The John Deere dealer that owns all the stores around me closed the local ( Cascade) location in Mid January. They where renting part of an old machine tool plant that was given to the local school district. The school had rented it to them for around 15 years. The school wanted the three tenants out so they can sell the building. So the JD dealer really did not close the store as much as they where forced out.
What this has done is I now have to drive 10 miles west or fifteen miles North. Which is not that far but it is out of my way. I do not get to either of those towns regularly. I have to have a reason to go.
So what is the "new" happening??? I never have gotten a Farm Plan account. I have always just had an open account with the JD store. That has had three different names over the years but still just a regular old open account. I had not gotten a statement around the first of the month an then I forgot about it. So I was in Monticello today and stopped to asked about the January statement/bill. The balance/amount due???? ZERO!!!! None of us used any parts for the dealership in the month of January. This would be me or the four boys. None of us bought anything from the JD dealer all month. That is the first time since I opened the account with the first dealer 40 some years ago, that we did not do any business with them.
The reason is simple, the Dealership, is no longer convenient. I bought things there that I could have bought else where but I usually just picked it up there rather than driving to another town to buy the item. This is really true on general shop supplies, such as brake/parts cleaner. I like the JD product and will keep some on hand but since I have to go to Monticello anyway there is a Farm supply store there that sells Gunk brand for about 20% less. Before I would balance the extra cost against having to drive to get it.
Then on OEM JD parts. There is a buying group that I have been a member of for years. I can buy JD parts for a reduced price through this group. The disadvantage is it takes longer to get parts and I have to buy a minimum amount each order. We also are using the internet more. I just got a lawn mower hood from an on line dealer for about $50 less than the local price delivered to my door. I am also a Stens dealer. I have often let my inventory get low and just bought local to avoid the freight cost and time lag. I now will just keep more on hand.
We will still be buying parts at the local dealerships but it will be more seasonal now. We will not hold up a machine in the field but if it is not a hurry then it is a different story. It is real easy to order stuff online delivered right to my door.
What this has done is I now have to drive 10 miles west or fifteen miles North. Which is not that far but it is out of my way. I do not get to either of those towns regularly. I have to have a reason to go.
So what is the "new" happening??? I never have gotten a Farm Plan account. I have always just had an open account with the JD store. That has had three different names over the years but still just a regular old open account. I had not gotten a statement around the first of the month an then I forgot about it. So I was in Monticello today and stopped to asked about the January statement/bill. The balance/amount due???? ZERO!!!! None of us used any parts for the dealership in the month of January. This would be me or the four boys. None of us bought anything from the JD dealer all month. That is the first time since I opened the account with the first dealer 40 some years ago, that we did not do any business with them.
The reason is simple, the Dealership, is no longer convenient. I bought things there that I could have bought else where but I usually just picked it up there rather than driving to another town to buy the item. This is really true on general shop supplies, such as brake/parts cleaner. I like the JD product and will keep some on hand but since I have to go to Monticello anyway there is a Farm supply store there that sells Gunk brand for about 20% less. Before I would balance the extra cost against having to drive to get it.
Then on OEM JD parts. There is a buying group that I have been a member of for years. I can buy JD parts for a reduced price through this group. The disadvantage is it takes longer to get parts and I have to buy a minimum amount each order. We also are using the internet more. I just got a lawn mower hood from an on line dealer for about $50 less than the local price delivered to my door. I am also a Stens dealer. I have often let my inventory get low and just bought local to avoid the freight cost and time lag. I now will just keep more on hand.
We will still be buying parts at the local dealerships but it will be more seasonal now. We will not hold up a machine in the field but if it is not a hurry then it is a different story. It is real easy to order stuff online delivered right to my door.