Fred Cain Landscape Rake bad finish

[jenkinsph]

It will be interesting to see what the response is from Fred Cain Co. I suspect I would remove the burrs, file smooth and repaint in the fall. I have a 7' Lienbach rake and the finish on it isn't much better.

I also have a 5' Frontier landscape rake for my x749 it is built much better and has a good finish with parking stand. One thing about the copycat manufacturers that is a concern to me is the quality of the spring steel tines, while they may look the same are they really? Same with tiller tines, I can jump rocks all day long without a problem or visible wear but I am not sure you can do that with a cheap one.

Next time I buy a larger landscape rake I am going to spend the time and money to get a good one with wheels, maybe a York. I suspect the tine quality is a bigger deal than most people suspect.

 

[sweettractors]

Sweet did offer to take the rake back if I was not happy with it and gave me the number to Fred Cain. So Sweets did the right thing with that offer. I just emailed Fred Cain Farm and sent them the pictures.

I think the rake is built better then the standard angle iron ones I have read about bending and such. But expected better quality in the finish.

I have alot of work planned over this three day weekend with the rake and rock bucket I picked up last week so don't want to send it back over the paint job.

So, what did Fred Cain have to say? Ken Sweet

 

[BlacknTan]

The workmanship (welds, etc) looks OK, but that IS an atrocious paint job.

It also looks as if not too much thought was applied when strapping the unit to the pallet.

But, all in all, it looks pretty heavy duty, and if nothing is bent or otherwise damaged, I'd probably just repaint it myself ... But I agree, you have a right to expect more.

 

[sandman2234]

I am kind of disappointed to hear somebody posting problems with an implement sold by a member of this board BEFORE actually contacting them. That just isn't right, though I guess Sweet Tractors did exactly what was expected, which was do everything they could and even follow up to see if you got any results.
Having been in the trucking business more than a couple of days, I have seen HORROR stories of how items were handled in transit. I mean scary handling!!!
If it says keep this end up, they put it upside down, and not gently. If it is marked topload only, it goes to the bottom of the pile, under the heaviest thing on the truck. If it says handle with care, or glass, slammed into the truck using the item in front of it as brakes, etc.
It isn't just the forklift drivers, it is the package people also, but don't get me started on just how expensive a roll of shrink wrap is, compared to a pallet of freight, lol. And then we can start talking about the OPPS people, but that brings up another long posting...
David from jax

 

[Whitnel]

So, what did Fred Cain have to say? Ken Sweet

Fred Cain has not replied to the email and pictures I sent them. I will give them another call tomorrow and see what they say.

 

[Whitnel]

I am kind of disappointed to hear somebody posting problems with an implement sold by a member of this board BEFORE actually contacting them. That just isn't right, though I guess Sweet Tractors did exactly what was expected, which was do everything they could and even follow up to see if you got any results.

I admit I was surprised that Ken offered to take back the rake if I was not happy with it, most companies would not have made that offer. So I do wish I could take back that remark.

Everything else I have posted is just the facts of my transaction and the product I received. I only wanted to show others what I received from Fred Cain so they would know what they were getting. I did several hours worth of reading and looking for the right rake over a few weeks. I really appreciated everyone who posted about their expericnes and their pictures. I wanted to do the same for the next guy in my position. Some of the manufactures pictures really leave a lot to be desired and nobody around my area is stocking these rakes. I looked for Landpride, Woods and Fred Cain and found none. Only saw a TSC and a Kodiak at the stores.

 

[ametcalf]

I am kind of disappointed to hear somebody posting problems with an implement sold by a member of this board BEFORE actually contacting them. That just isn't right, .... David from jax

I am glad that Whitnel posted what he did complete with photos. When I first read the post I was anxious to see how Ken Sweet would respond. I have never been to his operation but I am always interested in his posts. I don't live too far from him and I assume I will someday buy something from him. I am glad to say I am satisfied with the way he responded to this situation.

I am disappointed that Whitnel had to contact Fred Cain. After his post, Fred Cain should have been contacting Whitnel. No longer are we as consumers at the mercy of manufacturers. The internet has given us a means to point out things that any caring company should be on top of. Surely someone at Fred Cain is monitoring these websites.

Copies of those pictures should have been blown up and posted on the shop floor along with the question, "Where are you going to work after this type of quality puts us out of business?"

If I understand it right Fred Cain is located in Danville, KY. Whitnel's post says he is from Nashville. Mapquest says that is less than a 4 hour drive. I would have put a new flawless rake in a pickup and taken it too him and brought the original one back and put it where everyone of my employees would have to look at it.

Think of how impressed we would have all been and what a boost it would have given to Fred Cain's quality control.

Sorry for the rant but I wanted to express to Whitnell that I for one was thankful that he took the time to do the post.

 

[BlacknTan]

I am glad that Whitnel posted what he did complete with photos. When I first read the post I was anxious to see how Ken Sweet would respond. I have never been to his operation but I am always interested in his posts. I don't live too far from him and I assume I will someday buy something from him. I am glad to say I am satisfied with the way he responded to this situation.

I am disappointed that Whitnel had to contact Fred Cain. After his post, Fred Cain should have been contacting Whitnel. No longer are we as consumers at the mercy of manufacturers. The internet has given us a means to point out things that any caring company should be on top of. Surely someone at Fred Cain is monitoring these websites.

Copies of those pictures should have been blown up and posted on the shop floor along with the question, "Where are you going to work after this type of quality puts us out of business?"

If I understand it right Fred Cain is located in Danville, KY. Whitnel's post says he is from Nashville. Mapquest says that is less than a 4 hour drive. I would have put a new flawless rake in a pickup and taken it too him and brought the original one back and put it where everyone of my employees would have to look at it.

Think of how impressed we would have all been and what a boost it would have given to Fred Cain's quality control.

Sorry for the rant but I wanted to express to Whitnell that I for one was thankful that he took the time to do the post.

I agree with everything said here completely .. The internet has given individual comsumers the ability to bite back when they've been wronged.
But, I will add that I don't know anything about Fred Cain .. The business or the implements. Perhaps, if the price is low enough, the business caters to a clientel that cares much less about a glitzy, well finished implement than one that works and works hard. If the equipment is going to spend it's lifetime sitting outside the barn in the weather, what's the difference if it shows rust the first year, or two years down the road?

Life is all about choices and tradeoffs, and I don't know enough about this situation to indict anyone, but personally, judging by the photos, I would not buy a Fred Cain piece of equipment. That said, I don't make a living with my equipment, either, and fit and finish ALWAYS matters to me. All the same, others may think differently.

 

[MMagis]

Implement manufacturers should just start selling products as raw steel or just a coat of primer. That way they wouldn’t have to deal with complaints like this anymore. Everyone buying a new implement should know up front that they aren’t buying a new car, and it won’t have the paint job of one. Most things get one shot of paint with little surface prep, that’s it. It’s pretty clear to see when looking at them on the dealers lots. If you want to pay extra for a professional paint job, take it to a body shop. I’m sure they’ll take your money. The rest of us prefer to not pay more money for a paint job that’s completely unnecessary.

 

[Rockgod]

thanks for the info I was just fixin to buy a Fred Cain subsoiler but if the craftmanship is that poor i will be lookin else wear

I also wanna thank you for posting these photos. A picture says a 1000 words!