Finning

pfi572 · Jan 6, 2019

The product that Cat produces IMO is a great product and well built .
They have problems the same as all manufactures so that’s whatever .
But Finning just seems to be terrible to deal with and could care less about customer service ?!
Have friends that worked for years for them and had to move on as only keeps getting worse as far as customer service .
Doesn’t matter who you talk to the answer is the same , horrible to deal with.
I have worked on the heavy equipment end all my life and it just seems to keep getting worse .
Why wouldn’t they , or at least Cat try and correct this?
Share prices are good so screw it I guess and no other place to go and kiss our ass ?
I know some contractors that buy out of Sask. and are in Alberta .
Sad really ??

FastFarmer · Jan 6, 2019

I 100% agree with that statement. We tried to walk through their door on three separate occasions and get someone to take notice as we had equipment needs, years later they knocked on our door now that we have a significant fleet and then gone again. I grew up with CAT construction equipment and John Deer logging equipment, aspired to be a farmer and straight to the green iron as well. I’ll tell you one thing, John Deere treats is well, probably because we have dealt with them for 14 years on 90% of our equipment needs but the Komatsu guys bust their asses to get you happy and keep you there. Hands down the best customer service I have ever seen. When a piece of our equipment is sitting they call us and ask if they can head out and service it..make sure that it works for us. I like the CAT equipment and it’s tough stuff, but the support just sucks and isn’t there. Big name so I guess they expect people to migrate to that.

slededjr · Jan 6, 2019

I agree as well, we used to get our parts and service from Kramer Cat in Sask but Finning bought them. Brandt I find the same. Kind of sad really. I use the small OEM’s now as much as possible. Polar Industrial for Cat, Frontier Power and Deerland for JD.

LUCKY 7 · Jan 6, 2019

Well as a former 31 year employee seeing this topic was WOW. I pissed cat yellow,proud to be a employee of R.Angus then when Finning bought Angus I thought this would be great. The company cared for the employee's as well as the customers. The upper management was great due to the fact they started in the shops or in the warehouse and worked their way up. last 10 years it changed. Every contact talks were the same... no money for the employee's but lots for the upper guys. We used to have great christmas parties and retirement parties, lots of get togethers, everyone cared for each other and it showed. Now a long term retiring person gets a pizza and pop lunch party. When Finning was moving into Sask. we felt sorry for those guys.They will swing the axe when ever there is a bit of slow down then ask the remaining guys to work overtime. I have seen them for many, many years get top heavy but never axe those employee's. They have proven time and time again that they couldn't care a rats ass about the customers. They really have done some incredibly stupid moves but will never admit or try to fix it. When they started to hire out of country managers then the morel went into the tank. With the coal mines going full tilt down here and no shop or parts dept it has to be the most ignorant move of all times. Komatsu moved into the Finning Sparwood shop is is making buckets of money and has plans to expand. finning moved to elkford onto 6 atco trailers combined into one office space. No shop and no warehouse. If you need parts you hurry up and wait overnight or days. Smart move hey? who needs parts right now when you have a 6 million dollar truck down for a $20 part????? I still think about my time there and how the purchasing people loved to deal with us. Now they call a call center and get whoever answers the phone. And they have told me many time they HATE IT. I know lots of smaller guys have moved to buying other brands, and there sure seems to be alot of Komatsu up at Teck. This is all my opinion as you might be able to tell I have no loyalty in my former employee but as long as they continue to pay me my pension I will be a happy retired sledder.

pfi572 · Jan 6, 2019

My point exactly Lucky . I know a few really long term high up people that left on account of exactly what your saying .
Couldn’t get it through managements head that it’s about customer support .
They tell me some stories about how Finning basically said screw them they will pay more .
I try to purchase from anyone other then Finning if I can .
Union Tractor , On track and so on .

Cyle · Jan 6, 2019

I found that with Brandt in Edmonton when I had a JD track hoe, i'm a million times happier with a Volvo and dealing with Strongco, they have been excellent so far. I tried on numerous occasions to buy used track hoe and CTL at Brandt and gave up, it was impossible try to buying something. Absolutely terrible to deal with. I'd have more respect for them if they came outright and said "You're too small, we don't want your business" instead of tiptoeing around it. I have a Deere CTL, but i'll only going to Brandt if it's my last option. Never had any dealings with Finning. But from the looks of a few people I know who have bought late model stuff, it seems like they will give the equipment to anyone....

LUCKY 7 · Jan 6, 2019

looks like my spelling needs to be checked. When I typed " In my former employee" should say former employer.

LUCKY 7 said:
Well as a former 31 year employee seeing this topic was WOW. I pissed cat yellow,proud to be a employee of R.Angus then when Finning bought Angus I thought this would be great. The company cared for the employee's as well as the customers. The upper management was great due to the fact they started in the shops or in the warehouse and worked their way up. last 10 years it changed. Every contact talks were the same... no money for the employee's but lots for the upper guys. We used to have great christmas parties and retirement parties, lots of get togethers, everyone cared for each other and it showed. Now a long term retiring person gets a pizza and pop lunch party. When Finning was moving into Sask. we felt sorry for those guys.They will swing the axe when ever there is a bit of slow down then ask the remaining guys to work overtime. I have seen them for many, many years get top heavy but never axe those employee's. They have proven time and time again that they couldn't care a rats ass about the customers. They really have done some incredibly stupid moves but will never admit or try to fix it. When they started to hire out of country managers then the morel went into the tank. With the coal mines going full tilt down here and no shop or parts dept it has to be the most ignorant move of all times. Komatsu moved into the Finning Sparwood shop is is making buckets of money and has plans to expand. finning moved to elkford onto 6 atco trailers combined into one office space. No shop and no warehouse. If you need parts you hurry up and wait overnight or days. Smart move hey? who needs parts right now when you have a 6 million dollar truck down for a $20 part????? I still think about my time there and how the purchasing people loved to deal with us. Now they call a call center and get whoever answers the phone. And they have told me many time they HATE IT. I know lots of smaller guys have moved to buying other brands, and there sure seems to be alot of Komatsu up at Teck. This is all my opinion as you might be able to tell I have no loyalty in my former employee but as long as they continue to pay me my pension I will be a happy retired sledder.

