3 Sep 2010 by mackay
Just wondering how others are getting on with after sales service/ parts ordering through SISIS recently.
Without giving you the last months full list of ineptitudes, poor service and cock ups, suffice to say that I am still awaiting parts ordered 12 months ago for my TM1000, despite having chased these up ten or eleven times and on a couple of times with the MD. Time for me to name and shame I'm afraid.
The final straw was today when I opened the eagerly awaited latest installments of the parts needed for the scarifier only to find that they hadn't managed to send me the blades I'd asked for. It's hardly an unusual item is it?
I'm only at a First Class cricket ground so I understand why I wouldn't be top of their priorities.
They do make some excellent machines but I will honestly never buy another machine from them again. It breaks my heart it really does.
3 Sep 2010 by vid
Their concepts have always been good, the rest is poor. The ARR4 for instance - top scarifier but not set up level (3 seperate machines all the same) so the scarifying blades wear unevenly front roller always seizing cant be lubricated bearings cant be replaced too expensive, box not strong enough and again incredibly expensive, the artificial brush even when set just lightly in to the surface as recommended all the bristles come off - do you get your money back , no they send another completely useless brush to you. The tractor mounted veemo twin - good tool front roller contantly fails again through fixed bearings and poor lubrication, lubrication of chains inadequate as is the chain guard. To name the 2 I currently use use. As for tools - the ferret wears and seizes after a seasons use, the lawnman rake not available anymore in the form we all want - whats with the wanky brush. There are other machines that they have supplied that are just not up to the job they were supplied for but it was too long ago to be current. The cost of replacements is extortionate and when I last contacted the MD having carried out some research for him he just fobbed me off - very rude. I agree Mackay if it wasnt for the fact I already have some of their kit I would not touch them with a bargepole. After all the dialogue on here I see no change in them. Sell us their well conceived but badly made products and then sting us for parts when they go wrong.................there again come to think of it they are not alone are they but probably by far the most renowned
3 Sep 2010 by Mike
I'll add to this.
We bought a TM1000 a little over a year ago. On the face of it, a well designed machine, which I was initially very happy with.
During last years renovations - the first time it had been used, one of the cables which runs across the rollers snapped - the cable actually came out of the crimped end, so that suggested to me it was poorly manufactured. We ordered a replacement cable through our dealer under warranty... it arrived 6 weeks later! When it did arrive, we found it to be the wrong size, so we informed our dealership and they ordered another cable. After another inordinate amount of time, another cable arrived, and you guessed it, wrong size again. Following which, we had to order yet another cable - during the wait for this one to arrive, a sisis rep happened to be here, and had stopped in for a chat - completely unrelated to this issue. I informed him of the issue, which he was very apologetic about, but didn't do anything about it when I raised the issue with him as far as I could see. Finally, a third cable arrived, and hey presto, it was the correct size... about time too!
So, we fitted it, finished the scarifying, and then put the machine away until 2 weeks ago. First time out of the shed this year and here we go again... cable snapped again... not amused!
Further to this, during our cricket renovations this year, a number of tungsten tips have come off the blades. I'm aware of some previous posts that have covered this, and I was due to look for those posts this evening. I phoned our Sisis dealership about it today, - they have asked me to take some pictures so they can take it up with Sisis, so i'll be doing this next week.
So, my questions to Sisis would be:
A) It seems apparent that you outsource the work of constructing the cables that you use for the roller scrapers - why do you fit ones which are so crap?
B) Tungsten tips - can you explain why they keep flying off? I will be reviewing the old posts to see what the upshot of it was back then.
C) Why does nobody ever answer the phone when I try to call?
What's really annoying is that i'm awaiting quotes from our dealership for a fairly large amount of sisis kit (slitter, quadraplay, lawnman, and various bits for our astro pitch), but there not a cat in hell's chance I will be following up any of these enquiries with an order should sisis fail to address the issues outlined above in a suitable manner.
I'll be following this up with my dealership next week, and will speak to sisis directly once they answer the phone!
Mackay - I hope this answers your original question.
Get a Graden. Strong and simple.
3 Sep 2010 by mackay
It's just so bloody frustrating! Build quality aside, and very few machines are built the way they used to be in terms of quality, I can't understand why the odering and stores dept. is so poorly run - and as far as I can work out the problem is either with stores dept. of the method in which stuff is passed to them to send out. The local rep is always very helpful, but nothing happens.
If I phone Lloyds and ask for a part it is on my desk two days later, no hassle. Ditto Dennis, Jacobson and even John Deere. Yet with SISIS, and I always ask if the part is in stock, I haven't had a part delivered within a month of ordering in the past two years. And yes, the tungsten tips come off as soon as you look at them if you get a dodgy batch, which is 50% of the time.
It's a bloody shame because many clubs round about talk to me about what kit to buy etc and I will certainly be warning them against SISIS in the future. I used to love their kit.
I really have been very very patient for the last 12 months, but enough is enough.
It seems that all SISIS stands for these days is: **** Is **** Is ****.
If a member of the SISIS organisation can manage to work a telephone then I would welcome an explaination, just don't expect me to have any sense of perspective on this any more - don't worry, I've kept all the e-mails I've sent over the last year or so.
I pity the poor sod who inherits my second hand SISIS fleet.
Goodbye SISIS, I doubt that you'll still be trading in five years time if you keep it up.
3 Sep 2010 by vid
If graden managed to get a machine that collected I dont think SISIS would sell a single scarifier!!
3 Sep 2010 by vid
There again it doesnt seem that they care
3 Sep 2010 by mackay
It's on its way Vid. But ssh, top secret.
3 Sep 2010 by vid
Oh ok I wont tell anyone!! Mums the word - cheque book out ready (the empty one that is)
3 Sep 2010 by Mike
Only empty because of repeatedly having too buy overpriced and short lived Sisis parts, vid!
