New equipment Cancel The title field is required!

1. Christopher Thuer

   

   101 posts
   
   7/15/2022 10:07 AM

   Anyone out there having the volume of issues like we are with new equipment?  Without naming colors, the issues are many.  A lot of nickel and dime things due to poor assembly but enough to shut down the machine for a few days. 

   
   Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
   
   

   Last modified on 15 Jul 2022 15:07 by Christopher Thuer
2. Christopher Thuer

   

   101 posts
   
   7/22/2022 5:07 AM in reply to Christopher Thuer

   We are replacing most of the fleet that was 90% purchased in 2003 and 2005, and a few 1992.  Begged for years to upgrade.  Now that we are finally able to, we found out it is very expensive which also adds to the frustration of quality issues.

   
   Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
   
   
3. Jason Baker

   

   12 posts
   
   7/26/2022 8:07 AM

   Purchasing equipment is ridiculous. We ordered a package in Dec. still don't have most pieces. 

   
   
   
   
4. Christopher Thuer

   

   101 posts
   
   7/26/2022 10:07 AM in reply to Jason Baker

   Owners asked that the replacement be spread out so I already ordered the 2023 portion of it in Feb for spring 2023 delivery.  Production delays are understandable given the supply chain issues.  Quality is an issue.  I have been at this since 1981 and like everything else things don't seem to be built as well as they used to be.  No way we get 30 years and 7k hours out of our new green/tee sprayer like we did with the last one.  If the over/under is 15 years, I bet the under.
   

   
   Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
   
   
5. Jason Baker

   

   12 posts
   
   7/26/2022 10:07 AM in reply to Christopher Thuer

   Agree

   
   
   
   
6. Matt Wagner

   

   3 posts
   
   8/1/2022 5:08 AM in reply to Christopher Thuer

   If I'm guessing the correct color, then I absolutely did have a lot of problems with new equipment when I had them in my fleet. A lot of my problems were due to under-engineering. I broke the shifting linkage on my sprayer and the replacement they sent was easily three times as robust as the original, which indicates to me that this was a common enough problem to spend the money to actually fix it.
   
   I had numerous problems across multiple pieces of equipment along those same lines. The solution was always just a beefier part.
   
   And that's why that color isn't in my shop anymore.
   

   
   
   
   

   Last modified on 01 Aug 2022 10:08 by Matt Wagner
7. Christopher Thuer

   

   101 posts
   
   8/1/2022 6:08 AM in reply to Matt Wagner

   Around here I have frequently been heard commenting "under built and over priced".  We have spent over $400k so far and I have yet to have any kind of feedback request from the manufacturer.
   
   
   

   
   Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
   
   

   Last modified on 01 Aug 2022 11:08 by Christopher Thuer
8. Richard Laux

   

   4 posts
   
   8/1/2022 5:08 PM in reply to Christopher Thuer

   ordered 3 greensmowers and 2 4700s in april, will get them in late Nov. early Dec.  we do a lot of mowing in MI with snow on the ground

   
   
   
   
9. Christopher Thuer

   

   101 posts
   
   8/2/2022 12:08 PM in reply to Richard Laux

   Production delays are understandable.  Frustrating?  Sure.  Of the 5 items we ordered in March  20221, 1 arrived in April, 1 in May 2 in October, last in November.  Ordered 3 in June 2022.  Got the first in December and the other 2 IN feb and March 2022.  Thus, we already ordered the 2023 items in March 2022.  
   
   Another example of frustration.  New fw mower arrives in October.  First time out the operator says the traction pedal sticks.  Like it had cruise control.  Told the sales rep Immediately. Service tech doesn't get to it until May.  Got a bill this past Friday for that visit saying adjustments are not covered by warranty.  The F'n thing showed up like that.  Told the distributor I am not paying for it.  That machine also had roller brushes falling apart in less than 20 hours.  Service tech said they were assembled incorrectly.
   
   Brand new greens mower had parts worn out and falling apart in 30 hours.  Also supposedly due to poor assembly.  $60k machine.
   
