Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: P @ F on February 08, 2020, 09:31:49 pm
-
Well what can I say , I am not normally one to complain but from what I have just seen I do feel that Liberty is being taken here !
Part quality seems to have been reduced to be a cash cow for the long hall , maybe I have had the unlucky component or maybe it’s just the way of the world today !
Either way I’m on a loser as the spring outlasted the short warranty and I have just voided it anyway by looking inside ;D
Low and behold the springs are not on the site as a spare , unlike the o rings that were and then mysteriously vanished too !
My guess is that the stainless springs are not as stainless as they used to be
Black cap is THE original Univalve from launch and I think and red cap is one of the latest models , it’s even thinner gauge metal to rot quicker >:( >:( >:(
Rant over !
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1581197494_4295BD30-8C75-497B-ADCA-CCA71A330C16.jpeg)
-
Mate, they’re only £30.
-
Mate, they’re only £30.
Not the point is it !
Why supply a product you know will fail , they didnt start like that did they , you just keep buying them then ;D
-
Mate, they’re only £30.
45 pound delivered got one other week ..... few pounds on the postage as well
-
Are you able to separate the components to replace the spring Rich? I've never gone that far. All I've done is lubricated the o ring and put that tiny sealing o ring on the plunger back in place.
-
I noticed that on my univalve and thought the same thing. They have done it so they break. Maybe someone can find a stainless replacement.
-
Mate, they’re only £30.
Not the point is it !
Why supply a product you know will fail , they didnt start like that did they , you just keep buying them then ;D
Guess they’re in it for the money. And why not?
Think mine were cheaper, got them from soap national, maybe 3 years ago.
Still going strong.
-
That’s because those 3 will have a quality spring in them , don’t forget to keep those springs it the o rings ever go !
-
Are you able to separate the components to replace the spring Rich? I've never gone that far. All I've done is lubricated the o ring and put that tiny sealing o ring on the plunger back in place.
I believe they do , will have a look around for a similar spring today
I could always send it back for the repair service but at £15 plus postage both ways I just as well buy a new one , oh hold on , that’s the plan isn’t it Steve ;D
-
How long have you had it?
-
Over the 6 months of warranty period I know that much !
My only issue is not being able to get spares for them and being forced into buying a new one because they have cheapened production parts !
-
They could easily make it from a better quality material but then you wouldn’t need to buy another for ages would you.
-
I'm still using my original one from 3 years ago......in fact I think its older than that......the thing is they last forever with a bit of silicon grease every now and then.......
They need to break sometime or they'll disappear forever as steve will go out of business and stop producing them......
-
That explains why 4 of the newer models have all broken whilst the original is still going strong.
-
That explains why 4 of the newer models have all broken whilst the original is still going strong.
I'll be keeping the springs and o rings out of these 2 I've had since launch then!
How long did u have them before they broke mate?
-
There was drama with springs on the Aquadaptor. Steve had 2 spare part springs on the go at one time. The stainless steel springs were brittle and broke sooner than their perceived life expectation and the galvanised steel ones did the same.
We still have an Aquadaptor on one of the poles and that spring has been in there for years. I think it a stainless steel spring as the galvanised ones show outer corrosion.
-
I bet the left is stainless and the right is galvanised then , it is really pitted and rusty
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1581251853_804B5306-C5B6-4DD1-B7AC-7E9D8C432722.jpeg)
-
That explains why 4 of the newer models have all broken whilst the original is still going strong.
I'll be keeping the springs and o rings out of these 2 I've had since launch then!
How long did u have them before they broke mate?
Definitely keep hold of those Daz !
-
This is precisely why I won’t have them , I had one when they first came out it lasted 8 months and broke , I have three vans with 8 poles on each van the cost is not worth it from my point of view , far easier to pinch the hose , yes we do waist a bit of water when extending the pole but if we waist a gallon per day per van that’s about it
-
This is precisely why I won’t have them , I had one when they first came out it lasted 8 months and broke , I have three vans with 8 poles on each van the cost is not worth it from my point of view , far easier to pinch the hose , yes we do waist a bit of water when extending the pole but if we waist a gallon per day per van that’s about it
pinching the hose is not easy, a complete farse in fact..
