FTC and States Sue John Deere Over Alleged Repair Monopoly

By Free Republic | Created at 2025-01-15 23:12:56 | Updated at 2025-01-19 20:46:29 3 days ago

FTC and States Sue John Deere Over Alleged Repair Monopoly
The Epoch Times ^ | January 15, 2025 | Chase Smith

Posted on 01/15/2025 2:45:43 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

An FTC lawsuit accuses the agriculture machinery giant of illegal repair restrictions that allegedly inflate costs and deny farmers timely equipment fixes.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), along with attorneys general from Illinois and Minnesota, filed a lawsuit against John Deere manufacturer Deere and Company on Wednesday, Jan. 15, charging the agriculture machinery giant with engaging in practices that allegedly force farmers to rely on its authorized dealers for critical equipment repairs.

According to the FTC’s complaint, these alleged tactics have inflated costs for American farmers and deprived them of the ability to quickly fix the tractors and combines they depend on for planting and harvesting.

The lawsuit alleged that Deere holds monopoly power in certain repair services for its own agricultural equipment, partly due to its exclusive control over a fully functional software repair tool called “Service ADVISOR.”

The FTC alleged that Deere limits distribution of this tool to authorized dealers only, preventing farmers and independent repair shops from making the same range of repairs that official dealers can perform.

An alternative version of the software—Customer Service ADVISOR—is said to be incapable of offering the same level of functionality, creating what the Commission describes as an unlawful chokehold on essential farm equipment repairs.

“Illegal repair restrictions can be devastating for farmers, who rely on affordable and timely repairs to harvest their crops and earn their income,” said FTC Chair Lina Khan in a statement announcing the suit. “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—lowering costs, preventing ruinous delays, and promoting fair competition for independent repair shops.”

(Excerpt) Read more at theepochtimes.com ...

TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Government
KEYWORDS: agriculture; ftc; johndeere; monopoly; restrictions; tractors

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Farm equipment as a subscription service. Cha-ching!

To: E. Pluribus Unum

I think Kenmore (Sears product) did this for years.

2 posted on 01/15/2025 2:50:08 PM PST by Sacajaweau

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Maybe the plaintiffs are right, but if so then why among all the farm states only Minnesotta and Illinois AGs got involved, or is this just a “blue state” and Biden-FTC complaint???

3 posted on 01/15/2025 2:50:53 PM PST by Wuli

To: Sacajaweau

yeah, but think of the Maytag service guy that never had anything to do

4 posted on 01/15/2025 2:51:53 PM PST by Gene Eric

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Back in the day a John Deere “A” had a small green tool box incorporated into its frame...

5 posted on 01/15/2025 2:52:00 PM PST by lightman (Beat the Philly fraud machine the Amish did onest, ja? Nein, zweimal they did already!)

To: lightman

it’s about John Wayne, Johnny Cash, and John Deere...

Way out Here.

(great song)

Josh Thompson,
I believe

6 posted on 01/15/2025 3:03:25 PM PST by epluribus_2

To: lightman

I have one of those. It’s got a hand clutch and petcocks to reduce compression for starting.

7 posted on 01/15/2025 3:04:42 PM PST by tired&retired (Blessings )

To: E. Pluribus Unum

For once I agree with Biden’s people. It’s sickening to read reports of farmers, when it’s time to harvest, but they have a small problem - often something they can fix on their own* or have a nearby mechanic fix. Instead they’re told to WAIT A WEEK for “The Man” to show up. Sickening, and this federal crackdown all could have been avoided by Deere not being such assholes.

*note to millennials and younger people: Back in the day, people often learned to fix things themself. We even were taught which end of a screwdriver to hold.

8 posted on 01/15/2025 3:07:13 PM PST by BobL

To: Gene Eric; Rennes Templar; The Spirit Of Allegiance

yeah, but think of the Maytag service guy that never had anything to do

"As God as my witness I thought washers could fly."

9 posted on 01/15/2025 3:08:47 PM PST by Ezekiel (🆘️ "Come fly with US". 🔴 Ingenuity -- because the Son of David begins with MARS ♂️, aka every man)

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