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OldManRivers
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2 Mississippi
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2010-07-18          172379


I have used my JS46 mower twice in a small lawn, maybe 3 hours total. There are a few obstructions like landscape timbers. The last time I used it i heard a rattle and noticed that one end of the fromt axle was loose. I killed the mower and tilted it up - the plastic retainer holding the axle had broken. Ie other side was damaged and came off also. A $500 dollar mower with the axle held on with 15 cent plastic retainers? My first and lasyt John Deere. It goes back to Lowe's as soon as I can make the trip.

UI may have bumped the wheels against something, but if that's all it took - what a cheap piece of junk.




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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2010-07-19          172386


No doubt some of the items JD is having built for them does not measure up to our image of JD. At same time it is amazing what all plastic is used for and can do very well. ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2010-07-19          172394


Old Man Rivers;
I understand your frustratiions with the elcheapo Deere mower that they let big box stores sell. I've had Deere mowers, farm equip, Gators etc. for a long time that I buy thru a regular Deere farm dealership. The lawn mowers at a Deere dealer will cost more but the quality will be what you expect the Deere reputation to uphold.
The only reason I can come up with is when the elcheapo Deere has a problem Lowes is going to say take it to a Deere dealer for warranty or service, they provide neither.
That gets you in the door at Deere dealer. You see the rows and rows of shiney new or used ones that they will gladly take your elcheapo in on trade for, then you'll have a Deere mower that is a real Deere.
In plain language I "Think" it is an elborate advertising gimmic concocted by the Deere advertising department do just as I described, "Get you in their door".
Frank.
....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2010-07-19          172398


Frank I doubt that is really the thought process but you could be totally correct. It is my guess that the person who buys from Lowes typically would never consider going to a true lawn mower or JD dealership. Their concept is they are the same and the big box store is less. The idea they would ever buy a JD tractor or such doubtful would ever happen.

Now OldManRivers that is not meant to offend you or anyone else who buys there for I buy a fair amount there. But I realize the string trimmer I bought from there to be a much lighter weight machine than the machines I had from the true lawn mower guy. But it suited my needs. ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2010-07-19          172401


KT;
In no way did Old Man Rivers offend me, I was glad to see a new voice on the board.
We've all learned especially in the past five years or so that some big corporations, banks, etc., that we've all put our trust in have been doing a few sneaky things. Now AM NOT accusing Deere of doing anything crooked or sneaky, maybe just some more creative ways of advertising.
Now as one of my boys said the other day, "Dad you think too much". ....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2010-07-19          172407


Frank, I did not mean I thought he offended you, rather I might have offended him.

I understand you child but to me the problem is not enough people know how to think. Man God gave you a brain use it. Yep there are those that seem to have missed that step. ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2010-07-19          172416


KT; No feathers were ruffled here, and I hope I didn't come off too stern on my use of the "Elcheapo" for Old Man Rivers. If I did I apologize to him.
The whole thing of Deere putting their logo on the bog box mowers kinda digs me the wrong way, so I mouthed off about it here. I haven't changed my opinion on the subject, but I'll try to keep it to myself.
Frank. ....


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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2010-07-19          172418


This is just another reason why American management is the worst in the world. Well, that's probably not fair. They are the best in the world at selling our future out for a quick buck. Nearly all "business" schools teach exactly what they are doing, short term profits uber alles.

They are another in a long name of proud American brand names that have sold out, like Maytag and RCA and GE. At least JD is still in business but I give them another 5 years before the Chinese buy them. They still make some good stuff but are trading their brand name for near term increased market share from people who a) think all their products are good, and b) don't want to pay for top quality.
Keep that up for long and their brand will be dirt. ....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2010-07-20          172424


Frank, I think your opinion about JD is very valid and think many benefit by your sharing it. It has helped me pay attention to the different JD and other brands product lines.

As Ken pointed out sadly too much of that is happening. At one time there was a reason a brand name was a brand name. As to the Maytag which I believe is owned by Whirlpool which is a much younger company. My understanding is Whirlpool plans to use the different brands such as Kitchen Aid, Maytag to be different quality level of machines. Would assume they plan to keep their brand name as top but don't trust that either. As to RCA's name and Whirlpool. when Whirlpool began or was very young anyway realize the value of name recognition and paid RCA for the right to use their name on the Whirlpool products. Now the Whirlpool is the giant and not sure there is a RCA any more.

