Show us your Arb Diggers please.

[John Shutler]

19 minutes ago, monkeybusiness said:

Farkinell!!! 

Engcon had a great show offer on a hitch and 3 buckets at Plantworks which tied in nicely with buying the Bobcat - I never ever thought it would take so long and be wrapped up in such wishy-washiness though...

Don’t get me started on the muppetry from Approved Hydraulics over the Femac flail either Aiden - they are really taking the piss now to the point where I’m considering asking for my money back. 

i had the same issue with approved when i ordered my flail 

[LGP Eddie]

I think some need a good dose of the reality of trying to get hold of kit, the nightmare of the annual shutdowns and knock on effect for months, plus the seemingly never decreasing lead times on what are absolute best sellers and should be in stock from manufacturers.

 

We’re all the same and for good reason, doing the legwork on new kit/attachments, but often hovering over the button until a project has the go ahead, then needing it Now!

 

Sadly the reality is far different, my last Felling Head took 11 months of slog to get sorted, I’m waiting on one Grab I’ve sold around 7 weeks and still no sign, I can order a Westtech and that will say six weeks for generally anything.

This is all standard units, start throwing in specials and needing things like Ec-Oil tops adding, and you’re into three months sometimes.

 

My latest project is built around one key component, it has taken 12 months to source and is due 17th of October, and that’s before it begins it’s conversion that’ll add another three months no doubt.

 

When Adam at approved or Andrew at Engcon tell you they’re doing all they can, they almost certainly are.

They don’t make them, they’re Dealers end of, and if what you’re after isn’t available, is awaiting more orders for a batch production or a special, you’ll have to wait.

 

Things like the APF in September are deadly, everyone gets sight of shiny metal and wants it now, we need a straightforward Mechanised Arb/De-Veg show in April for guys to plan their next move from.

 

 

Eddie.

 

[LGP Eddie]

Blatant advert, but might help someone out?

I’ve got to rig the Felling Head onto a 22 metre Long Reach for a project starting shortly.

If anyone has something they think this could be a solution for, shout up as if you can piggyback on you’ll save ££.

 

 

 

Eddie.

[monkeybusiness]

32 minutes ago, LGP Eddie said:

I think some need a good dose of the reality of trying to get hold of kit, the nightmare of the annual shutdowns and knock on effect for months, plus the seemingly never decreasing lead times on what are absolute best sellers and should be in stock from manufacturers.

 

We’re all the same and for good reason, doing the legwork on new kit/attachments, but often hovering over the button until a project has the go ahead, then needing it Now!

 

Sadly the reality is far different, my last Felling Head took 11 months of slog to get sorted, I’m waiting on one Grab I’ve sold around 7 weeks and still no sign, I can order a Westtech and that will say six weeks for generally anything.

This is all standard units, start throwing in specials and needing things like Ec-Oil tops adding, and you’re into three months sometimes.

 

My latest project is built around one key component, it has taken 12 months to source and is due 17th of October, and that’s before it begins it’s conversion that’ll add another three months no doubt.

 

When Adam at approved or Andrew at Engcon tell you they’re doing all they can, they almost certainly are.

They don’t make them, they’re Dealers end of, and if what you’re after isn’t available, is awaiting more orders for a batch production or a special, you’ll have to wait.

 

Things like the APF in September are deadly, everyone gets sight of shiny metal and wants it now, we need a straightforward Mechanised Arb/De-Veg show in April for guys to plan their next move from.

 

 

Eddie.

 

I ordered a special build flail from Approved in April, happy that it would take as long as necessary for the factory to manufacture and despatch. In August they contacted me to let me know it was built and en route to them. I was on holiday at the time, but paid in full when I got home (a month ago). 

2 weeks ago I contacted Approved to see if I could collect as would be in the area, to be told that they were waiting for plates to make the hitch (this was part of the order, not something that was landed on them at the last minute). I know they fabricate their hitches on site in house (they turn out lovely work to their credit). Now they won’t return my calls or emails... 

It is frustrating as they have incredible knowledge and supply brilliant products. Their customer service is missing though (I previously tried for 12 months to buy a radio control unit and valve block off them but ended up spending my money with Flowfit, who were happy to supply). 

I like Andrew at Engcon and am sure he does all he can for his customers. I was told that my hitch would be with the dealer for fitting this week - it was apparently dispatched from the factory in Sweden on Tuesday last week. I’ve still not heard if it is even in the UK 11 days later - someone within the Engcon supply chain is telling porkies as it shouldn’t take 11 days for a consignment to reach a national importer from the factory surely? And there is no way something that valuable would be sent without any way of tracking its progress, so someone somewhere must know where it is?!

It isn’t just these guys though - I ordered a new digger at the same time as the hitch (would be weird to have the hitch with no machine I guess) and was told there was one immediately available within the dealer network to my spec. If turns out it didn’t have the as-ordered extra counterweight, but these are available ‘off the shelf’ so nothing to worry about! Except they aren’t, and nobody knows when one will become available...... 

Fuckwhittery all around as far as I can see, you spend your money and are treated like shite. 

[LGP Eddie]

56 minutes ago, monkeybusiness said:

I ordered a special build flail from Approved in April, happy that it would take as long as necessary for the factory to manufacture and despatch. In August they contacted me to let me know it was built and en route to them. I was on holiday at the time, but paid in full when I got home (a month ago). 

2 weeks ago I contacted Approved to see if I could collect as would be in the area, to be told that they were waiting for plates to make the hitch (this was part of the order, not something that was landed on them at the last minute). I know they fabricate their hitches on site in house (they turn out lovely work to their credit). Now they won’t return my calls or emails... 

