I don't read these sites but I was sent this link from one of my customers.
Matt, you really should get your facts straight before making these outlandish comments. When you say "...nobody in Australia..." can you tell me when is the last time you yourself had any contact with GB. I hope that you haven't just got your nose out of joint becuase GB rejected your application for an account on the basis that you did not meet the account criteria.
In other posts you have claimed that the GB factory in Sunshine looks deserted. Well thats becuase you'd be standing out front of the old GB factory which we relocated from almost 3 years ago and if you were a GB dealer you would have received several notifications about this, not to mention the editorial in the industry mags.
Further, your comments in other posts about a recent spike in bars being returned for warranty is also totally false. Where do you get this rubbish?
Matt, we certainly are still producing bars in Australia and to be honest manufacturing in Australia is hard enough, but when you have other Aussies bagging your brand over the internet to potential customers, without knowing the facts, it just makes it that little bit harder.
I welcome you to make a time to visit the GB facility next time you're in Melbourne.
Michael Kennedy
Managing Director
GB Forestry Australia P/L
Hi Michael.
Glad that somebody from GB could finally actually post something on this site considering that comments about GB (not only from myself by the way) have been going on for over 4 years. You'll also find that many of my comments were well before I applied for a GB account - you guys have a large range of bar types and mounts that your competitors don't have. I certainly wouldn't have applied for a GB account if I thought all of your products were crap however if you somehow think that my negative comments are based on my account refusal you are wrong. I am well aware of the dealer rules but actually had a market for a number of your products that instead went to your competitor - I don't have a shopfront which is Dealer Rule #1. This rule obviously doesn't apply to ALL your dealers however! Now you've obviously been fed only the bad stuff I have said about GB. If the search function on Arboristsite still even works after the recent hack you'd be able to find way more positive comments from me about GB than negative ones. In fact I run GB bars regularly on my work saws ranging from 12" Powertechs right through to a 72" GB Ti. These are older GB bars though and have not missed a beat.
As far as warranty jobs goes I have had bars replaced myself through a dealer who does have a GB account. A few other Australian members on this site have also had bars/noses replaced and this is from interstate dealers who I don't even know. This was also brought up by one of your reps as well (shock horror!) and is in relation to your Arbortech/Arborpro bars which are about as hard as a Coke can. I was actually really happy you'd brought out a solid "pro" style bar suited to smaller saws but was pretty disappointed after only a few hours of use. I import the odd Chinese bar myself and quality control is always variable. One minute you'll have a bar that wears brilliantly, next time you'll get a bar that basically melts away the second a chain touches it. I know you guys are always trying to improve your products and have seen massive improvements in your EVO chain.
Regarding the comment that the GB factory looks deserted didn't come from me although it may have been repeated. There was actually a photo of the "For Lease" sign from your Sunshine premises posted on here from another member so whoever has been feeding you information needs to get their facts straight. You could point the finger at a number of members here but somehow you've singled me out - fine by me.
Instead of relying on your information source who has obviously selected out my more negative posts, please look into this a bit further.
I am one of the biggest patriots you'll ever see in this country and if you can elaborate on which bars GB are currently making in Australia and which ones aren't I'd be happy to listen. If I do get to Melbourne I'll be sure to drop you a line and have a chat about this although I've only been to Melbourne during business hours maybe once in my lifetime. Your information source has been very selective about what he has told you.
I agree that manufacturing in Australia is extremely hard - I've been involved in it. GB have been copping a bit of flak from Australian Arboristsite members and overseas members for quite some time now and it is great that somebody from GB has finally responded even if it was with some prompting. A bit more information on what is and isn't being produced in Australia would be great. Photos would also be excellent and this isn't a smartarsed comment but something that would be very interesting for all of us.
The one recommendation I would have is that you put "Made In Australia" back on your Australian made bars instead of just "Australia". Why was it changed? Anybody involved in marketing would tell you this was a strange move at best.
Did you ever see my comments where I have said numerous times "I really hope GB are still making bars in Australia"?.
Obviously not.
No hard feelings Michael but it would seem you've only been forwarded part of the full story here - tell your information source to cast his net a bit wider next time he wants to get the finger pointed at somebody spreading negative information about GB. Even some of your dealers aren't sure where many of your bars are being made so get them tuned in as well.
Regards,
Matt
yep good stuff mate
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