Brand loyalty...how far to go?

[SimpleMan]

Alright folks...this'll be a stretch for many of us, but consider the following. If you had no tractor, and were in the position to buy a brand new garden tractor. What would influence your decision? Reputation of company? "Color"? Distance to dealer? Dealer reputation? Ease of use of the tractor and servicibility? Or??? I'm not looking at buying anything :), just though it'd be fun to have this type of 'survey' Gord :D:D

[RayS]

How about the quality of the tractor and the reputation of the company. I live 10 miles from a dealer but because of his attitude I drive 30 miles one way to buy my parts.

[cwm1276]

I bought Simplicity due to my dad's AC 716H. When first away from home I found myself buying whatever my parents did from brands of soap to the garden tractor. They were what I grew up with.

[ehertzfeld]

anything but green!!!:D:D:D Elon

[Joer]

When I bought my Prestige in 2003 It was between that and a green one. 2 test drives later the Prestige had a tighter turning circle. it was easier to get on and off. The controls just seem to be in the right place. Seat was more comfortable. The $1500.00 I saved on the package was a bonus. The owners aint arrogant snobs.

[RenegadeJ]

I purchased my first Simplicity 3112 new in 1969. This machine has served me well for 36 years and it still runs just as good today as when I bought it. It took care of almost 5 acres of grass without any help until about 5 years ago. Gotta say I would go with what worked for me and that is brand loyalty. It now has four helpers to assist with the work.

[patrician12]

The on ewith the most American made components.That leaves most Deeres out.

[D-17_Dave]

There is a lot to be said for brand loyalty, as well as what you and your family grew up with. True blue cub fans must turn a blind eye or cringe up when they must settle for a MTD now. Green fans, well, the're always turning a blind eye, ear and whatever else they have anyway. The problem I see with this is not everything one company builds is worth gold. Remember the Scamper and MOW-BEE? Those were built to sell, not to work very long. They had some of the best decks I've ever used, but the tractors were absolute junk. Cub and Deere can't live their lives on their reputations. I think all the history of Simplicity-Allis, that they did make a very reputible tractor. Most of the real problems that have been associated with any of our tractors we here have found solid fixes or the problems have come from sourced parts.Like the pintle leaks on the vickers units. But who would have thought they would have lasted this long anyway? If I had the means I'd be grabing up one of the new diesel powered 4x4's right now. But I can't. I too like the orriginallity of keeping a tractor just like it was when I want something to show. But if I'm gonna use it for all my chores I want to work it, not work me. This applies in the shop also. That's why I put PS on my 620 and if I can swing it, a diesel engine. I don't know of any company that makes something as tough as a powermax unless you get up into a compact tractor and hit close to 20,000 dollors. That's ridiculas for something to mow a yard with. I guese the answer for me would be a Simplicity or a goat.

[SmilinSam]

I've grown to look at the features, Price, servicability, and my needs to determine what I need to look for, Then I look at my favored Brand to see what they offer first Then I compare with other models and brands. These days a mower or utility tractor costs so much a person needs to make sure the machine they buy will cover all their needs doing what they want done the way they want it done. When I bought the two Conquests it was the mower decks quality of cut, interchangability of attachments I already had, and the finace special that Simplicity was running that sold the tractors for me. Cub came close with a similar deck with rollers the full length, but I would have had to start from scratch with attachments. Not appealing at all. On my Compact tractor I compared The LEgacy with the Massey and I went with the Massey because of Price and quality of construction of their machine. More heavy Duty. The kicker is I should have looked at The John Deere at the time too, because if I had I would have bought the green one, no second thoughts about it. If I wouldn't take such a beating on trading I'd trade for one now. The quick tach loader bucket and the dual pedal hydro controls are both worth their weight in gold. Too late now though. Pays to shop around and look at everything available.

[a-cman]

Not to change the subject, but consider dealer loyalty to the products they sell too. I am lucky to have three Simplicity dealers within 25 miles, and an Agco dealer about 35 miles away. The one Simplicity dealer has recently been pushing another brand also, he has two Simplicity units and ten Poulan(MTD)[:0] units in his showroom.:(! He said the Poulans are easier to sell do to the lower costs. I said he should show a little most support and loyalty to the company who has kept him in buisness for most of his career.:(

[D-17_Dave]

Sam, I went and looked at the latest Legacy and they had the dual pedal hydro controls. is this the same thing you refered to or something else.???

