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Should You Buy John Deere Mowers at Box Stores?
You see the ads every Sunday from your local “Big Box Stores”, you know the ones, the orange place and the blue place. They advertise a brand new John Deere mower for half the price you see at the local John Deere dealer! Like you I was amazed that they could sell the thing for so much less. The John Deere 42″ X300 shown in the adjacent photo retails for $2,899.99. The John Deere BG20444 shown in the photo below retails for $1,499.00. The BG20444 is a model sold exclusively at Home Depot.
Both of these are John Deere 42″ mowers. The one from HD is a model
manufactured exclusively for HD. Here’s where the problem starts. The big box stores have made deals with manufactures to supply exclusive products at attractive price points. They ask the manufacturer to take one of their best selling lines and “water it down” in order to capture the market share of home owners looking at newspaper flyer’s. The reality is you’re buying a model that’s not built to the same standard. The old saying holds true, you get what you paid for.
I bring this up because I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with some John Deere dealers that are frustrated with the results of this practice. They end up seeing the customers when something breaks or doesn’t work correctly anymore. The cheaper box store models show up in their repair shops repeatedly for worn out and broken parts. When they explain to the customer that there is a huge difference between a model purchased at the big box store and a model they might find at a dealer the customer has a hard time understanding.
The box stores play some interesting games with the specifications to trick the average Joe. For instance, the two models I’ve compared here do not have the same size engine. In fact, the cheaper model has a larger motor, 19.5 HP, while the X300 only has a 17 HP engine. So an unsuspecting customer might stop right there and think the larger motor and cheaper price must mean he’s getting a better deal. The reality is the bigger motor isn’t as nice as the smaller motor and the rest of the machine is no where as good quality.
When I purchased my X300 the dealer was pretty blunt with me. He said listen, if you want to buy half the machine then go back down the hill to the orange building and get one. But make sure you save the other $1,400 because you’ll need it repairing the cheaper model. I’m no dummy and I know that you get what you pay for so it wasn’t a hard decision for me.
The bottom line is this, if you see something that seems too good to be true, IT IS! Please understand how these franchises are operating in this country and do your research before you make a major purchase and find yourself unsatisfied later. Secondly, don’t blame the repair man for the expensive frequent repairs if you choose the cheaper model. I’d like to give some of the blame to John Deere for reducing their quality to make a sale. However, I understand that the market place is a tough place to survive.
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Just another reason why I don’t like HD. My grandfather would be appalled if I bought a John Deere tractor from HD! He used to own a John Deere dealership and now collects John Deere tractor scale models. I’m jealous you have the x300. We had to settle for buying the previous owner’s lawn mower because it was such a good deal. Someday we’ll upgrade to a John Deere.
Indeed. And they do it with name brand power tools too, and that was confirmed to me by a former northeast DM for Bosch.
In 2000, I bought a Milwaukee Super Sawzall from the orange store. I took it home. Motor ran/blade no go. Took it back and got another one. Same freakin’ problem. Took it back and this time had the tool crib guy test it for me.
About a year later, I was cutting some soft metal when the blade stopped. Motor ran/blade no go. Back to HD, where I’m told it will take as long as six weeks to get it repaired. They advise me to take it to House of Tools in Coney Island, which is a franchised Milwaukee shop which does on-site repairs.
The guy opened it up and immediately said, “Home Depot, huh?” I asked him how he knew and he showed me the plastic parts which are metal in the non-HD model. That included the critical mechanism that broke in mine.
Two days later, House of Tools told me the saw was ready. I was handed a $78 repair bill. What?? Milwaukee tools are supposed to have a lifetime guarantee! The owner looked up and said, “The lifetime of your particular model is one year. Read the warranty.”
I always had my suspicions but once I actually talked to a couple of dealers and started to hear the differences I was pretty amazed. Again I’m not going to fault John Deere, I just want people to know there is a HUGE difference in the quality so you need to adjust your expectations.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/deere.html
More on this subject….
