Interesting Chat at my Local JD Dealer

Maj_hazard · Post by **Maj_hazard** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:57 am

I had the pleasure a week or two ago to order a replacement brake band for my JD 400. The original part AM52626 now sub'd to TCA15878 . The part is still made as it is used on several other JD products. Placed a phone order, paid the $60.00 (ouch) by credit card and got a call 2 days later that the part was in..

Now first of all it's a treat to actually go to a John Deere dealership to pick up a part for my sled as I've never had that pleasure before. The clerk took my name and searched for the part. She came back with the band and said "Here's the brake part for your riding mower" When I explained it was not for a mower but a JD sled she said, "they did not carry sled parts anymore and the part was for a mower". I explained what we all already know about this part but she stuck to the story that this was not for a snowmobile as they have not carried snowmobile parts since before she worked there. She also went further to say that it would not work , was not approved for my application and was unsafe. Then when she printed my invoice she wrote on it "Unapproved Application no Warranty"

I was just tickled to be buying parts for the dealer and went my happy way. But it gets you wondering with such a hard headed attitude how many old dusty boxes of NOS parts could they possibly have hidden in a corner that no body sees because they don't carry snowmobile parts any more... This goes beyond a staff training issue as, should she had kept an open mind she could have learned something.

BTW my unapproved and unwarrantied brake band installed in minutes and works great. It's wonderful to be able to stop again.

Cheers

Mike

grantnelson00 · Post by **grantnelson00** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:35 am

When my brother worked for John Deere they went to a customer service training session where a short clip of the film "Five Easy Pieces" (hold the chicken between your knees!) was used to demonstrate customer service or rather the lack of it. Maybe they should show her the same clip.

Honestly, little minds begin to frighten when you introduce concepts from outside of their experience.

JDT · Post by **JDT** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:47 am

For some reason a few Deere dealers seam to have a negitive attitude when it comes to the snowmobiles that bare their name.

I know a guy in SD that worked at a Deere dealership in 1995. The boss had them take all the sled parts they had, which was two pick-up loads, out back and set the pile on fire. The remains were scooped up and put in a dumpster. He told me the burned two hoods, three seats, some tracks and lots of small part boxes.

I have had nightmares in which I am standing there seeing this take place. I am yelling STOP! STOP! But know one hears me and the match is struck.

And I always get that "Deere does not carry snowmobile parts any more" at the parts counter. That is why I always have the part number in hand.

Danzig · Post by **Danzig** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:09 pm

I have the same issues as already talked about and I may be one of the sole members on this forum where I live in "" Cornfield County" and have plentiful Deere Dealers around me. I have been to the Implement Deere dealers where the field tractors and combines etc are sold and both dealers close to me are a$$holes about the snowmobiles.............however there are some independent dealers that sell the lawnmowers and guess what........they like the snowmobiles and one of the guys is an ex-mechanic and has the micro-fiche in the filing cabinet.

Maybe the implement people are trained to be ignorant!!

b00stinGTP · Post by **b00stinGTP** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 4:17 pm

I wonder if they are trained to dislike people with John Deere sleds

:blink: I have gone to the deere dealer before to get spark plugs.. and they are nothing but rude to me, and dont want anything to do with me. I once simply asked to see the parts diagram for my Cyclone which I could see they had brought up on their computer, but they refused to show me.. terrible customer service. The manager didnt even care to listen to me speak, and was very rude. My dad recieved the same service when he went there.

Post by **WinnipegStPaul9** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 4:47 pm

Now I will admit that I've purchased a couple Gators from "my dealer" which is a 40 mile drive but the guy behind the parts counter had no way of knowing that. I was warmly received and treated nicely at both the parts counter and service department. I needed a bearing pressed off, the technician in the shop was friendly and thought it was "cool" to work on a snowmobile part. Rich's point to not mention that you're working on a sled might be true in some dealerships but my dealership didn't seem to mind. The point I've seen here several times and I know to be true is, know the parts and part numbers as well or better than the parts counter person. DA

Liquifire 4/6 · Post by **Liquifire 4/6** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:40 pm

I can't say that I've ever been badly received at a JD dealer, even when I've bugged them about whether they had any leftover old sled parts sitting in some remote corner of the parts department. I've always found the staff at Deere dealerships freindly and helpful. Perhaps, it might be a matter of timing? I can understand that at an extremely busy time (say in the middle of harvest or seeding) when they are looking after guys that need parts for their farm equipment, you might not get the friendliest response asking about snowmobile parts. My first ride on a John Deere snowmobile was on a Cyclone at the John Deere snowmobile open house back in Dec of 75 at Keating's Implements in Russell, MB. They had a Liquidator sitting in the showroom, though it wasn't for sale. Unfortunately, they wouldn't let me test ride the Dator......I can't say I blame them. If and when I ever get my Liquidator finished, my plan is to take it to the same dealership and ask if I can unload it and take it for a spin in their field on the exact same route I rode the Cyclone so many years ago. Though the dealership has changed hands since, one of the guys who was in the parts department back then is still there in the sales dept. I'm certain they will have no problem with me reliving the day.....in fact, they'll probably want to take it for a spin as well.

