Deere to sell Homelite

[65hoss]

4. Deere Plans to Sell Homelite Unit, Shed 2,000 Jobs
Moline, Illinois: Deere & Co. plans to sell its money-losing
Homelite lawn care-products business and reorganize its construction
and forestry division to cut about 2,000 jobs, or about 4.6
percent of its payroll.
Homelite products include chainsaws, blowers and trimmers.
Deere, the biggest farm-equipment maker, will try to sell the
Homelite operation in Chihuahua, Mexico, which employs 1,200. In
Charlotte and the South Carolina cities of Greer and Columbia,
some or all of Homelite will be closed, and 475 jobs lost.
Deere is scaling back a seven-year foray into retailing
consumer-brand lawn-care products that was intended to reduce its
reliance on sales of heavy farm equipment, analysts said. Deere
already planned to trim production of tractors and combines by
25 percent as sales slow, and said in June it would prune
1,250 salaried positions in the U.S.
``It's becoming obvious the economy isn't going to bounce
right back,'' said Susan Cross, an analyst with Wilmington Trust
Co., which owns about 13,000 Deere shares. ``They're doing what
they have to do given the environment.''

[geogunn]

DANG! I BETTER HURRY OUT AND BUY A COUPLE MORE ST-275 STRAIGHT SHAFT TRIMMERS!

GEO

[vipermanz]

does this mean there stuff will be like super-discounted?

[Albemarle Lawn]

When they lose their trusted supplier, Homelite.

All we have to do now is get rid of Crapsman, Poulan, WeedEater, Yard Man, Murray, and a few dozen others and we will doom the scrubs into working fast food!!!

[65hoss]

Home Depot loves homelite, maybe they will buy them. Just to keep the competition for us.

[Eng Mwr Guy]

Rumor I heard was Murry.

[fivestarlawnken]

So I'm a scrub because i have a "crapsman" weedeater and 21 push mower?? Gee I'm sorry.

[geogunn]

Originally posted by Albemarle Lawn
When they lose their trusted supplier, Homelite.

albermarle--the trimmer I posted about is a good one. perhaps even great considering the price and value it represents.

careful on the scrub name calling.

GEO

[lakegastonla]

Fivestar, to answer your question:


Aaaahhhhhhh yep! Having homeowner equipment that you press into commercial service is a sure sign of scrub-ism. See them all the time around here. Wish I had a dollar for every old man who thinks he is a "landscaper" here. All it takes is an old pickup truck , some ramps and a trimmer and blower picked up from a yard sale. (usually craftsman or homelite)Ah, the joys of a free-enterprise system!:rolleyes:

[awm]

well ive used both,as i suspect most have. i have a good lazer now and hope every body keeps using lts. at least around here . dont bother me a bit.i doubled my work out put.doubled what i could get per hr. and he cant leave the cut that i can.that translates into more me and less for him.later nowTM

[rixtag]

If only I were able to start my business with top of the line equipment and the knowledge of a seasoned pro then I could be like LAKE.

Rick

[fireball]

Deere is not the only one having trouble. Lesco removed all their poision pills and golden parachutes from their corporate structure a couple weeks ago, trying to make themselves a buy to someone.

[fivestarlawnken]

Lakegastonla, Well acording to you I should close up shop because I have a "crapsman" weedeater? So my work is not quality and professional? If you only knew.I would think that people wouldn't be so egotistical towards such stupid subjects as brand of weedeaters.It's really sad how we just judge people and give them names.Thanks for making me feel so bad about myself.Tomorrow I'm going to buy an echo weedeater just for you so I'm a "PRO".You know the funny thing none of my customers care what brand of equip. I use just so its the best on the block.So far no complaints from anyone. Also tomorrow I'm going to figure out how i can become a "landscaper" or a "pro".Boy that should take all day!!!!!Before you put people down think about there backgrounds first.So long for now.:D And thats the bottom line!

[grassyfras]

lakegalosh----- this is called "stereotyping" I learned that in school. DID you ever go to school? It is bad and shouldnt do it so stop doing it. I wonder if you sterotype everone that yous see. Do you hate people of other raices and differnet reliogions do you hate "gay" people also. You are discriminating against others and you should be stopped. BAD BAD BAD

[fivestarlawnken]

Good words grasyfus, It's good to see younger people being educated and taught about discrimination,sterotyping. Thank you.

