Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Let's try this again.
There is a new buzzword that is currently making the rounds on internet forums, OPE dealerships, (and even some OPE manufacturers have let it slip from thier lips)...."Chinese Clones".
What are these "clones"?..... They are "reversed engineered" copys of equipment that have been proven products on the world market and sell for a fraction of what the originals sell for.

Has anyone had any experience with these products?

I ask because I got service bulletin from a well known engine manufacturer that basically said: "If we find that you are selling any of these "clones" in your stores....or that you take them in for service....or that you have anything too do with them whatsoever....then you shall no longer be a dealer for us."

I mean: "EGADS!" That puts me between a rock and a hard place.
Should I take these engines and equipment in for service and risk the ire of our largest supplier?
Or go with consumer demand for lower prices?
TIA....'lint.

I would say that for now, you should heed the warnings...but be mindful that draconian attitudes such as this rarely stay in place over time. Whether for good or not, the Chinese willingness to sell copycat products will eventually drive the marketplace to the point where this "well-known manufacturer"  and their competitors will have no choice but to partner with a Chinese company or lose their collective shirts.

Have you yet seen any of these clones? What do you think of the quality? Are you now getting requests to service them? Do you stand to lose any important business if you do not service them?

AZ

Stupid question, obvious answer.

Why would the Chinese want too partner with anyone? If they are producing basically the same product, for a much lower cost, wouldnt that give them the upper hand in the market place? Why take on a partner that is weaker than you. Just take them over and be done with it. It's not like you need them for any of thier designs or products......just copy whatever you please and sell it for less. Let the competitor pour his money into the research and delvelopemnt, let him do the market research, see what works and doesnt work....then just cherry pick the good stuff. Heck...just change your name too "Beijing and Shanghai" motorworks, and I am sure you could design a nice B&S trademark for yourself. At least 50% of the average consumers wouldnt know the difference.

Yes, I do get the stuff in for service. There isn't much I can do for the customer.
I cant do warrenty because I'm not authorized. I cant fix anything because I dont have parts access. I cant bring it into the shop because a rep might walk in.
The buisness that I do lose not servicing them isnt that much of a killer...... right now. What I do get are irrate customers that just want something fixed and dont understand why I send them down the road too another place that cant do anything about thier problem.
The problem in the service end of it is.......How much is a customer willing too spend having something repaired, when the cost of a replacement is so low.
You can justify a $100.00 repair bill on $400.00 piece of equipment, but a $100.00 bill on a $200.00 unit? Most people would opt for pitching it and starting over.

The quality of the stuff ???? It's junk too me...... But that's why I ask if anyone owns any of it. If they do.....and they are happy with it.....then who am I too judge?
Its a consumer driven market and it really doesnt matter in the end how I may look at it.

The tempting thing about clones is the price. Powerfist sells a 11hp motor (should fit on a snowblower) OHV and looks EXACTLY like the Honda, except the case color and finish. What's inside is what one doesn't see. Honda puts top quality parts inside but does the clone have the same quality? Maybe Honda makes the clone to grab the lower end market share. I asked the sales guy and all he said is they sell well and not one came back with any problems.  For me it's like buying a replica of a Rolex watch. (I never buy anything that is involved with copyright infringement). The replica watch is ok until it's wet or shaken. Not saying this is the case with the Powerfist Honda clone, that motor may be top notch. If it is, then that's a great deal, but if it's a lower quality knock off, the Honda is what I would buy though more expensive. I wonder if that 11hp OHV motor would work on the 20 year old 10hp L head Tecumseh. At least I know where to get parts for the old Tecumseh and just ordered a new carb. Going to get more info on the clone. I know Honda puts cast iron sleeves in their motors. I think the question to ask is, who makes them, where can I get parts, and who services them. If they cannot reply to that, no good buying something that has no service infrastructure. The last post got me thinking more about the service aspects rather than price.

I should proof read my posts. I said "I wonder if that 11hp OHV motor would work on the 20 year old 10hp L head Tecumseh." but ment, would the 11hp unit work on the 20 year old Snowblower that is currently using the 10hp Tecumseh. Thinking of getting a new Toro for next winter,  the steerable one.

"Why would the Chinese want too partner with anyone? If they are producing basically the same product, for a much lower cost"

Because achieving brand name recognition for their product, buying into an already established dealer network with parts support in place is a lot easier and faster than trying to label yourself as Beijing & Shanghai small engines and building it all from scratch.

