Where is "Pats" Quality Control?

[greg_g]

I looked at the items 70078 (Cat 1) and 70079 (Cat 2). Either Greenwell Manufacturing has outsourced, or Agri-Supply is selling knock-offs. Mine look just like those in the picture below (except a lot dirtier). Picture is from their website ( Home )

//greg//

 

[LetsRoll]

I would opt to say there not pats easy change hitchs. Take a look at the differnce in the two hitchs (picture below).

~EDIT~
Greg beat me to it.

 

[LetsRoll]

I will say those are not pats cause Pat would not drop his quality of work that he has worked so hard for, even for a lower price.

 

[BlacknTan]

Looking at the two side by side, I would agree.

The real Pat's look much higher quality!

To call the chinese knockoff "Pat's"... that is just deliberately misleading the consumer.

It never ceases to amaze me how low people will go to make a dishonest buck! Imagine if these folks put their "creativity" into an honest pursuit....

 

[thatguy]

They also dont have pats decal on them.. I cant wait to see how Agri-Supply responds to your call/email AND Id love to hear what Pat has to say to them for selling a knockoff..

Brian

 

[Bedlam]

Oh yes they are different. that side by side was great.lots of differences. and the label is missing. I have never seen them any other color than the Grey.I think the price difference was like 20 dollars? Sure not worth it.
But I have great praise for Agri supply. I hope this all comes out to light.
Al

 

[santacruzer]

I have always been the type of person to do my own projects due to the fact that I can't seem to find people who care about the quality of their work as I do. Many years ago I needed a customized trailer to haul ladders, equipment and vinyl siding materials. The prices that shops wanted to build to my specs were outrageous! I bought a flat bed trailer, a welder and some steel and that was it. I got what I wanted for a great price, a welder and learned how to weld on my own. I never hired anything done after that if there was any possibility of me doing it. I have thanks to the Lord become a successful businessman and have a remodeling company that has the contract for a major grocery chain and a Palm tree nursery / farm here in Florida. Like many of you, I had become very irritated with installing implements on my tractor. I looked at many "Quick Hitch" makes and decided to buy "Pats System". I purchased it from Agri-Supply (item#70078 $159.95). My time has become so valuable that this price is maybe 2 hours of my billing time. I coudn't build it that fast. I ordered it on 7-25 and it arrived 7-30 just as promised. (I thought this is a good thing). Then I opened the box and hadn't been so disappointed in many years. This product looks like it was built by first time blind laborers! Look at these pictures and you let me know what you think. The paint looks like it is from a spray can. There are several spots that there is NO PAINT, and do they know what primer is. Yes primer does make a major difference on steel. Weld spatter everywhere. The pin hole on one unit were so out of line the pin would not go through my arm. Yes I tried both sides, One fit both sides, the other fit neither.(Out with the Dremel) This is an extremely poor quality built product. I removed the spatter and runs and refinished it correctly after I had to straighten the arm hole alignment. What about grade 5 or 8 bolts. With the vibration and torque on these units I was not about to put that stress on the cheap grade bolts that came with Pats product.

suncoast,

I have never bought anything from "Pat's" nor do I even know the man. That said, I feel the reasonable thing for you to have done was to contact him or his company and talk to him about your problem and give the man a chance to clear up the complaints you have.

Bad mouthing him on a public "board" before talking to him and giving him a chance to correct this is out of line in my opinion.

As an astute businessman, as you have described yourself, you should be the last guy to do what you've done. There are a million reasons why things can "go bad"...

If "Pat" tells you to get screwed, then beat the crap out of the guy... until then treat him and others with a little respect and don't try to ruin them just because you think you can.

Paul J. Mulholand

 

[LetsRoll]

I emailed Pat regarding this thread and about Agri-Supply's website using his name on there hitch.

I see a patent infringement violation in order!!!​

Pats Patent​

United States Patent: 7059419​

United States Patent​

7,059,419​

Greenwell​

June 13, 2006​

[SIZE=+1]

Tractor hitch lift arm adaptor​

[/SIZE]

Abstract​

An adapter that converts a tractor hitch coupling from a ball and pin type to a hook type. The adapter is a tubular member having an opening at one end into which an end of the hitch arm is inserted and a hook extends therefrom at the opposite end. A locking dog is movably mounted on the tubular member for selectively blocking the entry or throat of the hook and a spring biases the locking dog to it's locking state. Each of a pair of spaced apart side walls have at least one set screw threaded there through. The set screws engage opposite side faces of the lift arm on which the adapter is mounted permitting variously adjusting alignment of the adapter relative to the hitch lift arm on which it is mounted.

