Problems for Hot Rod & PAH

TGO_54 · November 2005

> While I agree there's problems at the local level 
> from time to time, I still prefer to support my 
> local suppliers. 
> 
> This situation was a bit 
> different. 
> 
> I was urged to purchase the PP 
> tool by the supplier's distribution stocking mgr 
> and he promised they would stock a full line - 
> 1/2" thru 2" - both fittings and valves - here in 
> York. OK, if they're willing to dance, so am I 
> and I'd be loyal to buying from them unless they 
> gave us poor service, which is something that 
> can't be tolerated if we're going to provide our 
> customers with great service. 
> 
> Tool purchased 
> and the local branch mgr balks about stocking 
> fittings and says he won't stock valves. 1/2 a 
> loaf might be better than none - in a restaurant 
> - but bacon & eggs without the eggs doesn't a 
> breakfast make! 
> 
> And, I would have remained 
> loyal if our salesman had at least returned our 
> calls regarding the order where he decided it 
> wasn't really necessary to let me know the 
> reduced T's we'd ordered for PP were something he 
> didn't feel like pursuing. 
> 
> and I wouldn't be 
> placing an order with Grangers today, in spite of 
> their lower pricing for PP, because of my desire 
> to suport local suppliers. $50.00 saved on a 
> larger job isn't exactly worth the loss of 
> personal support a good supplier can offer, which 
> is a value-added intangible thing that means a 
> lot to me. 
> 
> And it's odd how dramatically the 
> level of service can change within the same 
> supply house chain depending on who is in the 
> lead position. 
> 
> And that's why the notion of 
> an internet supply house holds any attraction at 
> all. 
> 
> Price is but a single spoke in the 
> wheel. 
> 
> _A 
> HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id= 
> 98&Step=30"_To Learn More About This 
> Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in 
> "Find A Professional"_/A_ 
 

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TGO_54 · November 2005

Problems for Hot Rod & PAH

and me as well.

Cash in hand waiting to buy supplies.

No supplier local to take the money.

Seems to me some smart supplier would step up and take our money. Let Brown or Fed ex or DHL be your delivery truck.

Bet you could set up a customer list right here.

Sell only the good stuff, top of the line, the cool stuff good mechanics see in photos posted here, and say "where can I get that?"

Knock, knock.

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DanHolohan · November 2005

Yes, yes, yes.

Weezbo · November 2005

I'd Go That now....*~/:)

and spend a buck at it ,oh By the Way....

joel_19 · November 2005

capco

Call Capco in Mass the best source for viessmann . propress , runtal ,Buderus etc. staff is knowledgable and they will ship UPS .

don_52 · November 2005

brother and self...

ScottMP · November 2005

Here , Here ...

I'll second that

1-781-721-0303

Give em call.

Scott

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Jeff Lawrence_24 · November 2005

You need to realize

That I'm quite a few miles South of the hotbed of hydronic activity and I can't walk into most places and get exactly what I need.

That's when the 'net comes in. With many, many thanks to Steve Wieland, I can get nearly anything I need. It does take a day or four sometimes, but it's available.

I used to go through about 2 'Brown' drivers a month. Since I moved to a differnt delivery area, it's been a little better.

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Dave Yates (PAH) · November 2005

Well.......

While I agree there's problems at the local level from time to time, I still prefer to support my local suppliers.

This situation was a bit different.

I was urged to purchase the PP tool by the supplier's distribution stocking mgr and he promised they would stock a full line - 1/2" thru 2" - both fittings and valves - here in York. OK, if they're willing to dance, so am I and I'd be loyal to buying from them unless they gave us poor service, which is something that can't be tolerated if we're going to provide our customers with great service.

Tool purchased and the local branch mgr balks about stocking fittings and says he won't stock valves. 1/2 a loaf might be better than none - in a restaurant - but bacon & eggs without the eggs doesn't a breakfast make!

And, I would have remained loyal if our salesman had at least returned our calls regarding the order where he decided it wasn't really necessary to let me know the reduced T's we'd ordered for PP were something he didn't feel like pursuing.

and I wouldn't be placing an order with Grangers today, in spite of their lower pricing for PP, because of my desire to suport local suppliers. $50.00 saved on a larger job isn't exactly worth the loss of personal support a good supplier can offer, which is a value-added intangible thing that means a lot to me.

