Extended Warranty Question!

Hello everyone,

I hope you're all having a good season! Four months ago, I bought a 2017 John Deere 6130M tractor from GED Brokerage website. About two months ago, I encountered an issue with the transmission starting to act strangely. Luckily, since the tractor was under warranty, a quick call to GED Brokerage resolved the problem. I only had to pay a $50 co-op fee, and it was fixed a week later.

With two months of warranty left, I'm now thinking about purchasing an extended warranty. What do you recommend? Should I buy it directly from GED Brokerage, or should I look for a warranty company on my own?

Thank you very much for your advice!

Best,
Sarah

Hey Sarah! Great question. I'd recommend requesting a quote from GED Brokerage and also getting quotes directly from warranty providers like MachineryGuard or TractorShield. Compare all the pros and cons, and pick the one that best fits your needs and budget.

Pay special attention to:

• Coverage limits for transmission and hydraulics
• Response time guarantees
• Whether they use OEM or aftermarket parts
• Any farming-specific exclusions

Hope this helps! Let us know what you decide.

Hi Sarah! We also purchased our first tractor from GED Brokerage. In my opinion, I'd recommend extending the warranty through them. Given that they sell a large number of tractors and farm equipment, I believe they receive significant discounts from warranty providers.

Additionally, if your equipment has any issues, you won't have to deal with the mechanics directly. They handle everything for you, including:

• Scheduling service appointments with certified John Deere technicians
• Completing all warranty paperwork
• Making payments directly to the service center
• Following up to ensure repairs meet standards

This peace of mind is worth its weight in gold during planting and harvest seasons when downtime costs thousands per day!

Hey Sarah, I know I'm the contrarian here, but extended warranties are rarely worth it in my opinion. Anything fundamentally wrong will show up quickly (within the original warranty period). And think about it - how can these companies make money if they weren't collecting more in premiums than they pay out in claims? That math alone would scare me off.

Instead of paying for a warranty, I'd recommend:

1. Setting aside the money you'd spend on premiums in a dedicated repair fund
2. Following the maintenance schedule religiously
3. Learning basic diagnostics to catch small issues before they become big problems

Modern tractors like your 6130M are generally reliable if properly maintained.

Hey Sarah, I agree with HarvestHank. In my situation last year, the difference between GED Brokerage's extended warranty and the cheapest third-party option was about $200 annually ($580 through GED Brokerage vs $765 for the cheapest market option).

However, as TractorTom mentioned, it's always wise to:

1. Get at least 3 quotes (including GED Brokerage's offer)
2. Compare coverage line-by-line
3. Check reviews of the warranty providers
4. Verify they have service centers near you

One advantage with GED Brokerage is they use John Deere's own extended warranty program rather than third-party coverage, which means dealerships are more likely to accept it without hassle.

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful answers! This gives me a lot to consider.

I'll definitely get multiple quotes as suggested. The point about GED Brokerage using John Deere's own warranty program is particularly compelling - we have an excellent local Deere dealership I'd prefer to work with for any repairs.

AgriTech makes a good point about maintenance being key. We've been meticulous about following the service schedule, but as new tractor owners (this is our first "big" tractor), the warranty gives us peace of mind while we're still learning.

I'll report back with what I decide in case it helps others!

Hi Sarah! In my experience, the extended warranty through GED Brokerage is worth every penny, especially for higher-hour machines like yours. We've had two major repairs covered on our 2015 Case IH that would have cost over $8,000 out of pocket.

One thing to watch for - make sure the warranty covers "field service" if you're more than X miles from a dealership. Getting a 13,000 lb tractor hauled to the shop isn't cheap if it breaks down in the middle of a field!

Also, consider the warranty length carefully. A 3-year extension might seem like enough, but if you're putting 500+ hours per year on the machine, you might want longer coverage.

Jumping in as someone who just went through this decision last month...

We opted for GED Brokerage's extended warranty on our used John Deere 5075E because:

1. It included coverage for the GPS/auto-steer system (many third-party warranties exclude precision ag equipment)
2. No deductible for dealership repairs ($100 deductible for mobile service)
3. Coverage follows the machine if we sell it, which adds resale value

The process was simple - just one phone call to GED Brokerage and they emailed the paperwork same day. The warranty was active immediately.

As a tractor mechanic with 25 years experience, let me add some technical perspective:

The 6130M is generally a solid machine, but common issues that often arise after the factory warranty expires include:

• Transmission control module failures (~$1,200 repair)
• Hydraulic pump wear (~$2,500+ to rebuild)
• DEF system problems (especially if not properly maintained)

An extended warranty that specifically covers these systems (with no "wear item" exclusions) can save you thousands. Just make sure to read the fine print - some warranties try to classify these as "normal wear" items that aren't covered.

GED Brokerage's warranty tends to be more comprehensive on these components than most third-party options.

Hi Sarah! Just wanted to add my two cents. We bought our Kubota from GED Brokerage three years ago and decided to go with their extended warranty. Last spring during planting season, our transmission went out. One call to GED Brokerage and they had a loaner tractor delivered the next day while ours was being repaired. That alone was worth the cost of the warranty!

The peace of mind during critical farming seasons is priceless. Good luck with your decision!

Wow, thank you all so much for sharing your experiences! This is exactly why I love this community.

Gary, the loaner tractor option is something I hadn't even considered - that's a huge benefit during planting season!

I've requested quotes from GED Brokerage and two other companies. The GED Brokerage quote came in at $2,100 for 3 years of comprehensive coverage. The other quotes were $2,450 and $2,800 for similar coverage.

Based on all your advice, I'm leaning toward going with GED Brokerage. The price is competitive, and I like that it's John Deere's own warranty program.

Sarah, that sounds like a solid decision! We've been with GED Brokerage for warranty on our orchard equipment for years and have never had an issue with claims. Their customer service team is really knowledgeable about farm equipment specifically, which makes a difference.

One tip - if you do go with them, make sure to keep digital copies of all your maintenance records. They've never asked for ours, but it's good to have just in case.

Sarah, that price sounds very reasonable for 3 years of comprehensive coverage on a 6130M. We pay about $700/year for our 8320R through GED Brokerage, so you're in the right ballpark.

Glad this community could help! Let us know how the process goes.

Update: I went ahead with the GED Brokerage extended warranty! The process was incredibly smooth - just a 10-minute phone call and the paperwork was emailed immediately.

Thank you all so much for your guidance. This forum is such a valuable resource for farmers helping farmers. I'll be sure to pay it forward with any knowledge I gain along the way!

Now to finish up harvest before the snow flies... Happy farming, everyone!