[ACecil]

Originally Posted by R Bedell

Being a small business owner, EVERY business has to make a profit or they won't be in business. In the case of CC/MTD they are no exception.

I have a local Cub Cadet dealer near by. He is a small "Mom & Pop" type of business. He use to be big into Cub Cadets. The asset he has, he services what he sells. When I say, "use to be" is because, directly across the street from his business, is a TSC Store. And as most of you know, that TSC sells Cub Cadets. TSC sells the 1000 series and ALWAYS for under <$1999.00. They buy in such larger volume than the local Mom & Pop business can, so they have better purchasing power and selling price.

The local CC Dealer decided to only sell the 2000 & 3000 series Cubs. That lasted for a few years when he discovered, that the PUBLIC only wanted these cheap <$1999 deals.

Thus, TSC caters to the public by offering a cheap tractor and no service, while the local CC dealer who offers a better series of tractor with service behind it, only sells a few tractors to his loyal customers.

Now, you add Lowes, Home Depot and other Big Box stores into the equation, and it is easy to see, the PUBLIC wants these cheap machines.

To force MTD to offer a better tractor, STOP buying the cheap machines which will force them to offer something better. Something tells me, that will never happen.

Stop into any Wal-mart, any day of the week. The people leaving that store, are leaving with items that are cheapest to buy, regardless of where they were made, or the quality of the item. Price is their utmost criteria. After-all, Wal-Mart is the Retail Leader of the world all based upon price. Moral...........the majority of the.PEOPLE WANT CHEAP.

I couldn't have said it any better, Roland!