broken ring and funny world

Yeah blinky i'm with you that i don't feel satisfied. That was a response to a question i asked them because they seemed to never respond to Kevin Bingham when he asked about them outsourcing manufacturing of rings.

Its a very professional answer but still i felt it dodged the main question. Its one thing to say it, and another to do it. I can say i always have two points of attachment when i use a chainsaw or that i always wear chaps when making a cut on the ground. 99% of the time this is true but there has been and will be times when i don't follow through with what i say. When your making (I can only assume thousands) of rings there is bond to be a bad batch, you hope it gets caught but there is that chance that it isn't. Wish i could know more of the whole story and we could get a definite undeniable answer that would put the whole thing to rest. Mostly though i hope Jay gets his expenses paid, thats what this is all really about.

I'm not going to say i'll never buy Kong again. They have some good innovative equipment. So there are certain products that i'll still purchase. I also think that their products do not have the same durability and ruggedness of some of the other manufacturers.
 
I have something to add here.

In reference to the Kong ring failure involving arborist and competitive climber Jay Butcher, I want to insert details omitted from Kong’s issued notice. Included are details not previously discussed and possibly not known by the general public. I stand behind the following details extracted from witnessed phone calls (several including Kong's US representative from the time) and/or emails received directly from Marco Bonaiti.

In August 2006 a similar incident (one without injury) occurred with a Kong ring sourced from US Rigging that I was assured (by a Kong spokesman) “was alien goods substituted by US Rigging.” The distinctive feature of this otherwise plain looking fat aluminum ring was a “forging ridge” around the outside edge. The broken ring was not elongated (indicating high stress forces not present) and was cleanly severed asymmetrically. US Rigging strongly denied substituting any rings but because of a variety of low cost imports they were marketing I wasn't personally convinced.

Based on Kong’s critical assessment of US Rigging, SherrillTree returned all aluminum rings to USR and began sourcing directly (and strictly) from Kong in Italy. Kong assured going forward that this was the only way to guarantee tested and laser marked Kong goods and I agreed. Problem solved.

Three years later and just weeks before Jay Butcher would saddle up for the Ohio tree climbing competition, we received a call from a climbing instructor teaching forestry students at a popular SC university. He reported that the small ring in his (recently purchased) friction saver had snapped while demonstrating the body thrust technique to a group of students. Thankfully he was not hurt. Upon hearing this news and reviewing photos, I investigated inventory on our shelves and to my horror discovered unmarked rings again with the distinctive forging ridge in unopened cartons mixed among marked Kong rings. Like a hammer to the head it dawned on me that US Rigging was innocent all along. In an initial conversation with Kong’s president Marco Bonaiti about the university incident it was suggested that “SherrillTree surely has many sources for such rings and likely made the mistake in their warehouse.” I could prove we had no such sources and ample documentation to back it up. Had it not been for Kong’s own US representative (Jack Dunn of AirSports) reporting the same blend on his shelves, I dare say there would have ever been a second conversation with the elusive Dr. Bonaiti. In follow up discussions (including written) Marco Bonaiti admitted outsourcing a similar ring for customers selling lady’s handbags, shower curtains and electric wire suspension but that the possibility of them getting mixed in his plant was quite low.

What became immediately important to SherrillTree was getting these rings off the street, and friends out of harms way. For Marco Bonaiti it was debating the odds of Kong culpability based on US law, the high cost of calling merchandise back and the poor decision by Jay Butcher to use this ring in the manner that he did (?). It was a truly disheartening view of the man I thought a responsible steward of safety and the Kong brand.

There’s so much more to say but I'd prefer that Dr. Bonaiti step out from behind his spokesman’s shadow with a shred of proof to his claim that SherrillTree, the company who organized and financed this business-debilitating recall, is in any way responsible for Kong's unacceptable and cancerous hardware incident.
 
Thank you Tobe. Not much to add to that. But I'll recap what I think tells the true story...
Sherrill Tree took immediate unilateral action to get the rings out of use at considerable expense, no doubt. They didn't question where the rings were bought, they simply replaced them. That's professional, community involved behavior.

