RDO delivers first Deere mini excavator

John Deere dealership, RDO Equipment, has delivered its first John Deere mini excavator to Queensland based R&R Hire Services which needed a zero tail-swing machine to complement its extensive fleet of equipment.

R&R Hire Services is based in Caboolture and is owned and operated by husband and wife team Ian and Jillanne Rodgers. They provide hire of party and trade equipment, from marquees to skid steers, with their customers ranging from qualified contractors hiring for a week of work, to “weekend warriors” who just need a machine for one to two days.

Ian Rodgers decided on the purchase from RDO Equipment due to a longstanding relationship between both parties.

Rodgers has been working with Vermeer for nearly 12 months, but when they became a part of RDO Australia Group late last year – this presented the opportunity for access to new products and more support.

Rodgers said after sales support was of utmost importance to them.

“When you work in hire, your machines should always be on the job. And if there’s a problem or a breakdown, that’s 100 per cent on us as the business owners to resolve,” he said.

“We rely on our suppliers who have the infrastructure in place to support us, and our customers – including location, availability and responsiveness.

“I take comfort in the fact that if one of our machines is out on a job with a customer, locally or remotely, and there is an issue, there will be an RDO or Vermeer technician only a couple of hours away. With other suppliers we’ve worked with we haven’t experienced that level of responsiveness.”

The E18ZS is the first John Deere mini excavator that RDO has sold in Australia after arriving in June. It has zero-tail-swing, a retractable undercarriage and a compact design allowing it to work in tight areas thus making it a popular choice among hire and rental companies.

“This is our first zero-swing machine, after we’ve had quite a few customers come in and ask if they can hire one. They’re great for the small DIY jobs as they can fit into tight spaces such as backyards or alleyways.”

Rodgers purchased the new John Deere mini excavator and several Vermeer machines from RDO Equipment salesman, David Holec.

“Dave isn’t just our sales rep, he’s our go to for parts or service issues or machinery advice. He has a great work ethic and is always there when you need anything or have any questions.

“If we put in a call to him, he never leaves you hanging and is really quick with getting back with answers. He knows his products inside out, upside down, which makes me feel comfortable that we know what we’re getting,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to continuing to work with Dave and RDO, and see what other products we can add to our fleet.”