first choice

machinedoc · Oct 2, 2002

I was told the First Choice website has been maintained by a fellow at Midwest and some riff between them has currently put things at a halt on the First Choice website.

Freds · Oct 2, 2002

Just wanted to add, if you want to contact First Choice you might want to try the phone and not your pc. I got some links to their website last week when I was looking for a landscape rake and after visiting their website, emailed a couple of questions about prices and whatnot. Never got a reply (after 2 business days), so let my fingers do the walking and found one locally with the gauge wheels. I suppose I could have called them, but I was already two days behind of wanting to get that rake or at least having it being shipped to me. I know lots of folks like FC here, but if you're going to have your email as a way to contact you, you should answer your email or just list your phone # if that's the way you would rather do business.
Last week I used the rake to smooth out what the excavator had bulldozed into place and today it helped me spread 66 tons of gravel. Like I said, I was in a hurry and needed a reply. Points off in my book, even if they do have nice looking stuff.

Fred

Scott_in_WVA · Oct 3, 2002

I had know idea about them or there background other than the products did look nice...I emailed some guy at 1st Choice and never got a reply back..........seems like I know a lot more about the company now than I previously did.But then again you learn a lot at this forum.

machinedoc · Oct 3, 2002

I have had a couple First Choice dealers tell me that the company seems to be in a hurry to grow and is setting up new dealers right and left, sometimes within a few miles of some of the older dealers that have help build the companies brand and image. One dealer said the company may have shot itself in the foot on this move! Sounds like there may be trouble in la la land? Like the old saying goes, if the dealers ar not happy, then aint nobody happy. Ha Ha

Dob · Oct 4, 2002

Ditto on the call Fred. A couple of months ago I had better luck with email than recently, but a call usually gets through, unless Pieter is out in the field. He apologized to me yesterday for being slow, and you can tell HE IS SWAMPED. I have been "patient", and it's about to pay off...

northcreek2624 · Oct 5, 2002

Jack,I believe FC is making some of Kioti's attachments which is probably where they are devoting most of their efforts and why they are so swamped.My Kioti tiller looks identical to FC's and is made in Italy,it's a well made unit.....Mike

HayDR · Oct 6, 2002

Sicma, http://www.sicma.it/default.asp?lang=ENG&Area=4 , is the MFG of First Choice, Koiti, WAC, Darrell Harp & Rhino tillers. Sicma make the finishmowers for all the above but Servis-Rhino.

Gary_in_Indiana · Oct 6, 2002

I think it's fair to say First Choice is experiencing some growing pains. They're trying to accomplish a truly monumental task on a national scale. I'm certain Pieter is just buried. Like all of you, I, too, would like to be able to drive a mile down the road and find every implement in every size and color (well, at least in green /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif ) but that's going to take some time.

I have no inside knowledge here but I imagine that becoming a supplier for Kioti was a double edged sword. On one side there is the income and guaranteed orders to keep production running. On the other side a deal that large has to take away from production for dealers and non-Kioti customers.

I'm learning once again that growing a business is not an easy thing to do. We just expanded our small leasing business into Chicago and are now entering the Detroit market. It's just absolutely overwhelming. I can't imagine what it takes to do what they're doing.

I truly hope TBN'ers will be patient with the problems inherent in First Choice's growth. In my experience they're fine, hard working people who just aren't finding enough hours in the day right now.

JimMc · Oct 6, 2002

First Choice is not the manufacturer for Kioti Tractor implements. However, Kioti does use the Sicma rear finish mowers and tillers branded with the Kioti name that First Choice sells. The Kioti mid-mount mowers appear to be built by someone else, but I may be incorrect on that point. Midwest does not manufacture any implements for Kioti, so if you see any box blades etc. with the Kioti name on them, they did not come from us.