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jdemaris
04-02-2006 06:48:00
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My commentary on the Deere Company in reply to RN, 04-01-2006 20:29:19
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Now that you mention it, I think it's the 656 I was hearing about when we were selling 4020s. We had several customers that had green and red. At that time, the local IH dealer was shutting down, so we had some IH customers considering changing over to Deere. Many that DID change only did so because the local dealer was gone. There was no Internet then, and having a dealer nearby was important for parts and product support. On the subject of "green versus red", we also had a battle or "Deere yellow versus IH yellow."
Deere made some major changes in their industrial line, especially backhoes when the Deere "C" series came out. We had several angry customers who bought new machines that would not lift what the old ones did (of the same size). Many swithed to IH at that time because of that. In regard to brand-loyalty?? I worked on Deere stuff my whole life and got kind of sick of looking at them. At one time though, I had a lot or respect for the company and how it was run. Up to the 80s, it was the only tractor company left that had orignal family members involved with it. We had Deere "block" men that helped us with mechancial problems on new Deere stuff - and most of them were old-timers with years of hands-on experience - many former mechanics and/or farmers. Late 80s, early 90s that all changed. Deere would send us "engineers" when we had problems, fresh out of school, and absoltuely clueless. Grease-monkeys like me would often figure out how to fix their problems. Deere even gave me a "golden belt-buckle" award once for coming up with a fix for one of their new PowerShifts. Also, Deere representatives used to make the claim that they'd warranty any part, forever, if it was found to be defective and Deere was at fault (not worn out). Now, you can hardly get warranties honored after a few years. It's the corporate mindset that exists just about everywhere nowadays. Then, Deere Company tried to bully my 80 year old boss. He was a self-made millionaire who got his start chicken farming. His creed was - until he died - that no business deal was worth making unless BOTH parties benefitted. That mind-set is getting rare. He owned all the buildings and property at the dealership, and we had the Ag., Industrial, Forestry, and Consumer contracts with Deere. Late 80s to the early 90s, Deere threatened him - even though he was a top dealer in the Northeast, and told him they wanted separate stores for each contract - which would mean a huge investment for an old man. He told them flat-out "no." So, they tried to find a new investor to come to our area and "take over." Several tried, but none were able to do it. Finally, he got sick of the crap from Deere Co., and also from labor unions trying to force their way in, closed the business and retired - and died shortly after. The point to my story is - I have many great memories attached to Deere tractors and the company. But, the company as I knew it, no longer exists.
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