John Deere
John Deere is a leading manufacturer of agricultural and heavy machinery. Founded in 1837, they are primarily known for their heavy-duty agriculture machines, such as tractors and combines. They have recently faced criticism for their business practices, especially in the realm of equipment repair. These practices have raised concerns among farmers, independent repair technicians, and consumer-advocacy groups.[1]
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1837 |
| Type | Public |
| Industry | Agricultural machinery, Heavy equipment |
| Official website | https://deere.com/ |
Consumer impact summary edit
Repairability edit
- John Deere limits access to essential repair software and diagnostic tools.[3]
- Restrictive policies prevent farmers from performing repairs or using independent repair shops, forcing them to rely on authorized dealerships.[1]
- Farmers have reported being unable to fix minor mechanical issues without John Deere's proprietary tools.[4]
- John Deere has allegedly unlawfully inflated repair costs by controlling the repair-service market.
Monopoly on repairs edit
- John Deere's control over the repair market has been likened to monopolistic behavior.
- By restricting and controlling access to repair resources and parts, the company has effectively eliminated competition in the repair market.[5]
Digital rights and ownership edit
- John Deere uses software locks and digital rights management (DRM) systems that control user autonomy.[6]
- These measures prevent farmers and independent repair technicians from completing repairs without access to the proprietary software.[3]
Opposition to right-to-repair legislation edit
- John Deere has actively lobbied against right-to-repair legislation in multiple states, and on the federal level. [7][8]
- Despite signing a memorandum of understanding with the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2023, the company has been accused of undermining the spirit of the agreement.[9][10]
Incidents edit
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the John Deere category.
FTC Lawsuit (January 2025) edit
On January 15, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against John Deere, alleging anticompetitive practices in the repair market.[4][2] The lawsuit claims that:
- John Deere unlawfully inflated repair costs by monopolizing the repair-service market.
- The company's restrictive policies violated consumer-protection laws and limited farmers' ability to maintain their equipment.
References edit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.npr.org/2025/01/15/nx-s1-5260895/john-deere-ftc-lawsuit-right-to-repair-tractors
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/DeereCoREDACTEDComplaintCaseNo325-cv-50017.pdf
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://pirg.org/resources/deere-in-the-headlights-3/
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/01/ftc-states-sue-deere-company-protect-farmers-unfair-corporate-tactics-high-repair-costs
- ↑ https://www.courthousenews.com/ftc-accuses-john-deere-of-unlawful-equipment-repair-practices/
- ↑ https://pirg.org/edfund/resources/john-deere-repair-software/
- ↑ https://pirg.org/resources/john-deere-and-right-to-repair-over-the-years/
- ↑ https://wisconsinwatch.org/2024/04/midwest-farmers-right-to-repair-agriculture-john-deere-illinois/
- ↑ https://investigatemidwest.org/2024/11/12/is-john-deeres-day-of-reckoning-soon-at-hand/#:~:text=In%20a%20nutshell%3A%20Deere%20embeds%20authorization%20codes%20in,dealers%20have%20access%20to%20all%20the%20verification%20codes.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-RgOUT3zeo