turn up the heat in this thread, that's fine. I've seen very few compelling reasons in response to the OP's query, mostly what I would expect, the predictable "reputation", "resale" etc... Let me offer you guys some help.

John Deere makes the nicest cabbed tractors I've ever seen. The larger Deeres, 100 hp + (although I have no experience with them) apparently can't be beat. John Deere has tractors that are as good or better than any manufacture in any class.

Now let me explain why I didn't buy another Deere. If I wanted one of those amazing tractors, cabbed or not, that can out muscle, out spec and out feature anything else out there, it would have cost me a small fortune. The cab on my new DK45 is almost as nice as any Deere cab I've seen and as nice as any other brand. To buy a Deere that can stand up to my DK45 and go toe to toe with it in lift capacity (FEL and 3pt), features and specs, I'd have to spend twice as much. The same applied when I was buying my CK30, there were 2 "equivalent" JD models to look at, the one that cost the same, or the one that could compete on specs and features.

The high end ones are nice, really nice. The economy ones exist to compete on price with companies like Kioti, Mahindra etc. Nothing wrong with them but you can get more for less if you're not color blind.

bradrich18 · Jun 8, 2012

Before buying my Deere, I also looked at Kubota and Cub Cadet. I wanted a respected brand. I talked to a nearby Cub Cadet dealer who didn't seem interested in selling me a tractor. I did some research and called a Deere dealer 60 miles from home. The salesman talked to me for 30 minutes answering questions and giving me advice. I was pretty much sold at that point. That left Kubota. As a University of Alabama fan, I just couldn't see anything orange in my garage, so Kubota was out. I went to the JD dealer, did a test drive and bought my tractor. The customer service from the dealer, to calling the 1-800 number is top notch. This, along with it's American tradition was why I chose Deere. I haven't been disappointed.

hosspuller · Jun 8, 2012

16 years ago, I was ready to purchase my first tractor. For safety, I was getting a late model to have a ROPS. I looked at Ford/NH, Kubota, MF, Case and Deere. A first tractor, I was open to any manufacturer. To my surprize Deere was most competitive on price. Not all Deere dealers were, but after shopping widely I choose a Deere dealer a bit out of area. I found the Deere L&G dealers relying on Deere reputation to sell machines to the homeowner, but the Ag dealers were used to competition. So I bought Deere on price at an Ag dealer. I then bought a 10 year old Deere commercial mower. And a 20 year old Deere backhoe after that. I have found the Deere parts network to be superb. If the local dealer doesn't stock it, they can tell you nation wide what dealer does. Or get it from Deere. Also, as I have machines from 3 different Deere divisions, I can get all my parts from the closest dealer regardless of the division. Naturally the construction dealer doesn't have mower blades, but I can get them shipping free on the stock order.

I wonder what part is holding up the tripleR's 2305 ?? Sounds like the dealer is keeping this machine close to his shop.

I was able to get an obsolete part from another dealer directly. My local dealer told me of another dealer out of state that had it on their shelf.

JoeBuyer · Jun 8, 2012

We have 9 tractors in our operation, JD, International, Case, Kubota, MF, etc. All are top notch tractors in their own right. But when the crops have to be brought in, it is Deere time. JD makes excellent large tractors. Parts and dealer support is second to none. Kubota is close.

ultrarunner · Jun 8, 2012

JoeBuyer said:
We have 9 tractors in our operation, JD, International, Case, Kubota, MF, etc. All are top notch tractors in their own right. But when the crops have to be brought in, it is Deere time. JD makes excellent large tractors. Parts and dealer support is second to none. Kubota is close.

I have Cat, Deere and Kubota... support at Deere is very good... I would still have to say Cat has been the best...

The ONLY fault I have with Kubota is they can't seem to keep a dealer in my county or several of the neighboring counties... CAT is 10 minutes from me and Deere is 25 minutes.

TripleR · Jun 8, 2012

Rockgod said:
TripleR, what's wrong with the 2305?

Seems like a long time to be waiting for a part. Could the dealer just be busy? Maybe forgot?

It overheated and locked up, so after pulling it apart it was determined not to be operator/owner neglect or abuse. The tractor was out of warranty, but John Deere agreed to replace the engine.

The 2305 was discontinued, so the dealer is rebuilding it. The Shop Foreman has been really good to work with, but he said that parts he ordered were just not available now and JD couldn't tell him when they would be shipped.

From the looks of their lot and machines waiting for repair, they certainly are busy, but that is not the reason for delay.

John Deere is the most widely used machine in this area with more machines sold, so I don't know if you can draw any conclusions from the number of broken machines or high number of used units.

Anyone who has followed my posts knows this tractor has spent a LOT of time in the shop and I am inclined to believe it just may be one of those lemons that slips by every manufacturer.

As stated previously, I still like and continue to recommend Deere when looking at tractors. My wife however probably won't allow another green tractor anywhere near her.:laughing:

Rockgod · Jun 8, 2012

TripleR said:
It overheated and locked up, so after pulling it apart it was determined not to be operator/owner neglect or abuse. The tractor was out of warranty, but John Deere agreed to replace the engine.

The 2305 was discontinued, so the dealer is rebuilding it. The Shop Foreman has been really good to work with, but he said that parts he ordered were just not available now and JD couldn't tell him when they would be shipped.

From the looks of their lot and machines waiting for repair, they certainly are busy, but that is not the reason for delay.

John Deere is the most widely used machine in this area with more machines sold, so I don't know if you can draw any conclusions from the number of broken machines or high number of used units.

Anyone who has followed my posts knows this tractor has spent a LOT of time in the shop and I am inclined to believe it just may be one of those lemons that slips by every manufacturer.

As stated previously, I still like and continue to recommend Deere when looking at tractors. My wife however probably won't allow another green tractor anywhere near her.:laughing: