outrageous price!

[sgtbull]

I will, first thing, admit that this is my own darn fault.... I should have asked the price before I ordered it, but I never DREAMED it woudl be this expensive!
What I'm refering to is the price of the cork valve cover gasket for an unsyled B. $23 bucks and some change. I nearly fell down. Last time I bought one, admittedly 7 or 8 yrs ago, it was something like $6.... which I thought was high for what it was. This time, I was appalled. The HEAD gasket is $57 which is insane in itself, but at least its made partly of metal and must withstand pressure and high temperature, but for pete's sake, the VALVE COVER GASKET I could have made easily. In hindsight, I should have, but shame on me, I ASSUMED, (yes, know how that works) that it would be reasonably priced and not be worth the time to make one
Why on earth is that so high? Is Deere trying to weed out the old tractor parts demand?

 

[PBrowning]

Now you know why I appreciate the "jdparts" site where you can virtually shop before you decide to buy. At least you will be forewarned on the price - tht one may decide on make or buy! (PatB)

 

[Machinery-Man]

Easy there....venting...being upset with JD for having parts for these 60-70 year old machines...inflation....will lead to high blood pressure...loss of enjoyment of this non necessary hobby...I use JD parts...if you haven't figured this...Corporate John Deere wants this old stuff gone...buy something new...I just purchased a couple of batteries for my JD 2040 $250 I remember when batteries were $30-$40...now you got me venting....oh well I enjoy the tractors...cheer up....it only money and you can't take it with you...of course you can't take the tractor either....

 

[Kurt_JDB]

Suggest you try NAPA. I priced the basic gasket set from NAPA the other day for my unstyled B, and I think it was around $80. for all the gaskets to do an engine rebuild.

I also suggest you scan or have scanned all the gaskets when you buy them. Make PDF files. Then you have an electronic template you can use next time to make one.

Kurt

 

[730d se]

Would a company that truly cared about long term customers run prices to crazy levels? You can answer that for yourself.
They should be happy about all of the " free marketing" that they are still getting from the many collectors. I have not heard of them asking how much they owe us for keeping the name in the spot lights. Maybe they sent you a check?
Just within the past 10 years or less did they acknowledge the strength of the hobby. It was at that point that the normal prices began to go out of the roof.
I have heard about every excuse and arguement and it all boils down to one reason.
For that reason, I will not buy a new one because I cannot not trust where the prices may go.

 

[Danny Boy]

$23 is lunch at McDonalds...if US B (70+ years of history) is not worth that, probably not worth keeping.

 

[[email protected]]

I think I got one 3 years ago for 14 from deere.

 

[alabamafrog]

(quoted from post at 00:49:09 08/26/10) Now you know why I appreciate the "jdparts" site where you can virtually shop before you decide to buy. At least you will be forewarned on the price - tht one may decide on make or buy! (PatB)

Even using JDparts.com is a crap shoot, I have ordered several parts through the website only to go to the dealer to pick them up and find out that they have added 10-15% to the price. They told me the website was out of date and prices change. After it happened several times and they also lost a couple orders, had shipping malfunctions, and generally had no appreciation for me or my business I gave up on them. I will no longer buy anything from the JD dealer if I can help it, including parts, service, and new and used equipment. I also try and tell as many folks as I can that there are other options out there beside the arrogant dealerships.

 

[730d se]

DB, the value of the tractor has absolutely nothing to do with the price of the gasket. If so, each person would be charged a price based on the value of the tractor that it goes on.
Just more smoke screen trying to cover the fact that they bend you over and stick it you.
When all of the dust settles, it is simply called greed.

 

[PBrowning]

Alabama - That's unfortunate. I think surely it is a function of the local dealership to keep their "jdparts" page updated. But then, while 10-15% (if consistent) is a little too far off in my estimation, it DOES give one a guide to help ease the "sticker shock" that sgtbull apparently experienced. I wouldn't knock Deere too hard - they ARE there for many of those goofy things we seem to want for our 60-75 year old tractors.(PatB)

 

[twopop]

if you dont like that,buy parts from new holland,youll go back to a deere

 

[amnion]

Don't know about that... I recently bought a new oil pan gasket for my Farmall H from a CNH dealer; it is good quality and they charged $15.