ABMax24 · Jan 6, 2019

I would have to agree with every statement here.I dread Everytime I have to pick the phone and call for parts, as I better plan on waiting at least 15mins just to order an oil filter. Cat equipment used to be the best and arguably still is, but eventually everything breaks and it really sucks when such expensive equipment sits because of crappy customer service. Not to mention the price of some parts, ever buy a pail of cat synthetic oil? If you look at your invoice you probably wouldn't buy it again if you didn't have to.

There are a lot employees that try their best, but they are unfortunately let down by their management and the company itself.

pfi572 · Jan 6, 2019

Order part on Jan3 from a miserable parts lady . Told her to cheer up and she just looked at me.
Said it would be in on the 5th before noon . I thought cool that’s pretty quick.
Drive out to pick up part at 10am? Guy says come back at 11:45 as hasn’t unloaded shipment.
Come back at 11:45 and different guy looks up again the invoice and says it hasn’t left other end yet !!
Unreal .
Stupid little steel return line on compact loader with 2008 hrs .
Still sore over price and can’t source any other place.

freeflorider · Jan 6, 2019

Im Struggling with my Brandt dealer right now. Our finning dealer pulled out of Nelson and now Castlegar, they are looking for bigger cash flo then the little logger in This area.
we have a few cat resident mechanics in the area that are good to deal with but ordering parts from Cranbrook flat out suck...
brandt is going this way to, they claim they want your business but even spending half million a year your a no body. Parts suck and the whole dam support team suck.
inland Kenworth in Cranbrook is looking better and better, link belt and tiger cat and some great service. Have bought a few pieces and have found the support great.
sooner or later finning and Brandt will see who made them but I’m thinking when they disappear from the lack of sales I won’t shed a tear.
Prices at the two dealers are out To lunch. $2860.00 at Brandt for a Bosch alternator for a 2954, ordered it from Edmonton Bosch $800...there attitude is what ever, great support guys, see yah.

pfi572 · Jan 6, 2019

Unreal

Caper11 · Jan 6, 2019

I had to look after all sorts of equipment when I worked up north in fort Mac.

We had a Cat skid steer with a issue with the wiring harness. My supervisor wanted it repaired at finning which was fine cause I was busy enough with other things at the time.
Parts department up there is top notch IMO. Parts are way over priced of course, service on the other hand..... anyway when I got the quote to replace the harness I nearly fell over. The diagnosis quote was over the top, I bought the harness and replaced it myself.
With my dealings with SMS, Brandt, and finning. I preferred dealing with SMS and Brandt.

Mike270412 · Jan 6, 2019

pfi572 said:
Order part on Jan3 from a miserable parts lady . Told her to cheer up and she just looked at me.
Said it would be in on the 5th before noon . I thought cool that’s pretty quick.
Drive out to pick up part at 10am? Guy says come back at 11:45 as hasn’t unloaded shipment.
Come back at 11:45 and different guy looks up again the invoice and says it hasn’t left other end yet !!
Unreal .
Stupid little steel return line on compact loader with 2008 hrs .
Still sore over price and can’t source any other place.

That's phuckin crazy!

Mike270412 · Jan 6, 2019

Should be a 50 dollar part.

freeflorider · Jan 6, 2019

Another recent issue with brandt was a front dif on a 648 grapple skidder. Brandt price was $320000, sourced one from the states and landed it in Spokane for $15 k and some change including the exchange. Why is our local guys hitting us for more then double for the same parts?
Starting to buy more and more from the u,s dealers. Picked up a new drop in motor for a 2154 deere hoe last spring, $9000.00 savings.

Rjjtcross8 · Jan 6, 2019

Got some Cat equipment at work, skid steer, wheel loader, forklift. Nice equip but I do agree the parts are pricey.

TROLLCAT · Jan 6, 2019

pfi572 said:
Order part on Jan3 from a miserable parts lady . Told her to cheer up and she just looked at me.
Said it would be in on the 5th before noon . I thought cool that’s pretty quick.
Drive out to pick up part at 10am? Guy says come back at 11:45 as hasn’t unloaded shipment.
Come back at 11:45 and different guy looks up again the invoice and says it hasn’t left other end yet !!
Unreal .
Stupid little steel return line on compact loader with 2008 hrs .
Still sore over price and can’t source any other place.

holy **** thats a little over priced

AreWeThereYet · Jan 6, 2019

freeflorider said:
Another recent issue with brandt was a front dif on a 648 grapple skidder. Brandt price was $320000, sourced one from the states and landed it in Spokane for $15 k and some change including the exchange. Why is our local guys hitting us for more then double for the same parts?
Starting to buy more and more from the u,s dealers. Picked up a new drop in motor for a 2154 deere hoe last spring, $9000.00 savings.

You mean $32,000

AreWeThereYet · Jan 6, 2019

If anyone needs JD construction and forestry service manuals I have a ****load on pdf.

LUCKY 7 · Jan 6, 2019

might be phuckin crazy but it happens all the time

Mike270412 said:
That's phuckin crazy!

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