I come from the the Hardinge era of 1994 thru 2001. We have five different Hardinge CNC's.
Ever since Hardinge went to this dealer network it's been a joke. The up-charge alone that these dealers place on parts and tool holding is insane. They have zero knowledge of what they call the "old machines" (really pisses me off) and Hardinge just turns a blind eye to their "old" tried and true customers by not dealing with us directly as they always did in the past. The fact that Hardinge has chosen this path to tread down is very disappointing. The feather in Hardinge's cap was always an American machine tool company that you dealt with one on one. Who was always willing to help you solve machine technical problems over the phone. So you are telling me that Hardinge will go bankrupt by hiring 1-2 seasoned Hardinge men in their plant to answer phones and offer technical support?
Why go into the arms of these "dealers" who treat Hardinge like a red-headed step child? Okuma and the "dealers" other brands are what they push and care about.
I think that you and I (the people that run Hardinge products) should start informing Hardinge by some method to consider returning back to at least some of their "old" ways.
These dealers are not cutting it for me.
What say you?
Ever since Hardinge went to this dealer network it's been a joke. The up-charge alone that these dealers place on parts and tool holding is insane. They have zero knowledge of what they call the "old machines" (really pisses me off) and Hardinge just turns a blind eye to their "old" tried and true customers by not dealing with us directly as they always did in the past. The fact that Hardinge has chosen this path to tread down is very disappointing. The feather in Hardinge's cap was always an American machine tool company that you dealt with one on one. Who was always willing to help you solve machine technical problems over the phone. So you are telling me that Hardinge will go bankrupt by hiring 1-2 seasoned Hardinge men in their plant to answer phones and offer technical support?
Why go into the arms of these "dealers" who treat Hardinge like a red-headed step child? Okuma and the "dealers" other brands are what they push and care about.
I think that you and I (the people that run Hardinge products) should start informing Hardinge by some method to consider returning back to at least some of their "old" ways.
These dealers are not cutting it for me.
What say you?