That seems fairly reasonable to me for good material and a precision cut on a gasket for an ancient tractor. I'd rather get other stuff done than waste my time cutting gaskets to save $10.

However, I have become somewhat annoyed with a certain local AGCO dealer that is charging nearly twice as much for the same exact parts that AGPARTSFIRST sends me for my Oliver.

 

[PSU4250]

You can probably blame the dealer for the prices, most parts are probably marked up close to 100% from cost. Try going to a Chevy dealer and getting parts for a 1938 Chevy, they'll laugh you right out of the store. Be happy Deere still makes parts for these tractors.

 

[Bob Harvey]

There are LOTS of other sources - Steiners, Classic Ag. etc., etc. Go shopping. HTH

 

[79fordblake]

One of the biggest problems is there are alot of dealerships now a days that don"t give a crap about the old two-cylinders and don"t care if they ever breathe life again. I think that is why some places mark up the price when they have to get it for you.

Aftermarket has almost everything now but it still would be nice to know you rebuilt your tractor with JD parts.

 

[jdf11287]

I had the same thing happen to me on a few occasions. Ordered on jdparts.com and when i picked up the items i was charged more. Well they tried. After speaking to the manager at my local dealer the price was honored. I wasnt going to stand for it. If MOther deere says lead washers should be .90 each for a model B then why is the dealer trying to charge .30 more for each one? It does depoend on what dealer you go to. I have 2 dealerships about the same distance from me. Both are owned by the same group of people. Bu the prices vary between the two. One is located by a fairly good sized city. The other is out in the rural area. Guess which one is cheaper!

 

[David G]

The price of repair parts has skyrocketed, and will probably keep going up. The thing to remember is that the dealers are in business for profit and parts for the old tractors are really a distraction from their business and a service to us.

 

[sgtbull]

$23 lunch at McDonalds? Bit of a stretch, don't you think? The point of the post has nothing to do with the relative worth of the tractor... common sense says 23 bucks it too much for a simple cork gasket. Period. Evidently you don't get the bigger picture, or have too much money to care.

 

[Anonymous-0]

most john deere dealers use the same aftermarket companies too get there parts from for the 2 cylinders as any other parts companies such as buyin from A.I.

 

[Jake Winn]

As a parts man at a John Deere dealer I get asked the question all the time as to why the price on JDParts is different than what the store is simply this. The price on JDParts is Deere and Co's suggested list. The dealer can put on what ever price they want to, they are not held to sell at list. The dealer I work for does this due to the fact they have to pay for wages, benifits, freight, rent/lease/building repair, and every other cost that goes into running a buisness. If every dealer sold at suggested list, they probably would not be around any more. There is a lot of stuff that Deere is overpriced on, im not going to disagree with that, but a lot of parts the dealer doesnt make much on. Look at the markup that auto parts dealers put on their replacement parts. A lot of those are at 40-50% margain. Lawn and garden parts from many vendors are the same way, such as Honda, MTD, Briggs, and Stihl products. Just the way it is.

Complaining about it isnt going to help the prices go down. When steel prices went up so high a couple years ago, prices went up about 4 times that year. Since then, some of them have actually come down. Some manufactures were even putting steel surcharges on prices above and beyond fuel and freight charges.

Educate yourself and put a little effort into your parts hunting. There are good replacement parts out there and bad ones as well. Dont buy something just because its cheaper, it may be crap. Sometimes you do get what you pay for.

 

[alabamafrog]

Most of the parts I was trying to buy from my dealer were for my year 2000 model 4700 tractor. I gave up on buying stuff for the old 2 bangers, they would not even try and find any parts for them and didn’t have a clue about anything I asked them about. There is a reason manufacturers have a suggested retail price and that should be the top price. Most places offer a lower than retail price to good customers or businesses or what have you.
Also from what I have seen Deere sometimes sells parts for the older tractors that are inferior to both the original part and to many of the aftermarket parts. A tractor that is completely restored using only dealership parts wouldn’t be restored too good at all.

Prime example from yesterday, I needed some exhaust/turbo parts for my 99 Ford Powerstroke. I called the 2 local dealerships, one was $330, the other was $360, neither would budge off that price. I then went online and found a Ford dealer in MN that sold me the exact same factory parts shipped to my house for $213. Same part numbers, same manufacturers suggested retail price to the penny and I don’t even have to go get them!

