[AJD] My apologies to the List and Melanie

[Almost-Running Deere]

All I can say is buyer beware.  You have to shop around.  Not too long ago I 
needed a rebuilt starter for my 40.  Looking at the net I found places with 
them priced over $200 but Deere's price was $139 including the core fee and 
no shipping to the dealer if I did not want rush service, 3 days and it was 
in.  On another note the price of shipping iron is getting unbelivable.  IN 
any case the buyer had better look carefully because almost everyone is 
charging what the market will bear but check around- $100 variation in the 
price of a starter is only the tip of the iceberg.

Dana

SE PA

>From: "Duane Ledford" <dledford at classicnet.net>
>Reply-To: Antique John Deere mailing 
>list<antique-johndeere at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>To: "Antique John Deere mailing 
>list"<antique-johndeere at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>Subject: Re: Re[2]: [AJD] My apologies to the List and Melanie
>Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2005 22:08:27 -0600
>
>Been a couple of days since I checked my email, so it was quite an 
>adventure reading through all the messages on this subject. I have a lot of 
>respect for Dean and many others who post on this board. They have given a 
>lot of great advise and a lot of good food for thought. I am sure that we 
>all have said something about someone else in private that we would be 
>quite ashamed of if brought out in public. Not that it is acceptable to do 
>so, just that he who is without sin cast the first stone, etc. One has to 
>also realize that sometimes the written word does not accurately convey the 
>true spirit that it was intended, especially when put in a format that is 
>abbreviated, short, and to the point. Something that I am usually not 
>accused of.
>
>As far as pricing of parts, there will always be a conflict. I personally 
>feel that Mother Deere is gouging the antique tractor community. Hard for 
>me to see how they can justify the price on a lot of their parts for the 
>older machines. I realize that this has been cussed and discussed a lot, 
>and there are some good arguments on both sides. They do still have parts 
>for 40,50,60, and 70 year old tractors and machinery. Something you can't 
>say about other brands. Suppose they will charge what they will like until 
>we stop buying their product. The alternative is to purchase aftermarket 
>when available, or used. Yes, there are some good deals to be had on Ebay, 
>garage sales and auctions. Have done all of the above. Gotten some 
>reasonably priced items from online classified ads. Have been burnt big 
>time in the process also. When it comes down to getting parts that are 
>critical, I have found that going to a good, reputable, knowledgeable 
>vendor is the only way to go. A lot of people will sell you parts, but if 
>the part doesn't work, you are SOL. Sharp's is one of the good guys. Are 
>their prices high? Sometimes yes. Can you get the part cheaper somewhere 
>else? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Do I purchase parts exclusively from 
>them? No. BUT.... when I order parts from them, new or used, I know that I 
>will receive good quality merchandise that will be exactly as I ordered. 
>Used parts will not be as worn out or worse than the part I was wanting to 
>replace. I also know that if for some reason there was a breakdown in 
>communication and the incorrect part was sent, that all I have to do is 
>give them a call and the correct part will be on its way, no hassle, no 
>questions asked. Furthermore, I know that if I call about a technical 
>question, that Melanie or Donnie will do their very best to give me an 
>answer. Have spent quite a bit of time on the phone with Donnie about this 
>and that when he probably had many other pressing matters to attend to. 
>Many times the advise was given with no purchase of parts at that time. 
>Have gone to their place and spent a lot of their time when they clearly 
>had other things to do. All of this adds up to making it worthwhile to 
>spend a few extra bucks on parts and pieces when you know that you will 
>have that kind of support and service after the sale. Been trying to recall 
>the saying that says something about the sweetness of lower cost gone long 
>before the bitterness of poor quality. Well, will  turn it over to someone 
>else now. Rave on.
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Spencer Yost" <yostsw at atis.net>
>To: <antique-johndeere at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2005 2:17 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
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Antique-johndeere mailing list
>>http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/antique-johndeere
>>
>
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