[Scag48]

Well, I guess I'm a scrub too. I've got a Homelite and I'm proud of it. Bought it when I was 11 years old. Runs great too. Probably just as good as any other trimmer. So I'm still a scrub even though I've got other commercial equipment and do the best work in my tiny town? I can back that up if you would like pictures of the competition's work. Stereotyping is BAD. Maybe you should quit doing it...LAKE.

[vipermanz]

i'll stay out of this one:D

[Barkleymut]

I'm going to be in the minority here but I support a wife and child on my salary which means I have to be efficient. All commercial equipment and all backup equipment is commercial. I get pissed when I see a push mower, crappy hand blower, and crappy trimmer in the back of a pickup. While my customers know the difference between our work, those scrubs are always bringing the entire industry down. I know we all started somewhere, but you just cannot make decent money (over $30K) with some crappy equipment. If you don't make any $$$ then you are just out there sweating for nothing. Go get a job at the mill or something.

[geogunn]

Originally posted by Barkleymut
...but you just cannot make decent money (over $30K) with some crappy equipment.

barkleym-- has the answer! as lpng as it's not crappy equipment you are not a scrub! I like that approach!

I run the homelite ST-275 BY CHOICE...NOT BECAUSE IT IS THE BEST I CAN DO OR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW BETTER!!! I LIKE IT!

the point being since I like it it's not crappy equipment to me.

GEO

[rdh]

grassyfras
you you asked if lakgalosh hates gay people.

i think God hates them (liviticus18:22)"thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind:it is abominatoin

[grassyfras]

Crappy equipment to me is this old old mowers guys use out there and everthing is rust. Us scrubs didnt say we had crappy trucks or anything all they said they did was use a homelight trimmer and stuff. Hell, I dont even own a truck what do I care one less peice of expensive for me. The money I make now is plenty for me at this point in my life and if I invest it like I have been doing I will have a pretty easy life between now and a few years after college and after that Most likly Ill have a differnt job or maybe this still who knows. Oh yea i was thinking about buying a homlight trimmer just as a back up but i may or may not do that.

And in school we were told not to take the bible to litterly. So keep that in mind.
The Bible also says alot of other things that I know we do and do not do. SOOOOOOOOO were all bad and break the rules sometimes.

[fivestarlawnken]

Wow another day with my "crapsman" weedeater, three years old and still starts first pull.Hope I make it tomorrow.:D

[Charles]

I think God hates bad spellers too hahaha.
Homelite is just junk. But it is cheap junk for homeowners to use who cant bring themselves to spend big bucks for quality machinery which would be cheaper in the long run

[rdh]

charles
go back to your closet.

[taz72373]

Originally posted by Charles

Homelite is just junk. But it is cheap junk for homeowners to use who cant bring themselves to spend big bucks for quality machinery which would be cheaper in the long run

Hey I have 3 weedeaters on my trailer a Homelite that I've had for 4 years that I payed like $120 for and a ryobi that I think it was around $150 that I've had for like 3 years and an echo which is suppose to be a professional quality weedeater that I payed $325 for and I've had it for4 years and that homelite and ryobi keep up better than the echo. Don't drag something in the ground unless you've tried it for yourself. Plus no matter how much you pay for a weedeater whether its $90 or $350 you could get a piece of junk.

[grassyfras]

im going to contridicted (sp) myself on this one but i went through 3 or 4 homlight trimmers then i bought an echo and no problems.

[geogunn]

Originally posted by Charles
Homelite is just junk. But it is cheap junk for homeowners to use who cant bring themselves to spend big bucks for quality machinery which would be cheaper in the long run

CHARLES--WHAT I THINK YOU MEANT TO SAY IS THAT GEORGE W. USES HOMELITE!:angry:

GEO

[cantoo]

I have a 4 year old Homelite,a 2 year old Homelite and two new Makitas that I bought for backups. I have only used the Makitas twice just to make sure they worked. I actually prefer the older Homelite because the throttle is easier to use than the new one. I have been going to buy a Shin or Redmax when I need one but so far no need. Besides the Homelites are Can$125 and the Shins are around $500 that means the Shin has to last 16 to 20 yrs I'll be tired of it long before then.

[bubble boy]

right on, charles.

ahh, let em use the weekend warrior stuff. just ensures i get some new customers comin in on a regular basis.:cool:

[BrandonGT]

Originally posted by Albemarle Lawn
When they lose their trusted supplier, Homelite.

