A few thoughts I had with regard to green JD fever is this:
I can see how a homeowner or even a hobby farmer (no disrespect implied) can have their eyes glaze over when they see JD green and make a purchase. I know last year when I bought my new JD utility tractor, I bought the 2nd lowest price machine they made, 2 wheel drive - no frills, but neighbors and friends thought I was buying the best of the best - just because it was JD. That wasn't my motivation to buy. What I did was only look at major mfg's like JD, MF and NH/CaseIH as I wanted an established brand and dealer network long term. Around my neck of the woods, to many Kioti/Mahandra dealers have popped-up and are gone in a few years - nothing against their tractors though. I made a chart - listed the things I needed/wanted and in the end JD won-out.
I should think that once you get into the realm of farming beyond hobby or mowing the lawn, most buyers would be color blind just because of the economics of farming and making a profit.
But having said that - in my small mickey mouse operation and family purchase history, our most reliable equipment has been JD. My JD 3 pt rake is trouble free - knock on wood, seems to work every-time. We've had JD riding mowers - long life out of them - great resale. The fellow I use to help bought new a 24T baler and used it for many years - trouble free machine and reliable too. I have family that are "real" farmers and they use JD tractors for the most part. All of that is probably applicable to MF, IH and other brand/owners too. But when I consider another baler (maybe new one of these days) I reflect on the old 24T, my own 14T I had one time and the new 328/238 balers and find it hard to consider something else - though an inline baler really interests me. Same with other equipment.
I have to believe if you are a real farmer and you have a history with JD and a good one, including a good dealer - you are likely going to go back to them again and again. But maybe not.
With respect to financing. It seems to me like I read or was told that during the depression, farmers who had bought JD tractors on JD credit - many were unable to repay due to the depression. Don't know if this is true - but so it goes that JD told the dealers not to reposes the tractors as if they did, they wouldn't be able to sell them anyway. Let the farmer take as long a necessary to repay - and most all eventually repaid JD for their tractors AND when the time came to buy another one - JD was the brand they choose out of loyalty.
Interesting topic - thanks again for everyone's replies.
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