Installer & Inspector Workshop

[Dan Schultz]

What a fantastic idea!

[Danny Ferguson]

Great idea Tandy. I would love to attend also, if you have room for an x-installer who does a few jobs a year /current retail business owner.

[Tandy Reeves]

You are most welcome. Your knowledge of installations as well as retail will benifit all of us. In fact this could be very educational for retailers. We will follow the same rules at the workshop as we have on this board.

BTW every one start saving samples and pictures for Show-N-Tell.

[Nick Arrera]

Tandy , Are there any decent hotels in the area that don't have frost on the walls ? If everyone posting comes , this is going to be some class ..

[Tandy Reeves]

No frost in May. This could be the best class ever. A class put on by true professionals. No sales pitches just good "I can make money with this information".

[rusty baker]

The only weather to worry about that time of year is tornados.

[Peter Kodner]

Dang, don't think we have ever had a topic take off like this one. Let's stay after it!!!!!

If we are all traveling, might I suggest we try to find the most central location possible? Is St. Louis a hub for any of the big airlines? Or KC? Maybe even Chicago, Denver or Dallas which are all hubs? I can even get to Atlanta cheaper than driving much more than 300-400 miles. We should be able to find reasonable accommodations with a free meeting room at one of these areas too.

I'm starting to put a few topic ideas together now. I'll share them ASAP.

[Roland Thompson]

Sounds great given the time I will be there.

Roland

[Danny Ferguson]

I believe a major problem in the floor covering industry starts with retailers and retail sales people. I'm sure everyone has heard the saying, "nothing gets installed till something gets sold". The problem with this is, are the right products being sold that best fits the customers situation? Most aren't, because the retailer or sales person doesn't have the knowledge to sell them what would work best for their situation. Most retail customers are sold price, and what's instock. This results in the customer making a sizeable monetary investment in a product that will not perform to their expectations. Which in turn, results in an unhappy customer, who has lost all trust in the retailer and product. The uneducated retailer then turns to the installer, who more than likely knew this product would not perform per the customers expectations, but wanted to keep working so he installed the product anyhow, and wants to know why this customer is unhappy. So not to be out any money in his pocket, the retailer calls the mill and wants the product inspected, because it's not performing like the sales rep said it would. We all know how much installation experience the reps have. To keep a good relationship with the retailer the mill sends out an inspector, who finds no problem with the product, but did find some problems with the installation and customer maintenance of the product. We see this problem happening in our area all the time, and it use to happen to us.

Our shop understands this problem, and we have been working very hard to change it. By no means are we considered experts yet. All we want to do, is to keep educating ourselves on products and installations. I feel we can walk away from this installer & inspector workshop with a great deal of new knowledge provided by all the professionals that post here, which will make us better at what we do, and set us apart from any of our competition. I'm very excitied about the workshop and actually meeting all of you that post here.

[Jon Scanlan]

Good on you guys. I would love to come but a little bit to far to come

[Chris Mha]

Count me in Tandy. I just spoke with two other inspectors about this very issue last week and I thinks that it is a great idea. Danny, you make some good points however since when is it the installers responsibility to know or not know what will perform or won't perform for the consumer. He is only there to properly install whatever he is given. Also, keep in mind, a good inspector is not going to walk in looking for installation problems. If it is not brought to his attention by the end user it should not be in the report.

[Tandy Reeves]

Peter, you can get into Tulsa as easy as any of the other cities. Granted there may not be as much to do, but we are all going to be busy in the workshop anyway. However, this is everyones workshop, and if the majority wants to meet somewhere else it is open for suggestons.

[Chris Mha]

It my not be convenient for everyone but how much more central can you get than Tulsa. I guess it would depend on who is coming and from where.

[Peter Kodner]

It was just a thought. Tandy has held classes in, and has a relationship with, a motel in Tulsa so that may well be the best location. I'm amenable to holding this anywhere, so long as we stay focussed and DO IT (kudos to Nike for that slogan ).

I would love to see us create a code of ethics we all agree to adhere AND IS SIGNED BY ALL (this may be totally unrealistic and would probably take the entire conference to accomplish- a pipe dream?????).

Most times the best ideas start small and are just so good they cannot be held down. "No taxes without representation" comes to mind It may be a small idea and a first step, but let's see if we can't make this the shot heard round the flooring world (I just love paraphrasing ).

[Jerry Thomas]

Danny, you make some good points however since when is it the installers responsibility to know or not know what will perform or won't perform for the consumer. He is only there to properly install whatever he is given.

In defense of Danny I have always considered that part of my job description. Granted, I am independent and have yet to work for a retailer (that may change) ... but still.... I should know whether a product is suitable or not.