And it's odd how dramatically the level of service can change within the same supply house chain depending on who is in the lead position.

And that's why the notion of an internet supply house holds any attraction at all.

Price is but a single spoke in the wheel.

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eric_2 · November 2005

Glad to be of service

For starters, I believe nothing will ever replace service at the local level. Contractor / supply house relationships are something that should never be taken for granted. But on another note, there's no harm in helping a Wallie in need.

hr · November 2005

It's more than just having the

materials on the shelf. A good supplier needs to be able to support and answer questions about the products.

Actually isn't that part of the "job description"?

If not I see the distribution going www. Could we all be buying hydronics from e-bay in the near future?

hot rod

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TGO_54 · November 2005

Hi Dave

I too prefer to deal on the local level, and I am loyal to my suppliers. I count on them for service first and price second.

There are times however, when they can't or won't provide products that I want. I always seem to be able to get things one way or another, but one source would be a lot better for me and I suspect some others. It would probably be a relief for some of my local guys too - I would stop asking for products they can't supply.

Now that your supplier has dropped the ball on pro-press fittings, will you buy all the fittings from another supplier? Or will you cross your fingers and hope that the people who sold you the tool will step up and perform as promised?

I'm not sure what I would do in your shoes, but, based on your experiance, before I were to invest in a press tool, I would want to see a fully stocked supply house first.

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TGO_54 · November 2005

Hi Hot Rod

I couldn't agree more that a supplier needs to provide more than just materials. It is, or should be part of the job description, but this is not always the case.

I am frequently bringing products to the attention of my suppliers - shouldn't it be the other way around? As to tech support my local suppliers only go so far. Then it's onto the mfgs reps (lucky for me we have some outstanding ones) or to the factory.

If the trend continues we may be buying off the net and just finding the support directly from the MFG's and their reps.

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David Sutton_6 · November 2005

BOY oh BOY...

Dont get me started on this one AGHHHH.
just today out in otis mass 4.5 miles from the end of the earth, i sent a fax 4 days prior....followed by a confimation call....check on this morn before he got there...YUP you bet order was STILL messed up and missing items wait almost 3 hrs to get the right stuff AGHHH !!

oh but their real sorry

how sorry if i send a bill for wasted time........David

ps i think i feel better now

joel_19 · November 2005

uhh huh

I ordered 2 steam boilers from D.H.Adams in Worcester over a month in advance . I was assured everything would be delivered . I followed up with several phone calls , waa told we where all set . They ship the stuff my guys call me and say how come there's no oil burners and hey how come there's no low water cut offs ?? Ordered Trane heat pumps over amonth in advance faxed order talked to salesman several times . Day for delivery arrives , no heat pumps . That was Air Purchases Burlington . Why do we have to pay these people when they don't stock enough parts and now don't even want to stock equipment . Why can't we just buy from the manufacturer . One of the low water cut offs was bad on the steam job . So I went back to get one and they didn't have it . I bought the only two they have and they sell thousands of boilers ! Every winter it gets worse . I see people who go days without heat because no one has the parts .

jerry scharf_3 · November 2005

my gripe is the lack of communication

This is what drives me nuts about suppliers. All of the things I say are generalizations, and have suppliers who do these things well. Sadly, the supplier folks who hang out here are the exceptions.

I'm reading this thread, and it touched on one of my supplier gripes. It seems their phone only works one way, which is taking the order. They say something is going to take 3 weeks, somewhere along the way they find out there is a problem. Do they give the contractor a heads up? Noooo! The delivery truck breaks down. Any calls? Noooo!

If I wanted this kind of service, I could stand in line at the post office (actually I do feel sorry for those employees, I could never do that job.)

Look, if you're impacting the contractor, give them a call. I measure people not by how they do when things work right, but by when they go wrong. I'll pay the change for dealing locally, but I do expect to be informed when something looks like a problem's brewing. Now I understand if there's a screamer contractor that you don't want to call, but what about the rest of us?

It seems like this concept doesn't even occur to most suppliers, local or otherwise.

I have some sympathy for the supplier sales staff and keeping up with all the new stuff. There is a huge gap between the person who decides to carry a line and the people who I deal with. My experience is that they really don't have the training, time or focus to digest new things. They learn by the feedback of the bleeding edge contractors (you know, us.)

jerry

Problems for Hot Rod & PAH

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