I just responded to the same "it's a scam" comments on the Garden Web forum. Shouldn't we cut people a little slack before we use the term "scam"?
Is it possible that just maybe the company is an honorable firm with good products? Should we do a quick search and read a little before we slam?
Someone stated that you should get the bucket for free no matter what. But let's do a little business math here. The JB website shows buckets for about 15 different machines. At an average cost of $2000 per tractor thats $30,000 of different tractors to "buy" to get the dimensions and build the buckets. Now say they cost $500 in materials and labor to make each bucket an you sell them with a $250 profit per for $750 a piece, you would have to sell 120 buckets just to break even. And then your stuck with 15 new tractors that you have sell. Impossible for a small shop.
It's logic like this that forces us to go to Sears and pay through the nose for wheel weights that should in reality cost a third of what Sears is charging. A small shop if given a loaner vehicle could churn them out in no time for way less than the big boys.
And lastly, if the shop is making custom steering wheels or wheel weights that will sell for $50, yes you should get them for free for giving them your tractor for a week. But if the shop is turning out $750 buckets and they borrow your tractor for a week or two, I think free is steep. A negotiated discount would be more reasonable.
I think we should support the small shops that give us quality innovations at a good price.