Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/09/2023

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On 29 July 2022, my husband and I purchased a ****** *** skid steer from Hackenburg Equipment in Middleburg, PA. The agreed upon purchase price was $12,900. At the time of purchase, ****, the salesman, disclosed that he had to put a new battery in it because it wasn't holding a charge, the cab was changed at some point, and the starter due to damage incurred while replacing the battery. The machine was stated to have auxiliary hydraulics. The plumbing and wiring were both found disconnected under the cab and out of view. They could not be tested at time of purchase due to no attachments requiring hydraulics were available. The unit has not run consistently since the date of purchase due constant maintenance issues, pls see description below: - Safety: seat pan is rusted through, not visible w/o flipping cab; emergency brake does not work - Alternator belt was not routed correctly, not charging battery - Under cab dash panel, multiple bare wires - Aftermarket, not applicable fuel lift pump plumbed and wired into random wiring of existing harness - Throttle linkage so worn that it was jury-rigged just to run This is just a few of the problems that I found. We took the skid steer to ****** of Harrisburg for diagnosis and estimate on minimum repairs for factory functions only, their estimate starts just under $8500. The major issue as diagnsed by ******, a blown head gasket, making even running the engine impossible. Due to an inappropriate, poorly written and UNSIGNED attachment with bill of sale, I am contacting BBB for assistance. Their attachment states that "..it is not acceptable to call and harass the dealer about any issues..". I am not seeking a full replacement as it is a used skid steer; however, I am requesting some fair dealings. Take this lemon off my hands. I would really appreciate your oversight and recommendations. Thank you.

  Business Response

  Date: 04/03/2023

  unless stored inside will get weather on those exposed areas and would stand to reason would rust at some point. An aftermarket fuel pump is nothing uncommon on a used and would be tied in to the power in to the wiring harness, not sure how else you would get one to run. Again, to address any used or worn items listed is redundant and anyone can take any used unit to any retail mechanic and get a dramatic bill. By definition if it isn't new, it is used or worn and yes there are varying degrees but to who gets to make that decision on where to start and stop and at what cost. 
  The largest complaint is saying the unit is inoperable... we drove the unit on to their trailer and they would have driven the unit off the trailer and on to their own property and we are just now receiving a letter to this degree after it didn't run for 8 months. That is hard to believe and if so, why would someone buy a unit that is impossible to run when they test drove it? After 8 months who is to say what went wrong and when? On the provided estimate from best line most of it is smaller line items and then we hit the actual larger items such as $4,000 for labor, $500 for freight on parts that would be provided stock delivery if they wait for a stock delivery, exhaust manifold was again something that they are replacing for whatever reason and isn't something that one person may worry about over another. It simply routes exhaust fumes so if there is a crack or something it still routes fumes and is something that can be operated as it sits. If we had heard from them at any point prior to this we would have satisfied them in one direction on another on an actual item of functions and operations but essentially they have taken the unit and said we want everything that can be fixed to be fixed and at I'm going to estimate $129/hr when I have my own shop and the markup on all the parts and the parts that do not play in to the actual ride and drive of the unit and that is not how we represent the units and sell used equipment and that would go for any and all other folks that sell used units. As I said previously and they did in their own letter, we disclosed information we know, and it is all accurate to that degree. From there we allow anyone and everyone time to inspect, test drive, operate, and evaluate the unit for as long as they like and on 35 acres to do as they like. We cannot tell someone something we are not aware of and I would hope the letter itself would ascertain it was not items that were clear and obvious when the buyers themselves still bought the unit and they had 
  the same ability to analyze the unit as we did and not until after they bought it and 8 months later are we hearing from them, it's impossible to know what was at the direct sale and what was later and the terms of sale as well as the ability and time to inspect themselves prior to sale. 
  Thanks, 
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