   
   

   
   Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
   
   

   Last modified on 05 Aug 2022 14:08 by Christopher Thuer
10. James Smith

    

    112 posts
    
    8/5/2022 8:08 AM

    I'm about a third of the way through the process of our next lease. About $460K worth of equipment. I'm hoping I am not seeing the little issue I am reading about. Thankfully my old lease is on a $1 buyout so I can hang onto everything until the new stuff arrives. I was shocked when I saw $80K for a fairway mower though. Last one I bought only cost $50K now the Greens mower cost that much.

    
    
    
    
11. Christopher Thuer

    

    101 posts
    
    8/5/2022 9:08 AM

    My a** on the line.  After begging for years to replace stuff that would be heading back to the shop for repairs about every time out the door, and the course operating at a loss for about 10 years, we finally are back in the black and I got the green light to replace everything.  What am I supposed to say to the owners when they ask how we like the new $60k greens mower, or fw mower, or $45k sprayer, or any of the other new items that have had issues?

    
    Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
    
    
12. Roland McPhearson

    

    9 posts
    
    8/15/2022 7:08 PM in reply to Christopher Thuer

    Christopher Thuer said:...What am I supposed to say to the owners when they ask how we like the new $60k greens mower, or fw mower, or $45k sprayer, or any of the other new items that have had issues?

    
    
    I think the majority of us are experiencing similar. The quality of the service and support is shockingly pathetic. The supers and EMs who are hiding it from us and their employers are doing us a disservice.

    
    
    
    
13. James Smith

    

    112 posts
    
    8/18/2022 12:08 PM in reply to Christopher Thuer

    Christopher, you tell them the truth. that side of the business has dropped of amongst all companies and you are dealing with what you have to. 
    
    I will not hide from bad service on any product. I will not go around trashing the company for it either. I will make it known that my whole fleet can change colors on the next lease if I cannot get satisfaction. 
    
    For me its a little different though. I would prefer the company send me the warrantied parts and I will make the repairs if they are having issues. 
    Waiting around for new equipment seems to be a problem everywhere so there is nothing I can do about that and I will not hold that as a term of my purchase. I will give a certain amount of time (conservative) and then move on if need be. But realistically 8-12 months seems to be the normal unless you are willing to take something that is not the hot product. I strongly advise checking on alternative pieces when checking to see if a bogger machine may be quickly available. when looking at a JD 7500 E Fairway mower I was told I could get an 8000 E really quick because they had one in stock that no other course was wanting at the moment. A good salesman will help you find out what may be quicker to get and even though it might not be what you wanted it may be better then nothing especially if you are on a lease you are losing. 

    
    
    
    
14. Christopher Thuer

    

    101 posts
    
    9/23/2022 1:09 PM

    And the hits keep on coming.  The new stuff is turning out to be not much more reliable than the 7k hour old stuff.
    

    
    Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
    
    
15. James Smith

    

    112 posts
    
    9/24/2022 5:09 AM in reply to Christopher Thuer

    Chris, sorry to hear this. I know your supposed to look forward to a new fleet of equipment and not having to deal with the daily breakdowns.
    Can you tell us what it is thats breaking down, part wise? Electronics, Engines, hydraulics or what. is it due to manufacturing or possibly not being put together properly before shipping? Some heads up can help others know what to look for when they finally get theirs.
    
    Hope this is not going to be the new norm!
    Wonder if the lemon law applies to our equipment? LOL

    
    
    
    
16. Christopher Thuer

    

    101 posts
    
    9/24/2022 8:09 AM in reply to James Smith

    Various.  Cheap materials, poor welding, poor assembly, sensors, bearings, hydro leak related to poor assembly, paint flaking off, traction pedals sticking on a couple of machines that on one machine has led to multiple bumps of the cutting unit against stationary objects leading to a broken lift arm, etc.  We have a section on the white board dedicated to new machine issues.  Problem in our area is we currently basically have 1 manufacturer represented.  Their distributor is really strong and has been around for 100 years.  The others,  1 has been nearly absent since the mid 1990's when they had major parts supply issues and most quit buying their products and they have not regained traction.  Another replaced the long time excellent distributor who had several branch locations within easy access for a lot of courses, with a distributor several states and hundreds of miles away and the nearest branch is a several hour drive out of state. 
     

    
    Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
    
    

    Last modified on 24 Sep 2022 13:09 by Christopher Thuer