Posted by ward shaw on January 26, 1998 at 13:40:27:
In Reply to: Plumbing warranties in proposals posted by Mark Davis on January 26, 1998 at 12:41:36:
: I need some examples of plumbing warranties some of you may be incorporating into your proposals. I do primarily new home construction, some commercial, and some remodeling plumbing. I need to start incorporating some type of warranty into my proposals. Can any of you give me some examples of what you use. If you need additional info, please e-mail me at MSDPH@aol.com
: Thank you. I live and have my own plumbing business in Northern VA.
: Mark Davis
: Mark- I have my own plumbing business in the Chicago suburbs, and have NEVER incorporated a warranty statement in my proposals; it has been my policy to stand behind any materials and workmanship we are responsible for, and maintaining this policy has been built around two simple concepts:
1] knowing your materials. Dont just furnish and install products on their name recognition. I refuse to furnish or install Kohler products for my customers, and it is based on years of what I consider to be the worst examples of domestically produced product that our trade has had forced upon us. Moen 2-handle faucets, like the Monticello line, have been nothing but problems, while their single handle faucets (with the exception of the Euro style w/ pull-out spray in spout!) are still excellent. HydroMatic pumps, a mainstay in our trade, have been so prematurely failure prone that we're lucky to get 2 years life from them. BE HARD ON YOUR WHOLESALERS AND WRITE TO MANUFACTURERS WITH YOUR COMMENTS. DEMAND MORE FROM THEM, AND THEY WILL RESPOND. If I could pick one company that has been the most responsive to our trade, it would be Masco, the parent company of Delta faucet. That has been the most amazing turn-around product in our industry.
2] expect a higher level of professionalism from your employees (and yourself) than what your customer expects. Don't forget, we are professionals who have undergone extensive training to become who we are. Dirty nails and all, we deserve the same respect that we give our customers.
My stationary has the following quote at the bottom:
"the society that scorns excellence in plumbing because it is a humble activity, yet accepts shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity, will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy, and as a result neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water."
John Gardner
Good luck. Remember--any warranty is only as good as the plumber who honors it.