TRI-COUNTY EQUIPMENT ISSUES PRESS RELEASE ON LOSS OF 44 YEAR JOHN DEERE FRANCHISE
Some in the area may have heard Tri-County Equipment in Crossville was losing the John Deere dealership. There have been several stories circulating about the reason for the loss of John Deere – Clifford Pugh of Tri-County Equipment has issued the following press release with the explanation:
First, I want to express my appreciation to all our customers, new and old. Your
continued loyalty and support mean so much to me and the Tri-County family.
I was the John Deere dealer here in Crossville from February 1977 until March
15 th , 2021. In recent years John Deere has pushed to consolidate their single store
dealers in favor of those that own multiple (corporate) locations and I have been
the last single store owner in Tennessee for the last 4 years. On March 5 th , 2020, a
John Deere Division Manager hand-delivered a termination letter to me stating
that they would close me down as a dealer on September 2 nd , 2020 because of
below expected market share performance, which is set by Deere, for the sale of
“NEW” tractors.
After lengthy negotiations with John Deere and their single, specified potential
buyer, I decided not to sell and let John Deere terminate the dealership. They
then told me that March 15 th , 2021 would be my final day as a John Deere dealer.
On that day they brought in several trucks, loaded their equipment, took the John
Deere sign down and drove away. This was of course a painful moment for the
entire Tri-County family.
Now to the future:
Tri-County Equipment Sales & Service Inc. has no plan to close its doors.
We will continue to serve our loyal customers with the same superior service they
have become accustomed to, as the vast majority of our employees are staying
with us and they have always been our best asset.
We will be taking on Simplicity lawnmowers and Ferris Zero-Turn homeowner
and commercial mowers. We will have the Yanmar compact utility tractors, &
Schulte rotary cutters, with a few other brands in negotiation.
The brands may be different but the service will remain the same. Nothing has
changed in Tri-County Rental nor in Tri-County Parts & Equipment (Federated
Auto & Truck Parts)
So come by and see the same faces you have seen for many years now:
Roger & his staff in Rental.
Chris Smith in Wacker-Neuson (Compact construction equipment) sales
Earl Reagan and his staff in Federated Auto & Truck Parts in Crossville, Monterey
and Huntsville TN locations
Link Cox in Mowers, Compacts, Tractors & Equipment
John Hall, who has been with us for 38 years, and his staff of trained technicians.
Marshall is now the go to for Oxbo/Pixall, plus many other products.
And of course, myself for almost anything.
Thank you for reading and again we deeply appreciate our customers and
community of Crossville that have supported us for so many years as we look
forward to the years to come.
Clifford Pugh
Tri-County Equipment Sales & Service, Inc.
Crossville,
Grant T Sheckler
April 17, 2021 at 3:43 pm
What about Tri-County in Cookeville? Did they loose the dealership too?
Dennis Perry
April 17, 2021 at 4:26 pm
Cookeville’s John Deere dealership is TriGreen, and it is owned by the same dealership that will be opening the new JD in Crossville. They own over 20 other dealerships in TN and Alabama. With that said, I’ll keep my business with TriCounty in Crossville. They have been good to me over the past several years and I detest what corporate John Deere has done to them.
Laura
April 17, 2021 at 4:24 pm
There is no tri county in Cookeville. It’s tri green equipment and according to its website, they are still a John Deere dealer.
Eric Matthews
April 17, 2021 at 8:04 pm
I am thankful that a business In our county, stay true to its county and City, despite big corporations, thank you TriGreen Staff!
Jon
April 18, 2021 at 12:45 am
Stop supporting John Deere they do not support the right to repair act, along with multiple corporations including Apple. Do your self the favor or google John deere right to repair.
N. Mooneyham
April 18, 2021 at 4:46 am
I don’t even live in Crossville and I am proud to read that this business will adapt and over come. I hope to be a future customer one day. Wishing you guys all the BEST !
Mike Ledbetter
April 18, 2021 at 9:41 am
Clifford, I found out about this Friday when I attempted to order a rockshaft control cable for my old 3020 Diesel. So sad that JD is being such a jerk. I bought my 3020 from Ralph Padgett way back in the early 70’s and have always had great parts and service from Tri County. Wishing the best for you guys.
Mike Ledbetter
April 18, 2021 at 9:42 am
Clifford, I found out about this Friday when I attempted to order a rockshaft control cable for my old 3020 Diesel. So sad that JD is being such a jerk. I bought my 3020 from Ralph Padgett way back in the early 70’s and have always had great parts and service from Tri County. Wishing the best for you guys.
Lewis Gooding
April 19, 2021 at 9:08 am
John Deere is no longer a farmer friendly company. They are fighting the farmers rights to work on the John Deere equipment he has bought and paid for. Instead, they want the farmer to have to pay them to work on any little things that needs repairing. I would never purchase John Deere machinery or products. Doubt seriously if I would even accept a free tractor from them.
JEFF CLAPP
April 21, 2021 at 12:56 pm
Clifford, you hang in there. I remember meeting you, for the first time, in the spring of 1985 as a kid . I came to your dealership for a dealer transfer. I was working for Vaughn Graves at Union Parts & Equip. Co. in Maynardville. From 1985 until 2006, when our dealership was sold, I remember John Deere always putting pressure on all single store dealerships to expand and open multiple locations. I really admire the way you handled John Deere over the years sticking to your guns. And I feel like we were in a since, singled out along with other dealerships for corporate gain. They seem to forget who “made” them. Our dealership was sold in 2006 to Ritchie Tractor Co Inc. John Deere pressured the sale and got what they wanted. Ritchie Tractor Co. was sold to AG -Pro last year. And it continues. The 21 years I worked at our dealership I considered us friends. I wish you the very best as you move forward.