I've been alluding to this debacle at SISIS for some time now and finally people are taking up the point.
They are a company just ripe for a visit from Sir John Harvey-Jones but I expect he would recommend shutting them down.
The attitudes described in above posts are surely ingrained in the company from the top down and are unlikely to change? One can hope that the recession will exact it's own revenge on such a shoddy supplier to this industry.
I refer you to the recent thread regarding their abysmal front rollers and would observe that there was next-to-no response from the company whatsoever. Just some poor Rep who was put up to peddle the lame excuse that they out-sourced the manufacture of rollers because locally-made ones were too expensive. Balderdash!
They don't even put Parts Manuals on-line so you can order the correct parts by number. Inexcusable in this digital age.
And we know their reps frequent this forum and yet you can expect the same old company line from any of them. Experiences such as Mackay and Vid have described are just the small tip of the very big iceberg which will ultimately sink the leaky old tub S.S. SISIS.
I predict that in this thread there will be no postings from SISIS staff and yet there is no excuse for such absence of comment from the purveyor of this unrefined (bordering on crude) yellow-painted rubbish. They even have the temerity to stick a Union Jack on the side as if to promote themselves as 'good old British engineering at its best'... Far from it - This is Taliban inspired machinery - a ticking time-bomb - just waiting to explode upon unwary groundsmen during busy and crowded renovations.
Come on SISIS - Publically defend your products!
I suggest a co-ordinated invasion of the SISIS stand at SALTEX by banner-waving, placard carrying disgruntled groundsmen and led by Mackay & Vid. Sign-up below to join the march. Vote with your feet!! Boycott the company!!! etc
Harrumpf!
GOGGA
3 Sep 2010 by vid
Bl**dy good harrumpf though
Its nice to see that what ever the machine is everyone gets the same treatment.
1. I have a variseeder which needs a new belt, when the phone was answered (a few weeks of trying) I got told they had none in stock, when I asked if they were having some in soon the reply was dont know best you keep trying us, i m sure we will at some point.
2. i also have a set of vee mows, the seal went in the motor, my mate asked the rep at the time if they did a seal kit, the response was, best you buy a new motor at £300 + VAT, was repaired by local dealer for £5.
3. was going to replace my AR4 for the new AR5 was put off by the paper air filter needs replacing everytime you use it otherwise it looses power and dies on you, and the tungsten tips keep falling off the blades and the one i m refering too has only done 10 cricket squares from new. needless to say i ve kept my old one and the tungsten blades on my Graden are now only being replaced after 4 years of work on cricket,bowls and golf greens.
Rant Over
3 Sep 2010 by mackay
Hear hear!
If I didn't have a fixture on I would personally hand out 'anti SISIS' T-shirts at the show. As it is I can't attend, though I might consider BTME.
I'm still at the point where I want SISIS to sort out their act.
As you say, there are company employees who read this site, and the purpose of this thread was to try to get as many groundsmen as could be to put their feelings forward and try to get the message home to them. Effect change; that kind of thing.
sisis are not at saltex this year
3 Sep 2010 by Zippy
All very disturbing to read the comments regarding after sales service of Sisis and clearly these are not isolated cases.
No one in our industry whether professional or part-time/amateur can really afford machinery downtime - someone at Sisis really needs to take note.
One further point to add is one of our Allett's needed parts this summer. One call to Turfmech with a credit card and the parts arrived the following day - that is how it should be done.
3 Sep 2010 by paul.
All
As luck would have it ,i sent two emails to Sisis earlier this year asking them to supply me with a sisis 600!
Fortunately, i had no reply so bought a graden instead!
However only today i was thinking how well a 600 owned by a school i work for, was doing for me this autumn .So well in fact i was thinking of treating it to some new tungstun tipped blades,new belts,new air filter and general service this winter!
Should i bother ?,or by the sounds of it,if i do, i best order bits now if i want it up and running for next year!
How much are a set of, by the sounds of it "disposable tungstun tipped blades anyway?????"
Cheers Paul
3 Sep 2010 by paul.
Ps;
Bound to be on tom ,having it broke down !
just one more day before the rain comes!
Sisis, Please respond. I was planning to buy one of your machines..........
Witch hunts are unpleasant, but so is wasting six grand.
The ciderman rolls
3 Sep 2010 by EHU Mission Control
There seems to be no metion of contact with the area rep, they are always my first port of call, always on hand in an emergency in my case even to the piont of rolling up there sleeves and solving the problem there and then, know that they are not all the same but give it a try, its there sales targets that will suffer. I suggest contact the next area to you it my just move thing faster.
The rep for the North west is first class!!!!!
I have experience of the laid back approach from head office so as stated above just tell the rep straight you go some where else.
It works
best of luck sorting your problem out
The future is bright, the future is EHU !
IMO there has only ever been 2 machines that Sisis have made and sold that have been any worth.... they are the Quadraplay or variants of ( single play etc etc).. and the Litamisa....both brilliant machines ...i own an 8ft quadraplay now, and grew up using my dads Litamisa on the back of his MF35... leaf clearing on the country estate where i grew up........
Ticky supports British farmers...!!
4 Sep 2010 by mackay
Anti Fa
Just for the record I have contacted the following in trying to get the parts I ordered in Sept 2009:
1) Early Sept -Ordered parts with HQ after first checking they were in stock - informed they were.
2) 1 week later - chased up order with HQ, told them getting urgent and to send ASAP
3) mid Sept - phoned HQ and told them parts now urgent and that needed via courrier on next day delivery. Said didn't care if parts cost £500 to deliver would pay!
......parts never turned up, too busy with renovations and pitch construction to chase anymore. Got by without machine.
