[AJD] My apologies to the List and Melanie

[Duane Ledford]

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
>
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