-
I have 4 univales, 1 on each of my poles
Only one is playing up, ive had them all at least a year.
Seem to be lasting quite well
-
I dont see what all the fussing is about. It's £30..... And generally lasts atleast 6-12 months. Plus it's an amazing bit of kit.
Think of it this way. If every single Univalve lasted 3+ years then Steve @ Exceed would literally go out of business eventually because he wouldn't be getting enough repeat orders to warrant keeping that part of his business going.
To me this is just the same as complaining if a Gardiners brush only lasts you 6 months instead of 18+ months. If it takes alot of use and only costs £30 and is a big help to your business i dont see why you are being so cheap.
Even if i had to change the Univalves every 6 months on all our poles i would still replace them it works out to £5 per month. Thats nothing really.
-
I use to use them crappy taps. The teeth on those only lasted 6 months. About the same price.
-
Are you able to separate the components to replace the spring Rich? I've never gone that far. All I've done is lubricated the o ring and put that tiny sealing o ring on the plunger back in place.
Yeah, you can take it to bits completely. Grease and reassemble if you want.
Seems you have a mechanic background, you don’t need me to explain how to go about it Spruce. You’ve got more experience than me :D
-
All done and fixed for now , took the 2 broken bits of spring and turned them end to end in the opposite direction so that the broken bits became each end , then stretched the spring to the right length and hey presto ;D
-
All done and fixed for now , took the 2 broken bits of spring and turned them end to end in the opposite direction so that the broken bits became each end , then stretched the spring to the right length and hey presto ;D
Are you able to separate the components to replace the spring Rich? I've never gone that far. All I've done is lubricated the o ring and put that tiny sealing o ring on the plunger back in place.
Yeah, you can take it to bits completely. Grease and reassemble if you want.
Seems you have a mechanic background, you don’t need me to explain how to go about it Spruce. You’ve got more experience than me :D
It probably does come apart completely but I have never looked that far. I thought that as Rich had a failed unit he would have a go. ;) ;)
I took my sons pole apart to clean it out over the weekend as he doesn't care. I noticed that the O clips holding the hose onto the Univalve on his pole were just about rusted through.
I do have o clips on the van as spares so not 100% sure if these came from Exceed as part of the kit or if they were from another supplier.
-
Busy boy me !
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1581282205_1D18F26C-6842-4E87-9259-B01158A31971.jpeg)(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1581282205_C4E2A423-0116-4656-850E-1FCD8FDBC754.jpeg)(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1581282204_2FECC298-B564-4FF0-BFCE-09445AB44821.jpeg)(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1581282204_5588BC90-E38B-4CA3-9446-F98BDA460CFC.jpeg)(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1581282202_677BE89B-216E-4A9F-8921-A830D250361A.jpeg)(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1581282202_CB0C3883-66FB-4EC0-A6F3-F1A62BEDCAA5.jpeg)(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1581282202_C49B0360-414C-4831-8F22-9922D18F7431.jpeg)(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1581282201_30253E79-4808-41C3-8063-29CF64E7CA81.jpeg)(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1581282200_8654A120-ED27-41E9-B3F0-10E82294B5A8.jpeg)
-
All done and fixed for now , took the 2 broken bits of spring and turned them end to end in the opposite direction so that the broken bits became each end , then stretched the spring to the right length and hey presto ;D
Just tried this with mine, worked perfectly ;D
-
I do love to see a vernier calliper😀😀
-
Have you got the measurement of the small oring ?
-
Have you got the measurement of the small oring ?
You don’t want much do you ;D
2 mins
-
Have you got the measurement of the small oring ?
You don’t want much do you ;D
2 mins
Seeing as you’ve your your vernier out, saves me going outside to get mine :-*
-
Baby one
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1581283729_C14E69D0-2AA7-4D82-A2E5-349F77A55306.jpeg)(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1581283729_D44A9D5B-D974-49D7-820C-AB09AA6673BE.jpeg)(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1581283728_37B5DA35-C391-40BF-975C-64B92E47FDEF.jpeg)
-
Thanks. :)
-
I dont see what all the fussing is about. It's £30..... And generally lasts atleast 6-12 months. Plus it's an amazing bit of kit.
