John Deere Co

[Paul J]

Well, the JD glory is gone! Looking down the nose at other peoples tractors is over. The apple pie tractor company is no different than any of the others any more. Chinese parts are only a part of it, how about the whole tractors. You can argue all you want that YOUR new John Deere, if it's under 120 HP, is American made. Some of them, so far and don't know how long that's going to last, might be assembled here, But their opening up big manufacturing operations in China, along with other operations in various parts of the world. No lawn mower size tractors parts are made here, all over seas. Some are assembled here, for now, how long that will last?????

Read just one of many articles. Too many to list. This is from 2006/7, there are more up dated ones.

http://www.stackyard.com/news/2007/0...ere_benye.html

[JDFANATIC]

Sounds like a smart business decision to me.

[jim335]

They've been doing that for decades. They manufacture machines in those countries for that areas markets. Check out this link: http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US/...ocations.page?

SO DON'T PANIC!

[jdemaris]

Originally Posted by Paul J

Well, the JD glory is gone! Looking down the nose at other peoples tractors is over.

Deere was making tractors in Germany since the 1950s. By the late 70s-early 80s - in Argentina, France, Spain, Canada, Austrailia, etc. Also was selling rebadged tractors from Japan since the 70s.

So I guess you think only China is a problem? I see it like this. There are many Deere owners all over the world and some parts only come from Deere. They owe it to loyal customers to stay in business so product support exists. Deere Co. has done a great job and may be the only stand-alone original tractor company left that originated in the USA.

I just got some parts from Deere for my 1960 crawler that are not available aftermarket. I find that impressive for a machine over 50 years old. Go to your government supported Chevy dealer and try to buy parts for a 20 year old Chevy and see how far you get.

[walterboatwright]

It looks like NorTrac is out of business. Or they do all look alike.

[Paul J]

Nor Trac is still going strong! Here's one of their tractors. PJ



AND this is one of mine.

[Team_Green]

As long as its built to JD spec and i can get parts in 20 or 30 years i'm fine with it. Not much any of us drive is built in the USA or Canada. Might be some parts and pieces but not the whole unit for the most part. I can still walk in and get parts for my ole JD70 diesel.. I'm happy..

[witco]

A freind and me took the Harley Davidson plant tour in York PA. a few years ago. And I was amazed at the number of overseas part on some of those bikes.

[wally2q]

some countries have rules... like: if you want to sell your product here, it must be made here (at least a certain % of the work)....
so if JD wants to sell tractors in china, which has 4x the population of the US, and a good portion are farmers - it would make sense to open up shop there.

the next day, when you realize you make for example - wheels in china, and then you need the exact same wheel in the US for a new tractor you just finished designing - why would you tool up and begin manufacturing of the same wheels in the US, when you are cranking out 1000's of them already somewhere else?... this is called 'business management'

in the end, it's the balance that counts. you make parts everywhere. you assemble everywhere. you sell everywhere. what's wrong with that?

deere has done a lot better job at balancing business mgmt, and customer sentiment, than most other companies. it could be a lot worse. they could just outsource everything to china and india, like many others... then you'd have something to complain about.
for now, congratulations to JD!...

[JDGuy630]

That's why I go old school.....

[MF283]

My 5303 was made overseas, i'm not complaining, Green is in my blood

Ronnie

[Team_Green]

My 6300 was built in Germany.. it's been one heck of a tractor.. no issues yet.. hmm time for a new set of skins soon...

[ky wonder]

do not think that you will ever get the service or longevity of the old dubuqe, waterloo tractors from what deere is selling today, it will just not happen

the newer small deeres would fall apart quickly if they ever had to do the work of the old tractors, they are just not in the same league
imo

[mowes]

and here at the end of the rant i thot u were gonna say that u finally broke down and got a nice riding select series tractor.. checkout the X310 with hydraulic deck, power steer and serviceable transmission, been sellin' like hotcakes and are priced higher in Canada.. and then ther's that X540 that's water cooled and has differential lock..4 wheel steer models.. quite the variety.. thinkin' the quality put into the select series is purdy good as they warrantied for 4 yrs.. and if they gonna build'm in China, they'll sell'm in China..
john deere, harley davidson and Norman Rockwell are all American Icons..
now who wants some apple pie..

~Mowes

[gordon_bellinger]

i know this dont have nothing to do with deere but ill though it out there anyway. i work at a factory that makes locking lug nut, plain lug nuts and anything else custom locks for both government, business, and for just the private consumer. sure we have stuff brought in like our plastic stuff but over all it is mainly all stuff made in the us we mill, plate and assemble all our stuff. however we do send stuff to other counties to assemble . there are 3 or 4 other factories world wide the largest is i believe japan then us then Germany . i guess what im getting at is just because a part says its made in china (or where ever) doesnt mean the whole part was. it just means the the main part of that part was. we send main parts over and they slap "made in bla bla " on it. im sure the us companies do it too.

i dont blame deere one bit for resorting to out sourcing. a company now days has to do it in order to stay a float. the American way of pay is so messed up. the "bosses" get paid 50 grand or more to sit in a office on the phone and computer while the floor workers bust hump for just over minimum wage. that brings me to another point. we are some of the highest paid people in the world over all and yet everyone (including myself) is always asking for more money per hour. just think about it. back in theday people didnt complain so much, they were happy with what they were getting thus meaning companies wernt forking out 8.00 ph at the least. but as we all got greedier companies had think of ways to make more money to pay us more. out sourcing is the oly logical way of doing that.

so think of that before ya start complaing about how jobs are going across seas at such a quick rate and how everything is made over there and not as much is made here. plain and simple companies can no longer afford a 100% american work force now days like they could way back then.


i do agree that the new stuff isnt built as tough now as it was back then though. you cant beat good ole american steel !! we may charge more but at least its built solid and will last 50 years !!!