Maybe if we all learn to use our free market society and shop around for the beast deal (deal doesn’t mean cheapest but rather best bargain between price and quality and customer appreciation) then all of the companies/dealerships in America might be forced to act a little better.

 

[PBrowning]

Th – Th – Th -- That’s Me! Formerly the Texas Shorthorn! Now of DeLand, Florida.

One more time - - - Your experiences sum up the VERY reason everyone should have "jdparts" as one of his favorites, and then be sure to USE IT when he/she needs parts! You can even mutter something evil (in front of your PC screen) and no one will be the wiser. But at the very least, there remains no need to be "sticker-shocked" at the JD Parts Counter!

We live in a wonderful nation where (at least for the time being) we are still able to decide where to shop and from whom to buy. I also believe in shopping with folks that WANT me to be there, and being higher in price than a competitor sure sends me a powerful message! I'd shop there ONLY if I had "hay down".

Once again, as I close, I refrain from bad-mouthing or bashing Deere because at least they still do have many of the parts needed to keep these old gems up and running, and I applaud them. At this writing, I have no earthly idea where there is an Oliver Dealer, or one for Minneapolis Moline!

Now - while I am grateful, if Deere messes up and puts a "too high" price on a particular part, I CAN choose to continue my search. With "jdparts", I can make that decision at home.

Have a Great One "Frog". (PatB)

 

[Danny Boy]

Dear SB,the BIGGER PICTURE is that we are facing a world of unprecedented social & economic failure...in these troubled times, $23 doesn't seem outrageous for anything, especially the privilage of working on and owning a classic JD tractor! European antique tractor enthusiasts that I know pay thousands of dollars for unavailabe parts shipped in, plus extraordinay fuel prices & permits(they have to license all tractors). "High price" is relative to the purchaser and as long as I can pick up the phone and have a part for a 70 yr old tractor delivered to my door within 48 hours, I'll pay for it and be thankful for that option.

 

[Roy Crane]

Pat, I agree with your experience with jdparts.com. James R. Rosencrantz, my local dealer, is good enough to pass the parts through at the jdparts pricing. They also host the East Coast Antique Tractor Club meetings once a month. Kind of makes you want to support them with your business. The ability to shop the jd prices on line before deciding to look elsewhere has led to me buy most of my parts from John Deere, who cares enough about their customers to continue stocking parts for machinery that can be over 50 years old. Carrying that inventory on their books comes with a cost, so you have to appreciate they are still there.
Roy

 

[Danny Boy]

WELL SAID.

 

[Heath72]

I agree with you on the Farmall parts. I am currently working on a neighbor's Farmall H, He got a bunch of parts for me from CIH, including a complete wiring harness. The price was resonable and the quality is good...it is even made in the USA!

My local Agco dealer is VERY high on parts. Like others have said, makes Deere and CIH look good, especially considering they still make many parts for their older models. I recently checked at my JD dealer to see if they still make the old 4020 block heaters, and they do! It is still available for around $270. That might sound high to some, but when you consider that it comes as a complete kit, with all the brackets/fittings/hoses/clamps, I didn't think it sounded too bad. I was actually impressed that you can still buy these new!

 

[Heath72]

I'll second that. I bought several aftermarket items when restoring my 4020 last year that I now wish I had bought from Deere. The biggest thorn in my side was the water pump. Bought it from some outfit for $70 plus shipping. Looked fine when I got it. It did come with every fitting you could think of. HOWEVER, when I got it cinched up and started to tighten the pulley and fan, they came up tight against the pump housing.

Long story made short, the factory where it was made in India pressed the hub too far down the shaft. They sent out a new pump, so after sitting in the shed for a few weeks, and many headaches, the tractor was running again. At that point, I really was wishing I had bought the JD pump!

Soooo, sometimes the money you think you are saving is very deceptive!