Think of it this way. If every single Univalve lasted 3+ years then Steve @ Exceed would literally go out of business eventually because he wouldn't be getting enough repeat orders to warrant keeping that part of his business going.
To me this is just the same as complaining if a Gardiners brush only lasts you 6 months instead of 18+ months. If it takes alot of use and only costs £30 and is a big help to your business i dont see why you are being so cheap.
Even if i had to change the Univalves every 6 months on all our poles i would still replace them it works out to £5 per month. Thats nothing really.
Try buying 18 of them and you might think differently they arnt needed and it’s something else to go wrong or need maintaining , as for Gardiners brushes lasting 6 months I would be highly delighted with that I find after 6 weeks they are unusable by firming a v parting in the middle and bristles going very soft and crushing easily
-
I dont see what all the fussing is about. It's £30..... And generally lasts atleast 6-12 months. Plus it's an amazing bit of kit.
Think of it this way. If every single Univalve lasted 3+ years then Steve @ Exceed would literally go out of business eventually because he wouldn't be getting enough repeat orders to warrant keeping that part of his business going.
To me this is just the same as complaining if a Gardiners brush only lasts you 6 months instead of 18+ months. If it takes alot of use and only costs £30 and is a big help to your business i dont see why you are being so cheap.
Even if i had to change the Univalves every 6 months on all our poles i would still replace them it works out to £5 per month. Thats nothing really.
Not quite sure I agree with that.
I understand it’s business, but imagine if Gardiners did this with poles. Manufacturing things to fail doesn’t sit well with me. It’s a shame.
It’s a slippery slope as if these start failing in less than 12 months it will put people off keep buying them.
Whereas it could be a solid and quality part that becomes a no Brainer for people. “Of course my pole has a univalve on it, why wouldn’t it”.
Also think of it this way......if a univalve lasted Atleast 3 years, how much would You pay for it? Probably more than £30.
Even at £30 a pop, how many window cleaning poles are there out there in the uk alone? Enough to make a very nice profit that’s for sure.
-
Even if the cheaper springs were used on all further Univalves I would not have an issue
What I would like to see is a service kit from Exceed that consisted of the 2 o rings and spring , do that once a year and every customer is happy and Steve still has an ongoing income
I for one would happily pay £10 plus delivery for it ;D ;D ;D
-
I dont see what all the fussing is about. It's £30..... And generally lasts atleast 6-12 months. Plus it's an amazing bit of kit.
Think of it this way. If every single Univalve lasted 3+ years then Steve @ Exceed would literally go out of business eventually because he wouldn't be getting enough repeat orders to warrant keeping that part of his business going.
To me this is just the same as complaining if a Gardiners brush only lasts you 6 months instead of 18+ months. If it takes alot of use and only costs £30 and is a big help to your business i dont see why you are being so cheap.
Even if i had to change the Univalves every 6 months on all our poles i would still replace them it works out to £5 per month. Thats nothing really.
Not quite sure I agree with that.
I understand it’s business, but imagine if Gardiners did this with poles. Manufacturing things to fail doesn’t sit well with me. It’s a shame.
It’s a slippery slope as if these start failing in less than 12 months it will put people off keep buying them.
Whereas it could be a solid and quality part that becomes a no Brainer for people. “Of course my pole has a univalve on it, why wouldn’t it”.
Also think of it this way......if a univalve lasted Atleast 3 years, how much would You pay for it? Probably more than £30.
Even at £30 a pop, how many window cleaning poles are there out there in the uk alone? Enough to make a very nice profit that’s for sure.
If they are built to last like the origional ones, people will still buy because everyone speaks highly of them on all the social media sites!
Steve will still have a steady stream of return customers, plus not all window cleaners in the UK are going to buy them in the same month. Hence he will have a steady, ongoing market for them. Especially with all the newbies wanting new equipment etc all the time. In between that, supplying maintenance kits as well plus other little products etc He aint gonna run his business into the ground!
The price is irrelevant, reputation is key
-
Even if the cheaper springs were used on all further Univalves I would not have an issue
What I would like to see is a service kit from Exceed that consisted of the 2 o rings and spring , do that once a year and every customer is happy and Steve still has an ongoing income
I for one would happily pay £10 plus delivery for it ;D ;D ;D
Could either of these be suitable?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wire-Dia-1mm-Compression-Spring-Stainless-Steel-Pressure-Spring-Various-Sizes/274072673263?var=574155317537&hash=item3fd0011bef:m:mrNCwInmCRWC1j2OU2fjX4g
1 x 10 x 25
or
1 x 10 x 30.
