Trying to buy a stump grinder from UK dealer.

[David Cropper]

Has anybody else had less than a good response from UK dealers when inquiring about part exchanging a used grinder and buying one from them?

I rang the offices of two companies who advertise on Arbtalk to inquire. The first one I wanted to buy new and part ex my existing one. The 12 year old who answered said "Sorry sir but we don't sell stump grinders you must be mistaken" to which I told him that I was looking on the company's website as I was speaking to him! I suggested that this may not be his specialist subject and could I speak to someone who did know. He then relayed answers from his, I assume boss, with the eventual reply that they weren't interested in part ex but would sell my old grinder for me. Not too impressed with them, maybe they had bigger fish to fry than me.

At the second company I spoke to the receptionist and asked to speak to the chap who deals with grinder sales, to be very politely told, I may say, that he was in the yard and could I ring back in an hour. As I was going back out to work I suggested that maybe an email marked FAO then his name would be better. This I did. Nothing back from them so far from Friday morning. Is it just me and my sparkling personality or is paranoia creeping in.

[swinny]

You must be dealing with bad companies.

 

You tried bandit? Global recycling

[Ian Clarke]

Speak to uncle dean at global recycling. And look up ty korrigan on here he has a bandit grinder so will know a bit more about availability of spares etc as ur both in France but I understand France is big and may not be near each other.

[GlobalNewark]

Has anybody else had less than a good response from UK dealers when inquiring about part exchanging a used grinder and buying one from them?

 

I rang the offices of two companies who advertise on Arbtalk to inquire. The first one I wanted to buy new and part ex my existing one. The 12 year old who answered said "Sorry sir but we don't sell stump grinders you must be mistaken" to which I told him that I was looking on the company's website as I was speaking to him! I suggested that this may not be his specialist subject and could I speak to someone who did know. He then relayed answers from his, I assume boss, with the eventual reply that they weren't interested in part ex but would sell my old grinder for me. Not too impressed with them, maybe they had bigger fish to fry than me.

 

At the second company I spoke to the receptionist and asked to speak to the chap who deals with grinder sales, to be very politely told, I may say, that he was in the yard and could I ring back in an hour. As I was going back out to work I suggested that maybe an email marked FAO then his name would be better. This I did. Nothing back from them so far from Friday morning. Is it just me and my sparkling personality or is paranoia creeping in.

 

 

David I do believe it was me, I was extremely busy Friday trying to prepare Four machines to go out tomorrow. I apologise as I have been waiting for an email but have nothing, my mail is [email protected]. If you have sent an email can you resend it & I'll sort today. Sorry.

[peatff]

Didn't someone have a bad experience importing a grinder or chipper to France ? Are prices higher over on the Continent to make it worth doing ? Probably a second hand machine of which dealers don't know the history is not an inviting prospect as they get comebacks if things go wrong. Unless you are letting it go for a low price it is not always an attractive proposition for a dealer as they need to cover all eventualities.

[Mountain man]

I think what you should bear in mind is that these are not large companies with receptionists and salespeople walking round a showroom of new machines waiting for a call.

Of course they want sales but like you if you're in the middle of a job, they just think "I'll finish this and then I'll call"

Keep trying for the machine you want.

[hamdogg]

Wait till you owe them money! They will get back to you then!!

[Chris Sheppard]

I think what you should bear in mind is that these are not large companies with receptionists and salespeople walking round a showroom of new machines waiting for a call.

Of course they want sales but like you if you're in the middle of a job, they just think "I'll finish this and then I'll call"

Keep trying for the machine you want.

 

Nail. Head

 

I used to think the same as the OP until I found myself on the other side (fortunately that was a good while ago now and a distant memory). Like Dean, I'd find myself on the computer or phone on a weekend or well into the night (computer, not phone) just trying to clear the ever increasing stack of enquiries.

 

The best way I can think to describe it is like running a marathon but every time you get the finish in sight, you get dumped back at the start again.

Edited April 12, 2015 by Chris Sheppard

[David Cropper]

Dean, you are correct it was Global, I contacted you via the email address for the sales dept as that was all I had. I will resend the original.

 

Ian Clarke, I have spoken to Ty Corrigan about other matters before and you are right, France is a big country and he was the one who had a bad experience.

I have been offered a Vermeer SC30TX from a local company here, only a couple of hours on the clock. They bought it to hire out one year ago but the local French don't want to pay out for grinding jobs so the machine hasn't earnt it's keep. The company can't give me a part ex as it wouldn't be viable for them. I can't offer it for sale locally as some other Brit would possibly buy it and start up in completion ,that's the quandary I'm in. I have a Gentleman's agreement with the tree surgeons that I work with that I pass tree work on to them and I get the grinder jobs. It works very well as both French and Brit blokes pass on work. All the lads that I know out here are decent and we respect each others jobs realising that there is work for us all.

As I am not VAT registered that is another problem when buying kit here.

[Acg128]

Nail. Head

 

I used to think the same as the OP until I found myself on the other side (fortunately that was a good while ago now and a distant memory). Like Dean, I'd find myself on the computer or phone on a weekend or well into the night (computer, not phone) just trying to clear the ever increasing stack of enquiries.

 

The best way I can think to describe it is like running a marathon but every time you get the finish in sight, you get dumped back at the start again.

 

That's how I feel every week