 

[3RRL]

I don't think they are Pat's ECS either.
I own 2 sets of Pat's Easy Change and they are great. I met him at the Tulare Ag Fair this last Spring and bought a set from him personally. He is a very nice man and immediately gave me a discount below the "show price" after I introduced myself as 3RRL from TBN. Although I'd be interested to his response to this thread, I'm sure he will keep it low key because that's the kind of level headed individual he is.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

good example

a buddy of mine has a tc35 and he was asking how i liked my pat's.....i told him they were worth the money......

he told me how northern hydraulics has "pat's"......i'm assuming these are knock-offs too.......being that he said they were $159.........i haven't looked though

 

[wedge40]

suncoast,

I have never bought anything from "Pat's" nor do I even know the man. That said, I feel the reasonable thing for you to have done was to contact him or his company and talk to him about your problem and give the man a chance to clear up the complaints you have.

Bad mouthing him on a public "board" before talking to him and giving him a chance to correct this is out of line in my opinion.

As an astute businessman, as you have described yourself, you should be the last guy to do what you've done. There are a million reasons why things can "go bad"...

If "Pat" tells you to get screwed, then beat the crap out of the guy... until then treat him and others with a little respect and don't try to ruin them just because you think you can.

Paul J. Mulholand

Well said Paul. Very well said.

Wedge

 

[suncoast]

Please people, if you read what I wrote originally, I did not make issue with any one individual, I ordered a product called "PATS QUICK HITCH" (Agri-Supply.com, item #70078) and described what I received. I then asked what other people thought about what the pictures showed. I'm glad that many of you have pointed out the difference in the two products. I also wrote that I was unable to contact Agri-Supply catalog service as they were closed yesterday, but that I would pursue with them who the actual manufacturer is and why are they are calling this "PATS QUICK HITCH".(Looks like a trademarked name as I also mentioned) To Wedge and Santacruzer, If someone is trying to ruin a man personally they would say just that and most likely spout that they were going to spread the word worldwide about this one person. Please reread what I wrote. I took issue with a PRODUCT and the COMPANY NAME used for this product. (Not an individual). Many people here have written that they have ordered from Agri-Supply and been happy. This product was on their website and I ordered it from them. This is why I included Agri-supply in my comments. I am surprised that more of you are not concerned with Agri-Supply obvoiusly misleading the public as I am. Gene (also, as said earlier, I will return these today) and then I will order the actual "Pats Quick Hitch" from this website.

 

[BlacknTan]

Why jump on suncoast??

He's the guy that brought this whole situation to light, and possibly saved many others from buying a poorly made knockoff...

Let's direct our anger to where it is deserved... and that place we just do not know yet. However, I would find it hard to believe that the retailer did not know that this "Pat's" product was not the real "Pat's" product..

We'll see

 

[Bedlam]

This is true Its not suncoasts' doings.
The more I see it and think of it the more I see a difference.
Im surprised 'Pats' hasnt commented yet on this if he even knows yet

 

[emmy71]

good example

a buddy of mine has a tc35 and he was asking how i liked my pat's.....i told him they were worth the money......

he told me how northern hydraulics has "pat's"......i'm assuming these are knock-offs too.......being that he said they were $159.........i haven't looked though

Got mine at Northern (had a coupon and free shipping) and they were the real thing.

3-Point Quick Change Hitch — Category 1 | 3-Point Hitch Adapters | Northern Tool + Equipment

Terry

 

[PATG]

Agri-Supply sells another version of Pat's Easy Change. They are mine. I make them. They do have a different look than the gray ones. We came up a design that takes less machine time to try and lower the price. That was what I kept hearing on this board and several others. We worked on this for a long time and had them certified as to weight capacity. Several neighbors have been using them for a year now and have not had any problems with them. Agri-Supply has priced them to sell when you consider that they have the sta-bar included. I am sorry that Suncoast was not happy with the system, but I will be happy to refund his money if he is not happy. They still come with a 30 day money back guarantee and a lifetime warranty. The receiver looks like it is aligned? The set screws are aligned in the picture. If the receiver was crooked the set screws wouldn't align? These are checked several times through the manufacturing process. But with every tractor it is different. With the price of US steel doubling in the last year, it has been extremely difficult to keep our prices the same. We have been doing that and hoping that things will stabilize. Please don't think Agri-Supply is doing anything wrong. They are great people.