-
If they are built to last like the origional ones, people will still buy because everyone speaks highly of them on all the social media sites!
Steve will still have a steady stream of return customers, plus not all window cleaners in the UK are going to buy them in the same month. Hence he will have a steady, ongoing market for them. Especially with all the newbies wanting new equipment etc all the time. In between that, supplying maintenance kits as well plus other little products etc He aint gonna run his business into the ground!
The price is irrelevant, reputation is key
Well thank goodness you're here to sort out his business plan. I mean, it's not like you have no idea what volumes or costs he has is it? LOL! Only he knows what is needed for him to continue production, you are simply guessing.
Also, I highly doubt this has been 'engineered to fail' - that is crazy.
More likely : They used a UK supplier with the first lot as it's much easier to deal with the UK and get answers to questions etc (such as "can this be done in this size/material etc"). UK suppliers are expensive, but they are good quality and can supply smaller quantities, and are keen to help with design tweaks.
Then, when all was well with the design and he knew it was not going to change significantly, then he found a Chinese supplier for as many of the components as possible. It was probably less than 50% the cost of getting them in the UK, but the downside is you need to order a higher quantity.
The problem with chinese components is that the quality is variable, and you don't always get what you asked for. He may have asked for that spring in a particular material and only something similar was available.
The point is, if you have the opportunity to reduce the manufacturing cost by 50%, you're going to do it aren't you? And you won't know about differences in quality for months after you start selling them, and then you have 10,000 sitting waiting to be used up.
Side point - I'm amazed that there were EVER spare parts on sale for this product! I would certainly never have offered them, the product is cheap enough and small enough to simply replace the whole thing as needed. Plus it doesn't look very user-serviceable. I'd have made the warranty at least a year though.
-
Even if the cheaper springs were used on all further Univalves I would not have an issue
What I would like to see is a service kit from Exceed that consisted of the 2 o rings and spring , do that once a year and every customer is happy and Steve still has an ongoing income
I for one would happily pay £10 plus delivery for it ;D ;D ;D
Could either of these be suitable?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wire-Dia-1mm-Compression-Spring-Stainless-Steel-Pressure-Spring-Various-Sizes/274072673263?var=574155317537&hash=item3fd0011bef:m:mrNCwInmCRWC1j2OU2fjX4g
1 x 10 x 25
or
1 x 10 x 30.
That would be bang on !
I will order some of each size now , I did see a couple of other sellers yesterday that are not away on hols though
Just got to find the o rings now ;D
-
Even if the cheaper springs were used on all further Univalves I would not have an issue
What I would like to see is a service kit from Exceed that consisted of the 2 o rings and spring , do that once a year and every customer is happy and Steve still has an ongoing income
I for one would happily pay £10 plus delivery for it ;D ;D ;D
Could either of these be suitable?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wire-Dia-1mm-Compression-Spring-Stainless-Steel-Pressure-Spring-Various-Sizes/274072673263?var=574155317537&hash=item3fd0011bef:m:mrNCwInmCRWC1j2OU2fjX4g
1 x 10 x 25
or
1 x 10 x 30.
I placed and order for both sizes yesterday ;D
-
Found these as well yesterday, they would probably work the 8mm or 8.4mm
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F292626136398
-
Found these as well yesterday, they would probably work the 8mm or 8.4mm
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F292626136398
I couldn't find a supplier when I looked a while back for these.
I did look this am
http://www.rhondamaseals.co.uk
http://www.rhondamaseals.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ORING_SIZES.pdf
Their part no BS1086-203
Sizes aren't exactly as P&F measurements but his may have worn and stretched slightly. When I measured mine a couple of years back I recorded this; It looks like the o Ring is a Nitrile 70, 7.5mm id x 3.7mm cross section.
