Way to go Sapphire!

[Mikey P]

Personally I think its pretty darn cool that they hire Hank Unk to be their Mikey's Board "Liaison".


Any company that is smart enough to see the present and future value of being as visible as possible on the internet tells me that they should be around for a while..


I am amazed at how little attention so many manufacturers place on the Web.


The SS squad knows trends are started and corrected on forums like MB and I'm flattered that they take it this seriously.


Some of you have whispered to me that SS did this to my friend or SS didn't do this for my freind



All I can say to that is..


Do you know how each and every one of you home owning clients treats their family? Do they cheat on their spouses? do they buy stock in companies that may go against your moral code? Business is bizness... and unless your shit smells of Back Out, just stfu and mind your own.



and unless you're willing to sell those 57 Dri Eaz fans in your garage to prove just how strong you really feel, than KMA.


peice out and jus saying!



and if I'm wrong I'll eat my leather Vortex jacket,.

 

[cu]

Im keeping me dri eaz equipment

but my ss370 is for sale at CMS for $10,000 obo with just over 1000hrs on it
If Sapphire want to buy it back that would be cool too


Mustard or Jam
jus asking

 

[Mikey P]

What issues would the buyer be inheriting Cuburt?

 

[ACE]

Buying the rights and manufacturing the Pro 1200 was defiantly a sign of intelligence. Selling industry proven chemicals and equipment is smarter than trying to reinvent the wheel with their ultra compact impossible to wrench on slide-ins.

 

[Mikey P]

Have you wrenched on one Mike?

 

[FredC]

I haven't wrenched on a subcompact....but the wm/ss DDs are stupid simple

I can't imagine any slide in being easier to work on (maybe judson or TCS)..........relatively speaking


none are really difficult

 

[Jim Martin]

There is not a machine out there that is hard to work on once you learn how it works....if a person was to just take the time and learn the ends and outs of how there equipment is meant to run.... weather you can turn a wrench or not......you could diagnose any problem and fix it yourself.........

Taking the time and understanding a few things on the 570....I have been dealing with a few from Sapphire...some of the smartest people in this industry that I have had the opportunity to deal with....like them...don't like them.... accept things for what they are or not.....but take it for what it is....from what I see...SS will be ruling this industry before it all over with............

 

[Mikey P]

Well...
That's a hell of an endorsement coming from you Jim.

 

[Giorgio]

I never heard the name Hank Unk before...

Who is he besides the SS liason?

 

[Mikey P]

In his free time he sells propane and propane related products.

 

[hogjowl]

Once the initial new advertiser bounce wears off, we'll be able to accurately judge the company based on real performance reports.

The Vortex love affair comes to mind.

 

[Mikey P]

They've been advertising here for at least four years Merty.

 

[Charlie Lyman]

There is not a machine out there that is hard to work on once you learn how it works....if a person was to just take the time and learn the ends and outs of how there equipment is meant to run.... weather you can turn a wrench or not......you could diagnose any problem and fix it yourself.........

Taking the time and understanding a few things on the 570....I have been dealing with a few from Sapphire...some of the smartest people in this industry that I have had the opportunity to deal with....like them...don't like them.... accept things for what they are or not.....but take it for what it is....from what I see...SS will be ruling this industry before it all over with............

A little patience, some help from the people here and any mechanically declined person like myself can fix just about anything on a TM.

 

[ruff]

from what I see...SS will be ruling this industry before it all over with............

Well, they sure got deep, deep pockets since they were bought.

Personally, when I can, I'd rather support the smaller manufacturers (if they have a good product.)

Will SS rule the industry? I guess time will tell.

 

[Sapphire Savant]

Personally I think its pretty darn cool that they hire Hank Unk to be their Mikey's Board "Liaison".QUOTE]


Any company that is smart enough to see the present and future value of being as visible as possible on the internet tells me that they should be around for a while..


I am amazed at how little attention so many manufacturers place on the Web.


The SS squad knows trends are started and corrected on forums like MB and I'm flattered that they take it this seriously.


Mike, thank you for the kinds words. I can tell you the main reason why Sapphire Scientific and Dri-Eaz (both Legend Brand Companies) are on your Board: They want to belong to, and be an active part of the Cleaning and Restoration Community. Some manufacturers don't care that much for our industry and, some care even less, as long as you buy their products. But, Sapphire and Dri-Eaz do not have a "give me your money and go away" mentality. That's why, when I was approached by Bob Kline, President of SS, to work the Board for them, it didn't take long for me to say "yes", because I've always been the kind of person who cares about the industry, and the individual we serve. Thus, Sapphire's mentality and attitude, and mine, mesh perfectly.