Kong hid behind lame statements attemptiong to shift the blame to anywhere but Kong... that is SO pathetic. What's wrong with the world in general is people who think like Kong. I'm sure DOCTOR Bonaiti thinks very highly of himself and his pedigree but his behavior is that of the most common of common thieves.

Yes, that is a direct verbal attack on bonaiti... he's a lame and he turned a fine company into a lame one. He won't speak up. He's a spoiled little twit who can't speak for himself without consulting a table of advisors.
 
Tobe,
If Kong has misrepresented themselves so poorly since 2006, why are you still selling their equipment? If I caught some one in a lie like that, I write them off. Simple as that.
 
[ QUOTE ]
In follow up discussions (including written) Marco Bonaiti admitted outsourcing a similar ring for customers selling lady’s handbags, shower curtains and electric wire suspension but that the possibility of them getting mixed in his plant was quite low.


[/ QUOTE ]

WTF!! You mean I could've been climbing on a frickin shower ring??

Jay, please get a very expensive and reputable attorney and sue for what is owed to you. It just may save one of our lives in the future.
 
It's become blatantly obvious that kong does not care about us as an industry, and does not consider our complaints a threat to their bottom line.

I do find it interesting that they pretty much have no evidence to support that it's sherrills fault. Instead we are left to make the decision ourselves. Seeing that Sherrill has a PROVEN track record in the arborcultural field, I know where my loyalties lay.

I hope that Sherrill helps lead the way in an anti kong arbor community. I and a bunch of others have already taken a stand, I hope to see many many more follow
 
[ QUOTE ]
It's become blatantly obvious that kong does not care about us as an industry, and does not consider our complaints a threat to their bottom line.

I do find it interesting that they pretty much have no evidence to support that it's sherrills fault. Instead we are left to make the decision ourselves. Seeing that Sherrill has a PROVEN track record in the arborcultural field, I know where my loyalties lie.

I hope that Sherrill helps lead the way in an anti kong arbor community. I and a bunch of others have already taken a stand, I hope to see many many more follow

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed 100% It almost seems like they don't think we [tree professionals] are serious about this and will let it pass with time. I'm dedicated on never buying Kong again. I had this stance before the accident as well, but this whole incident solidified my stance.

And Sherrill has been AWESOME with both this incident and the recent rope bridge recall. Thanks for that.
 
Down with KONG!!!

Officially NEVER using my KONG dual asenders AGAIN!!!!!!

Need to post videos of everyone smashing their gear!
 
My instuctor at hort school showed us a collection of broken gear. After that lesson I knew petzl good kong bad. Also appreciate the comments Tobe, you'll be getting my future orders even though that may not of been your main motivation.
 
[ QUOTE ]
My instuctor at hort school showed us a collection of broken gear. After that lesson I knew petzl good kong bad. Also appreciate the comments Tobe, you'll be getting my future orders even though that may not of been your main motivation.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's funny, because the exact same thing happened with me. My climbing/rigging teacher showed us a Kong biner that snapped clean in half and another one that broke on the nose.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have something to add here.

In reference to the Kong ring failure involving arborist and competitive climber Jay Butcher, I want to insert details omitted from Kong’s issued notice. Included are details not previously discussed and possibly not known by the general public. I stand behind the following details extracted from witnessed phone calls (several including Kong's US representative from the time) and/or emails received directly from Marco Bonaiti.

In August 2006 a similar incident (one without injury) occurred with a Kong ring sourced from US Rigging that I was assured (by a Kong spokesman) “was alien goods substituted by US Rigging.” The distinctive feature of this otherwise plain looking fat aluminum ring was a “forging ridge” around the outside edge. The broken ring was not elongated (indicating high stress forces not present) and was cleanly severed asymmetrically. US Rigging strongly denied substituting any rings but because of a variety of low cost imports they were marketing I wasn't personally convinced.

Based on Kong’s critical assessment of US Rigging, SherrillTree returned all aluminum rings to USR and began sourcing directly (and strictly) from Kong in Italy. Kong assured going forward that this was the only way to guarantee tested and laser marked Kong goods and I agreed. Problem solved.