It is frustrating as they have incredible knowledge and supply brilliant products. Their customer service is missing though (I previously tried for 12 months to buy a radio control unit and valve block off them but ended up spending my money with Flowfit, who were happy to supply). 

I like Andrew at Engcon and am sure he does all he can for his customers. I was told that my hitch would be with the dealer for fitting this week - it was apparently dispatched from the factory in Sweden on Tuesday last week. I’ve still not heard if it is even in the UK 11 days later - someone within the Engcon supply chain is telling porkies as it shouldn’t take 11 days for a consignment to reach a national importer from the factory surely? And there is no way something that valuable would be sent without any way of tracking its progress, so someone somewhere must know where it is?!

It isn’t just these guys though - I ordered a new digger at the same time as the hitch (would be weird to have the hitch with no machine I guess) and was told there was one immediately available within the dealer network to my spec. If turns out it didn’t have the as-ordered extra counterweight, but these are available ‘off the shelf’ so nothing to worry about! Except they aren’t, and nobody knows when one will become available...... 

Fuckwhittery all around as far as I can see, you spend your money and are treated like shite. 

Something wrong there as Approved turn Head Brackets around in a couple of days.

Only Adam knows why you haven’t had it delivered yet and I’ll happily give him a bit of a prod for you even though I shouldn’t have to.

 

Engcon have a habit of shipping a big chunk of stuff together, obviously makes commercial sense and a good media shot of a pile of shiny stuff being unloaded.

Yours may be in the latest, and no it’s not in the slightest bit unusual for nobody to know where something is!

 

Machines, you deal with a Salesperson, their knowledge is probably 50% of yours on the product, they haven’t a clue when it comes to anything out of the ordinary and this happens almost 100% of the time if you’re not all over it.

Not their fault, they have to sell a huge range of kit into many different applications and that’s why things like this happen and most don’t even know what’s available on their machines from the Factory.

 

I do loads of this for people, they message me on their arse having got all sorts of ideas on their wish list and having visited a few Dealers have their head in their hands!

 

If it’s not a standard machine with a hitch and three buckets, you’re wading in treacle!

 

 

This weeks I believe 

 

Eddie.

Edited September 28, 2019 by LGP Eddie

[monkeybusiness]

13 minutes ago, LGP Eddie said:

Something wrong there as Approved turn Head Brackets around in a couple of days.

Only Adam knows why you haven’t had it delivered yet and I’ll happily give him a bit of a prod for you even though I shouldn’t have to.

 

Engcon have a habit of shipping a big chunk of stuff together, obviously makes commercial sense and a good media shot of a pile of shiny stuff being unloaded.

Yours may be in the latest, and no it’s not in the slightest bit unusual for nobody to know where something is!

 

Machines, you deal with a Salesperson, their knowledge is probably 50% of yours on the product, they haven’t a clue when it comes to anything out of the ordinary and this happens almost 100% of the time if you’re not all over it.

Not their fault, they have to sell a huge range of kit into many different applications and that’s why things like this happen and most don’t even know what’s available on their machines from the Factory.

 

I do loads of this for people, they message me on their arse having got all sorts of ideas on their wish list and having visited a few Dealers have their head in their hands!

 

If it’s not a standard machine with a hitch and three buckets, you’re wading in treacle!

 

 

This is weeks I believe 

 

Eddie.

Fingers crossed mine is in there somewhere!.... 

[Matthew Storrs]

Plant Search | Auto Trader Plant

PLANT.AUTOTRADER.CO.UK

Small duck come up for sale here in Devon- looks a handy setup.

Edited September 28, 2019 by Matthew Storrs

[dumper]

1 hour ago, Matthew Storrs said:

Plant Search | Auto Trader Plant

PLANT.AUTOTRADER.CO.UK

Small duck come up for sale here in Devon- looks a handy setup.

A duck with a tow hitch 

[Stephen Blair]

Cat were the same with me, they said my demo grab would work.

 So paid for grab and paid for Cat.

  Then it would only work with no crowning.

Fast forward 4 weeks of stale mate and eventually they paid for electro hydraulic valve and pedal.

  It’s been a weak link from day 1, cables, grabs and brash just don’t work.

 I’ve now got a shortened hip flexor on my left side due to the pedal and that’s what’s caused my back trouble for near 6 years.

  Now it’s £100 a week physio and rest from machine work.

  There’s no excuse for bad business, if you can’t deliver then don’t bullshit people and take their hard earned money.

[LGP Eddie]

24 minutes ago, Stephen Blair said:

Cat were the same with me, they said my demo grab would work.

 So paid for grab and paid for Cat.

  Then it would only work with no crowning.

Fast forward 4 weeks of stale mate and eventually they paid for electro hydraulic valve and pedal.

  It’s been a weak link from day 1, cables, grabs and brash just don’t work.

 I’ve now got a shortened hip flexor on my left side due to the pedal and that’s what’s caused my back trouble for near 6 years.

  Now it’s £100 a week physio and rest from machine work.

  There’s no excuse for bad business, if you can’t deliver then don’t bullshit people and take their hard earned money.

If you’ve any cables down to the business end, the only way to get reliable operation is to run them inside a hydraulic hose if possible using bulkhead fittings.

 

People put up with all kinds of control setups, the Sennebogen was one of the worst I’ve ever come across.

The difference was unbelievable once I’d shaken it all down and switched it around to something more intuitive to use.

 

Manufacturers would do well to review their Dealers more often and add a few Product Specialist.

Far too many machines and attachments being sold by people who have the Dealership for nothing more than profit and no practical experience or passion for the industry.

 

 

Eddie.