For those "young-uns" who may not be familiar with me, I was VP of sales and marketing with Prochem throughout the 1990's decade. When I entered this Industry, I got to know many good people, with great technical skills, working very hard to build a successful and profitable cleaning business, only to be lacking in the business and marketing knowledge necessary to get beyond "owning a job" and building a business with equity. Thus, with PC's permission, I started the original "Prochem System". It was an educational sales and marketing resource program for independent owner/operators, to help them realize their business and personal goals.

I chose to leave PC in 2000, to form my marketing consulting firm. Ironically PC was my first client. During the succeeding 12 years, among other things, I kept active in this Industry by working with Steamin Demon and helping to get BLUELine gather steam in their earliest days of truckmount production. I still consult in, and outside, of our industry. I count dozens of people in this Industry as good friends, many of whom you would recognize if I mentioned their names. I do want to mention one - not to be a name dropper - but, because I consider him a dear friend and and I owe him greatly for my success: Lee Pemberton. I arrived in this industry from marketing positions in the automotive manufacturing, and industrial equipment manufacturing industries. Lee tutored me on this Industry and its cleaning processes and procedures, equipment and chemicals, etc. so that I could become effective and successful in serving this industry. I've said it before, but it can't be said enough; "Thank, you Lee!"

I'm glad that I can help Sapphire Scientific, in a small way, and elated with the fact that I get to communicate with their customers and prospective customers via Mikey's Board. Best of all, for Mikey's Board participants, I have a thick skin, therefore I can just as easily take criticism and complaints, without offense, as kudos and compliments. The only thing I ignore is negative sarcasm. It serves no purpose, in my opinion, other than, perhaps, giving some kind of satisfaction to those posting it. Thus I don't waste my and Sapphire's time to respond to those kinds of posts. Fortunately, I find most posts on the Board to be positive, and humorous, too (let's hear ir for some fun ), which makes my weekday visits to the board enjoyable, and something to which I look forward.

Kudos to you, Mikey, for a great industry information resource.

 

[hogjowl]

Oh my Gawd ... are you related to Peter Seltzer?

PS More negative sarcasm on the way ...

 

[Mikey P]

Hank

Pay no attention to our token inbred half wit.

40 years in the trade and still does it all by himself.

In other words, he is nobody's demographic.

 

[hogjowl]

No way he can ignore me forever.

I even got that Mytee guy to cuss me once.

 

[FredC]

thats not difficult at all.......

 

[Giorgio]

Just think of Marty as Blueline Equip.

He use to be somebody until he got rid of the vortex.

Now, he's just an ordinary carpet cleaner in an ocean of cleaners..

 

[Doug Cox]

He use to be somebody until he got rid of the vortex.

So thats what makes George so cool.

 

[Jimbo]

The drying equipment has been in my possession for a # of years prior to your butties ownership of Dri Eaz...

Here is an idea worth considering, Mike...

Now do you see why we dont have banners here?

I know there are still some users here that still dont quite get it.
I would hope that the recent actions on ICS have finally made it real clear as to what would happen here if I/we grew dependent on the Banner's income.

I really hope all of you see the value of what Lisa, Tony, Jim, meAt, Richard, Bob, Dirk and myself have created here for you. I really hate to have to bribe people with extra rooms to try and get them to help out here financially. I wish they would see the whole picture and believe the whole board is worth the five bucks...


As Connections draws near and our need for even a bigger and better truly dedicated server, your financial supports is needed.

When I look at the top posters here, I cant but help get a little erked that some still don't see the true "Value" here..




Re: My Agenda...

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Like most people, Mikey's agenda changes over time.

Originally, there was no defined agenda, just a place for Mikey to post since he had been banned most everywhere else.

Then as MB grew, I believe that the primary agenda was to have a place where free speech was paramount. As regular Carpet Cleaners it was clear that there needed to be a place where BOTH the positives and the negatives of any equipment, product, method or accessory could be freely discussed. But info alone is pretty cold and boring, MB brought loads of warm and fuzzy entertainment too.


When banners appeared here, some feared that the free speech would be compromised but their fears did not materialize, imo.

The sole purpose of a manufacturer owned board is to promote it's own products and to suppress info about competing products. ie, Recoil board, Encapboard and Padderland. This is going to be T M F's greatest single obstacle to long term growth if they remain a supplier.

The sole purpose of ICS and Cleanfax boards are to make money through advertising and to promote their own brand/magazine and supporting advertisers. Look at where they are now.