[B.Ikard]

I suppose personal experiences with a brand mean a lot, but I am not as brand loyal as I used to be. That being said most companies that make good durable products tend to continue to build the same. Simple designs and accessibility to components mean a lot. I have been wrong with generalizations-mainly Italian engines and machinery. My Beretta 391 is the finest shotgun I have owned-very ergonomic,durable design. I tend to take a beating from the "Buy American" crowd with my Nissans and Honda Accord....both built in the USA by Americans. How many Fords are built in Canada and Chrysler products in Mexico?? Ike

[KSever]

quote:

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Originally posted by patrician12
The on ewith the most American made components.That leaves most Deeres out.

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Got to disagree with you there, although I'm not a Deere fan but they are made right here in the US and most importantly right here in Wisconsin for my interest. Here's a list of US factories off the Jonh Deere site. United States Georgia John Deere Landscapes 5610 McGinnis Ferry Road Alpharetta, GA 30005 -- Landscape & Irrigation Products & Services John Deere Commercial Products 700 Horizon South Parkway Grovetown, GA 30813-9388 -- Compact Utility Tractors Sunbelt Outdoor Products 3798 Woodfield Drive Macon, GA 31210 -- All-Makes Parts Distribution Facility North Carolina John Deere Worldwide Commercial & Consumer Equipment Division 2000 John Deere Run Cary, NC 27513 P. O. Box 29533 Raleigh, NC 27626-0533 -- Sales & Administration Office John Deere SouthEast Engineering Center 14401 Carowinds Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28273 -- Engineering Office John Deere Training Center 300 Dominion Drive - Suite 400 Morrisville, NC 27560 Sunbelt Outdoor Products 5100-H West W.T. Harris Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28269 -- All Makes Parts Administration Office and Distribution Facility John Deere Turf Care 6501 Highway 55 East Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 P. O. Box 33358 -- Commercial and Golf & Turf Mowers South Carolina Transaxle Manufacturing of America Corporation 240 Waterford Drive Rock Hill, SC 29730 or P.O. Box 10908 Rock Hill, SC 29730 -- Transaxles Tennessee John Deere Power Products 1630 Hal Henard Road Greeneville, TN 37743-9405 -- Walk-behind Mowers, Lawn Tractors Wisconsin John Deere Horicon Works 300 N. Vine Horicon, WI 53032 -- Lawn and Garden Tractors, Gator™ Utility Vehicles, Golf and Turf Reel Mowers

[SmilinSam]

quote:

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Originally posted by D-17_Dave
Sam, I went and looked at the latest Legacy and they had the dual pedal hydro controls. is this the same thing you refered to or something else.???

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I know the new ones do have 2 pedals, but Simplicity cannot compete with the competition on pricing. Most of the other Compacts on the market are built just enough heavier that unless Simplicity can undercut the competitions pricing the majority of buyers will be brand loyalists or those who don't comparrison shop. Of course thats my opinion....and they don't have a quick tach bucket like the Deere 2210.

[johnmonkey]

I'd crawl ten miles on my bare hands and knees (through broken glass!)just to hear a simplicity (or AC) backfire!! (not that they would of course!) LOL. JH

[bigcountry]

quote:

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Originally posted by patrician12
The on ewith the most American made components.That leaves most Deeres out.

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My GT-235 has a Briggs engine, a Tuff Torq hydro and Horicon, Wi. chassis and deck, all made by JD here in the US. Most of their L&G stuff is designed and prototyped just down the road from my school (NCSU) at the Consumer and Commercial Products Headquarters in Cary. Close to all of their engineers come from NCSU and the BAE Dept. that I am currently studying in. I have toured that facility, and security is there is tighter than the CIA, with armed guards and metal detectors. I heard one LCO say that he used to have the contract to mow there, but he could only use JD equipment. One of the crew made the mistake of leaving a Toro outside of the trailer--the contract was terminated on the spot. Believe me when I say it, JD doesn't play when it comes to competition, they take quality very seriously and are proud of it. The only parts on Deeres that are not American are the Yanmar diesels in the 400, 500, and 4000 series tractors.

[AC808]

If Im not mistaken dont some of the Deeres have 2 cyl Kawasakis in them? Are they built in the states also?

[john-holcomb]

Being an oliver man I could never bring myself to own a Deere for my own use, but that doesn't make them bad. One of my good friends went out to buy a 18HP mower and tried all all of them he ended up with a Simplicity because it mowed the best, he traded in his 10 year old JD because he was tired of the high cost of parts. Mechanics Illistrated just tested 8 mowers under $1600 [no Simplicities] and found liked the Murry the best JD was second to last but they did say that these were home owner machines and not suitable for more than an acre of lawn.

