So as not to be thought of as a "one-post" wonder, I thought I would come back with what I hope will be a wrap-up post. Let me offer a thank you to everyone who offered a thoughtful comment here, and even to those whose posts seemed only to be an opportunity to punish a new arrival who had the nerve to take issue with comments posted here by some of this board's most sacred cows - oops, I mean icons. I am also pleased that some of the people who had actual positive experiences in dealing with both me and my Package showed up to try and hold back the tsunami of negativity that washed ashore here. I think that Mike M. is a first class example of what a board administrator should be. He tried to remain a neutral force as the heated action swirled about him.
I did feel that there was some piling on. Seven posts from c spot stop? Are things really that slow? Wouldn't all that time be better spent tweaking your marketing plan than just hurling invective on a subject on which you have ZERO first hand knowledge? And ChemBright /J. Gillespie. Six posts. I see (saw) the term Global Moderator next to your name. Isn't a Moderator by definition the person at a public forum whose job is to instruct the combatants to not hit below the belt; to keep it civil, and to refrain most of all from indulging in personal attacks? You seemed to have redefined the role as to lead the mudslinging. If ever the Olympics adds "jumping to conclusions" as an Olympic event, I'm willing to bet that some of the naysayers here win the Gold, or at least the Silver.
My original critics here seemed to have zeroed in on certain of what they consider weaknesses in what I provided them both in terms of tools and professional direction. My stair/upholstery tool, and what was sent them 5 years ago as a spotter. I will defend the tool, but not the spotter. Fair enough on the spotter.
Mean-spirited criticism that I have replaced it with the wonderful Vacaway Sample Pak.
With regard to the cheap-ass car buffer: my inspiration for this was the Gary Heacock rotary approach to cleaning carpeted stairs and upholstered furniture. If you don't know who Gary Heacock is, then you don't know much about this industry. He is a true icon of this industry, who is retired now and living in Portland Oregon. I will give you some web pages to take a look at:
1.
http://www.heacocks.com/University/EncapStairs.htm2.
http://www.heacocks.com/University/SpeedyCleaning.htm and
3.
http://www.heacocks.com/University/OfficeChairs.htmIt seems that both Gary and I recognize that it's not important that you have the biggest tool in town.
What's important, in both carpet cleaning as well as in, shall we say, the romantic arts, is that you know how to USE the tool you bring to whatever is the task at hand. Size may matter, but skill matters more.
The only real difference between my method and his is that mine uses an orbital motion, and his uses rotary motion. Choose whichever you like. I doubt if either you or a customer could tell the difference in the results. There is also a video of him doing an upholstery job using this method. I have hunted around for it, but couldn't find it. I mentioned in my original post that I also use a Cleanfix Floormac for stairs. It is very similar to the Oreck Orbiter XXL, but not as good. The Oreck has a capacitor start. The Floormac does not, and therefore it takes a little lifting to enable it to get up to full operating speed. Then it's fine. Also, the Oreck has the on/off switch up on the handle, where it is easy to use. On the Floormac, it is way down on the floor level, requiring toe action, or leaning way down.
I thought as a kind of peace offering, I would offer anyone on this board either my cheap ass tool, set up with the same velcro as is on the Challenger's pad driver, for, say, $65. The labor and technique I have learned over time to keep the velcro from coming off make it worth the difference between the $25 I pay for the tool in the store, and the price I'll sell it at. I will even ship it at my expense. On the other hand, if anyone would like an Oreck Orbiter XXL at rock-bottom wholesale price, for the past year or so I have been offering it as a kind of "sweetener" to my Package by selling it at the price I have been able to get from Oreck - $300 - plus about $35 in shipping costs.
My email address is
markd@cybercom.net if anyone wants to take me up on this offer.
Re. my embattled Training Manual, who some here love to denigrate (whether they have actually seen it or not): I am going to send one to Mike Martell, and let him read and comment on it as he sees fit. I hope that is seen as fair.
