Brand Loyalty Guilt Question

[EddieWalker]

I think there was a time when it made sense to stick with a brand, but over the years, the companies all seem to farm out what they sell and paint it to match their brand without regard of who made it. And then after a few years, they will change to another company to make their product without regard to quality or their reputation. Deere is probably the most famous for this in their smaller tractors. But Case/New Holland is just as bad. You really have no idea what you are getting, and even worse, you will never know who they will go to next to find something even cheaper.

Just thinking of brands that I still respect and purchase are Ruger, Carhart, Hardie, Sherwin Williams and Makita. Maybe Dell to some degree. Who else?

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I haven't found a brand of equipment that does everything well. I like my Kubota tractor and RTV, but their riding mowers are mediocre, so I have given that business to Deere (twice).

Even with chainsaws I tend to mix brands, as there will always be a new/stronger/better offering in a certain cc range. If I only stuck with one brand I'd be missing out on the best saws.

How often do you buy new saws?

I bought a used 660 magnum back in 2010, put a 25in bar, .404 chain, logger style dual felling dogs and replaced the bar guard because the old one was cracked, it chews up anything I throw at it. I also bought a 193 TC in a tool based pawn shop around the same time, it looked like only one tank of gas was ran threw it. I love the 193 TC for anything under 10in.

I retired the 455 rancher and gave away my 262XP to my BIL to use.

Just buy a large pro saw and a small arborist saw and be done with it.



Btw my saws stay indoors when not in use where the temp is stable, hot summers blow out the Oiler seal and they leak, non of my saws leak anything and work as they should.

 

[Teachu2]

I'm not brand loyal in most things, but I've got more trust in Toyota than others. Of the eleven cars and pickup trucks in my immediate family, nine are Toyotas. The two most unreliable are both domestic pickups. If my Kioti tractor was stolen today, I'd shop Kioti, Mahindra and LS for a replacement. In gas-powered homeowner power tools, I've been pleased far beyond my expectations with Echo. I own two of the 16" chainsaws, a handheld blower, a backpack blower, and two string trimmers. All start easily, run well, and have not yet failed. My Jonsered 20in chainsaw has more power and reach, but weighs much more. It, too, has been 100% dependable, and is my go-to saw for big stuff.

If I never own another B&S engine, I won't mourn the "loss". Every Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Kohler I've owned has been fantastic.

 

[Thomas]

"I feel guilty...but should I"
I see no need bottom line what fits your needs at the time,but I do understand your loyalty. :thumbsup:

 

[s219]

How often do you buy new saws?

Typically get a new one every 2-4 years when something new and compelling comes along. Right now I have an Echo CS-501P, Husky 562XP, and Stihl MS-461, which I feel are the best saws in their size ranges. It's mainly the 50cc, 60cc, and 70-80cc saws that I like to keep current on. I have some older small Echos, including a top handle saw, that I don't use often enough to ever replace. If I was forced to only have one saw and stick with it, 60cc would probably be the keeper size.

 

[paulfun9]

I think that the only thing you could accuse me of being brand loyal to is my Heinz Ketchup and you can bet your last dollar if tomorrow I open a new bottle and its watery and runny I would switch brands in a heartbeat.
Color matching attachments would be a waste of time and money and there is nothing wrong with seeing a rainbow, it just makes your day brighter!
Like one poster said about having friends who ended up paying a great expense for being brand loyal I to have watched friends end up with the extra expense but yet some still insist they are better off. One friend actually tried many times to take shots at me for choices like the truck I purchased compared to his but the funny thing is he has been threw several trucks with half the mileage when combined to that 1 truck of mine and mine is still going and still does everything asked of it.
One simple question to ask yourself, would any of those brands be loyal to you and what you want if they could save $2.00 per unit? I sincerely doubt it so why should you be loyal to them.

Since you asked about trucks and the other half and I were just recently looking at old pics. How is this for a list of no brand loyalty
Studebaker, Diamond Reo, International, chevy, ford, dodge, ram and Gmc have all at one time been present here.

 

[dougtrr2]

I am also in the camp of "buy the best for you regardless of brand". A good salesman will know the strengths and weaknesses of the different products he carries. If he is really good he won't try too hard to steer you away from a better product to his lesser product. I worked in a hospital and we had an infusion pump representative that I had great respect for. She openly acknowledged that the syringe pump they carried was not as good for our application as a competitors.

Doug in SW IA

 

[check]

Why feel guilty about buying the piece of equipment that best suits your needs regardless of color? Diversity and inclusion man! It would be a shame to settle for something that doesn't suit your application just so you could stay "loyal". In todays world $$ is king and loyalty is for dogs.

No way, man - you guys are all going to H_ll for your evil disloyalty!

 

[MossRoad]

I think that the only thing you could accuse me of being brand loyal to is my Heinz Ketchup and you can bet your last dollar if tomorrow I open a new bottle and its watery and runny I would switch brands in a heartbeat.
Color matching attachments would be a waste of time and money and there is nothing wrong with seeing a rainbow, it just makes your day brighter!
Like one poster said about having friends who ended up paying a great expense for being brand loyal I to have watched friends end up with the extra expense but yet some still insist they are better off. One friend actually tried many times to take shots at me for choices like the truck I purchased compared to his but the funny thing is he has been threw several trucks with half the mileage when combined to that 1 truck of mine and mine is still going and still does everything asked of it.
One simple question to ask yourself, would any of those brands be loyal to you and what you want if they could save $2.00 per unit? I sincerely doubt it so why should you be loyal to them.

Since you asked about trucks and the other half and I were just recently looking at old pics. How is this for a list of no brand loyalty
Studebaker, Diamond Reo, International, chevy, ford, dodge, ram and Gmc have all at one time been present here.

I, too, was brand loyal to Heinz ketchup... until I tried Red Gold products. I was given two bottle of their products at a turf farm when buying sod. They also farm tomatoes under contract for Red Gold. Pretty good regular ketchup, but my favorite is this! Come to the dark side.... :licking:

 

[MossRoad]