I generally stay away from a dealer that sells large equipment because they just don't give the smaller stuff very much of their time and attention. I think Nortrax - Morbark is an example of that. $600,000 sale or $60,000 sale. Who is the more important customer?
Bandit 1590xp or M15R
- Thread starter TreelineNH
- Start date
Merle Nelson
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- SF Bay Area, CA
A guy that posts here and on another forum had trouble with a smaller Morbark from close to new. He had gone back to the dealer that sold it to him and they bounced between giving him the brush off and just flat out ignoring him. This guy was really frustrated, AND it was about 2 or 3 very functionally important issues.
A couple of the forum members suggested he go directly to Morbark Corporate and followed up with calls themselves. Morbark Corp jumped on it, had him take chipper to a different dealer and had issues resolved.
I think the Corporate office would love to make sure they keep their image up in these pages. I know of two chipper sales that went to Bandit specifically because of them not stepping up to the plate on faulty feed wheel shaft material.
I sent Morbark an email requesting better customer support on their hand fed chipper line, and invited a rep to join the buzz. I stated they are loosing sales on these models do to the poor quality of customer service at some dealers. Let us see what they have to reply .....
@Lou Hicks I wanted to drag you over here to view this thread. I, for one, give you and Morbark a warm welcome here.
Merle Nelson
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- SF Bay Area, CA
I'll look forward to welcoming them when there here. There is no customer relations issue that can't be turned around - by a company with a commitment to do so.
Also all the chipper producers have various issues that need to be handled at different times.
Also all the chipper producers have various issues that need to be handled at different times.
- Location
- Clarence Center
- Location
- Clarence Center
I couldn't agree with you more on both points.
Are you going to be in San Diego at the Western Chapter ISA Conference May 9-11?
Merle Nelson
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- SF Bay Area, CA
No Lou I won't be attending at this time.
- Location
- Clarence Center
Ok, I'm going to be there, just thought I might be able to say hi if you are there.
Merle Nelson
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- SF Bay Area, CA
In all honesty I'm not much of a "Hi guy" Lou. What I mean is that I am first and foremost a treeman. I'm on Arborist Forums to learn more and to keep up the fun and excitement I originally found in doing tree work.
If I was buying a chipper today I would want to talk to you and anyone else that sells chippers to find out why buying from you might be the best option for me. If there was anything I could do for you or any info I have that might help you I would gladly give it. I'm not much of a talker just to talk. No offense, just one of my personal failings/strengths depending on how you look at it.
So.....what you can do for me is to deal head on with the issue of Morbarks broken lower feed wheels. You posted on another thread I believe that you can't speak for Morbark. If that remains the case maybe you could use your inside influence in the right place to get someone on here who can speak for them.
Smiling, talking, are all good sales tools. People, tree people in particular, are a little to common sense to have that wash away issues that are nagging away in the back of their minds in my opinion.
To clarify, what is Morbark willing to do for a guy that has a broken feed wheel shaft on these chippers?
http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/threads/feed-motor-fell-off-chipper-today.31215/
If I was buying a chipper today I would want to talk to you and anyone else that sells chippers to find out why buying from you might be the best option for me. If there was anything I could do for you or any info I have that might help you I would gladly give it. I'm not much of a talker just to talk. No offense, just one of my personal failings/strengths depending on how you look at it.
So.....what you can do for me is to deal head on with the issue of Morbarks broken lower feed wheels. You posted on another thread I believe that you can't speak for Morbark. If that remains the case maybe you could use your inside influence in the right place to get someone on here who can speak for them.
Smiling, talking, are all good sales tools. People, tree people in particular, are a little to common sense to have that wash away issues that are nagging away in the back of their minds in my opinion.
To clarify, what is Morbark willing to do for a guy that has a broken feed wheel shaft on these chippers?
http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/threads/feed-motor-fell-off-chipper-today.31215/
Merle Nelson
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- SF Bay Area, CA
I just re-read half of the above linked thread Lou and it's all I have time for now. I would suggest that the whole thread would be worth reading word for word by you or someone at Morbark if customers and their perceptions are important to you/Morbark.
Oak Savanna
New member
- Location
- Ontario
A 1590xp is compared to an 18R Morbark and a 1390xp is compared to a 15R. I have a 15R with a cat 142hp and my friend has a 1390 with a 140 Deere. Morbark is built heavier and has better crush and pulling power with the feed rollers. The 1390 has a 37" drum compared to a 30" drum in the Morbark which does make a bit of a difference when eating big logs. The amount of times I have seen the bandit feed rollers jam up with chunks of wood and stop would make me lose my shit if I owned that machine. With the power of the crush and pull of the Morbark and the fact the feed rollers have never once jammed or stop I would go for a Morbark. We feed it with a skid steer most of the time. I bought it new and I have 850 hours on it and have had zero issues. The dealer here treats me like gold. I also have a Morbark M12D and a D52 stump grinder. I may love Morbark.......Lou Hicks is a great guy and knows his shit. Met him at the expo last yet in Baltimore.
welltree
New member
- Location
- Ontario Canada
I'm a bandit guy , I would pick a 255 over a 1390 as I prefer disc , everyone has there own opinion but that's what work for us, we have at least 25 bandit chippers and have always been looked after by the dealer here . Morbark dealer here is not as reliable
Oak Savanna
New member
- Location
- Ontario
Nortrax in London should maybe take some pointers on how to sell Bandit equipment from your branch. I tried years ago and gave up. They have nothing in stock, no one has a clue, they can't answer simple questions without having to get an answer and call you back and they never end up calling you back. I am sure glad Stewie at Morbark takes care of me cause Nortrax down our way is a joke!
I think the biggest thing in buying any piece of equipment is dealer support....where can you get your equipment serviced? No matter what you buy..its going to break down at some point. The faster it can be fixed the sooner your back to making money.
deevo
Been here a while
- Location
- Horseshoe Valley, Ontario, Canada
Yep all they wanna sell are large excavators and dozers, you call them up and it's months before they get back to you! Very irritating! Don't know the chipper models from stump grinder models it's kinda brutal!Just glad the morbarks have nearly zero down time ! Also can't beat Eddy! Best mechanic out there ! Even though he's not Morbark anymore still takes care of us!
Our chipper needed a new Valve assembly that is used for the feed bar. It was floppy and would not stay in place. I called Nortrax and explained the the parts guy what was happening. I didn't know the name of the part.
He knew what I was talking about and had it ordered that morning, shipped to them by 10 the next day and I went up and picked it up. He then took me outback to the shop to show me how to re-install the piece on a chipper they were services.....Have to say... I was pretty impressed with that. I hope my next interaction is equally as pleasing. This is Nortax out of Springfield VT!!
He knew what I was talking about and had it ordered that morning, shipped to them by 10 the next day and I went up and picked it up. He then took me outback to the shop to show me how to re-install the piece on a chipper they were services.....Have to say... I was pretty impressed with that. I hope my next interaction is equally as pleasing. This is Nortax out of Springfield VT!!
Steve Connally
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Suffolk, Virginia
I got to look at the new gas engine bandits this weekend. Amazing machines. The 18" chipper was over 20k less than the diesel model. GM 350 engine and the maintenance is about what your car is. I was impressed with the second anvil they added for vines and ropes accidently getting sucked into the machine. They have changed the winch set up so you have to have positive pressure on the winch cable to engage the feed wheels. Prevents chipping the winch rope. They are awesome machines and sound super bad ass when they are running.
