Leon’s Manufacturing has been received multiple complaints about its sales and delivery practices over the last 5 years, according to a Jan. 25, 2024, article from The Western Producer.
According to the article, written by Karen Briere, Mike Terway, is one of 7 farmers and dealers who have filed complaints with the Alberta Farmers’ Advocate office. Terway thought buying direct from Leon’s would be cheaper than going through a dealer, especially after the dealers he contacted reported they had no stock.
According to Briere’s article,
“Under Alberta legislation, the farmers’ advocate can assist farmers who purchased through a dealership if problems arise with delivery. They are entitled to get their deposit back while the dealership deals with the manufacturer.
“Leon’s is registered as a dealer in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Buying direct, however, is always a buyer-beware proposition, a spokesperson for the advocate office said.”
Terway ordered an 8-yard scraper from a Leon’s sales representative in May 2022, and was told if he paid for it that it would be ready in 4 weeks and it would be delivered right to his yard.
After 4 weeks, nothing had arrived. The person he had originally dealt with was no longer with the company, but he was assured it would be delivered in 2 weeks. Terway told Briere this went on for a year. A week before a June 2023 court date, the money was refunded.
According to the article, Leon’s CEO John Malinowski is aware of the customer complaints and attributed the delays to supply shortages.
Briere wrote:
“Malinowski said the issues really began about a year before COVID when delays from third-party suppliers started to affect business. He said some of the company’s products are 80 percent reliant on other suppliers.
He said it’s been frustrating for the company, which has sold all over North America for 70 years.”
The full report can be read here.