Yes these Forums are free for us to use but NOT "free" in the information given out - it is controlled, DUH.
Have you EVER read an article in any trade magazine that is in any way critical of ANY chemical, truck mount, school or portable. Can you blame them?

Free info is anything but credible and if it is not trustworthy info what is it really worth?
Do you believe every word of every product brochure you read?
Do you ever buy anything without getting a second opinion or doing a bit of research?

Mikeys agenda is education pure and simple.​

http://www.leatherwright.com/


Hope you have a great 'cabin' weekend!

Don't forget to have Huevos Rancheros at Peg's Glorified Ham n Eggs in Reno on the way home!

​

​

 

[Ken Snow]

"Some manufacturers don't care that much for our industry and, some care even less, as long as you buy their products. But, Sapphire and Dri-Eaz do not have a "give me your money and go away" mentality. That's why, when I was approached by Bob Kline, President of SS, to work the Board for them, it didn't take long for me to say "yes", because I've always been the kind of person who cares about the industry, and the individual we serve. Thus, Sapphire's mentality and attitude, and mine, mesh perfectly."


Hank, I don't believe we have ever met so I will assume that you are an honorable man. I especially liked your acknowledgement of Lee Pemberton, whom along with his son Jim I feel are 2 of the most honorable people I have ever met in my life in any industry.

I was troubled to read the above purple bolded comments and wondered what you base those comments on and why you felt a need to post them. I have not ever felt this way about any of the vendors I know in the industry and in fact think quite the opposite and I am a customer, not a competitor.

Would you elaborate on those comments?

Ken

 

[ruff]

I second Ken.
Beside SS being flavor of the month, any proof Hank?

Impressions here from old Bill's board personality, may point another way.

 

[Ron K]

Ken I don't think you can honestly question that comment. I don't believe "You" are the "normal average customer". When is the last time you bought a quart of spotter or a gallon of TLC or for that matter just one Truck Mount every 5-10 years.

 

[Ken Snow]

Ron- while I agree that our size will have an impact on how we may be treated (mostly on price) I do think I can answer and did honestly from my perspective. I also meet vendors that have no idea about our size at events as I don't where that on my sleeve and am really not well known by name. That said I am not sure how your point relates to my question to Hank, who I can't imagine would have any idea what competitors think- I know I don't know what my competitors think. I meant it as no disrespect to him cause I don't know him, but I wanted to call him out on what I have never experienced or heard from others.

 

[ruff]

Ken I don't think you can honestly question that comment. I don't believe "You" are the "normal average customer". When is the last time you bought a quart of spotter or a gallon of TLC or for that matter just one Truck Mount every 5-10 years.

Sure one can.
I don't ever remember Larry Cobb, Scott Worrington and or others trying to build their company's credibility by putting others down. As a marketing/sales guy, he should know that and know better.
A statement like his, coming from a sales rep about his company, smells fishy and leaves a bad after taste.

If you have wonderful things to tell about Sapphire, or give examples that support his assertion about his competitors, tell us Ron.

Otherwise, it is just another sales person trying to gain an edge by putting his competitors down.

Or is it the fox calling the hen "chicken?"

 

[FredC]

maybe I missed something but you guys seem to be on a bit of a witch-hunt.......

who did he put down?

You think every manufacturer in the industry has customer satisfaction as a top priority? There aren't any you can think of that through their products, actions, or disconnect with the people actually cleaning carpets fit Hank's statement?

If the statements were made about "some carpet cleaning companies" by a carpet cleaner would your reaction be the same?

I also agree with Ron K about Ken not being the average customer.......and I don't think his response about meeting vendors at events really changes anything. How would you expect a vendor to act at an event? Beyond that if they are at events they may not be who Hank is talking about........

Maybe those questioning should tell us who they think Hank is talking about cause it seems they have someone in mind

 

[ruff]

Sure Fred!
"Some manufacturers don't care that much for our industry and, some care even less, as long as you buy their products. But, Sapphire and Dri-Eaz do not have a "give me your money and go away" mentality.

True.
That was not a company specific put down, just a generic one. Which happens to put SS on a semi godly (Mother Theresa comes to mind) pedestal and bundle the competition to non caring advantage takers.

I did not perceive Ken's post to be about his experience. To me he was pointing at a sales technique. definitely in the class lacking department.
Some put down the competition to build themselves up.
Some just say great things about themselves.

Hank seems to favor both.

 

[Ron K]

Whatever!





















Sapphire Makes a great Upholstery Tool.......WOOOO WHOOO!