Artillian Grapple

[mkr7734]

Well we have sure fell off of the OP question here boys and girls. :muttering: :hissyfit:
Best move on. :duh:
I was much smarter when I was 37 than I am now at 64. :laughing:

 

[mkr7734]

Some problems with this software

 

[Jim Timber]

Sorry, I'm done arguing with you. My last post was deleted and had an honest assessment of why you have overpriced competitors products on your site to make yours look like a better value.

You've lost my interest as a customer.

Workplace violence? Really? If I let you know my real thoughts to that comment, the mods would have every right to delete this post. You're 37 and act like you're 18. Is chest thumping good for sales? How about thread crapping like you did here? I'm not seeing a lot of people piling on your bandwagon in this thread, but you sure have stirred up some hornets with it.

Go ahead and have the last word. I couldn't care less.

 

[fried1765]

Sorry, I'm done arguing with you. My last post was deleted and had an honest assessment of why you have overpriced competitors products on your site to make yours look like a better value.

You've lost my interest as a customer.

Workplace violence? Really? If I let you know my real thoughts to that comment, the mods would have every right to delete this post. You're 37 and act like you're 18. Is chest thumping good for sales? How about thread crapping like you did here? I'm not seeing a lot of people piling on your bandwagon in this thread, but you sure have stirred up some hornets with it.

Go ahead and have the last word. I couldn't care less.

BRAVO, Jim Timber !!!!

 

[Coyote machine]

Here's an idea: EA, stay out of this thread, you're not doing yourself/your business any favors arguing with TBN members. Regardless of what you say, right or wrong doesn't really come into play. Why? Because too many are going to see your willingness to argue/defend your position as heavy handed and the big company vs. the little guy. There are no winners here- only losers. So take the high road and don't engage further, is my best advice.
I don't doubt that you have very many satisfied customers. I don't doubt that some products you sell can be bought for less elsewhere. If you chose to handle such products, it is your choice to have a product available at a price you can afford to sell it at and not loose money. Lots of people don't get it that as a small business it sometimes costs you more to sell something than a bigger, care less attitude seller. They may have vast resources, and sell their products just over cost to make up for the price in volume of sales.
Not everyone is an educated consumer, so all you can do is work with those who are and continue doing what you do, knowing you have plenty of satisfied customers.
JMHO.

 

[evo803]

WOW I cant believe the behavior/comments by EA and Artillian.

This is how it should have gone.

EA response= The Artillian grapple is an excellent choice for a grapple. If you decide the Artillian is not the right choice for you please call or email me.
Artillian response= I will let my product and my customers speak for themselves. If you still have unanswered questions please don't hesitate to call me.

Just call me old school, but I will never bash a competitors product while trying to sell my own !

 

[Jim Timber]

If you chose to handle such products, it is your choice to have a product available at a price you can afford to sell it at and not loose money. Lots of people don't get it that as a small business it sometimes costs you more to sell something than a bigger, care less attitude seller. They may have vast resources, and sell their products just over cost to make up for the price in volume of sales.
Not everyone is an educated consumer, so all you can do is work with those who are and continue doing what you do, knowing you have plenty of satisfied customers.
JMHO.

EA has gone into the OEM-direct market where margins are far better than resellers of other people's goods. It makes far more financial sense to them to sell something they made vs something they paid someone else to make.

 

[Jim Timber]

Just call me old school, but I will never bash a competitors product while trying to sell my own !

As someone who's a manufacturer of consumer products, I too share your sentiments. My products speak for themselves and I don't need to disparage my competition to make mine look better to the consumer.

Sure, I have my opinions on what other companies are selling, but I try not to make it come off like a back alley sales pitch in discussions. I've pretty much withdrawn from the forums of my industry too. My stuff sells itself by word of mouth - best advertising you can get!

 

[mkr7734]

WOW I cant believe the behavior/comments by EA and Artillian.

This is how it should have gone.

EA response= The Artillian grapple is an excellent choice for a grapple. If you decide the Artillian is not the right choice for you please call or email me.
Artillian response= I will let my product and my customers speak for themselves. If you still have unanswered questions please don't hesitate to call me.

Just call me old school, but I will never bash a competitors product while trying to sell my own !

Good point. Fact is I am the OP and after all this I am not interested in either the EA or Artillian products at this point. Just going to make my own with a Greens Machines style thumb or get the Land Pride SGC0660 and fit it to the John Deere. That style will work for me better.
Every time I asked about something else I just got the pitch OH!! no you don't want that,,,you want this?? Excuse me! I still like the modular style of the Artillian but the cost of $500+ just for the bulk head is prohibitive to my needs. I already have a bulkhead I built that holds my snow plow, 2" receiver hitch, boom and forks so I don't need theirs at that cost just to hold a grapple. Maybe if I had seen the set up 10 years ago when I got my tractor it would of made sense, just not now. Also in hind site I should of just installed a JDQA to SSQA converter in the first place and I would have many more options.
But this mess of a thread has helped me and I would like to say thanks those who gave their opinions good or bad.

