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Breaking relationships with a manufacturer.... Jake 09-03-2006
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Posted by Jake on September 3, 2006, 4:37 pm
I'm using the long weekend to make a tough decision.

Although I'll not mention names (the regulars probably know), a
well-respected and long time automation company is about to lose our
business, I think.

Here's the run down:

In the last 5 years or so, the company has not embraced new technology
to any significant degree.

They continue to lose market share in their only dominant market (North
America).

Their support (a key in technology implementation) has been going down
hill. They've taken their on-line resources down, moved the tech groups
out of country, and begun charging exorbitant rates for 'premium'
support services you used to get for free.

Quality is still great... but it's old, proprietary technology. Prices
are at least 30-50% higher than most competitors.

I know you all have different relationships with your
manufacturers/vendors, but I was curious how some of you felt when faced
with a decision like this? If you switched, why? What was the issue that
"broke the camel's back"? Were you happy after you made a switch?

There are not many players left in manufacturing any more... in my
business or yours. I feel a great loyalty to this one... who we've
worked with for a very long time. At some point though, it gets very
difficult to be loyal when they've placed so many obstacles in the way
of me being successful in my own business.

Any comments would be helpful...

Jake

PexSupply Save 50 468x60
Posted by Joseph on September 3, 2006, 6:31 pm

> I'm using the long weekend to make a tough decision.
>
> Although I'll not mention names (the regulars probably know), a
> well-respected and long time automation company is about to lose our
> business, I think.
>
> Here's the run down:
>
> In the last 5 years or so, the company has not embraced new technology
> to any significant degree.
>
> They continue to lose market share in their only dominant market (North
> America).
>
> Their support (a key in technology implementation) has been going down
> hill. They've taken their on-line resources down, moved the tech groups
> out of country, and begun charging exorbitant rates for 'premium'
> support services you used to get for free.
>
> Quality is still great... but it's old, proprietary technology. Prices
> are at least 30-50% higher than most competitors.
>
> I know you all have different relationships with your
> manufacturers/vendors, but I was curious how some of you felt when faced
> with a decision like this? If you switched, why? What was the issue that
> "broke the camel's back"? Were you happy after you made a switch?
>
> There are not many players left in manufacturing any more... in my
> business or yours. I feel a great loyalty to this one... who we've
> worked with for a very long time. At some point though, it gets very
> difficult to be loyal when they've placed so many obstacles in the way
> of me being successful in my own business.
>
> Any comments would be helpful...
>
> Jake

You have to do what is best for your business and customers. Loyalty is a
factor but let it blind you. Change can be good or bad. I have left vendors for
support reasons before only to come crawling back to them. I have also left for
quality of product and was surprised to find the other guys stuff was better and
cost
less. My advise is to do what you think is the best for your situation but
don't be
afraid to go back if you are wrong...

Joseph





Posted by Noon-Air on September 3, 2006, 8:01 pm

> I'm using the long weekend to make a tough decision.
>
> Although I'll not mention names (the regulars probably know), a
> well-respected and long time automation company is about to lose our
> business, I think.
>
> Here's the run down:
>
> In the last 5 years or so, the company has not embraced new technology to
> any significant degree.
>
> They continue to lose market share in their only dominant market (North
> America).
>
> Their support (a key in technology implementation) has been going down
> hill. They've taken their on-line resources down, moved the tech groups
> out of country, and begun charging exorbitant rates for 'premium' support
> services you used to get for free.
>
> Quality is still great... but it's old, proprietary technology. Prices are
> at least 30-50% higher than most competitors.
>
> I know you all have different relationships with your
> manufacturers/vendors, but I was curious how some of you felt when faced
> with a decision like this? If you switched, why? What was the issue that
> "broke the camel's back"? Were you happy after you made a switch?
>
> There are not many players left in manufacturing any more... in my
> business or yours. I feel a great loyalty to this one... who we've worked
> with for a very long time. At some point though, it gets very difficult to
> be loyal when they've placed so many obstacles in the way of me being
> successful in my own business.
>
> Any comments would be helpful...
>
> Jake

I feel your pain, I ran into a situation with my main supplier where the
store that I had been dealing with for the last 10 years had become a
dumping ground for folks that couldn't make it anywhere else. None of the
folks there have a clue, and most of them can't count higher than 6 without
taking off their shoes.
Fortunately, I was able to aquire the service I had lost by going to another
branch of the same company that had top notch folks with top notch service
and support.

