Clack Dumps Internet Dealers

[Andy CWS]

Gary, sent you a PM. Very interesting post above.

[Gary Slusser]

Andy, thanks for the PM and for contacting Clack about this. Please post what you have communicated to Clack concerning this subject and then their reply that you received. It would be very helpful to others reading this thread.

Here is a copy of an email that reversed Clack's previous position of not allowing internet dealers to service existing customers with parts after the June 15th 2010 cut off of internet sales. Sales of parts will now be allowed.

*********************
To People Who Sell Over The Internet,

Going forward and after the June 15th deadline for all Internet Seller?s to be in compliance with the attached March 26th and April 26th attachments, Clack will allow Internet Seller?s to supply replacement parts for Clack Valves to homeowners who has purchased the system from them. The Internet Seller is not to supply replacement parts to anyone other than their customer. Also in this situation the OEM supplying the part(s) to the Internet Seller can drop ship directly to the homeowner so that the homeowner is taken care of promptly.

We want to make sure the end user is taken care of properly with our product. Also with a 10 year history on the Clack Control Valves the number of replacement parts being sold is very minimal. Therefore these occurrences for requests for replacement parts from a homeowner that bought a system over the Internet should be minimal.

If there are any further questions or need for clarification please contact us.

Thank you


*****************************

[Andy CWS]

I have read that memo elsewhere.

You're welcome, Gary, but the correspondence between others and myself is confidential unless invited to go ahead and publish it. It would be improper to post the missives of others without their acknowledgement, let alone without their permission.

Nonetheless, I'm sure you are handling it to the best of your ability and the end results could just well be the fruition of your efforts.

I know that others do sell similar equipment over the www but try to remain under the radar--not exploded like Mt. St. Helens. Sometimes the soft sell works better. I have sold these valves through proper channels and get full support from the manufacturer primarily by following their rules.

Andy Christensen, CWS-II

[NH Master]

You might be able to rent a storage shed and use the address but you will still be stuck with packaging and shipping the product from site which will cut into profits quite a bit. You can always go back to peddling Fleck.

[Gary Slusser]

You might be able to rent a storage shed and use the address but you will still be stuck with packaging and shipping the product from site which will cut into profits quite a bit. You can always go back to peddling Fleck.

I sure can rent a shed or three or a gas station etc.. I've got all that other stuff figured out already with one exception, that is IF I want to do it.

[Andy CWS]

Yeah that's what I thought; unsubstantiated claims.

Not sure what you mean by this.

Andy Christensen, CWS-II

[NH Master]

I sure can rent a shed or three or a gas station etc.. I've got all that other stuff figured out already with one exception, that is IF I want to do it.

That is kind of a big if because it pretty much means going back into business again which I assume, that since you spend a lot of time touring the country, you probably don't want to have to do and I don't blame you there. I do honestly hope that Clack will decide to allow select dealers to continue. As I have said before, though we hardly ever agree on things, there is a lot of evidence that you have treated your customers fairly and it's not you or your customers giving Clack problems. Best of luck. I have mailed Clack in opposition to their decision.

[Gary Slusser]

That is kind of a big if because it pretty much means going back into business again which I assume, that since you spend a lot of time touring the country, you probably don't want to have to do and I don't blame you there. I do honestly hope that Clack will decide to allow select dealers to continue. As I have said before, though we hardly ever agree on things, there is a lot of evidence that you have treated your customers fairly and it's not you or your customers giving Clack problems. Best of luck. I have mailed Clack in opposition to their decision.

Now that I've figered out how to sell Gary's Best softener 'locally', well, I might as well rent the winter/summer sheds just for the fun of it. And to poke back some at corporate ignorance and whinny local dealers too.

No Clack won't back off this decision this time until they lose enough valve business and that will probably take a year or two.

[somedumbname]

Clack is doing what is best for Clack and it's internal numbers undoubtedly prove that to them or they wouldn't have made this decision.

This is not the first time parasites, leeches, and whores drove a company to clean up its distribution and it won't be the last.

When your close is I'm smart and EVERYONE else is stupid...

When you bully and demean and insult and lie...

When you tell the manufacturer "I can do whatever I want to with "The Valve" once I have bought it"...

When you $hit where you eat... your food will taste like it.

Now, if Fleck would cut Gary off that would be justice.

[NH Master]

I may have had my issues with Gary, but issues aside I have no doubt that he does a very good job of servicing his customers. A quick Google check of either his name or his company pretty much affirms that

[somedumbname]

I may have had my issues with Gary, but issues aside I have no doubt that he does a very good job of servicing his customers. A quick Google check of either his name or his company pretty much affirms that

Your no doubt is based on your assumption from a Google search while there are those, and I am among them, who were customers of Gary's and have real experience, good and bad, not unsubstantiated assumption based on a Google search.

The content of my post is 100% accurate word by word.

There is a lot more to the Clack story and a lot more to Gary than you know.

[NH Master]

well, maybe so. I don't know and to be honest, don't really care. It appears that Clack is going to follow through with their policy and that will most likely be the end of it. I have never had a problem with anyone selling anything on the internet. Hell, there's not much out there that is not available. It has always boiled down to " buyer beware" and that's true whether you buy online or not. Myself, I have no desire to deal with online sales. We are plenty busy without the hassle of trying to do long distance troubleshooting or warranty issues. I do however have a problem with anyone diy'ing without getting the proper permits and making sure that the piping, both supply and drainage meets local and state codes. I have seen too many horror shows over the years. The opportunity to create a dangerous back flow situation is always present when you don't understand what you are doing.

[Driller1]

Your no doubt is based on your assumption from a Google search.

There are those, and I am among them, who were customers of Gary's and have real experience... not unsubstantiated assumption based on a Google search.

The content of my post is 100% accurate word by word.

There is a lot more to this Clack story and a lot more to Gary than you know.

You have my attention....

[somedumbname]

I do however have a problem with anyone diy'ing without getting the proper permits and making sure that the piping, both supply and drainage meets local and state codes. I have seen too many horror shows over the years. The opportunity to create a dangerous back flow situation is always present when you don't understand what you are doing.

Then you have a problem with one internet seller who encourages DIYers to blow off permits and inspections railing that anyone can solder even old ladies in their 90s. That seller doesn't instruct ignorant DIYers what an air gap is, how to fabricate one, that an air gap is code required and why. Did that come up when you Googled Gary or his company?

[NH Master]

Unfortunately, because you are a junior member I can not PM you, nor you me. I suspect there is more here than meets the eye. I note that you have also posted on another forum, looking for advice on water softening equipment. Gary, is Gary. baiting him into an argument is a pretty easy thing to do but in deference to the forum owner and the moderators I don't think that the forums are the place to address your issues. And yes, I have spent many a wasted hour trying to get my opinions concerning illegal plumbing, plumbing done by incompetent individuals and the general amount of mis-information and just plain stupidity that is all too present on most DIY forums across. But, its spitting into the wind. This problem has been ongoing for over a hundred years. Plumbers were railing against the sale of plumbing materials to unlicensed individuals as early as 1867. We couldn't stop it then and we won't stop it now. As long as there are DIY forums, the internet, Home Depot and Lowes and god knows how many other outlets. As fro Gary though, It's best to let it be. He probably will not be able to sell Clack equipment and maybe Fleck will follow suit, but there will always be a way around and I'm pretty sure that he will find some product to his liking to sell.