 

[aeblank]

I'm not buying anything, but it's left a sour taste in my mouth too.
As far as that goes, so have some of the other grapple threads for other, more thumb-ey reasons.

 

[aeblank]

I'm not buying anything, but it's left a sour taste in my mouth too.
As far as that goes, so have some of the other grapple threads for other, more thumb-ey reasons.

 

[mark02tj]

mkr7734 - I have a Greens Machine Thumb and its a well constructed piece of equipment. The price is pretty good for what you get. The downside is that you have to build your own bracket and figure out the best angle/mounting position on your bucket. But, having built stuff already , that shouldn't be an issue for you.

That being said, I also have a set of Artillian forks and the frame. Their quality is also super and I love the forks. I've been debating about buying a dedicated grapple but haven't pulled he trigger on that. Most likely, I am going to build another bracket for my G-Machine Thumb to also be able to mount it on the fork frame and use it with the forks.

Good luck with your project!!

 

[mkr7734]

Yep the point counter point here convinced me to get the thumb Grapple. Today My neighbor and I took the 1.3 hour drive to Forest to see the guy who makes the thumbs. We both ordered one. Our other neighbor is looking to for his Bobcat. The guy we are getting it from had a funny story. He started building them in the late 90s, and was selling them good, then sales slumped and he could not get it till he saw Greens Machine selling them and realized he had sold one of his to them and they ripped off the design. WOW Can I swear to that?? No but I have reason to think it could not happen. Both are in IL.
The guy has a great CAD driven cutting table and can make about anything you would want. Glad we went. Here is his stuff, and he will also build to order if you provide what you want. Works for me.
Grapple Loader Skid Steer Tractor Kubota Bobcat John Deere Bucket Case | eBay

 

[Coyote machine]

EA has gone into the OEM-direct market where margins are far better than resellers of other people's goods. It makes far more financial sense to them to sell something they made vs something they paid someone else to make.

You snipped my statement without reference to doing so. It takes what I said out of context.

I'm fully aware of what EA is selling, and was addressing the point that if they chose to sell other manufacturer's products, in certain instances they may not be able to be competitive due to market structure, inventory and markup issues. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but that trying to justify their additional expenses won't fly with the cost conscious consumer. So they should either chose to continue to handle others products or not, and not try to explain away the extra costs associated because the consumer cares more about bottom line than seller's costs associated with selling a product.

I don't have an axe to grind with EA or you- I'm just trying to make this less contentious, and get the thread on track for what the OP is looking for.

 

[Jim Timber]

I snipped it to just respond to the part that related with what I had to say.

I look at it like this: You buy a new tractor; your wife wants you to sell your old one but you don't want to. You can say: "Honey, I'm not selling the old one." and guarantee you'll be on the couch for the foreseeable future. OR, you can put it on craigslist for $10,000 more than it's worth; ensuring no one will buy it.

In that same listing you have a bunch of tools and implements you also upgraded when you got the new tractor and you have those listed at reasonable prices. Suddenly, all your other stuff is moving, but Honey, no one wants the tractor...

 

[tkevan]

I snipped it to just respond to the part that related with what I had to say.

I look at it like this: You buy a new tractor; your wife wants you to sell your old one but you don't want to. You can say: "Honey, I'm not selling the old one." and guarantee you'll be on the couch for the foreseeable future. OR, you can put it on craigslist for $10,000 more than it's worth; ensuring no one will buy it.

In that same listing you have a bunch of tools and implements you also upgraded when you got the new tractor and you have those listed at reasonable prices. Suddenly, all your other stuff is moving, but Honey, no one wants the tractor...

Exactly, considering they're drop-shipping. A little bit of "paperwork" and "Yes, sir, your purchase is on it's way". They could be running THAT portion of the company out of the bathroom, LOL.

 

[mkr7734]

Well here is what I am going with. I think it will suit my needs just fine and I will have it so I can just un-pin it when I don't want it on the bucket.
I have got a lot of good information out of the dog fight thread. :laughing:

 

[tkevan]

Well here is what I am going with. I think it will suit my needs just fine and I will have it so I can just un-pin it when I don't want it on the bucket.
I have got a lot of good information out of the dog fight thread. :laughing:


View attachment 457355

Is that a "green thumb"?

I did find that the artillian uses AR400, so probably a better choice than the EA for someone concerned with abrasion on the bottom.

Of course, provided you have only JD equipment, LOL.

 

[mkr7734]

Is that a "green thumb"?

I did find that the artillian uses AR400, so probably a better choice than the EA for someone concerned with abrasion on the bottom.

Of course, provided you have only JD equipment, LOL.

No it is not a Green's thump. It looks the same as the guy who I got it from sold Green one of these years ago and then Green started making them. As he told it to me.
I got it local from a guy who has been making them for years. He is in Forest IL.
Best part for me is I will be all in and running on this project for under $400.00

 

[kennyd]

Is that a "green thumb"?

I did find that the artillian uses AR400, so probably a better choice than the EA for someone concerned with abrasion on the bottom.

Of course, provided you have only JD equipment, LOL.

They just released their new SSQA line, so that is not true anymore: Artillian Skid Steer QA Pallet Fork Sets