All we have to do now is get rid of Crapsman, Poulan, WeedEater, Yard Man, Murray, and a few dozen others and we will doom the scrubs into working fast food!!!

Ok, here it goes.

First off, I'm 13 years old. I recently (a few months ago) began getting interested in the Lawn Care industry, and have been researching on the mowers and have been reading many of the lawnsite posts to boost my "lawn care education".

All I do right now is take care of my own lawn here at home and my Uncle's lawn. And, I use the equipment provided at both locations -- A Troy-Bilt 21" and a 22" Craftsman -- your typical home-owner quality equipment.

Now, do I deserve to be named a "scrub" just because I operate home-owner quality lawn equipment? I think not; I think I should be treated just as well as the rest of the "big-guys" in the business with the Dixies and such. No one should be superior to another in this business just because of the equipment that they use!

I plan to start off my own lawn care business with a Craftsman 21". Now, does that make be a "scrub"? No, it means that I'm a young fellow who doesn't have a real job to afford anything more, at the time, but still does basically the same job that you do with the big stuff -- cut the lawn.

All I am saying is that you should not put down the owners of not-so-intimidating equipment, as most likely we are using it to create enough funds to purchase something "bigger".

Remember, this is just my opinion. :)

[cantoo]

Hey bubble boy, you guys have any good Dealers that way? I'm on Lake Huron and we have to drive to Kitchener to find a decent Dealer.. Local guys are too pricy and have to order everything.

Kitchener Tractor is where we get our Walkers serviced.

[65hoss]

Isn't it funny how this has evolved.

The original intent of this was to let everyone know what's going on in your career field. The manufacturers are having hard times. Everyone needs to be focusing on the business aspects of this. Looking into the possible future from a business standpoint. If a homeowner piece of equipment that sells at Home Despot can be having financial troubles can't Stihl, Redmax, Shindawa, DC, eXmark, Toro, Scag, etc be having potiental problems also? What would happen to parts availability? What about equipment prices? Quality? Money for research and development? The trickle down effect to the end user (us)?

Everyone gets so into name calling you completely miss the important parts. Could the green industry be heading into this same recession?

[bubble boy]

hey cantoo

i very rarely come away from my dealers dissapointed. as for yours being pricey, are you in the boonies? with no close competition, dealers can gouge you at will.

at least 8 commercial dealers (that i can think of off hand) within 15 min. of me.

but im in markham. been a while since i took geography, but isn't that a bit far for you?

Incidentally, in the thread "Dixie chopper is a cult", it was revealed that one of the two can. dealers of DC's is in markham. they are great guys, if your interested in the legendary chopper it might be worth the drive.

yah, yah this is off topic.

BTW brandon gt i know you and those like you were taking some shots in this thread but you do present a good argument, and at 13 no less. i certainly wasn't that articulate at that age. i still aint now.:D

wow i didn't even brush the threads topic.:blush:

[cantoo]

bubble boy,we used to go to the snowmobile show in Markham. As for living in the boonies, we live so far out we have to drive two hours to get to the boonies before we can drive out.
We're about 100 miles from Toronto, closest Dealer is about 40 miles away and I don't think he has ever sold a Walker yet.

[vipermanz]

all everybody was saying was that homeowner equipment will not last long at all given what some of the people here could put it through.

[awm]

if you are solo and trim your self,get your self a little craftman for house triming. i one hand my trimmers anyway and its much
lighter. if you are big enough to have a man that trims all the time. get the best that money can buy. he will probably tear up the craftsman in a day.by the way my craftsman is two yrs old cost 39 as a sears return. echo 50-1 an high test

[laserman]

God does not hate gay people their acts are an abomination to him, and will result in death

[Randy]

Hi folks heres my two cent on this subject. Yes I run craftsman I also run comm. grade stuff. This is what I choise to do. I also drive an old truck. It is like a dear old friend to me. WE have done a lot of hard work to gether. To me the green industury is everybody doing there best and taking pride in what we do. So this laber day weekend thank about what you laber to do every day.I was told all my life that opions are like butt holes we all have one. Yes I know that some take no pride in what they do and that looks bad on us all!!! It is not the equipment that dos a bad job.It's the person running it. So lets take some pride in are work and make it a more buttaful place to live. Randy:mad: