overscan
Well-known member
Our experiences attempting to buy a km8000 in the UK have been interesting to say the least. We'd previously looked at a 65hc which we were quite tempted with but were immediately taken by the km8000 as it seems like it will do everything we need to move our business forwards. So we booked a demo at ipex. We already had finance in place so we were in a great position to do a deal (subject to testing). The demo wasn't quite what we had in kind as not a single sheet of paper passed through the machine, but any deal was subject to testing so we chatted to Jason White, our KM rep. He quoted a price over £100k. I said it would have to be below 6 figures and he agreed that would be possible.
We also had an appointment to see Danwood at ipex. We didn't even realise they were KM authorised dealers. Anyway they visit us after ipex and come in with a figure of about £85k. A few days later our KM rep pops in with his boss and gives us a firm quote which is way way above the price mentioned at ipex. Apparently there would be no negotiation. We mentioned Danwood but they said they weren't interested in giving a better price.... and also added that only KM direct and Danwood were authorised to sell the km8000 in the UK.
Anyway we're just at the point of signing with Danwood when another KM dealer calls us to chat about the km8000. We of course wonder what on earth he's on about as KM have told us that he can't sell us that machine. This new dealer gives us a quote undercutting Danwood and also give us contact details for their account manager within KM. The KM account manager confirms that this dealer is authorised to sell the machine and also mentions that our KM sales rep and his boss knew this. All this leads me to believe that KM and Danwood had lied to us and KM made a decision to give us a silly quote so that we went with Danwood. Doubtless they probably played the game the other way around with the next customer.
So, we go with the other dealer and sign a deal subject to testing.
Months pass... we stay in regular contact with our dealer an there is absolutely no news... until KM phone us and invite us to come and play with a new km8000 at Baker Street on 17th November. We tell them that we've got a machine on order from our dealer and have been waiting to have a proper look... no problem as far as they are concerned. We immediately RSVP and get a confirmation email back. I do of course get on the phone to our dealer and even chat about him coming along too.
Next day a phone call from KM. We're uninviting you. You're not a KM customer. You can't come and play with our new km8000.
So... make of that what you will. A story of dishonesty and illegal business practice. I wont mention the name of the dealer we're trying to buy from as they've been nothing but honest from the start.
We also had an appointment to see Danwood at ipex. We didn't even realise they were KM authorised dealers. Anyway they visit us after ipex and come in with a figure of about £85k. A few days later our KM rep pops in with his boss and gives us a firm quote which is way way above the price mentioned at ipex. Apparently there would be no negotiation. We mentioned Danwood but they said they weren't interested in giving a better price.... and also added that only KM direct and Danwood were authorised to sell the km8000 in the UK.
Anyway we're just at the point of signing with Danwood when another KM dealer calls us to chat about the km8000. We of course wonder what on earth he's on about as KM have told us that he can't sell us that machine. This new dealer gives us a quote undercutting Danwood and also give us contact details for their account manager within KM. The KM account manager confirms that this dealer is authorised to sell the machine and also mentions that our KM sales rep and his boss knew this. All this leads me to believe that KM and Danwood had lied to us and KM made a decision to give us a silly quote so that we went with Danwood. Doubtless they probably played the game the other way around with the next customer.
So, we go with the other dealer and sign a deal subject to testing.
Months pass... we stay in regular contact with our dealer an there is absolutely no news... until KM phone us and invite us to come and play with a new km8000 at Baker Street on 17th November. We tell them that we've got a machine on order from our dealer and have been waiting to have a proper look... no problem as far as they are concerned. We immediately RSVP and get a confirmation email back. I do of course get on the phone to our dealer and even chat about him coming along too.
Next day a phone call from KM. We're uninviting you. You're not a KM customer. You can't come and play with our new km8000.
So... make of that what you will. A story of dishonesty and illegal business practice. I wont mention the name of the dealer we're trying to buy from as they've been nothing but honest from the start.