 

[sgtbull]

I don't consider owning and maintaining a family tractor a "privilege." It is a small reward for working hard my entire life for the money I have. I'm not working on a tractor from a FOREIGN country, as a European would be if workin on a JD B, so that comparison is irrelevant. If I chose to work on a a Lanz Bulldog, then yes, I would expect to have ridiculously high prices to pay for parts being imported.
Yes, high price IS relative to the purchaser. I dare say the majority of average income people would agree that $23 is too high for a cork gasket of this nature.
I can afford to work on old tractors, live in a nice house, drive a decent vehicle, AND provide for my family BECAUSE I know how to manage money and generally don't spend it frivolously. In this particular transaction, I ordered the parts based on past experience. I expected the parts to be higher than before, but not TRIPLE the price. As I said, that was entirely my fault, as I didn't price the items first, but that's not the point. The point is, a cork gasket that size is overpriced at $23.
A privilege is a special entitlement or immunity granted by the state or another authority to a restricted group, either by birth or on a conditional basis. It is subject to revocation.

 

[gtx1967jewison]

good luck makin' one for 23$! ha ha lol you couldnt even FIND the material in that thickness nowadays. the boomers' greed has outsourced everything so that gasket has likely been shipped in from a foreign land. the time it would take you, retired or not, to cut that out of a sheet of cork would far far outweigh the 23 dollars, & look like heck. drive arould all tarnation looking for the material, searching the internet or whatever.

 

[alabamafrog]

(quoted from post at 03:01:39 08/28/10) the boomers' greed has outsourced everything so that gasket has likely been shipped in from a foreign land.

Don’t you mean government’s regulation and taxes is what’s driving everything overseas and destroying America!
Some of us live our lives based on principles which are more important than time or money.

 

[gtx1967jewison]

sure. who's the govt? boomers, elected by campaigns funded by
boomers with deep pockets. raped & plundered the whole country
right into the ground. 'me' generation for a reason. who's got
'principles' now? lol. this aint a political fight it aint worth my
time. we've gone from the worst president in modern history,
possibly ever, to what we have now- the anti-christ himself. I used
to think Cheney was the Devil himself- But now theres this guy lol

 

[Danny Boy]

10-4 sarge, you win.

By the way, according to my calculations (I'm a public power engineer), you have spent about 48 cents in electric arguing with me on your computer...now you have $23.48 in that cork gasket!

At a boy, Danny

 

[730d se]

You indeed make some very good and valid points.
I only get hung up when they tell me they are customer driven, customer focused, in it for the long haul, blah blah blah. There are companies out there that show it, and there companies that prove that the money in your pocket is all they want.
It is issues like this that make me wish business would go back to bartering and remove the money from the equation. Boy would that change the game.

 

[Radiator Bolt Man]

The almost humorous part of this thing (to me anyway) is that I can vividly recall some 65 or more years back listening to my Dad gripe and complain how expensive it was to buy parts at Deere. He'd carry on about how it was an ethnic thing - either the dealer was Jewish and pinched each nickel until the Indian was riding the Buffalo, or that he was a Lower German - and if you immigrated from Europe, you'd know that wasn't good - always some crap.

The bottom line is - spare parts held for customers don't earn dealers any money to speak of - and we the buyer don't want to appreciate that. The Deere Service Department earns their keep by doing maintenance work - Service! And as you know, we restorers do our own! We ARE the service manager for these gems of American Ag history! We are simply using the Deere Parts Counter as a support unit, and we don't like paying the freight!

My Dad would often stop by the IHC store on the way to the Deere dealer in hopes that they would have something that would get him back up and running -- in hopes that he could avoid "lining the Deere pockets" as he called it. 'Seldom worked!

Oh well, let me put this one to sleep this way: not a single one of us likes to feel rooked when buying things. But more and more we are finding a few speed bumps along the road. Our only defense is to be aware they are there, and ease up on them with diligence. (PatB)

 

[kendak]

hi Bull; ordered the "O" rings that seal the sleeves in a WD-45 AC without asking they were $5.12 each !! had to have 8...found out the next day that the local hydrolics shop had them in stock at $.06 each !! thats 6 CENTS ...tought me to check everything....try a FIBER crankshaft thrust washer for a JD 730D at $87 each...rip off big time...take care ...Kent

 

[muleboss]

I guess the end result is that you can not have antique tractors and eat at McDonalds both.

 

[alabamafrog]

In my opinion the worst President ever was elected in 1932 and went by the acronym of FDR, that is until 2008. But in the interest of putting this thread to bed I’ll stop there.
I will be shopping around for the best value and keep trying to stay informed to prevent sticker shock.