4) Late Nov - Invoice for parts not received lands on my desk. Phone accounts and ask them to take action and phone me back.
5) 2 days later- No phonecall back so phone accounts again. No one answers so leave answer machine message.
6) Nothing happens so disregard invoice.
7) Sometime before Xmas accounts at my work attempt to contact accounts with no luck.
8) Dec - Speak to SISIS accounts and on the face of it resolve issues.
9) Dec/Jan - incorrect invoice/parts not recieved turns up. Discussion with accounts had been waste of time.
10) BTME - I speak to the SISIS staff on the stand about my issue. Phone calls are made, appologies given.
11) 2 weeks later nothing happens so e-mail MD and copy local rep in (thought should have been able to resolve without bothing him up until now) detailing all complaints (there were others not listed above).
12) E mails fly back and forth while they try to sort out their act. MD appologetic but didn't seem that bothered given the e-mail I'd just sent him.
13) Feb - Some but not all parts turn up. I examine parts and discover that some wrong, some missing, some awol.
14) Long e-mail detailing errors and listing what I need again.
15) Sometime this summer parts finially turn up. One part wrong AGAIN.
16) June- Contact rep and order adittional parts
17) June- Contact Rep
18) July - contact rep and HQ
19) August - Contact rep once every three days for a fortnight.
20) This week - some parts arrive, but no the blades I ordered or some of the bits that have been outstanding since Sept 2009.
21) This week - blow my top and decide to contact SISIS through the wider community of Pitchcare via message.
22) waiting...................
23)waiting..............................
24)waiting.......................................
4 Sep 2010 by chrismitchell Last edited 4 Sep 2010
Don't hold your breath mackay. I took delivery of a brand new machine last year with the holes not drilled to the correct depth in the tine holders. 3 months later they arrived but now other bits were falling apart at a rapid rate and replacement parts were sporadicaly arriving. £15,000 is not a small amount for a machine. So! I took my issues to SALTEX last year and was introduced to someone senior in the SISIS management. I explained my issues whilst he sat in front of me chewing gum and wearing sunglasses looking in every direction apart from mine. Started fobbing me off with some story or another then just got up and walked off! SISIS=some great ideas and inovations minus any form of organiseation, any form of customer service, any form of quality spares back up and to cap it all, their machines resemble something constructed by a blacksmith with second hand parts.
Sorry SISIS but I have finaly said what I really feel. As you can see it not just me.
Chris
You will never see a statue in honour of a committee.
4 Sep 2010 by mackay
Dear suppliers,
In the next twelve months I am looking to purchase the following machines. I have named the SISIS version of each machine to illustrate my point, however since I will clearly NEVER be buying from them again then please furnish me with prices for your alternatives via PM or my work e-mail (if you haven't already done so):
SISIS 602
SISIS Powerspread
SISIS Javelin
SISIS TM1000
SISIS quadraplay
SISIS Variseeder
So about £31k worth of kit.
Best wishes
Andy
Get a Graden. Much more durable. Simple as...
4 Sep 2010 by BAS
I have agreed a price for a sisis machine and still waiting for it to be delivered.l told there rep yesterday,if l dont get some news regarding delivery soon the deals off.They dont seem keen to take the money,good there not a business or anythink.I was also very keen on purchasing machines in the future from SISIS, will certainly be thinking again.
Andy,
You got another good benefactor or are the orange company giving you sponsorship? Money no issue down on the coast!!
Vic.
4 Sep 2010 by mackay
Neither of the above! Just sound financial planning by the best run Club in the 1st Class game.
4 Sep 2010 by mario
At the times when I was with your predecessor, I got the impression that it was a well-run establishment. So if you're getting an allowance of 31K, then more power to your elbow, Andy!!
But enough blowing smoke.......
SISIS - I have never had a problem over the years with them or their kit.
Have I been lucky? "Or is it because I's Scots?" <to be pronounced with an Ali G accent>
I know no boundaries.
My experience of Sisis is that they are a very generous company.A while ago I ordered a Trio scarifier and asked Sisis if they would supply it with a thatch control reel rather than a thatch removal reel. When it arrived, they sent both without any extra charge. Does this make them:
1. A very generous company or
2. A very disorganised company.
I know what I think
4 Sep 2010 by vid
2
4 Sep 2010 by mackay
I have had some very positive experiences with SISIS in the past and I do like some of their recent machines/concepts. The area rep is a thoroughly nice chap and is always as helpful as he can, though I feel he is held back in this respect by the organisation he works for - I know he will be disappointed when he gets wind of this thread. However (and it a big 'however'), I have found over the last two years that the negatives far outweigh the positives.
Their lack of efficiency, organisation and general customer service is genuinely damaging to my business needs as a customer. Due to this I will no longer consider using them except for attempting to get spares where no alturnative exists. Furthermore, I believe that I have been more than patient (having waited a calender year for my above issue to be resolved) before outing them on this forum. I am amazed that they are able to continue to trade in this manner.
CAVEAT EMPTOR!
Hi. I rang Sisis on Friday for a variseeder belt. Admittingly I hadn't got the model number, but I can't believe the older model belts varied much. so I didn't argue with the lady just said I will get the model number and ring back. I asked what time they closed and found out it is 12 midday. I know we all like to finish early on a friday but a parts department. As people have had problems with Sisis dose any one know were I can get a belt from other than from Sisis?
Eddie.
I must say that I have never had a problem with SISIS equipment, parts or sales and I am sure as a well-respected company they will be looking at the issues raised on this thread.
But let’s not get to hasty; comments like I will never use them again may be a little hasty. SISIS make excellent equipment and have done for years. Every golf course, football or cricket pitch seems to have a piece of SISIS equipment somewhere; I think my slitter was used by old Tom Morris. But seriously, at times every business needs to readdress and look at its weakness, as the old saying goes you are as strong as your weakest point.
