Rapala buys Strikemaster

[ozzie]

ummmm they are laying off the techs that do the maintenance to our augers so yeah there is reason for concern...if you have ever dealt with the big lake techs you would know that you would try to retain them as employees if you are keeping a repair facility open. this is telling me that Minnetonka won't have a repair shop.

[IamZombie]

Because, you know, Minnetonka is every bit as far away as china.

You've never driven here in opus have you?

You'd think you're in some 3rd world country driving down some goat paths.

[berfish]

I think it's interesting how much speculation is going on about how terrible things are going to be, just because of an acquisition and site move.

+1

I don't think the acquisition is going to affect things too much in regards to repair and service. On the SM HSOforum there is a list of about 100 service centers that say they can do anything the SM techs can do. D-Rock in New Brighton is basically "Strikemaster Metro".

I do feel bad for the employees if they will be out of work. I would have thought that they would have been offered transfers or something.

[muskE]

ummmm they are laying off the techs that do the maintenance to our augers so yeah there is reason for concern...if you have ever dealt with the big lake techs you would know that you would try to retain them as employees if you are keeping a repair facility open. this is telling me that Minnetonka won't have a repair shop.

It's a shame that another local resource is down as I prefer to buy products locally produced and supported but it's like many other mom-pop's out there that sell to the corporate juggernaut. Many local veteranarians have sold to corporate ownership for better managemnet and a nice check. StrikeMaster may have been a top-end mess and, perhaps, this will ultimately be a "good thing" for the company and the product.

[ozzie]

Just something about being able to take your auger to the manufacturer rather than just some small engine repair shop.....

[IcePro]

D-Rock is the main service center for StrikeMaster. They supply the parts to small engine shops that do repairs.

Get to know your local repair guy and you will find out that you will get excellent service as well. Also remember that StrikeMaster sells augers worldwide and only a handful of ice fisherman had the opportunity to have their auger serviced in Big Lake.

What did StrikeMaster manufacture, they had all parts made for them.

Engines - Solo (over seas)

Blades - Normark/Mora (over seas)

Drill Assemblies - ?

Things will be fine.

[Neiko]

If the service guys were thinking they should post their service on hsolist or the board here. I think they could have a good side job even if they did it on a part time basis.

[LightningBG]

Maybe this is just the opportunity that someone needs to start up their own auger biz...

It's an ice auger after all. It's not exactly rocket science. Good engine + transmission + auger + blades = Ice auger. Come on boys and girls, get your thinkin caps on. You are the next 1%.

And congrats to the owners of strikemaster for rakin in 10 million bucks. you are the 1%.

[muskE]

And congrats to the owners of strikemaster for rakin in 10 million bucks. you are the 1%.

Do you think they get free blade sharpening for life?

[Ebiz]

Red, blue, yellow circles - I have a number of clients over there. Giving directions for meetings to people from out of town is a nightmare

[sunniewally]

how come nobody ever rants and raves about how good customer service at Eskimo is? nobody really ever complains about Eskimo augers! maybe they make the best auger around at a reasonable price and customer service is not needed that much!!!

[IamZombie]

Judging by this thread, if I were in the market for an auger I'd avoid strikemaster.

Everyone complaining about not being able to get them repaired anymore.

Why are so many breaking?

[DTro]

First of all +1 on Opus, it's like a bad twilight zone episode buzzing around that joint.

Second, I feel bad for the employees that will be out of a job. Nothing lasts forever, but they were a staple in Big Lake and will be missed.

It won't be the death of SM, but it's a big blow for one of their best selling points that's for sure.

I think a good analogy is having a hometown hardware store a couple miles from you. You don't quite appreciate the convenience (even at a substantially higher cost) until the store is no longer there. Sure you can drive 30 miles to the nearest Home Depot, but man what a PAIN when you need a 1/2 hex head bolt.

[hanson]

how come nobody ever rants and raves about how good customer service at Eskimo is? nobody really ever complains about Eskimo augers!

Nobody owns Eskimo augers.

