John Deere’s PowerGard Maintenance and PowerGard Protection programmes are now available for the company’s full range of professional turf equipment, including golf and commercial mowers, as well as compact tractors (but not Gator utility vehicles). Combining both plans allows customers to budget for all their equipment servicing and repair costs.
“All our professional turf equipment customers in the UK and Ireland can now benefit from a PowerGard plan to help fix costs, budget more accurately and avoid unexpected outlays,” says John Deere Limited’s aftermarket sales manager James Morley.
“These new PowerGard programmes are specially designed to control operating costs, remove the worry and allow users to choose the best plan to suit their individual needs. Not only can the operator save on maintenance costs by locking into current parts and labour prices, he can also save on his own time and labour.”
One of the first golf courses in the country to adopt PowerGard is Allerthorpe Park Golf Club, nearYork. The club agreed a new package deal with local dealer F G Adamson & Son of Swanland in East Yorkshire, and took out a John Deere Financial lease with PowerGard maintenance and protection cover from day one, giving them a total fixed cost of ownership over five years.
“I was looking for something to cover all our machines all the time, so that we could concentrate on our greenkeeping duties and on improving the quality of the course and its presentation, without having to worry about servicing or parts as the machines get older,” says head greenkeeper Rob Bradley. “What we liked about PowerGard is that you have one set amount to pay every month with no unexpected costs, which makes budget planning that much easier.”
PowerGard is much more than a simple extended warranty programme; it is a complete maintenance and protection plan that allows the user to budget for the full operating costs of the equipment, 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, new or used, according to the service schedule in the operator’s manual. 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.
In addition, 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 Financial, it is possible to fund the PowerGard Protection programmes within a finance package; payments will vary depending on the machine, length of the plan and payment option chosen.
“PowerGard customers can also be secure in the knowledge that their machines are 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,” says James Morley. “This in turn provides reliability and performance advantages, and they will have a complete service record book, fully stamped by the dealer, which will add value to the machine when it is traded in.”
John Deere Limited www.JohnDeere.com