I would buy SISIS, I am a big SISIS fan, I have a great rep and never had a problem with parts… however I am sure by the comments on this thread SISIS will work on a few things.
Keep the faith!
5 Sep 2010 by mackay
Paul,
If you refer to my earlier post regarding the amount of chasing I have done on this then you will see that this 'well respected company' have not been looking at my issues in a meaningful way. I'm certainly not someone who would normally start a thread like this.
My comment of 'will never use them again' was certainly not hasty, having given them an entire calender year to sort me out!!!!!!! But perhaps it should have been followed with ... unless they make some major changes.
The fact that SISIS equipment is at virtually every cricket club in the land is what worries me. If all clubs are potential victims of the SISIS customer service then every club has a ticking time bomb sat in their shed just waiting to spend weeks if not months out of action at a crucial time of the year. Not acceptable.
With regards to your slitter: the old machines were built vey well and are what made SISIS what it used to be. Good ol' British engineering at its best. Also, there's not much to go wrong with a slitter is there?
All faith in the company lost, all positivity gone.
Incidentally, I do try to maintain a stock of all major parts that are likely to fail, but with a 12 month lead time it's never going to work well is it?
5 Sep 2010 by mackay
Incidentally, I've just noticed that their website isn't working - you couldn't make it up, you really couldn't.
Cricket club = little money to spend. SISIS = cheapest option.
A lot of golf clubs do have SISIS equipment but most of it is rusty at the back of the yard not being used. When they kept it simple making slitters and scaryfiers they were OK apart from their spares back up. As soon as they went more sophisticated the wheels fell off. Literaly!
Chris
You will never see a statue in honour of a committee.
5 Sep 2010 by Paul lowe Last edited 5 Sep 2010
Hi Mackay
Don’t get me wrong, you obviously have had a rough deal, and if highlighting it makes the situation better and the company listen and learn, then credit to you.
Am I simply saying that I like the company and the equipment I have purchased. So if SISIS can sort out the highlighted problems then not using them would indeed be a little hasty IMHO.
Its good to talk!
5 Sep 2010 by vid
The trouble is Paul, they like to supply us with expensive kit and spares. I would have no problem with that if it wasnt for the fact that when problems are pointed out to them they seem to do nothing about resolving them. Machines are rolled out year after year with the same defects. Spares are continued with even when shown to be not fit for purpose. And unlike other companies their stocking levels and spares supply are regularly shown to be inadequate - this isnt the first thread on the matter. Previously it is always the final cog in the chain that comes on here and puts his neck on the line, whilst top management seem to take little or no interest.
I think its this total lack of interest in the opinions of us the professional (and part time) end users that sticks in the throat with people like myself, Andy, Mike et al. Its amazing how loyal we are to suppliers who actively listen to us. For instance I went to Dennis with a problem with my mower on more than 1 occasion. Ian Howard the MD became personally involved and made sure that the problems were resolved - in one case he didnt get it at first until he was shown, but after solving the problem I should think it saved him 1000s. When I did likewise with the MD of Sisis he was uninterested to the point of rudeness. Perhaps I caught him on a bad day but I would never try again!
5 Sep 2010 by Mike
Just to add to vid's comments about the Dennis after sales service, and how it compares to that of Sisis. I posted a message a few weeks back about a problem I had with our FT510, it was an off the cuff, passing comment - no more than that. Within a few hours, one of the guys from Dennis had managed to track my email address down from another pitchcare member, and made contact with me. We discussed it late into the evening, and by the time I got to work the next morning and checked my emails, there was a full explanation as to why it the fault had occurred and what Dennis have done to address the problem since then - that's what I call service, so come on Sisis, there are a number of very disgruntled customers that have posted here about the lack of build quality, spare parts availability and prices, and the general service you provide - are you going to be professional enough to come on here, show some accountability and address these issues as other well respected british manufacturers have?
5 Sep 2010 by mackay
I also waited nearly three months for a new brush for the Lawnman/combi rake this summer and had to make several enquieries before it arrived. Promises to call back etc ignored.
Local cricket club enquired about brush/thrower plate for an old littamiser - told machine an old one and they don't supply the parts anymore. End of story no further help offered.
Ditto another local club with a hydromain issue.
Groundsmans association also badly let down last year.
I could think of more if I could be bothered trying.......
Well Im using a Sisis 602 off the SGA trailer this month so I hope it doesnt fall apart. Ive used a Graden for the last 2 years which broke down each time! Maybe I was just unlucky. Anyway, Graden has no box and I want to try and get a cleaner seed to improve coverage.
The Graden did go through last Septembers hard surface like a knife through butter but does make a hell of a mess.
On the down side Sisis promised to deliver the machine over six months ago and its only just turning up.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
Barry
Just get the Graden in and clean up with your autorake with a stiff brush from brushes north west, third time lucky and all that boll***s
Always found Sisis an admirable local supplier to deal with my old faithfull auto turfman is plodding on well and always get its new cables and tines on time, looks like a bit of a witch hunt on here.
A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother
2 days ago by Sumomosr
I've been alluding to this debacle at SISIS for some time now and finally people are taking up the point.
They are a company just ripe for a visit from Sir John Harvey-Jones but I expect he would recommend shutting them down.
Well if he did visit, it would be a haunting. The poor old boy's been dead for a couple of years now. Then again, that would really stir them up.
The only Sisis equipment I have is a combirake which is relatively bomb proof although I did have to tighten up several nuts on it when it came, and a 4 foot wide dragmat, supposedly stainless steel but actually not as some but not all of the links rust. Weird.
6 Sep 2010 by A J
Me too, Can`t remember having struggled waiting for parts, only the ones they discontinued, Which is anoying. Surprised after reading the posts on here how folk have been let down. Good equipment sisis, So hope they sort themselves out! and continue to look after its customers.