[mrpike1973]

i do. love em" recoil broke on it. monday called in got it wed. free of charge with 2 stickers, hat and a thank you there from wis. still sad about a close to home job company going out like that but here it is.

[Meat-Run]

Ok i have to say something if SM (rapala) is closing the BL office and moving it to Minnetonka is that REALLY a long ways to drive to keep your job....i'm just saying!

Second how many people really bring ALL those so called broken SM augers down to Big Lake to get repaired? Serously folks if something does go wrong aren't you suppose to bring it to the nearest Tecumsa small engine repair shop for service if under warranty or other?

Does anybody know for sure if those positions at the BL office have been eliminated or have they been given the option to transfer to the Minnetonka location? When everybody hears of "change" they get there undies in a bind and over react that's all, just my observation or .02

Ok another point to consider, look at the Marcum/Rapala deal that happend just a few weeks ago, that too was one of the best deals that can happen to Marcum. I don't think Rapala is going to spend millions of dollars and ruin a good thing (strikemaster) there reputation is on the line and there a very successful company...again just my .02

mr

[SpecialK]

I also am wondering if they offered them jobs or if they closed the BL office because they are going to count on "nearest service center" to take care of the repairs.

Where are they manufactured at? Was that in Big Lake and if so are they moving mfg overseas?

The Marcuum deal is different tho as they are still seperate companies as far as I understood. That deal was a distrobution agreement.

[CaptainMusky]

There isnt much work done in BL. The motors were built in Germany, Drills in Sweden and shippped to US for assembly. It wasnt a manufacturing facility it was more of a final assembly and even at that, I really doubt all of that was done in that dinky little office they had.

If you live in Detroit and have a problem with your GM, Ford or Chrysler car do you go right in to get it fixed at the plant?

Yeah, it may be convenient they were in BL, but really, I dont see this as a doomsday scenario at all.

The money that Rapala has will help the situation if anything. Have you tried to find replacement blades for a strikemaster in the last 3 months? None to be had around my parts and I am 20 minutes from BL.

[Meat-Run]

SpecialK,

I know the Rapala/Marcum was only a distribution agreement but Rapala is only going to help that business-2-business deal and any other business platform they get involved with. The point that i'm making is that Rapala should only help or improve SM production, sales, and distribution through there reps, distributors, and buy groups with there financial backing and "leverage".

Lets all hope we can get out ice fishing and use those SM for two more weeks!!!

mr

[BryeGuy]

The whole thing made me nervous about SM. Mine was about 10 years old. I sold it and got a Nils.

Now I need to unload the SM hat and jacket.

[CaptainMusky]

The whole thing made me nervous about SM. Mine was about 10 years old. I sold it and got a Nils.

Now I need to unload the SM hat and jacket.

wow is all i can say.

[IcePro]

The whole thing made me nervous about SM. Mine was about 10 years old. I sold it and got a Nils.

Now I need to unload the SM hat and jacket.

Who is going to service your Nils? The same small engine shop that would also repair your StrikeMaster.

[Esox_Magnum]

As someone who has owned both I can honestly say the Nils will rarely ever see the inside of a small engine shop...I can't say the same for either of the Strikemasters I have owned...Time will tell on the longevity of the Solos, I went Nils due to the Tanakas reliability record...

[luckycrank]

where is nils head qaurters ? how many tanaka service are there in minnesota(none where im at) that would likely be able to get you on the ice in a just few days.

Im sure there will be a few bumps in the transition. but I am optimistic they will all get hammered out, if anything ,speaking on some of SM qaulity issues such as recoils , rapala has the bank book to influence the correction of such issues.

[BryeGuy]

Before people get all defensive-

First off, I am not bashing SM. I got the SM used for $250 7 years ago. After seeing a USED 8" Nils for sale I jumped on it. The SM was a 10" and didn't have any serious problems with it. Some carb and recoil issues. No biggy.

I am just jumping ship before things get wild. (That's my opinion. Maybe things will be bigger and better for SM.......)

P.S Robbinsdale Marine worked on my Tanaka post hole digger a few years ago. They are great little engines.