You scared the Bejesus out of me yesterday when I read your comments about reduced quality John Deere machines at the Orange and Blue, becasue I had discovered the model on both the HD and Lowes sites and was thinking hard about them. So instead, I went to the John Deere site and found the LA105 at the same price HD/Lowe’s was charging for what you said was a cheap knock-off, $1,499. Then, just for the hell of it last night, I went to Lowes and looked for myself. The model at Lowes listed as the BG20444 said “LA105″ on the side, not “X300″. And the sales guy swears it’s the same LA105 I’d get if I went to a JD dealer (as a matter of fact, the Lowes machine had a sticker from the local JD dealer stuck on it). And the price is the same, $1499.00. So what gives? Why would Lowes and John Deere sell something called by the same model number (LA105) at the same price ($1499.00) and the one at Lowes be junk while the one at JD is of high quality. Doesn’t make sense to me…?
I think you’ve come across the rare occasion where you are comparing apples to apples. You certainly are not buying an X300 for that price! Typically HD and Blue only carry models that are specifically manufactured for them. I’ve spoken to many folks about this topic and John Deere stores DO NOT carry those special models. I’m a bit confused myself….just know that the LA series are on the lower end of the spectrum.
I think I am, Todd, you’re absolutely right. And thanks for the warning about the LA’s being low end. I have about 3/4 of an acre, mostly flat, a couple of very gentle slopes, so the LA105 ought to be fine for me. Now the only question is to buy at Blue, who is open the kind of hours that people with jobs appreciate, or take time off from work to go to the JD dealer who has banker’s hours…
Been struggling to reconcile the different specs/model numbers from big box vs. dealership — so frustrating. Your post is really, really useful — thank you.
The BG20444 is identical to the John Deere LA105, same specs, same price. The 300 series refered to is like comparing Schaefer beer to Spaten Oktoberfest. Yes you get what you pay for.
Ibougth from a big box and have never had a problem. My riding mower has run perfect with standard tune ups for 3 years. I have 11 acres 4 which I mow.
Another example of an uninformed and uneducated writer twisting facts to suit his perception of a story. While many companies DO water down the quality of the models they sell at the big box stores, the 100 Series mowers at Lowes and HD are EXACTLY the same as the 100 series models you can buy a a JD dealer. They are low-end, residential mowers comparable to other similar mowers in the same price range. They are set up by local dealers, who attach their stickers to the mowers so owners will know where they can get local service. The 300 Series mowers are the “cadillac” of mowers; compare the specs. Better engine, stronger components, more features (such as cruise control), etc. But a 100 Series mower is a 100 Series mower whether bought at the big box or the local dealer. And you won’t save any $$ at the big box; the dealers sell them at the same price. Like an earlier poster said, though, do you want to take time off from work to buy a mower from a dealer with bankers hours, or do you want to shop at your convenience. My local JD dealer wouldn’t give me the time of day when I stopped there FIRST, so I bought mine at the big box store. Many dealers think they are above needed to sell these things due to the reputation JD has. But you still need to treat your customers with respect.
@ anonymous – I actually still disagree. However, even if you’re correct I’d argue the opposite of your experience and I mean no offense. I’ve yet to go to a HD or Lowes and get the same kind of customer service and knowledge that you can get from a JD dealer. In addition, JD dealers around here are open Saturdays, when I bought mine. My problem is you go to a box store and think you’re getting a great product when in fact you’re getting a watered down item that they sell because of the brand.
Computer manufacturers do the same thing when they sell their HP and COMPAQ PC’s at Costco and SAMS Club. Same basic marketing model, different products
I think it can be summed up best by comparing the Deere L series to the Ford Ranger 2X4, no matter where you buy it, it is still a Ford Ranger 2X4. Although the Ranger 2X4 comes in different models, king cab, crew cab etc, it is still a Ranger 2X4. Most people that buy a Deere from a box store think they are getting the F150, F250 or F350 4WD.
People see green and think big John Deere like they see on the farm…FUNNY.
