PowerGard protection for turf tractors
John Deere's PowerGard Maintenance and PowerGard Protection programmes are now available for new compact and utility tractors, including the 20 Series and 3036E compacts and 5 Series utility models. Combining both plans allows customers to budget for their machinery maintenance and repair costs.
"During busy times, it's easy to fall behind with the maintenance procedures recommended in the tractor operator's manual and service record book," says John Deere Limited's aftermarket sales manager James Morley. "This can lead to unexpected repairs that create unbudgeted expenses. These in turn cause problems with the operator's cash flow, on top of disrupting work.
"Our commercial turf customers in the UK and Ireland can now benefit from a maintenance plan to help fix costs, budget more accurately and avoid unexpected outlays. These new PowerGard programmes are specially designed to control operating costs, remove the worry and allow compact and utility tractor users to choose the best plan to suit their individual needs.
"These are much more than simple extended warranty programmes; PowerGard is a complete maintenance and protection plan that allows the user to budget for the full operating costs of the tractor, while ensuring that it is properly maintained throughout its working life to provide years of reliable service."
PowerGard Maintenance is an agreement between the dealership and the customer to do all the maintenance work on the machine according to the service schedule in the operator's manual, and the dealership must perform at least one annual inspection. Customers can pay at each service, in regular instalments or for the entire contract in advance, with the cost of the plan including all parts, maintenance fluids and routine labour.
There are two levels of PowerGard Protection plan that cover the cost of machinery repairs for up to five years, and must be bought with a PowerGard Maintenance plan. The basic PowerGard Protection is for limited coverage of the powertrain and engine, while PowerGard Protection Plus provides more comprehensive coverage of all key machine components.
Full details of covered items are available from John Deere dealers. Subject to acceptance by John Deere Credit, it is possible to fund the PowerGard Protection programmes within a finance package; payments will vary depending on the tractor model, length of the plan and payment option chosen.
"By budgeting for preventive care in this way, and having the tractor fully maintained by the dealer, the operator can save on maintenance costs by locking into current parts and labour prices, as well as saving on his own time and labour," says James Morley.
"He can also be secure in the knowledge that his tractor is being well cared for by a skilled, fully trained John Deere technician using state of the art tools, who is certified by the industry standard LTA programme. This in turn gives him reliability and performance advantages, and he will have a complete service record book, fully stamped by the dealer, which will add value to his tractor when it is traded in."