John Deere Day

I have been thinking and wondering if this is the case in other parts of the country. The local Deere dealers came together and formed a new dealer corporation about 8 years ago or so. None of these dealers to my knowledge have had John Deere Day in about 5 - 6 years. Is this just our local dealers or is it all over the country something that dealers have gotten away from? It was something I always enjoyed going to as a kid and as I got older and worked for the dealer in high school and college (before and after the corporation was formed). Everyone would come in and have bbq pork and chicken with fixings. The shop would be cleaned out and there would be a movie that played throughout the day showing off Deere's newest equipment. The owner and store manager always got up and made a speach and thanked everyone for their business. I know in some areas they may have less farmers now than they did even 5 years ago. When I worked there I know there were a few people who you didn't come in any other time of the year and they would be there when the free food came in. The local dealerships now are nothing like they were when the former owners were running them for sure. They don't seem to care if you buy from them or not and what kind of service they provide to you. I know this is the case with a lot of big corporations. I'm sorry for the long post. I am jsut wondering if there are still dealers in other parts of the country that still have a John Deere Day like what we use to have here in middle Tennessee and north Alabama.

Chris

Our dealer sold out to another chain a few years ago and the John Deere Day ended. The parts specials/discounts also ended. I would spend a couple thousand dollars a year on parts I needed/wanted to have on hand when they offered the discount, now I just buy when I have to have it. I really miss the family type dealerships!

I think the one DeereMart chain here still has it. I don't have any interest in going anymore though.

Eight dealers got together around here and formed Atlantic Tractor about ten years ago, and are now up to 13 stores from the Delmarva to Pennsyltucky. JD Day kind of disappeared about five years ago. Shop time is close to $125 an hour and when I went to get a valve stem last week, I found out they don't even have them anymore.

Maybe that's why we call the 'Titanic Tractor'......

The JD dealer based in Wooster Ohio still had one early this year. They also ran parts specials that time too.
They are up to 7 or 8 ? stores now in this part of Ohio.

Ag Power has 17 dealerships in East Texas.

Before the local John Deere dealership was bought out by Ag Power, there was a Customer Appreciation Day every year.

No more Customer Appreciation Day.

The young folks in the parts department here in Mt. Pleasant, TX do know my name when I come in.

They especially appreciate the fact that I call and ask for the availability and price on parts before coming to the store.

I always have the part number when making the call which makes it much easier for them.

Local dealer- Washington Tractor- has been steadily buying out other JD dealers, is now up to about 8 stores. I think they quit Customer Appreciation Day about 2 years ago (or maybe they just quit inviting me!).

Back in the day, when there were a half dozen tractor dealers here locally, several of them used to do some kind of wing-ding every year- a breakfast, field trials, or something. Down to a JD, a New Holland and a Kubota now, and nothin'. Not enough farmers left, and everybody's too busy, I guess.

New Holland tried a customer appreciation day a couple years ago, and it was a flop- I think so few people came that every one got a door prize. They haven't tried it again.

You may have hit on one of the reasons they quit- the big farmers (who were a captive audience anyhow) came in and saved thousands on supplies and consumables for a year, and the rest never spent any money anyhow, and just came for the freebies. So they were beat either way.

One of our JD dealers still has a small event each year. This spring was hotdogs and a $500 coupon towards one of the three new 5000 series they had in stock. Dealer is part of a 5 store chain but still remains very much small town with friendly, helpful customer service. Usually have to wait a day for parts other than basics, filters, etc.

I think that Tri County has nine dealerships and covers most all of eastern Michigan now. A couple of years ago I said to one of their managers that I would be happy to bring up one of my restored two-cylinders for their John Deere Day. I explained to him that it would draw more attention than anything that John Deere now builds and I was kind of bluntly told "We don't sell old tractors."

Agreed.

Several local & regional John Deere dealerships in my area have merged together under one name now.

The local Deere dealer here in NH has an event each spring where they have a lot going on. Tractor pull, discount on parts, barbecue, Lots of antiques on display, various displays and demonstrations.

I live in Western New York and most of the dealers put on something like what you say in March. Pancake breakfast or hot roast beef lunch, have some manufacturer's on hand.

Your fagriculture company is about the only one doin an actual equipment demo day around here and I think they've stopped doin it nobody around here wants a sissu diesel engine in a MF tractor or challenger no matter what new all American name they give it.

Thanks for the replies. It sounds like there is still a little bit of both. Most of the bigger companies don't and the smaller ones still do something anyways. Thanks

Chris

Would this be Tri-Green, formerly Hedden Tractor in Fayetteville?

Yes graydw1 that would be one of the stores. Fayetteville is actually the store that had a really good John Deere Day.

Small world isn't it.

They still have a customer appreciation day, but nothing like the Deere day.