Bonzer Rip-off

[Cleanworks]

Look, I'm not sure what Erik's deal was with Cintas but it probably made sense to him at the time. It gave Cintas a nice usp which they didn't really use to their advantage as well as they could have. That's the nature of being in business. We know that eventually someones good ideas will be copied and other people will make money on someone elses blood, sweat and tears. We don't have to like it and while we can, we can try to put the bullies in their place. Eventually, they will probably win out but at least we can have our say. That's what this board is partially about. We can bitch and complain and sometimes, maybe we can make a small difference.

 

[Cleanworks]

What about your Government Controlled Beer Stores eh?

Not sure where you were going with that thought Bob, but we have private beer stores here that compete directly with Government stores. Bob & Doug did like their beer though.

 

[Mikey P]

Where was this outrage when RV and Mytee rip Keith Studebaker off?

I think myself and maybe one other dude spoke up.

 

[Cleanworks]

Never heard of it, otherwise I might feel the same way.

 

[hogjowl]

The car of the same name sucked so nobody cared.

 

[Mikey P]

You never heard of the SS Upholstery Pro?


Btw the TRex are total rip offs of the RV360s.


And to mess with your morals even more, Mytee will be unveiling their Zipper rip off in January.

Do you have any idea how many Bonzer Bashers own a Mytee Dry?

 

[Desk Jockey]

I've been bitching about that POS upholstery tool since it sprayed me in the face at MF Aptos.

It looks like it but damn if they didn't fook it up.

 

[Cleanworks]

So the moral of the story is, if you have a good idea, don't waste time and money on patents, copyrights or trademarks. Raise enough capital to market your product successfully so that you can get all the money you want or need quickly, because, you know someone is breathing down your neck, just panting at the idea of ripping you off. That's just the American Way.

 

[Mikey P]

The car of the same name sucked so nobody cared.

Keith is one of the best humans in this industry.

It was a bit shocking to see someone from his church screw him over. Especially THAT church.

 

[Bob Pruitt]

Don't like Canadians trashing American Business. I was being nice withe the video... Sort of showing you what you were doing. I know it's not really about Canadians. Anymore than All American business is only about the dollar. You want to bash American business you have to come down here and vote democrat. You won't need an id. We are still pals and agree on supporting our friends.

 

[Cleanworks]

Don't like Canadians trashing American Business. I was being nice withe the video... Sort of showing you what you were doing. I know it's not really about Canadians. Anymore than All American business is only about the dollar. You want to bash American business you have to come down here and vote democrat. You won't need an id. We are still pals and agree on supporting our friends.

When I say American, it's just an expression. Canadian businessmen have the same attitude, I'm sure.

 

[Old Coastie]

My first consideration when purchasing a tool is do I need it to make money. Second is it the best tool available. I make my decision there. If I can buy it while still supporting the people I like, all the better.

You like somebody?




dang...

 

[hogjowl]

It's a weakness I successfully hide.

By picking on those I like.

 

[Old Coastie]

So your nose is your beloved, yeah?

 

[dgardner]

By picking on those I like.

You must like everyone!

 

[dealtimeman]

The whole problem with ROTOVAk is that they copied the sapphire upholstery tool albeit with the pee on yourself feature, no charge, and they got away with it.

Now they want to see what else they can rip off and get away with it.

Just a foolish choice for a company that had it going good with their rotaries.

And now I hear rumors of some guys partnering up to send both of their units to China and clone some of their stuff.

So I guess what goes around comes around.

 

[hogjowl]

You must like everyone!

Even you.
You ignorant bastard.

 

[Mark Saiger]

It's a weakness I successfully hide.

By picking on those I like.

 

[Old Coastie]

So from now on I'm pairing Sally's bosom with your voice on the videos.

Back to therapy, I guess..

 

[Steve Lawrence]

My next Zipper will be the SS model. No knockoffs for me, either. Love Zipper quality.

 

[SamIam]

Where was this outrage when RV and Mytee rip Keith Studebaker off?

I think myself and maybe one other dude spoke up.

Studebaker wasn't happy, but were any of these designs copy right protected?

 

[SamIam]

Also like Erik and many here, these tools aren't even close when it comes to build quality.

Anybody spending money on the knock off is probably to cheap to ever buy the real deal.

The real problem is if they associate the real zipper performance with the knock off. Judging Eriks work based on what appears to be more like a toy.

Like what do you think about the zipper? I tried a bonzer and didn't like it.

Even though there's a lot of Zipper love not everyone who try's it buys it.

Rotovac is taking a risk going after this market, I'm sure they understand it's a double edged sword.

 

[SamIam]

I'll get to try a Bonzer in Vegas maybe it's not a toy. But the zipper has $200 off at the show boys.

 

[Ed Valentine]

the whole patent process is designed solely to enrich lawyers and create tax revenue.


VERY VERY TRUE!

 

[rhino1]

Wasn't there a time when only Cintas could buy a Zipper?

I could be wrong but am I remembering that correctly?

 

[mwall2230]

Where was this outrage when RV and Mytee rip Keith Studebaker off?

I think myself and maybe one other dude spoke up.

Mike I remember when you spoke up against RV about Keith's upholstery tool but I dont remember you doing the same for Erik. I may be wrong but I dont remember reading anything.

 

[FredC]

Wasn't there a time when only Cintas could buy a Zipper?

I could be wrong but am I remembering that correctly?

Yes.

 

[rhino1]

Yes.

OK, so the little guy (us carpet cleaners) got kicked to the curb in favor of Erik getting in bed with a big guy (Cintas) who marketed their exclusive new tool, and used it against the little guy. Now, no longer in a deal with Cintas, we- the little guy- are the market for the Zipper, but there is suddenly another option or two, at a lower cost, that maybe wouldn't have existed if Erik had sold everyone Zippers initially and cornered the market instead of selling out to Cintas.

Isn't it ironic?

 

[Doug Rice]

Keith is one of the best humans in this industry.

It was a bit shocking to see someone from his church screw him over. Especially THAT church.

What did Kieth originally build that was copied? I need to be updated but I do own some Airpath dryers and they are the best.

 

[FredC]

OK, so the little guy (us carpet cleaners) got kicked to the curb in favor of Erik getting in bed with a big guy (Cintas) who marketed their exclusive new tool, and used it against the little guy. Now, no longer in a deal with Cintas, we- the little guy- are the market for the Zipper, but there is suddenly another option or two, at a lower cost, that maybe wouldn't have existed if Erik had sold everyone Zippers initially and cornered the market instead of selling out to Cintas.

Isn't it ironic?

well that is my opinion....at least as far as all the david/goliath/little guy bs being thrown around.....just not a bandwagon I can get on



but its also possible that it was a necessary move to insure the survival of the zipper....cause iirc it was selling well to owner ops.....but that could be because of the way he chose to distribute like @John Olson said

Saiger had yet to convince everyone it had potential as a residential tool






I would buy a zipper over a bonzer if I needed one right now..............but I can't go around acting like the bonzer is a pos (its not) or that Erik is David..........sorry to the folks who think I should


Edit: It would be interesting if we could observe and compare an alternate timeline where the zipper got knocked off by RV during the time a BDCC couldn't buy a zipper.......

wonder if RV would be the one looking out for the little g