How much does having good support folks, agronomist, good sales dudes, etc come into your decision process? or is it strictly price?
While price is certainly a factor, support is incredibly important. As I mentioned in some of my earlier posts in another thread, it's a key reason for my decision to change this year.
For example, when it comes to equipment, I believe that Deere products are well-made and have good resale value, and they charge for it. However, the local support from my dealer had been terrible. I experienced a planter problem and was left idle in the field for days, begging for assistance. The CNH dealer provided me with a used planter to help me get ahead of the rain and evaluate their equipment. Because of this level of support, we switched to New Holland tractors and combines, and we are glad we did.