Grow in grace...........
I agree with bluecoat i run several SISIS machines and i find the local rep very good. A lot better than a certain tractor manufacturer i could mention. Ian
Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!
My experience of SISIS has been Ok, i always found David Luxford very helpful, but my predecessor here at St Pauls did have a run in with them over some slit tines that they wouldnt replace several years ago so he stopped using them.
I'm only at a First Class cricket ground so I understand why I wouldn't be top of their priorities.
Does this make your money any better than anybody elses Andy! or that you should receive preferential treatment?
I may cut grass, but i'm not green !!
There's your answer Neil. David has been a friend of mine for over thirty years even before he worked for SISIS. He is a thoroughly nice chap, always helpfull, and will always go out of his way. I just feel sorry that he has had to work with his hands tied behind his back and defend some very shoddy back up. He has personaly had to sort out my numerous problems about parts not being delivered etc when it should have been the person I spoke to at the factory.
Chris
You will never see a statue in honour of a committee.
SISIS EQUIPMENT (Macclesfield) LIMITED
We are very concerned to read the comments on this website referring to our products and service
We are obviously not providing the customer service that you require of us. We have discussed the relevant issues and are working to resolve any outstanding issues.
We will seek to make urgent improvements and respond to telephone enquiries sooner.
SISIS have recently appointed Andrew Roberts to the role of SISIS UK Sales Manager and he is currently actively working with our Customer Service Team to improve our service to you and our telephone response times.
As we are unable to comment on each of your individual issues within this forum, as they are left anonymously, could I please ask you to contact Andrew Roberts at andrew@sisis.com who will make immediate effotts to resolve your outstanding issues.
Chris, I always had a lot of time for David, even though we didn't buy much from sisis he often popped in for a chat , and you are right, a good repbmakes a world of difference
6 Sep 2010 by mackay
Yes, David Luxford has always been very helpful and a pleasure to deal with - my beef is not with him directly, and I'm sorry that he is caught up in this.
Originalhaven't got a clue: Yes, my money is no better than anyone elses, it's just that invariably the clubs in each county tend to look towards the HQ ground for the lead and it is a mistake not to provide exemplary service in such a situation, that's all. I do also tend to be in a position to buy more kit than the average club, so you'd think the service would reflect that. Finally, the pressure put on me tends to be that bit greater than a club side meaning that things like down time at crucial times of the year is that bit less tollerable and take on a different slant.
I've vented my spleen now. Hopefully my remaining parts will turn up and hopefully SISIS will take note and start to make changes.
6 Sep 2010 by Sumomosr Last edited 6 Sep 2010
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GOGGA
6 Sep 2010 by vid
Well Hilton - at last someone has spoken up, where do you fit in the organisation. Mantras to do better and appointing new people is one thing; getting results is another entirely. One of the recurring themes here and on other threads is the utter indifference of the upper management when approached so whats new about this appointment. I too have no beef with reps like David and I am sure others are equally hard working. The stores staff too have always been as helpful as they can. Under stocking, not helping with obsolete gear, late delivery, no explainations, false promises, shoddy builds, expensive and poorly made spare parts........this Andrew Roberts has a lot of work to do
6 Sep 2010 by EHU Mission Control
Firstly I think the bickering is not resolving the problem, if there is one? Please be assured Andrew is firstl class at is job, he is always thorough and proffesional in what he does, So give the lad a chance to resolve these issues, instead of the critisism even before he a got is feet under the desk.
On thought, "if you are not contrubuting to the solution of the problem, then you are part of the problem" take note the moaners
All power too your elbow Andrew
The future is bright, the future is EHU !
6 Sep 2010 by lez
we had a sisis hydromain scarifier was a good machine and decided to treat it to a set of blades new chains etc. used it for last years rens and the gearbox shaft sheared off, so was on phone to sisis for new gearbox. and they said sorry mate that machine is obsolete now!!!! they were eager enough to sell me new set of blades chains etc .... was mad as a wasp ill tell you ..... HOWS IT GOING DOWN THERE ANDY BE GOOD
6 Sep 2010 by EHU Mission Control
LEZ
how old was the machine, was it seviced on a regular basis or was it deneral wear and tear
just interested
The future is bright, the future is EHU !
6 Sep 2010 by Gateshead Cleveland Hall
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I suppose one thing to gratefull for us they no longer manufacture with old imperial Whitworth thread nuts and bolts. Only 30 years behind the rest of the industry!
I've just gotten my old Coremaster back out of retirement for some coring work. I feel a lot more faith in it lasting the job out than the Javelin I bought last year. More break downs in the first week than the Coremaster in 15 AND I can still get spares for the Coremaster.
Chris
You will never see a statue in honour of a committee.
7 Sep 2010 by vid
Anti FA, perhaps you feel that if all was just left alone it would resolve itself. There is a difference between complaint and moaning. When no other avenue is open, mine because I was turned away by upper management, others because they repeatedly came up against the same problems at the business end - this also means that upper management wasnt listening - where do you go then. I'm all for more power to 'Andrews' elbow but so far complaints to customer service have obviously been to no avail - hes just more SISIS management until something changes, he has quite a credibility gap to make up. Best of luck
I' have to agree with vid. Every avenue of complaint has been exhausted so perhaps if those chaps at SISIS look at this forum they will see it is not just petty niggles.
Chris
You will never see a statue in honour of a committee.
7 Sep 2010 by Zippy Last edited 7 Sep 2010
The Rosca looks like a useful bit of kit, but where does my Gran put her shopping :-) ?