AZ

AZ.
You make a good point.
The problem might be that Briggs could be the eaten instead of the eater with an alliance with the Chinese.
I'm sure they drool when they see the cheap labor force making engines and parts for them...but at the same time that labor force is going too want a piece of the pie too. They arent going too just give it away.
Although a Briggs/ China relationship sounds like a win-win for Briggs.....I think they are smart enough too see how that worked out with Homelites dealers network matched with the Chinese manufacturing system.
TTI has that North American dealer network with Homelite....(and other American brand names.)
Homelite once had stong relationship with its dealers and TTI certainly has done nothing too improve things. North American dealers are dumping them left and right. There used too be a Homelite dealer on every corner, now its getting real tough too resign current dealers and sign up any new ones. There goes easy warrenty service....There goes readily available parts...there goes a dealer sales network. You buy it and if you have a problem.....you throw it in the recycling bin.
The Chinese manufacturing system, although cheap, certainly doesnt seem do it very well.
They had Murray for what....a year (?) and managed too screw that deal up so bad....they sold at a bargain basement price too Briggs.
Either way it all pans out....I dont see it doing much good for the consumer, the dealers or the American economy.
Junk is junk no matter who's name is on it. (A biased opinion for sure.)

The sad thing about the clone business they get market share on price not quality. People not educated about product  "x" that looks like product "a" think they are getting a good deal when in reality the cheap junky version ends up costing more due to a higher failure rate. Cloned car parts, like front end parts or brake parts made with cheap materials cost life and limb let alone wearing out faster. I sell industrial warewash equipment and every time a customer buys a cheap unit, they pay more in the end, let alone the frustrations of owing it. I like a good deal as well as the next guy but I also think of supporting what's being made in country as it helps the local economy. When I buy multi tools or knives for example, I always get U.S.A brand names and assured of quality. Good steel equals good tools. I don't even consider cheap cloned tools in my work as it costs too much when it breaks in the middle of a job. Though I am in Canada, I sell Canadian made (thought the company is US owned) equipment. I know the quality, and my customers get what they pay for.

As far as the quality of "clones" goes, i think the adage, "if it sounds too good to be true it usually is" makes a valid point.

The real issue i see here though is the legality of the statement "If we find that you are selling any of these "clones" in your stores....or that you take them in for service....or that you have anything too do with them whatsoever....then you shall no longer be a dealer for us."
While i certainly could understand a manufacturer not wanting a dealer to handle his brand lookalikes,and a dealer being hesitant to sell a copycat brand, there is no legal base i'm aware of, that allows any supplier the right to dictate what a repair shop may or may not service.and particularly the statement "or that you have anything to do with them whatsoever" Does this mean if a customer comes in to buy a spark plug you have to ask what brand of equipment they are installing it in? i can see it now, "im sorry sir, i cant sell you a spark plug for your import equipment."

 my initial thought is this has the potential for a class action suit unless its contracturally agreed upon. Threatening established dealers, with removal of they're name brand dealership, isnt going to make the copycat problem go away, its going to take action by the manufacturers themselves based on legal action along the lines of copyright infringement to put a stop to problems of this nature. And ultimately, its not the dealers responsibility to do so. but thats just my opinion.

your right though, your in between a really big rock, and a really hard place. keep us posted?

SP.....right on the mark.
About 12 years ago Briggs sent out an almost identical "nasty note" regarding selling aftermarket parts.
Any dealer that sold them was going too loose thier franchise.....and they were going too die a slow and painful death.
They talked about the sacred alliance between the dealer and the company.....and how they were going too take care of the dealer....blah, blah, blah!
The courts said....nope, not going too happen that way, you dealer guys go ahead and sell whatever you please!
So Briggs says.....because you guy wont play the game our way.....we're not gonna give you guys exclusive rights too selling our parts! So there!
So today Briggs is all big and grinnie because they can sell their air filters and the best selling parts too any bigbox with some shelvespace....and the dealer is stuck with the slow moving crap and the freight and handling charges too boot.
Briggs is going too do whatever benefits Briggs.
Thier concern for thier dealers...or thier customers, doesn't run very deep.
And the clones care even less.
Combine the two...... with one making the junk and the other selling it....and I'm stuck wasting my day waiting for parts too come from Yangtang Province....while the consumer is standing  butt deep in snow, with a coal shovel in thier hands,  wishing they had spent the extra cash too clear thier driveway.
(Just a rant ...sorry, guys.)