--

Steve @ Noon-Air Heating & A/C
Noon-Air@comcast.net

Life is what happens while you were making other plans



Posted by Bubba on September 3, 2006, 9:35 pm
wrote:

>I'm using the long weekend to make a tough decision.
>
>Although I'll not mention names (the regulars probably know), a
>well-respected and long time automation company is about to lose our
>business, I think.
>
>Here's the run down:
>
>In the last 5 years or so, the company has not embraced new technology
>to any significant degree.
>
>They continue to lose market share in their only dominant market (North
>America).
>
>Their support (a key in technology implementation) has been going down
>hill. They've taken their on-line resources down, moved the tech groups
>out of country, and begun charging exorbitant rates for 'premium'
>support services you used to get for free.
>
>Quality is still great... but it's old, proprietary technology. Prices
>are at least 30-50% higher than most competitors.
>
>I know you all have different relationships with your
>manufacturers/vendors, but I was curious how some of you felt when faced
>with a decision like this? If you switched, why? What was the issue that
>"broke the camel's back"? Were you happy after you made a switch?
>
>There are not many players left in manufacturing any more... in my
>business or yours. I feel a great loyalty to this one... who we've
>worked with for a very long time. At some point though, it gets very
>difficult to be loyal when they've placed so many obstacles in the way
>of me being successful in my own business.
>
>Any comments would be helpful...
>
>Jake

Jake,
There's not a whole lot of anything out there anymore thats "the same
as it used to be". Quality has gone downhill and pricing and quantity
has taken over. Loyalty is a thing of the past. Its all about money
now. Sticking to loyalty without taking care of the bottom line is
sure suicide. Take care of yourself and your family first. Pick the
ones you want after that. Keep on top of your business or it and its
technology will surely mow you over.
Good Luck and have a great weekend.
Bubba

Posted by Stormin Mormon on September 4, 2006, 9:02 am
Dear Jake,
I've broke ties with suppliers in the past. And also sadly had to
resign from jobs. It's never a happy situation. The world is changing
so rapidly, that you can't harly tell who is doing what any more.
I hear some reluctance, which suggests that you're old school, and
value loyaly. But today as always, your first loyalty needs to be
your business, family, etc.
Sounds like time to try some other suppilers of equipment,
quietly, on a couple jobs. See if the other equipment works as well or
better. You stayed firm, they are the ones who moved. with the various
obstacles, poor service, and taking down tech support.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
.

I'm using the long weekend to make a tough decision.

Although I'll not mention names (the regulars probably know), a
well-respected and long time automation company is about to lose our
business, I think.

Here's the run down:

In the last 5 years or so, the company has not embraced new technology
to any significant degree.

They continue to lose market share in their only dominant market
(North
America).

Their support (a key in technology implementation) has been going down
hill. They've taken their on-line resources down, moved the tech
groups
out of country, and begun charging exorbitant rates for 'premium'
support services you used to get for free.

Quality is still great... but it's old, proprietary technology. Prices
are at least 30-50% higher than most competitors.

I know you all have different relationships with your
manufacturers/vendors, but I was curious how some of you felt when
faced
with a decision like this? If you switched, why? What was the issue
that
"broke the camel's back"? Were you happy after you made a switch?

There are not many players left in manufacturing any more... in my
business or yours. I feel a great loyalty to this one... who we've
worked with for a very long time. At some point though, it gets very
difficult to be loyal when they've placed so many obstacles in the way
of me being successful in my own business.

Any comments would be helpful...

Jake



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