8 Sep 2010 by lez
was just wear and tear it was quite a old machine but did a good job its had two gearbox,s in its life both sheared the shaft off as i said unable to repair as sisis said it is now obsolete so had to scrap it becouse could not get parts
8 Sep 2010 by ricam
Sureley a phone call to any company asking for the MD, or failing that if you can,t get through on the phone,you can all easily email the company , or even write a letter. I know I would , and do if someone is not giving me the service which I require./.
Somethings in buisness are better sorted between you and the supplier and not for the whole world to read.
Lez
you have a machine that was first made when I worked for the company, thats over 25 years ago, it was probably dropped over 15 years ago and replaced with a better model.
Any company is compelled by law to keep spares for obsolete machines for up to ten years only. The gearbox concerned says COMER on it, they are off the shelf gearboxes from gearbox suppliers.
Richard Campey
Well said Richard, I had problems with my new Sisis machines and after going to the top after phone calls and letters to Mr Vertigan which were ignored i got them sorted out, but they need to sort out there customer service dept now.
8 Sep 2010 by mackay
Refer to above post where I did in fact e-mail the MD.
With regards to Lez's problem above, good customer service would have been to look into problem and at least offered some advice. Generally, groundsmen are not experts in machinery mending/servicing and look to companies/suppliers for the support and knowledge of someone who is. Had someone at SISIS offered the advice from ricam above, ie. 'The gearbox concerned says COMER on it, they are off the shelf gearboxes from gearbox suppliers.' then Lez wouldn't have had to scrap the machine would he? I certainly wouldn't have known. This actually makes it worse, since it seems that the parts weren't extant at all and had someone been bothered, Lez could have been left feeling like he'd had excellent service rather than been let down.
I know for a fact that if I e-mailed you with a problem like I've had Richard then you would take the time to phone me (especially given the kind of content I sent) and I'd also know that you'd actually look in to the problem and make sure that it didn't happen again. It's good business sense.
8 Sep 2010 by mackay
I should also add that my original issue has now been resolved and parts turned up yesterday - thankyou to the bloke that sent them through.
I have just purchased a Tilth n Seed on ebay for £700 for use on our new football pitch... liked the fact it will overseed, harrow and roll. Does anyone have experience of using one?
8 Sep 2010 by Pitchcare Alastair Last edited 9 Sep 2010
The original reference to Lynn Hilton was just a logging-in error
Website and IT support
8 Sep 2010 by vid Last edited 8 Sep 2010
good grief - talk about ramming home the point.
And Richard - I did call the MD - thats why I am quite happy to add to the general line. I have to explain to a grounds commitee why there is a perfectly new looking but expensive ARR4 artificial brush sitting on the shelf - answer the original couldnt sweep deadmoss off a 10mm cricket artificial with the brush set just through touching the surface. All the bristles came off within 5 minutes.
Insultingly I was told it was my fault as I must have set it too low, if anything the opposite was true as I lowered it down until it touched the surface, added another turn and then proceeded to sweep. Eventually I managed to convince them, but they would not reimburse the money but sent me a new one - what could possibly compel them to think that I would want another completely useless brush. I phoned Mr H and he could not have been less interested and ended the conversation telling me that his spares department had dealt with the complaint correctly. As I said I will never follow that avenue again - I felt completely insulted and patronised.
Have I got complaints about other service - yes I have but I dont remember ever being treated like that before or since by any other company - most are more than willing to listen and I often ring up companies to point out a rectifiable defect that I have already put right just in case they are not aware of the problem - all to my recollection have been grateful for the feedback.
Have people got complaints about my service - again yes they have. But even on a bad day I try to give it my best attention and answer their questions courteously - surely its the only way to do business.
11 Sep 2010 by chrismitchell Last edited 11 Sep 2010
WOW! This thread is having and effect at last. 3 springs arrived under warranty yesterday. Only 4 weeks after I reported the problem for the Nth time!
Chris
You will never see a statue in honour of a committee.
11 Sep 2010 by Sumomosr Last edited 11 Sep 2010
Alistair - Don't fall into being part of the conspiracy.
Earlier you posted that you had been asked to point out that the post under the name 'Hilton' was in fact not by Miss Hilton. So - Someone new at the company was using her 'identity'. Lynn has clearly objected and the poster has renamed themselves 'Aeration'.
Now, having substantially edited your above post you ask us to believe that the renamed 'Hilton' aka 'Aeration' made 'just a logging in error'??
Come on!
Anybody in their right mind, as a new entity at the company would not pretend to be Lynn Hilton and would - nay- SHOULD create their own entity/username/whatever. Otherwise is Lynn not correct to object to identity theft?
I suggest the person posting now as 'Aeration', possibly wanted us to believe that Miss Hilton was making the comment and that Miss Hilton has objected to her good name still being used from the company computer so she raised the issue initially.
Now all we are left seeing is all Lynn's posts being credited to the new pseudonym 'Aeration'.
I suggest the new Publicity Officer is a graduate of the Alistair Campbell School of Spin and is hiding behind some smokescreen which you are fast becoming implicated.
Bale out! Save yourself Webmonkey!!
Come clean sisis!!!
The hole gets deeper, despite Pacman getting his belt in record time and Chris taking springs off his Xmas wish list.
On the above evidence sisis are, imo, a farce - fast veering towards fraud.
GOGGA
11 Sep 2010 by Sumomosr Last edited 11 Sep 2010
Oh and I see my post has been removed where I explained that the 'Hilton' posting at the time was Miss Lynn Hilton and greeted her politely.
And my both my posts had pictures of the sisis machinery hence the otherwise-unexplainable reference to the ROSCA 1500 in another post above as well as a link to the article by Miss Hilton which is now credited to 'Aeration'...
Censorship of free-speech governed by the mighty advertising dollar?
GOGGA
I'm trying to contact a SISIS rep in Scotland. I have phoned head office a few times over the last month and they have given me a couple of different contacts. However, despite numerous attempts at getting in touch, I have not heard back from these contacts. Does anyone know the SISIS rep in Scotland?
