Another idea on should it have been (or be) built

[Nice]

Heres a should it have been (be) built: Why can"t John Deere produce a combine for a guy with less than 2500 acres? Most farms around here (WC Indiana) are 1000 acres if not less. With todays grain prices a father/son operation can make an upper middle class living on 900 acres. I farm some myself so I can run the numbers, trust me. So when will John Deere realize that doubling the size of combines every 10 years simply results in selling half as many 10 years later? Surely John Deere sees the short-sightedness in their current marketing and production. They set the industry standard, and there is very little competition, they can nearly choose to build what they want. And right now every combine they sell is a tool for 1/3 of their customers to try and eliminate 2/3 of their other longtime core customers.
 

[GreenEnvy]

Take a look around. Everybody has been dropping the smallest combine in their lineups. Why are you blaming just JD? JD has been dropping the smallest combine in their lineup since the 60s starting with the 40 because the sales aren't there. They aren't forcing these bigger combines on us. We are. The same guys that ask that question you just did seem to disappear when it would come time to actually write a check for new one. Most guys that need a small combine realize its just cheaper to buy and maintain used one. If there was actually a market for a small combine JD would build or import one. And they did. Remember the 4425 and 4435? How well did those go over?
 

[leon]

Where there's a market big enough for Deere to make small combines and do it profitably, they do. You'll find some photos of Deere's Chinese made, Chinese marketed combines here.

http://www.google.com/search?q=photos+deere+combines+china&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=tEwBUd2uDJDk9gTnsID4Bg&sqi=2&ved=0CC0QsAQ&biw=1261&bih=684
 

[Nice]

I stated that John Deere sets the standard so I hardly am insulting them. And they do, and they can somewhat set what size they build and sell. I like John Deere as much as the next guy and have mostly John Deere equipment, plus grew up around it. Have em put a 9400 sized combine on the market, let guys actually know that it is available and that they are serious and will support it and have parts/service around for years to come. I could go out this week and sell 10 no problem, probably a few today. The current S550 is rumored to be on shaky ground and they are supposedly limiting its production(who knows why if guys want them). And the "baby" S550 has more capacity than the 9600 had, biggest just 15 yrs ago. So my question is still, why not a 9400 sized combine? And why not realize the long term consequences of the loss of "9400 combine sized farms"? And I don't mean a monster called an S450 hiding that it is really the same size as a 9700 would have been. I want a true 180 to 200 bu. tank 4/6 row machine. Guys have gotten blinded by this big equipment and think they need it, when realistically you could harvest 3000 acres with a "little" S550 and not even blink. The only reason I'm singling John Deere out is that I'm a Deere guy and that I believe they could actually make it happen.
 

[matthies]

The 4425/4435, run and never look back.
 

[Whichester1]

Your best bet is to buy a small low hour used combine of the size/capacity you require. Many are around that can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of a new one. The older cabs are not as nice and quiet as the new ones but these machines but they will easily get the job done. Lights are better on the new combines too, if you work at night a lot think about upgrades here.

You kind of have to be handy with your hands and tools as you can put more money in repairs if a Dealer does the work than than the combine is worth.

My experience anyway.
 

[GreenEnvy]

Problem is guys like you that want a smaller combine like a 9400 also want to pay 9400 price. A 9400 built today is going to cost twice as much if not more then the original ones back in the early 90s. That is going to make for an expensive combine for the small capacity you will get. What a 9600 listed for back in 1992 when we bought one wouldn't even buy a new header now. Most guys that want a smaller combine find it cheaper to buy, maintain, and rebuild one. And you just said so yourself the S550 is rumored to be on shaky ground. And the reason why is nobody is buying them.
 

[MSD]

Not knowing but jut asking. What would the cost of production be for say a 9400 size combine versus what they are building now? Wouldn't it have to be close since it would have to have all the same components, just a little smaller? Another option is leasing from a place like this one in the link below. The article is dated but they are still doing business. Was just past their line up Sunday.
Combine leasing

 

[Greenday]

Because the days of the small farmer are on the way out. I hate to see it happen but its the truth.
 

[Nice]

Yeah but they are also supposedly limiting the number built... So why limit them if guys want them? All I'm saying is they sell what they build. And they build what they want. So they could build 550's if they wanted or even 450's. Step outside the box and think about it this way: They are a full line farm equipment company, and the majority of their customers are really 9400 sized farmers. Also, most farmers around here would opt for less electronics in order to save on cost. So why not build the combine to complete the offering to this, their core customer. Lets face it, no one really needs the capacity of the biggest new machines. Its all about keeping up with the Jones'es. The reason the new 9400 would cost twice as much is because they would build it fancier than a Cadilac. You put words in my mouth about how much I or the farmers I speak of would be willing to pay. Everyone knows that they would still be expensive compared to the early 90's. However the guys that would buy a new 9400 remember that a combine is a machine used to pick corn, not a luxury car.
 

[Tom OConnor]

I farm about a thousand acres with a 9610. Never have taken it to the field and wished I had a smaller one.
 

[Tom OConnor]

I farm about a thousand acres with a 9610. Never have taken it to the field and wished I had a smaller one.
 

[JD Jim]

I farm about 1000 acres with a 9410 and love it. Perfect size. Probably trade up in 5 yrs and kinda worried about what I will get. Walker machine works great for me.
 

[LarrySTN]

Problem with building a small combine is that it costs nearly the same to build as a large machine. Any farm equipment manufacturer produces what the market is looking for or they are out of business. Most big farms can afford a large machine, most small farms cannot afford a small machine. Economics drives production.
 

[buickanddeere]

Other than the price of a couple tons of steel and more paint. It's doesn't cost any more to make a small or large combine.
Engineering, legal, production line equipment and labour are identical. Even shipping is similar.
If you can sell the large combine for twice as much, which would you build?