This has been a popular article for quite some time. I wanted to update it and respond to some of the comments that have been left about my take on things. More specifically I want to comment about some of the confusion in the comments. It is true that some of the Box Stores sell some of the same exact models that you can find at the John Deere dealers.
At a recent John Deere Media Event I also learned that every John Deere Mower that is sold at a box store is inspected on-site by a John Deere dealer. A local dealer visits the store, inspects the mower, places a sticker on it so you know where the local dealer is located.
What’s also true is the Box Stores only carry entry level, low price point machines so they can compete with the other lower priced brands.
Regardless of how you feel on the topic the main point of the article is this, you get what you pay for, nothing more, nothing less.
Like you I was amazed that they could sell the thing for such a great price. The John Deere 42″ X300 shown in the adjacent photo retails for $3,099.99. The John Deere BG20444 (sometimes also sold as the LA105) 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. I know there are many people who will argue this fact and say there is no difference. However, go to the John Deere site and search for Model BG20444, you will not find it. You will find the LA105 which is a similar tractor but the BG20444 was manufactured specifically for HD.
Whether you agree or disagree with this argument is really no big deal. What is a big deal is paying attention to specifications and truly understanding what you’re about to buy. The reality is that high end brands (like John Deere and many others) have jumped on the big box store wagon and started manufacturing lower price point products so they don’t miss out on sales. 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 number of John Deere mowers now sold in this Country is huge because of the lower price points. However, the lower price (lower quality ?) mowers are far more prone to break down and suffer from wear and tear. The cheaper 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 lower priced model purchased at the big box store and a upgraded model they might find at a dealer the customer has a hard time understanding.
The big box stores and manufacturers (yes I blame them both!) 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 (plastic parts, thinner metal frames, etc).
When I purchased my X300 the dealer was pretty blunt with me. He said listen, if you want to buy half the machine then we’ll sell you one of those or 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 say that I believe the blame goes to John Deere and the big box stores for reducing their quality to make a sale. However, I understand that the market place is a tough place to survive.
Related Posts:
John Deere X300 Mulching Mower Works Great
John Deere X300 Mulching Mower
Which is Better a Stick Nailer or Coil Nailer? Framers have many choices in nailers…
Estimating How Many Nails for a New Roof When it comes to estimating materials for…
Composite / PVC Decking Layout Tips and Advice Composite and PVC decking have really changed…
Benefits of ERV Systems (Energy Recovery Ventilator) If you're building a new home or doing…
Vermiculite Attic Insulation If your home was built before 1990 there is a chance it…
Arc Fault (AFCI) Circuit Breakers Tripping Often An arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) or arc-fault detection…
View Comments
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.
Think twice about "upgrading" to a JD,, I bought one from a JD dealer, supposedly better than the ones from a box store, Wrong, the biggest piece of junk I've ever owned.
My dad did the same thing... and has had nothing but repeated problems. To top it off, the dealer finally admitted that they knew he was getting a substandard product when he bought it. As a result he has sworn off John Deere altogether and has warned me to never get one. His philosophy now is "if I going to end up with a cheap mower no matter what then I'm just going to go to Walmarts and buy the cheapest thing they got... because regardless of the name or price tag I'll be replacing it in a few years anyways."
I wouldn't classify all JD's that way. I have an X300 and it's on it's 5th season and it's still working like brand new.
I'm in my 4th year mowing 1/2 acre on a L125 and I love it. Been pushing snow with it all winters too. Run's great. If I were needing to cut more than an acre or two, I definately would have bought a bigger machine, but this one fit in my budget, and works great.
Common Sense should dawn on people! the first time I saw the row of JD lawn tractors at LOWES some years back, I knew they were not the same as what a JD dealer would have on it's lot, USE YOUR HEAD ! when you go to your walmart, do you THINK those cloths with american type names are from AMERICA, the main thing that is disappointing is JD letting these throw away mowers from china use the JD name,
but money talks, if you can't afford the real JD then buy the repos, they will work for a while, and then throw it away!
if the john deere at lowes and home depot are the same than why does the one from the dealer have a kawasaki engine and the one from the box stores have a briggs and stratton, don't seem the same to me as a kawasaki engine costs more?
Although I wouldn't buy one, the JD's from the big box stores aren't made in China. They are made by JD with good ol' Murican engines but they use cheaper materials and parts. Unlike the machines from Craftsman and others, they aren't all churned out in the same factory by MTD.
Well I must say I bought a JD z425 zero turn 10 years ago, cut 9 acres with it, got 475 hrs on it. It still runs like a Deer! Got it from HD for $4000. Best investment guess it was a Tuesday build. Lol. Listen, things break, do the repairs and keep mowing! But the dealership support and parts are second to none. Highly recommend John Deere, dealer or box stores
The comments here do nothing to help me decide the difference between John Deere at box stores and JD. Can someone be specific about what are the differences in quality. "You get what you pay for" just does not tell me a thing. All I know I'd I bought a Scott's made by JD at a box store 13 years ago. It still runs great. The problem is the deck is done and JD wants $550 for a replacement, ridiculous! Also, my friend bought a mower from JD and has had way more problems than I have, including the engine cover just falling apart.
If JD products from a JD store are so great than why don't the warranties reflect that?
my family is on its third john deere garden tractor bought from the dealer. There were cheaper mowers available. The first two we used for 20 years each before trading in. The third is now 16 years old. This one is a 325. None of the mowers have had mechanical problems, no engine problems, no transmission problems, no deck problems. I keep adding fuel, change the oil, and replace the tires when needed. Great product. Not cheap at first, but durable and high quality.
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...?
because john deere seen that lowes and home depot was selling a lot of that junk and they thought they would git in on the bandwagon sad part they are like most big companies they could care less about quality anymore those mowers are the proof all they want is a extra buck my daddy would flip over in his grave if he knew john deere had sunk that lowe we farmed he would not have nothing but jd tractors because those 4020 4320 4620 tractors from the 60s and early 70s are still working just like the mowers they made then jd dont even make them junk mowers at hd and lowes that should tell u something
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.
Todds answer about it being a "Rare" occasion is a complete fabrication. He was talking out his armpit.
an LA-105 is EXACTLY the same at EVERY store it was ever sold at.
As for box stores having different John Deer or Cub Cadets made just for them, that too is a fabrication.
It never happened.
Washer, dryers, refers, dishwashers...yes.
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.