World Heavyweight Champ
14 Sep 2010 by mario
Ewen Wilson on 07967 597439
I know no boundaries.
Ewan got back to me, it's all sorted now. Thanks Ken.
World Heavyweight Champ
WELL DONE SISIS.
County Trailer out on hire to club with Sisis scarifier on board half way through doing the square the real belt broke,
a phone call to SISIS hot line, area rep. phoned to say he had a new belt in his car and would leave it to be collected
at a certain cafe ,picked up fitted ,square finished, trailer
returned all by 4pm. Excellent service.
It's amazing what a kick up the backside from the Pitchcare forum can do!
Chris
You will never see a statue in honour of a committee.
20 Sep 2010 by vid
its amazing isnt it - nearly 80 mostly negative posts, nearly 3000 viewings and we still havent had a word of anything from anybody at Sisis - oh except a sort of reply from someone who may be somebody somewhere in the organisation whose name isnt who it says it is ......twice!! Brilliant - as the title says HOW ARE SISIS STILL IN BUSINESS
Had reason to call sisis spares hotline today, surprised to get straight through, phone conversation was interesting to say the least but part in stock and apparently sent, so will reserve judgement for a couple of days.
'In stock' probably means it's in the boot of some employees car. They just gotta find out who's.
GOGGA
They're probably get the compamy blacksmith to make the part up!
Chris
You will never see a statue in honour of a committee.
No, part arrived as promised this morning, just need to make sure it's the right one now.
As a 'neutral' in this case was interesting to hear a third hand comment from someone in the supply trade today who on discussion with other trade persons this post came up and the tack was that this post was somehow deemed to be giving SISIS a kick in the teeth......... Kick up the Arris more like is how I read it but as you would hope from an old established co. it seems they are trying to sort it out.... and glad to see the hopefully positive responses appear accordingly...
Plastic.... it's The End I tell you... THE END!!!!
Well, Ive used a hired Graden for the past 2 years and it broke down on both occasions. I apparently was "very unlucky". Hired a new Sisis 602 off the SGA trailer this week so we will see. I used the actual machine , brand new last week when helping out at another club and it was fine. It will have had a belting in its first week withh me being the 4th person to have used it in 9 days.
You will hear from me if it breaks down!
But also if it performs well 
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
You'll be able to plough with it Barry when you get this 30mm of rain tomorrow[ here's hoping need some now]
Part fitted, ARR back in action, thanks Sisis for your promt service.
22 Sep 2010 by trubs
Another Thank You to Sisis, ordered some parts for Rotorake 3pm yesterday, recieved them 3pm today.
Barry, I'd say you certainly have been unlucky. I've used a Graden a few times and never yet managed to break on - today in a pretty rock hard square I couldn't even quite get it to even stall.
From what I've seen of the 602 it looks a good machine. Would like to have an extended play with one at somepoint though.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
I have been watching this thread and was amased at the battering Sisis were taking, I was scarifying a square last Friday with my Huxley TV36 when I noticed a tine had come out, when I looked underneath the shaft had sheered (gratuitous bad language). Rang Sisis, at about 4pm on a Friday and spoke to parts dept and they guy said they had one, very helpful by the way, but with it being and an old piece of kit it might not be still on the shelf, he would physically check Monday and ring back. I hadn't had a call by 2pm Monday and rang back, gave the details again and they said they would check again. I then received 1 call later that day and 2 the following on each occaision I was left a message, I didn't hear them as I was using machinery, anyway spoke to the parts dept and they had physically checked and they had one, all in all the service was good, but, and theres always a but, replacement shaft £329 plus vat and delivery, stupid price!. In the meantime Ib had taken the machine to a mate of mine at an engineering company, they said the shaft was bog standard material and that if they couldn't weld it up then they could make a new one for a fraction of the Sisis price, the upshot is that they repaired it for £100, used it yesterday and no probs. Also my mate has just had a set of Tungsten tipped blades for the same machine from Garfitts cost him £600, after chatting to the engineering lads they said that the could get em made from hardened steel, nearly as good for a fraction of the cost, I am waiting for the price for them in en28 steel with heat treated tips, but have been quoted £3 each for 1.5mm stainless and £3.50 for 2mm stainless plus vat, theres 54 tines, so the moral of the story is get down your local engineering company.
Well Jon, getting the 602 to go through a hard surface aint gonna be a problem now , if it was at all, its hissing down!
The tines on the 602 dont look as hardy as on the graden but it did the job ok last week on the square I helped out on which was very dry.
I think I was genuinely unlucky with the graden but it highlights a problem with hiring stuff offf a trailer cos the gear takes a right pounding in a short space of time from people not necessarily used to using that piece of kit.
Im am worried now about when to try and do the renovations and leaving the loam out in the slashing rain for a few days. There may be a window on Sunday but getting scarifying, seeding and loaming done in a day is a bit of an ask, even with some help
But hey ho, what can you do?
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
Andy,
i ve got the same thing with mine, at my mates making me a new on his cnc machine, will be a fraction of the cost and made out of better materials. not picking on sisis here as he makes bits for all my machines and makes the tines for my wiedenmann xp8 as well.
Been reading this thread with great interest and would offer the following. I have known Dave Luxford for a long time (before he worked for SISIS) and he has always been extremely helpful with information and arranging parts it seems a pity he doesn't get the back up required. I cant compare prices but so far everything I have ordered fron SISIS has arrived four or five days and the parts department have been as helpful as I beleive possible. Having said that I haven't been waiting for a return call etc: Mackay is right when he says that clubs look to him for guidance in what machinery is best. On his recomendation I sought out and purchased a used Lloyds Paladin cylinder mower. In May the cylinder clutch cable broke and at 9pm on a Wednesday evening I emailed Lloyds asking for help in obtaining a replacement. Within 15 minutes I had a telephone call from the MD to say he had read my email and would get things moving first thing next day. True to his word after a call to check delivery details the part was with me a couple of days later together with a manual. Unfortunately it broke again last Tuesday evening but once again I had the part on Friday. No question of a card No or money up front "we will sort that out later". Now that is service.