400brian · Post by **400brian** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:50 pm

It may help if you can walk in the door when they are not real busy.
If guys in dirty clothes are standing two deep at the parts counter, you are not there at a good time. Those guys are probably regular customers, ( and by regular I mean 20-30 years ) and depending on the time of year and how things have been going, they might not be in good humor!

This kinda gets transfered to the parts guys, because they may be getting chewed on a bit.

It may help if you poke around the new lawn mowers first. The dynamic at the AG dealerships is going to be different from a Lawn and Sport dealer.

400Chris · Post by **400Chris** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:15 pm

Reading these reminds me of the time I ordered a headgasket for an unstyled A from the local Deere dealer instead of the one I spent a lot of money at in the home area that's an hour away. When I called to ask if the part arrived yet, I stated my name and what I ordered, to which the parts guy says, "Well how would I know?!" Strike one. When I did go to pickup the part, the parts guy was standing behind the computer at the counter, with no one else around. I don't know if he was playing a video game or what, but I stood there for about 10 minutes before he finally looked over and said with an annoying tone, "What do you want?" Strike two. After I got my Liquifires, I foolishly tried to get manuals locally instead of ordering direct from Deere. Naturally they weren't available- through that dealership, which works out since I won't do business with them again.

I'll gladly drive an hour now to not get the attitude when I need parts, whether they be for sleds, antiques, or mower. Glad to hear I'm not the only one that's had to deal with this.

Chris

Deleted User · Post by **Deleted User** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:45 am

I guess I got lucky at my local JD dealer. First time I went in the parts girl( young hotty!!!)didnt know deere made sleds and by my next trip a couple of months later she now owns a 80 340 trailfire

How cool is that?

Post by **dator** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:31 am

You guys all make good points about dealers in general, there are good dealers,and not so good dealers.We run a JD dealership in Winnepeg,When JD got out of the sled Business we picked up the Ski-Doo line,so we went right on helping JD customers if we could.We still try to help guys with JD sleds,(after market suppliers) that we deal with.
But we are in the sled business, alot of dealers in, Wisconsin,Illinois,Iowa,South Dakota,
and even some in southern Ontario didn't even want to be sled dealers in the first place,but were almost forced to.So when Deere got out,they were happy.I herd of dealers that couldn't sell or return parts to JD or Polaris,hauled them, or sold them to the scrap yard.So maybe some dealers don't even want to talk about JD sleds.We even helped a few guys that raced vintage deeres,a bunch of years back,thats were alot of our parts we had left,went to.
In the last few weeks i've been driving my dator around our parking lot,and get alot of thumbs up from old Deere sled customers,and from the younger guys too.
Just some of my thoughts-------Bob

Spitfire79 · Post by **Spitfire79** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:35 pm

I agree with Bob about some dealers being good or bad. I've purchased parts from Bob's dealership and his parts people have been great to work with.

Jeff

400brian · Post by **400brian** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:42 pm

On the subject of dealers, I have kind of an interesting situation.

A couple of years ago, our local Case dealer hired a new parts guy. It took a while to get to know him, as the head parts guy has been there since I was in High School, and I normally deal with him.

Turns out, the new guy is the son of the dealer we bought the '72 400s from!
Eventually I got around to asking him if he had been old enough to have messed with the sleds? He says "Yes, but but not in Dad's shop." Once I got to talking sleds with Dick, he remembered my name.

Pa normally does the parts running, so I don't go down to the dealer too often. In December, I printed out a page of photos from one of our first trail rides of the season. Dick told Pa that those really brought back memories! He related that they used to run a 800 up and down the lawn in the summer.

I had mentioned to him earlier in the fall, that I had picked up a couple of 340S sleds. He said he remembered the I-500 win as being a big deal at the time.

I was last to the dealer just before the HOF trip, and Dick was asking if I had the 340S running yet? So, I had to explain I was taking it north in a couple of days for a vintage ride.

Guess I should print out another page of photos.

buck43 · Post by **buck43** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:44 pm

I have a great dealer down here in old Maryland they sold sleds up to the end and then took on Polaris. Its been afew years now but they droped Polaris and dont sell sleds anymore but they still have guys there that know sleds and dont mind talking about them. You should see the new building they built its awsome. Shannon

69camaro · Post by **69camaro** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 2:30 am

The Deere dealer by me was very good to deal with. When I asked to order a new tailight assembly for a John Deere sled they looked at me like I was crazy. I gave them the part number and they started laughing and could not believe it was available. Then they all started talking about the Deere sled they still owned or had owned. They were pretty fun bunch to talk to and were happy to help me out. Duane