[AJD] apologies and Spencer

Sat Feb 12 14:40:59 PST 2005

Spencer's right on the mark. It is so prevalent that it is referred to in meetings as 
the Walmartizing of America. No problem if a product is AS GOOD as the original and a 
lower price but far more often than not the quality takes a dive along with the price.
Illegible manual reprints are an example as Spencer notes
I very well remember the shiver than ran down my spine when it was announced to us in a 
JD dealer meeting by Deere- "Gentleman, we have studied the market and have come to the 
conclusion that we are overbuilding our consumer products." Stop and think about that a 
minute. That means that the level of quality would be downgraded to meet market 
expectations.
I strongly believe that we have all lived through the true quality era already. Gone 
are the bulletproof 210,212,216,400 series lawn tractors. The 2440 and 4440's are gone.
Anyone here think today's crop of tractors, from any manufacturer, will be around in 60 
years?
But! If the market wants this level of quality then it is up to the manufacturers to 
supply that need. It's everyone's fault I guess as we shop by price, not quality and 
longevity.
At one time we had a very strong market in used lawn tractors. Good 200 and 300 series 
lawn tractors sold very fast. No more. No one, around here at least, would apparently 
be caught dead with a used lawn tractor. Off to the dealer or Home Depot for 
a "bottomofthelinebutitmowsanditscheap" model. Cheap yes, but will it last? Nope. That 
doesn't matter anymore.
I have come to the conclusion that we will now shift our emphasis from selling the used 
lawn tractors, of which we normally have 40-70 at most times, to perhaps parting them 
out to service the expanding lawn and garden collector market. Crazy? Probably but 
that's never stopped us before.
Very interesting and turbulent times we are going through. Who would have ever thought 
Kmart and Sears would merge? Wild.
Greg

Greg Stephen
The Old Tractor Company
Stephen Equipment Company
PO Box 709
Franktown, CO 80116
303-663-5246
303-468-0377 FAX<<--GREAT WAY TO REACH ME!

On Sat Feb 12 15:20 , 'Frank' <gremaux at tein.net> sent:

>Spencer:
>your point is well taken .......
>however another point is that for some reason there are dealers that will 
>try to not allow the very thing you are saying........
>they would not want anyone else to built it cheaper and just as well 
>built......in other words they want the corner on the market and have been 
>getting away with it!
>
>I do agree I want a good product (value) and ......original and refurbished 
>are that but it can be done in more ways that it takes to skin a cat.......
>
>
>value and price have everything to do with it.........if I don't get the 
>value at my price I will find a way to do it better AND cheaper!!
>
>Frank
>
>gremaux at tein.net
>Central Montana
>http://www.angelfire.com/mt/deeregp/index.html
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Spencer Yost" yostsw at atis.net>
>To: antique-johndeere at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2005 1:17 PM
>Subject: Re[2]: [AJD] My apologies to the List and Melanie
>
>
>> Being an experienced businessman in addition to software engineer, I have
>> to weigh in on this because there is a very important business axiom
>> relevant here:  Capitalism, AS IT IS PRACTICED TODAY IN AMERICA, does not
>> generate success in the BEST product (very common misconception), it will
>> generate success in the LEAST EXPENSIVE product because the vast majority
>> of buyers know price but they don't know value.   When a commodity is for
>> sale, price is OK, otherwise, price is only part of the story.  But very
>> few understand that and that is why there are WalMarts and Chinese tractor
>> parts and very bad manual reprints.  I am absolutely sure Greg will give 
>> an
>> Amen to this.  We all know this is true just from our roles of consumers
>> where we have all been guilty of shopping price instead of value.
>>
>> In every business I have played a role in senior management in, we try to
>> sell what people should have, but then we have to make sure we have a bare
>> bones, poor quality, Chinese equivalent product or service for the people
>> that shop price.  Seriously reflect on this and you will see why no one
>> will prevail in this discussion.  It is the age old price versus value
>> discussion  My favorite business saying that I have had on my office walls
>> in the past:
>>
>> Lots of cheap cheese in a mousetrap but very few happy mice.
>>
>> PS:  I don't mean to pick on the Chinese.   Their quality is improving but
>> the stereotype still holds currency in todays society so I am using it.
>>
>> Spencer Yost
>> Owner, ATIS
>> Plow the Net!
>> http://www.atis.net
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/antique-johndeere
>>
>> 
>
>
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