If you buy a John Deere at a box store keep in mind it is going to cost you about $150-$250 or more annually to run, all dependent on the size of the job. Most people buy things today think they can turn the key and it should run, these are the same people that don’t get their car serviced regularly or change their oil. The same people that complain when their car needs tons of maintenance because they didn’t care for the up keep. The same person that thinks the cost of ownership is what they paid when they bought the item. How much does a car cost, is it what the sticker on the window says? Forget about gas, car insurance, regular maintenance, or the big ones like depreciation, financing charges, annual state tax and tag fees, and repairs.
I purchased a John Deere LT 172 Tractor from my local John Deere dealership in 1991, I am still using this machine in 2009. From 1991-1995, I operated a lawn maintenance company while in high school. Aside from my business, I was required to mow 6 acres every week as my principal chore at home, the LX-172 was my tractor. I can’t begin to tell you the number of hours that I have logged on this JD, but I can tell you the number of times that I had it serviced, the exact parts I have had to replaced, and the number of times something broke on the tractor.
I take the tractor every year to my local authorized JD dealer for service. In addition to the service I grease the points, sharpen the blades a few times and change the oil for a second time. In 2008 I paid $78.00 for the annual service.
Over the 17 years of ownership, I have had to replace 7 drive belts, 6 batteries, 23 sets of blades, 26 new spark plugs, 2 sets of brakes and 1 complete set of tires. The only parts I can recall breaking over the years is the plastic throttle lever and a tie rod.
If it were me, I would buy from the dealership who knows more about the product and service, but what do I know.
@ Matthew – Well said! As far as I’m concerned the debate isn’t all that hard. You get what you pay for…further…if you buy from a dealer you know they can help when something does finally break.
The folks on here who are saying they are the same are correct.
The J.D. tractors available at Lowes and HD (i.e. LA175) are the exact same as the ones at a dealer if you are looking at the same model in both places. The ones in the big box stores are set up by the local dealer.
J.D. was smart enough to give the local dealers a piece of the action — the fee for setting up the tractor that is then shipped on to Lowes or H.D. Once they had their piece, they were happy and no longer feel the need to spread inaccurate information.
In the beginning, when JD started selling at big box stores, the dealers were pissed b/c they had to compete at a price point that cut big time into their margin.
With all that said, if you are buying a 100 series mower, no matter whether you buy it at Lowes or a dealer, you are buying an ENTRY level machine at an ENTRY level price point, so the manufacturer (i.e. JD) is cutting corners somewhere.
Well the x-wife got the JD mower in the divorce. It was sticking point in the seperation bc she new it would hurt to the core! that one came from the dealer and never had a minutes problem with it. Now for financial reasons, (see above!) I am forced to look at the big box models. Not feeling good abt the lower priced products.
Bought the last one to keep lots mowed, Im a contractor with vacant lots, so knew I needed a good mower. Now that mower is being used to mow 1/4 acre, WHAT a waste of a good machine!
Any suggestions? The grass is starting to grow and a decision has to be made.
Check the following web site—-MytractorForm.com. Go under Lawn and Garden Tractors By Brand. And then check out John Deere Lawn Tractor L130 – dying hydrostatic drive. I have a L130 with 170 hrs and it has DEAD trany !!!!! The Ct John Deere dealer said the trany cost for the trany was $ 671.00, that does not include labor !!!! I am doing the up grade as we speak, as if the John Deere Co does the same replacement you will get the same trany again and it will only last the same or less hours and dye again !!!!!! My Hope that there is a Class Action Law Suite And I and other John Deere owners are paid for the problems that they have made a poor products.
I have now experienced this first hand and I’m not very happy. I bought a JD G110 Lawn Tractor from HD and it lasted 3 mow seasons. Died with 135 hours on the motor. When I discussed this with the JD rep and the local JD dealer, I was essentially told I was out of luck and needed to buy a select mower from the dealer to get a quality mower. I paid nearly $3000.00 for my G110 tractor and now being asked to shell out another $4000 for a new mower. Not happy.