[SimpleMan]

These responses are very educating. I grew up on an Allis-Chalmers farm. We didn't have a lot of land, so the equipment used was not large. Dad had a D17, traded that on a 185. As far as garden tractors, he co-owned a JD110 with my grandpa for a couple of years. Then there came the years that my two siblings and my self mowed our 8 acre yard with one Lawnboy push mower. Finally, sometime in the late 70's dad purchased a used 716H with mower,tiller, and blower. We had that tractor until 1983, when after an engine overhaul someone had forgotten to tighten the drain plug properly, and the engine blew. Dad was so frustrated, he went to the local Allis dealer, and traded that tractor on the 917H he still has. I spent many hours mowing with that 917, and when I was looking to buy my own garden tractor, and found out at the time that the Sovereign was esentially the same tractor...I just had to have one.

[Jovee]

The answer for me is Simple; this website. I started my tractor career thinking Sears was the king of the hill (I will pause for the laughter here). I have about 9 Sears machines outback from various points in history. My prize was a '95 LT4000 ( I live in the city) which I added a push bar, white lettered tires and a Mack bulldog on the hood. It still performs well. But I also have Bolens, Snapper, Dynamark, Lawnboy, and Homko products out there too. Even a rare PA Meteor (Panzer). One day though, like Jake Blues, I saw the light. I immediately fell in love with my 515. The same reaction with my first 728. Add one more 728 and 738 to the list. My goal now is to weed out the lessers to fund "project orange". I made contact with guy selling a 310 a few months ago who turned me on to this site and there is no going back. I dont know if there is any more loyaly and comraderie than right here. Word of mouth is sometimes the best line of information and its all here. A card with the site link should be handed out with every new puchase at a dealer. I have learned a lot in a short time and had excellent help in retrieving parts also. To me this kind of "product support" is worth more than any sale ad, commercial, or color thats out there. Thanks for being here -Joe ^

[KVANDY12]

I bought lawn mower at the time to what I could afford. two snappers 30" and 26 " high vac. Used them for 10 years. bought a B10 38" cut. thats when I found out what a lawn mower was suppost to be. Cut my grass in half the time. Been buying AC. ever since. I've never had a new tractor. But I would look at all the line to buy to best for quality and price and it might just be a JD. or what ever.

[orangeone]

90% of my mowing customers I got because they wanted there yard to look as good as the nabers that I just mowed with my 30 plus old Simplicity.the JD boys have alot newer Equ. and alot bigger parts bill.

[arnoldir]

Just my 2 cents, When I went looking for a compact 4x4 tractor I found that the Cub Cadet 7000 series was the only machine that carried the made in USA sticker. All the green ones smaller than the 4200 series were from overseas. 25HP gas Kawasaki twin, 20Hp 540RPM PTO, 2 range Hydro, Loader, 60" deck. All for $13,600 including freight. This machine retired my 720 with Ark 700 loader. Now C.C. has a smaller version (5000 series) with same features that competes with the Simple / Massey Legacy 4x4 which I believe uses Japanese axles and hydro.

[SmilinSam]

quote:

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Originally posted by Jovee
The answer for me is Simple; this website. I started my tractor career thinking Sears was the king of the hill (I will pause for the laughter here). I have about 9 Sears machines outback from various points in history. My prize was a '95 LT4000 ( I live in the city) which I added a push bar, white lettered tires and a Mack bulldog on the hood. It still performs well. But I also have Bolens, Snapper, Dynamark, Lawnboy, and Homko products out there too. Even a rare PA Meteor (Panzer). One day though, like Jake Blues, I saw the light. I immediately fell in love with my 515. The same reaction with my first 728. Add one more 728 and 738 to the list. My goal now is to weed out the lessers to fund "project orange". I made contact with guy selling a 310 a few months ago who turned me on to this site and there is no going back. I dont know if there is any more loyaly and comraderie than right here. Word of mouth is sometimes the best line of information and its all here. A card with the site link should be handed out with every new puchase at a dealer. I have learned a lot in a short time and had excellent help in retrieving parts also. To me this kind of "product support" is worth more than any sale ad, commercial, or color thats out there. Thanks for being here -Joe ^

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Someone ought to pass that commentary on to Simplicty.....

[docs]

For me it is the Simplicity or AC's. Ive' had Sears, Case, Monkey Wards, and John Deere. But I had my share of problems with most of them. Not that a lot of these were not well built but didn't compare nowhere to the simplicity for quailty, tough built, and the way it grooms the yard, Nothing Mows Like A Simplicity Unless you pay thru the nose. My landlord is 1969 and still going. I do Have a Jap 4x4 compact satoh mitsubishi with most the quirks for the heavier stuff but got it cheap, 2400 with 480 hrs. 3-cyl diesel 19hp. I couldn't Resist it for the Price. But I too Live within 25 Miles of 3 Simplicity and Agco dealers and never have problems getting parts if I need them. IF I buy Another it is going to be a Simplicity or AC.