I don't think anybody is slating the likes of David at SISIS who work hard and are a very good front for what unfortunately has become a very shoddily run company. My experience of them over the last 40 years is that they have always had enthusiastic, knowlegable reps but they are not backed up by the company itself. I hope that the people 'upstairs' at SISIS are taking a note of this thread.
It's not about get rid of SISIS. It's about please get your act together SISIS. Deliver when you say you will. Get an efficient spares set up. Do some market research with your customers. Make sure your machines come out of the factory assembled correctly and with the correct amount of pieces. Trial your machines in the work place for longer to find weaknesses before releasing them for sale.
Chris
You will never see a statue in honour of a committee.
Well see my thread on the cricket section- brand new 602 , used once broke down on first pass I tried. Drive belt for tine reel snapped.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
6 Oct 2010 by EHU Mission Control
It is sad to see that Keith as retired from Sisis, I hope that the one's moaning have now got bottle to speak to sisis managers and staff with some kind of respectability, instead of shouting from the side lines. I gather the culprits have been contacted, but are not man enough to address their issues in person. TYPICAL
I think it was around five or so who had a moan, and anyone can see that this is a very very small minority compared to the thousands of customers they have
So the best of luck to Andrew and co and happy retirement to Keith,
Catch one for me mate
I think that we should draw a line under this from now !
The future is bright, the future is EHU !
6 Oct 2010 by mackay
Anti FA, you appear to be ill informed - Have you read the posts above and the list of times that the people concerned tried to resolve their problems? I urge you to re-read it all. I started this thread a calender year after making the initial enquiery and feel fully vindicated in my actions. It wasn't a witch hunt and I was not looking to single out any one person. All of the original issues have now been resolved, however, I'll be buggered if I'll have people say I wasn't man enough to deal with this directly. Unlike you I post on this message board under my real name.
Best wishes
Andy Mackay
andy.mackay@sussexcricket.co.uk
07825453601
6 Oct 2010 by EHU Mission Control
Thats your opinion and I have mine,
I've dealt with sisis for over thirty years and with a first class service given to me all of that time.
so I rest my case me' lord
The future is bright, the future is EHU !
6 Oct 2010 by mario
Like Andy, I passed comment on the way I had been treated and/or had found their services. Unlike Andy, my experiences were completely different to his.
That being said, I completely concur, and at the time sympathised with his and the experiences of others, and would defend his and the others right to pass comment where other routes had not come to fruition.
I never saw a "witch hunt" but more of someone at the end of his tether.
If it has made SISIS and, by association, any other company members who read the thread react in a more positive, customer related way, then some good has come out of it all.
Ken McCurdie
Aberdeenshire Cricket Club
kenni@btconnect.com
07971 802074
I know no boundaries.
Antifa
Dont know or care if I am one of the five you are going on about but I did say I had had problems with both Sisis and graden for the past 3 years, unlucky? Yes it was but Andy could not have been more detailed in the history he gave of his problems. Quite frankly if I had had half of the frustration he has experienced with Sisis, I would have posted the same but earlier. the fact that the Sisis reps are good blokes, which I am sure they are, the one or I have met are fine, is not the point.
Imo, customer service these days is not on the way up, in many areas.this seems to be another example.
Andy was still waiting after a year, do you think that is ok?
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
6 Oct 2010 by Mike
ANTI FA - considering that this thread hadn't been posted on for a week before your latest 2 comments, i'd suggest that the chances were that a line had been drawn under it. All raising it again has done is put the whole issue back under the spotlight, which I suspect was the last thing that you wanted to do.
I have raised my issues directly, through the agency that supplied the machine to me - having had several failed attempts at phoning Sisis direct as I never got an answer. Issue is being partly resolved, but I can't say I agree with the feedback that I have had from Sisis, but I accept that it is their decision, so I move on.
I would also raise issue with the fact that I, or anyone else don't have a right to raise it on here. We have recently had comments made about the stone content of Kaloam - I don't see you 'putting the world to rights' on that thread? This is a message board, where if i'm not mistaken, members are free to post their experiences, both good ind bad. Considering that this thread has had 100 or so comments now, i'd suggest that there is more bad than good in this case; however, there has also been a number of posts commenting on Sisis' seemingly recently improved service - those comments are equally as valid as any criticism's that anyone has made, and might even signify a change in Sisis' mentality - would the same be the case if the '5 or so moaners' went direct to Sisis - I fear not!
If you have had good service from them, good for you. Others, some of whom have spent several thousands of hard earned pounds haven't been so fortunate, and the fact that they have spent so much and received so little in respect of the back up service gives them the right to air their grievances.
Michael Atherton
Won't post contact details as all it does is attract spam (but they are available via pm, should anyone feel the need to speak with me directly about this).
6 Oct 2010 by EHU Mission Control
So it be, I have spent tens thousands with the major company's especially over the 30+ years, Simply if your not satisfied go to another machinery firm, I do when I'am not satisfied, this is rare due to the fact I have built up a good working relationship with my suppliers.
I support them and they support me back. I moved positions four times over the years and the suppliers have stayed with me, that not to say I have not given a couple the push, a couple is correct and I can live with that
This as resulted inme some gaining good deals thus saving money in the log run.
Three words can be used when dealing with people good attitude, respect and honesty and this is a two way thing in life It works for me!
here endeth the lesson
The future is bright, the future is EHU !
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