 

[suncoast]

It sure looks like we have all found out some very interesting things these last 2 days. I have spoken with Je.....r @ Agri-Supply. And yes, as on the internet item #70078 is called "Pats Quick Hitch" not "Pats Easy Change". What has come to light is we have a person who saw another (The real Pat) devise an idea that was in great need to tractor owners. Our second person thought I can make money off of his idea, and even more if I use his trade name. Agri-Supply gave me nothing but help and was very surprised to find out that they sell an item that is patented by another person. They said they will send me a return label for the UPS shipping. We will see if I get the credit on my card easily (I have also contacted them). I called Northern Tool to ask about their quick hitch (they show the real "Pats" on their web site). They do not call it "Pats". I just have to go see what they have for my own piece of mind. (This is losing me precious time and money) but I am sick of people sucking off of others hard work. As for our dark shadow Pat, your product (at least the one I received) is of very poor quality. NO, the pin did not go through both holes and my tractor arm. One went through both, the other went through neither (Gee, where is the problem)? And no you can't stretch, bend, curve, wiggle and shouldn't beat on a steel pin even if it is only a 1/16" out of line. Keeping the price of a product down I guess means only paint part of the product and leave the spatter on there to rust. I will order from the Real "Pat" this morning! Lets hope Agri-Supply will either change their advertising or put a disclaimer of sorts stating that there is more than one "Pats Quick Hitch" on the market at this time. Rather than pursue the truth, it was sure easy for a lot of people here to throw stones at the wrong window. One last thing, where is this lifetime warranty (not on your box, web ad or paperwork). Gene

 

[Bedlam]

Good to hear from Pat and also Suncoast. I would never have thought there would be two. But apparently there are.
In my opinion, the original ones would be well worth the few extra bucks.I suspect that Suncoast might have gone with the original had he known that there was more than one.
It doesn't seem that anyone was at fault here, except possible the way they were advertised with such a similar sounding name.Thats what bothers me. Too easily mistaken.
Thats Pat for telling it like it is.I am sure that had this been some other company , theres no way we (TBNers ) would have had such a direct response.
I feel a bit better now about Agri-Supply as I have always recommended them.
Sorry for what you had to go through sun for us to learn.
Keep us updated.
Al

 

[BlacknTan]

Well, this is an unfortunate situation for everyone involved...

A consumer who bought in good faith and did not receive the product he expected and was understandably dissatisfied. For a retailer who it appears was also acting in good faith and was possibly unaware of the manufacturing differences. For Mr. Greenwell himself, who has spent years building a good reputation only to call his "A"list product into question, and for us all, who in our desire to save a few dollars are willing to throw the American worker who wants to supply his family with a decent living to the wolves and buy a cheap knockoff from overseas.

Lot's of blame to go 'round..
Perhaps Mr. Greenwell should have chosen a different name for the cheaper product so as not to confuse consumers and saved himself much grief in the process... And perhaps we all should look at our buying habits and take a stand against sending our hard earned dollars overseas when the highest quality product is built right here in the good 'ole USA. That wasn't the situation here, but it sure could have been, and it points up the fact just how many times we are asked to make that choice.
Everyone wants to save a buck.. but the quality has to be there, and we need to support our own American workers...
Still the best workforce the world has ever known... and they deserve a quality way of life for themselves and their families...

We're losing our way in the world.. Soon we will not remember how to produce a piece of quality workmanship with everything built to a price...

There's a good lesson here for us all.

 

[pitt_md]

suncoast,

I have never bought anything from "Pat's" nor do I even know the man. That said, I feel the reasonable thing for you to have done was to contact him or his company and talk to him about your problem and give the man a chance to clear up the complaints you have.

Bad mouthing him on a public "board" before talking to him and giving him a chance to correct this is out of line in my opinion.

As an astute businessman, as you have described yourself, you should be the last guy to do what you've done. There are a million reasons why things can "go bad"...

If "Pat" tells you to get screwed, then beat the crap out of the guy... until then treat him and others with a little respect and don't try to ruin them just because you think you can.

Paul J. Mulholand

I sure wish that I had seen all of the posts about having to grind and weld and reshape the Millonzi grapple to make it fit before I had bought one. I could have saved myself a lot of time. If people buy a product and it looks like junk when they get it and it does not fit then by god I for one want to know about it. When you get a great product that works well I want to know that to. This unwritten rule about if you get crap then don't speak of it publicly until you try to get it fixed is lame in MHO. If you get crap tell us. Then let us know how the company resolved the issue. I don't know the first thing about Pat's products I am speaking in general. It goes for everything we as tractor owners use including the tractors.