About to put the hard earned on a LOKKA... any 'issues' people have had ?

That's right, 4WD Systems buy their Chinese ( might be untrue) locker knock offs in bulk once they have their minimum order bank full. I'm guessing 100 units at the time. So if you are lucky and obtain yours after the shipment was delivered than you are going to get it quick. Otherwise they'll happily lie and give you run around and they will not tell the straight answer.

If you ever visit their joint you'll feel like unwelcomed intruder. I stood at the counter twice fo 20 minutes or more without being acknowledged by the staff present or owner himself who walked past several times while giving me the looks which I could only interpret as: ' look the loser who drives Nissan.' They're Toyo shop first. The owner's arrogant atitude is well know by the 4WD industry insiders.

Absolutely shocking customers service was my experience. Maybe they've changed, for me "once bitten .....

Regards

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Originally Posted by Rumcajs

That's right, 4WD Systems buy their Chinese Spartan locker knock offs in bulk once they have their minimum order bank full. So if you are lucky and obtain yours after the shipment was delivered than you are going to get it quick. Otherwise they'll happily lie and give you run around and they will not tell the straight answer.

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Thanks,that is exactly what I suspected was going on !

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Originally Posted by Rumcajs

That's right, 4WD Systems buy their Chinese Spartan locker knock offs in bulk ...

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Sorry, Rumcajs, but do you have anything to support this statement about China? From all the stories it is clear their service has been crap and will tell any tale but still not send. However, I could not find anywhere that they buy them from China? Their US website also states: "LOKKA has been manufactured in Australia since the late 1990’s ...". (http://lokka.com/site/faq#22) Maybe that story is like some of their other stories, but I would love to have some evidence before we continue to spread a story.

The main reason I pick up on this is that when I was chasing installation quotes for my diffs the other day, while chatting with one of the guys and asking his opinion he was making loose statements about all the main players making in china and included ARB Air Locker in that discussion. But we went into the factory and saw them being made in Melbourne. They also explained their offshore manufacturing was in Thailand and Taiwan for some things, but nothing from China. So, it is easy for this to spread, but where things are manufactured in Aus I'd like to see they at least get credit for that and the jobs, good or bad of the rest of the company.

Not meaning to have a go at you directly, would just like to know if you know something we can't see from elsewhere?

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Originally Posted by cgm

Sorry, Rumcajs, but do you have anything to support this statement about China? From all the stories it is clear their service has been crap and will tell any tale but still not send. However, I could not find anywhere that they buy them from China? Their US website also states: "LOKKA has been manufactured in Australia since the late 1990’s ...". (http://lokka.com/site/faq#22) Maybe that story is like some of their other stories, but I would love to have some evidence before we continue to spread a story.

The main reason I pick up on this is that when I was chasing installation quotes for my diffs the other day, while chatting with one of the guys and asking his opinion he was making loose statements about all the main players making in china and included ARB Air Locker in that discussion. But we went into the factory and saw them being made in Melbourne. They also explained their offshore manufacturing was in Thailand and Taiwan for some things, but nothing from China. So, it is easy for this to spread, but where things are manufactured in Aus I'd like to see they at least get credit for that and the jobs, good or bad of the rest of the company.

Not meaning to have a go at you directly, would just like to know if you know something we can't see from elsewhere?

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How about I muddy the waters a little bit, I know 4WD industry insider and he told me the Chinese story when I was waiting 5 months for mine. He also had other unpleasant things to say about the outfit. I don't have actual shipping manifests or sworn testimony from the staff etc if that's what you are asking. So yeah conjecture and all, I'm happy to withdraw the statement if you wish.

However when you go to actual 4WD Systems website there is no such statement there about their LOKKA being made in Australia.

I found out about this little gem ==> Aussie locker made in USA

and this interesting post on US forum which actually makes sense.

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The Lokka people used to make the Aussie in Australia for TorqMasters. Then Lokka shipped production to China and began using Chinese sourced metal. The number of failures skyrocketed. TorqMasters canned Lokka and moved production to the U.S. using U.S. metal. They also refined the design making it smoother.

Lokka continues to sell the previous Chinese produced design under their own label.

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Source: Lockright vs Spartan vs Aussie vs Lokka
Its probably just another conjecture but Torqmaster and Aussie locker are real and the link you've provided points back to them too.

What is interesting the information on US website is omitted on Australian website especially "Australian made since...."

When you look at Aussie locker™ images it looks identical to LOKKA unit.

I didn't get anything on the box saying Australian made or sourced or whatever origin either and one would think that 4WD Systems people would be using that as selling feature, nope just a white 4WD System logo marked cardboard box and when you see what is inside you go like how the F is this worth $500 +. Finish and material overall does give a feeling the product being made to low price.

I pass that joint daily on my commute to work and if they're really making that stuff in there it must be a crowded space.

I bought plenty of Aussie made stuff before, usually plastered over with those facts unlike Chinese, Taiwanese or Thai sourced 4WD products flogged on by local companies and hidden of such facts.

Anyway, as I dig more, these vicious lies about honest Aussie company being smeared.... its all made in Australia they're just embarrassed to admit it. Must be the first. The full story is not known. Lockright, LOKKA, Aussie Locker seems awfully similar not sure who copied who.

Thanks. I think that fills out your thoughts and leaves it in a more balanced way.

It is clear they've pissed off a lot of people.

I bought one when I was in Saudi and it couldn't have been smoother. Emailed me back promptly a couple of times, gave me some advice and sent me some spacers they said were commonly needed on my model. Sent it the day after I transferred the money. Obviously they did have stock at that time and I had no issues.

https://www.accc.gov.au/media-releas...ed-franchisees

Interesting topic for me as I have a Jackaroo and can't get any other auto locker and all other options are big dollars.

Interesting amount of dislike for the aussie vendor here. I'm going to proceed with a locker install, however from the above I will opt for an alternate model and will find a pro to do the installation for me.

Thanks All
Cheers.

Be careful if install in the front. While make big turn in the track, CV can break and then break the pins of lokka.

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Originally Posted by Agronaught

Interesting amount of dislike for the aussie vendor here. I'm going to proceed with a locker install, however from the above I will opt for an alternate model and will find a pro to do the installation for me.

Thanks All
Cheers.

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The fact of whether the vendor is or isn't "Aussie" is beside the point. Pi$$ poor service is pi$$ poor service.

IF they are sourcing their product from overseas but selling it as "made in Australia" thats even more serious...

The Federal court/ACCC threatened to fine Coles millions over foreign made bread being passed off as local, wonder how they'd react to a safety item being misrepresented.

I for one refuse to go to businesses with poor management. And in this case there a lot of alternatives.