It really can be hard to be a smart consumer today. That is one reason I find TP to be so valuable.
....


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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2010-07-20          172426


Quote:
Originally Posted by kwschumm | view 172418
This is just another reason why American management is the worst in the world. Well, that's probably not fair. They are the best in the world at selling our future out for a quick buck. Nearly all "business" schools teach exactly what they are doing, short term profits uber alles.


Ken, this is exactly the reason that the family-owned businesses seem to so outperform the "big boys".

They care about the future, and not just this fiscal year.

It's a vicious and downward spiral, shareholders, and mostly institutional ones (mutual funds, pensions, etc.) demand better profits, in turn the board of directors does too, they in turn appoint the guy who can make the most bucks the fastest as the captain of the ship.

So they make big bucks this year, and go broke next year, where's the value in that?

When I decided I had to slow down and reduce my workload I had two 'offers' on the business, one from a competitor and one from my own employees. I asked both for a business plan, a proposal, and a meeting to discuss it.

My employees business plan was one sentence. "Do the best job we can every day, deliver the best product we can, at the most reasonable price we can, and treat every customer as if they were our only one." It was a sign that had hung on my office wall from the very first day, and the spirit that built the company. Their price was about 1/2 of what the other offered, but included a continuing 'salary' as a 'consultant'.

I took their offer, the company is now doing about 25% more work than when I left, and I have made more money than the 'better' offer would have paid me.

It's really no different than farming, you do better in the long run leaving a field fallow every now & then to maintain a better overall yield.

Best of luck. ....


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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2010-07-20          172445


I'm with ya Murf but I do feel bad for the family owned franchisees of JD. With JD's entry into big box stores they're getting screwed from both ends. The local JD dealer here does a great job but it seems to me their business has fallen off. Could be the slow economy or my imagination but there's hardly anyone in there anymore and I sure don't want them to close up. ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2010-07-21          172449


Murf;
Our Number 2 son works for a third generation family owned electrical supply house. I think this firm is now the largest one in the state. It started as a mom and pop busines sometime in the late fourties, I think. Their business motto would mimic yours to the letter. I'm not sure how many people they employ but they now have branches in several other cities, so I'm guessing in the hundreds. They seem to have a steady and sure growth, slowed a bit by the current slump but never having gone backward and have just added another big new warehouse.
Our son has a serious bout with cancer going on and soon as the owner learned of his situation he was at the hospital more than once as a concerned friend and assuring our son that his job will be there no matter how long his recovery takes. An army of co-workers showed up with food, helped cut the grass, on and on.
From a big corporation with invisible owners I doubt the boss would have shown up. ....


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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2010-07-21          172455


Quote:
Originally Posted by hardwood | view 172449
Our son has a serious bout with cancer going on and soon as the owner learned of his situation he was at the hospital more than once as a concerned friend and assuring our son that his job will be there no matter how long his recovery takes. An army of co-workers showed up with food, helped cut the grass, on and on.From a big corporation with invisible owners I doubt the boss would have shown up.


Frank, I'm sorry for your son, he and the rest of your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

In my case it was the opposite situation, when I had a heart attack nobody had to say a word, my lead hand and the other employees just stepped up and took the reins.

Even before my own family could get to my house the fridge had been emptied of anything that would go bad, the grass had been cut and the dogs were at my secretary's house being spoiled rotten, LOL.

The really funny thing was, they even manged to make more money than I did, it seems they thought I was a little slow bumping the fees up. So they had been gently increasing the prices on quotes. Apparently only one customer even noticed and was told it was because they were looking after things for me and if he really needed a price cut I could be reached at home recovering. He declined and paid the slightly higher price, and has ever since.

Best of luck. ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2010-07-21          172463


Murf; Thank you for the prayers, ours along with lots of other prayer chain peoples prayers too, nobody can tell me they don't help. He is back on the job fulltime now and has been off of chemo for most of the summer, another scan is scheduled for September. Cancer has been beaten before and maybe he can beat it too. ....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2010-07-22          172478


Faith can and does move mountains and friends do for friends.

....


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