Where is "Pats" Quality Control?

[wedge40]

I sure wish that I had seen all of the posts about having to grind and weld and reshape the Millonzi grapple to make it fit before I had bought one. I could have saved myself a lot of time. If people buy a product and it looks like junk when they get it and it does not fit then by god I for one want to know about it. When you get a great product that works well I want to know that to. This unwritten rule about if you get crap then don't speak of it publicly until you try to get it fixed is lame in MHO. If you get crap tell us. Then let us know how the company resolved the issue. I don't know the first thing about Pat's products I am speaking in general. It goes for everything we as tractor owners use including the tractors.

I'll agree, but you dont publish a book till it's finished. I also want to hear good and bad stories about a manufacture, but I want the WHOLE story.

Wedge

 

[suncoast]

I just got back from Northern Tool, they had the "Real Pats Quick Hitch". They were on a clearance table (only one each cat 1 & 2). Maybe they aren't going to be regular items now. The cat 1 box had been opened and re-taped but they employee reopened it for me and it looks like everything is in there, so of course I bought it. I will reserve judgement until I install it. I hope it will fit a Deere Cab 4720. I also hope that I will have a warranty and can get help if needed since I did buy there. There is no doubt as this has "Pats" sticker and patent # (the sticker is a clear background?). I wish you could see these two products live side by side. Now I have units with no welding spatter and what looks to be a durable finish (even inside!) The people who said the spatter and lack of paint wouldn't bother them, obviously the pictures do no justice to what I first received. I would think our "Pat" here would be glad that someone took the initiative to pursue this matter and warn how many hundreds or more who may have bought what I originally did. Taking his deserved income. I could have just been embarresed and stayed silent but that surely wouldn't help anyone else. I have no problem with the other pat trying to make a living, but the manner in which he is going about it is wrong (using a successful manufacturers name). As to the wonderful comment about not publishing a book until it is finished. If a child molester is on the loose, do you not warn the public until he/she is caught and convicted? I guess I am an author for the publics interest.

 

[Bedlam]

Sounds like your moving forward.
I assume that when you bought the first ones, that you assumed they were the 'real pats' So it wasn't like you were looking to save a buck and sacrifice quality

 

[IslandTractor]

I have no problem with the other pat trying to make a living, but the manner in which he is going about it is wrong (using a successful manufacturers name). .

I believe the "other Pat" you are lambasting is one and the same as the respected original Pat. His post (PatG) clarifies that point. You bought his newer "low rent" model from AgriSupply and then the original version from Northern Tool. They are according to Pat's post the same functionally.

 

[shvl73]

As I read it, there is only one manufacturer that made both of the quick hitches referred to here. There is no imposter or import (at least with respect to the units here). There are simply two versions. One is the original style, and one is made for a lower price point. Re-read the post by PATG. Let me know if I am wrong.
(IslandTractor beat me to it.)

 

[PATG]

Suncoast,

I hope you are happier with the Northern tool model.
No they are not discontinuing them. They sometimes overstock in an individual store and put them on sale.
I will always appreciate constructive critisism and am sorry that you were unhappy with the other model. They are mine though. I went through every one on the shelves and could not find another hitch that was not painted on the inside of the receiver. I apologize that you received one that was not 100%, but I will always make it right. If you look on the front of the box you will see Greenwell Mfg LLC, 487 D E Brown Road, Brandenburg, KY 40108, Phone 888-243-4204, and patent #7,059,419. The instructions included have all of the same information. I am Pat Greenwell.
There is a difference in the look of the models. The Northern tool model has a smooth hook. This takes longer machine time, which drives up the base cost.
I came up with the new model in response to posters that were upset about the price. They are made in the USA (Brandenburg, KY). Agri-Supply has carried them for six months now and I have heard many compliments on them.
If I can do anything to help to make you happy, let me know. I will be happy to send you a UPS return sticker and refund your money on the other model.

888-243-4204
patrickg@bbtel.com

 

[Skyco]

How easy it would have been to avoid this whole mess if the manufacturer had just bothered to update their website to reflect there are two versions......
Personally I'm not the least bit interested in either version since I don't swap implements much.

 

[IslandTractor]

How easy it would have been to avoid this whole mess if the manufacturer had just bothered to update their website to reflect there are two versions.......

I don't have a dog in this fight but I don't think that Pat has done anything that hundreds of other well run businesses have been doing for quite a long time. He has a well regarded but pricy original model and after getting price related feedback he came up with a way of getting the same functionality and strength in a modified version that could be sold for less. He doesn't want to cut into the sales of his orginal model so he sells the new version through other channels. Yes, he takes advantage of his own name to sell the off price version but that is fair in current US business practice. Go into a Timberland or other brand name store outlet mall and you'll find quite a few brand labeled items for sale that you'll never find in the full retail shops. They are manufactured specifically for the outlet market. Pat seems just to be playing that same game. While it is certainly annoying to get something different than you thought, it is a direct consequence of the price pressure we all put on businesses.

There does seem to have been shoddy QC on the one Suncoast bought but Pat has addressed that with his return offer and by checking other stock to see if it is a systematic problem. Sounds like a pretty reasonable response to me.

 

[sandman2234]

Sounds like this problem has been taken care of, and explained for the masses (us) so now we know what to do when we go to spend our money. If you want top notch quality, buy the original, but if you don't mind a few corners cut in manufacture of the item, and love saying a buck for the few times you use the item, buy the later version.
David from jax

 

[Bedlam]

Just got the new Agri catalog and all they have in it is the grey ''originals''