The FTC accused John Deere of unfair corporate practices, high maintenance costs
Federal Trade Commission and Attorneys General of Illinois and Minnesota announced Farm equipment manufacturer John Deere has been sued over practices that have increased equipment maintenance costs for farmers and prevented routine maintenance on critical farm equipment.
The FTC A complaint was filed For decades, Deere’s actions limited the ability of farmers and independent repairers to repair deer equipment, forcing them to rely on Deere’s network of authorized dealers to perform necessary repairs. According to the FTC, this boosted Dern’s multi-billion dollar profits on farm equipment and parts and boosted its maintenance equipment business while paying farmers for maintenance costs.
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“Unlawful maintenance restrictions are devastating to farmers who rely on affordable and timely maintenance to harvest their crops and earn income,” said FTC Chairman Lena M. Kahn. “The FTC’s action today seeks to ensure that farmers across America are free to repair their own equipment or use repair shops of their choice, reduce costs, prevent disruptive delays and promote fair competition for independent repair shops.”
Historically, farmers have sought to repair their own equipment or have relied on local, independent repair providers. However, with the increasing computerization of Deere’s equipment over the past few decades, farmers must now rely on Deere’s interactive software tool, Service ADVISOR, which Deere offers only to authorized dealers, the FTC complaint states.
A CUSTOMER SERVICE ADVISOR OPTION REPAIR TOOL IS AVAILABLE BUT IS STATED THAT IT CANNOT PERFORM ALL REPAIRS ON DEER AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT. He said he couldn’t do it either. The necessary information to prepare a fully functional repair tool Available to general maintenance tool developers.
The charge demands that the Dire be given Large tractor and combine owners, as well as independent repairers, Access the Service ADVISOR repair tool and any other repair resources to authorized dealers.
In response, Dir he said. The FTC and state prosecutors said the charges were based on “factual misrepresentations and fatal legal theories.”