Three years later and just weeks before Jay Butcher would saddle up for the Ohio tree climbing competition, we received a call from a climbing instructor teaching forestry students at a popular SC university. He reported that the small ring in his (recently purchased) friction saver had snapped while demonstrating the body thrust technique to a group of students. Thankfully he was not hurt. Upon hearing this news and reviewing photos, I investigated inventory on our shelves and to my horror discovered unmarked rings again with the distinctive forging ridge in unopened cartons mixed among marked Kong rings. Like a hammer to the head it dawned on me that US Rigging was innocent all along. In an initial conversation with Kong’s president Marco Bonaiti about the university incident it was suggested that “SherrillTree surely has many sources for such rings and likely made the mistake in their warehouse.” I could prove we had no such sources and ample documentation to back it up. Had it not been for Kong’s own US representative (Jack Dunn of AirSports) reporting the same blend on his shelves, I dare say there would have ever been a second conversation with the elusive Dr. Bonaiti. In follow up discussions (including written) Marco Bonaiti admitted outsourcing a similar ring for customers selling lady’s handbags, shower curtains and electric wire suspension but that the possibility of them getting mixed in his plant was quite low.

What became immediately important to SherrillTree was getting these rings off the street, and friends out of harms way. For Marco Bonaiti it was debating the odds of Kong culpability based on US law, the high cost of calling merchandise back and the poor decision by Jay Butcher to use this ring in the manner that he did (?). It was a truly disheartening view of the man I thought a responsible steward of safety and the Kong brand.

There’s so much more to say but I'd prefer that Dr. Bonaiti step out from behind his spokesman’s shadow with a shred of proof to his claim that SherrillTree, the company who organized and financed this business-debilitating recall, is in any way responsible for Kong's unacceptable and cancerous hardware incident.

[/ QUOTE ]

Toby, If you have lost confidence in Marco Bonaiti why continue to market and sell Kong products to us?
thanks
 
Tobe's response is understandable as well.

Both Kong and Sherrill Tree's explanations seem reasonable.

Even though we all may stand on Tobe's side, if this goes legal, both sides have valid claims. Hopefully, the truth is discovered and Jay is taken care of.

But, I think I'm cutting anything I have made from Kong and recycling it.
 
I've been reading topics here for a couple of weeks, just getting my bearings. I've been a climbing arborist for 20+ years. One thing that has sustained me (lame assed pun intended) throughout my career has been my implicit trust in my equipment. I started climbing with a basic Klein butt strap saddle, tied on to the D rings with a clove hitch and used the tail of that for my tautline hitch. What a thrill to upgrade to 'biners and a better saddle. Yeah, they were kong carabiners. they made everything so much more convenient. The gist of what I understand from this thread is that the company was formerly more reputable than at present, right? I wasn't swinging around on shower curtain rings back in '93? Anyway, I'm just grateful to all that this forum is here. I'm involved in training climbers now. I want them safe, comfortable with the work and productive. I haven't had much exposure to other arborists since I took the Ks Arborists training course in 1988. University life can be a little parochial. Threads like this one are important. I still climb, and I still want to implicitly trust in my equipment. I also don't want to buy gear for my team that can let them down. So Thank you all (and especially Jay) for sharing your knowledge and experience.
 
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But, I think I'm cutting anything I have made from Kong and recycling it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I plan on doing the same.

[/ QUOTE ]

If your doing that, then you might want to send it back to them. More of a protest.
 
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[ QUOTE ]
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But, I think I'm cutting anything I have made from Kong and recycling it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I plan on doing the same.

[/ QUOTE ]

If your doing that, then you might want to send it back to them. More of a protest.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, but they might spit shine it and resell?!?!
 
[ QUOTE ]
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[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


But, I think I'm cutting anything I have made from Kong and recycling it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I plan on doing the same.

[/ QUOTE ]

If your doing that, then you might want to send it back to them. More of a protest.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, but they might spit shine it and resell?!?!

[/ QUOTE ]

maybe we can cut our stuff in half, then send it back to them.

lots of equipment coming in every day, cut in half, would get them talking and thinking maybe arborist do matter.
 
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