-
Even if the cheaper springs were used on all further Univalves I would not have an issue
What I would like to see is a service kit from Exceed that consisted of the 2 o rings and spring , do that once a year and every customer is happy and Steve still has an ongoing income
I for one would happily pay £10 plus delivery for it ;D ;D ;D
Could either of these be suitable?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wire-Dia-1mm-Compression-Spring-Stainless-Steel-Pressure-Spring-Various-Sizes/274072673263?var=574155317537&hash=item3fd0011bef:m:mrNCwInmCRWC1j2OU2fjX4g
1 x 10 x 25
or
1 x 10 x 30.
I placed and order for both sizes yesterday ;D
What we don't know is the tensile strength of these springs so it will be a suck it and see situation. Please let us know how they turn out.
-
Don’t forget my vernier is a Halfords cheapie :D
It may well pay to get a pack of the very short springs as well to beef it up or mix and match for the correct return rate to shut the valve again
-
Don’t forget my vernier is a Halfords cheapie :D
It may well pay to get a pack of the very short springs as well to beef it up or mix and match for the correct return rate to shut the valve again
In a way I was hoping that these springs would be weaker than the originals. My fingers aren't 'clamping' onto the pole hose as firmly as they used to so I'm not finding it as easy to operate the Univalve these days.
I have even considered going back to a spare Aquadapter I have from the 'good old days' as its easier to operate.
Back to the Univalve. I would think that a slightly weaker spring wouldn't create too much of an issue shutting the water off as the plunger closes with the flow of water and the pressure will seal the valve against it's seat.
-
Saw these earlier , there are 2 sizes in the pack that look very close to the smaller Univalve o ring ;D
https://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/garage-equipment/fuses-electricals-fixings/halfords-assorted-o-rings
-
I use a square shaped stainless steel 1/4'' ball valve inlet male Rectus to
Female Rectus outlet I made my own bracket to clip on the bottom of the pole they last 4 to 5 years this valve is made in U.S.A but I designed my own bracket and adjustable clamp to fit various diameter pole widths
-
I use a square shaped stainless steel 1/4'' ball valve inlet male Rectus to
Female Rectus outlet I made my own bracket to clip on the bottom of the pole they last 4 to 5 years this valve is made in U.S.A but I designed my own bracket and adjustable clamp to fit various diameter pole widths
Son in law decided that the Aquadapter wasn't 'his cup of tea' back when he worked for us. He purchased a tap and bracket from Purefreedom which he praised. When I used his pole on one occasion I couldn't get on with the loop this created when the pole wasn't fully extended.
https://purefreedom.co.uk/product/pole-flow-control-valve-new-design/
The older I get the more cynical I get. They describe it as a new design. What was wrong with the old one?
-
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1581418326_7DDBF1D1-EAB8-4AC7-949D-659078483D15.jpeg) Inside of one that’s just given up
-
With a good clean and blob of silicone grease that might go again if the spring hasn’t broken, but that spring is definitely poor quality at its best !
-
Sure it isn’t a liquorice lace in there ;D
-
Don’t forget my vernier is a Halfords cheapie :D
It may well pay to get a pack of the very short springs as well to beef it up or mix and match for the correct return rate to shut the valve again
What about using the Vernier to pinch the hose?
-
A 'report to moderator' has come through about this thread.
A question I would like to ask before taking any action is if the OP has contacted the manufacturerer before starting this thread?
-
I have just had a call from Steve , we are currently discussing what to do about this post , I will update when I hear from him in a minute !
-
Steve is more than happy to leave the thread live as he has just sorted my issue with the spring , he said it was borderline with the expected life service of said spring.
He also did point out that any issues a customer might get would be looked into as long as it’s not blatant misuse .
I don’t suppose you could ask any more from a supplier , thanks Steve for the outcome.
MODS , I will leave the choice of if the thread stays or goes to you , as I am unsure of if it will do more harm than good in the long run
-
There was drama with springs on the Aquadaptor. Steve had 2 spare part springs on the go at one time. The stainless steel springs were brittle and broke sooner than their perceived life expectation and the galvanised steel ones did the same.
We still have an Aquadaptor on one of the poles and that spring has been in there for years. I think it a stainless steel spring as the galvanised ones show outer corrosion.
Aquadapter spring broke on Friday. It was a galvanised one. ;D
-
A 'report to moderator' has come through about this thread.
A question I would like to ask before taking any action is if the OP has contacted the manufacturerer before starting this thread?
If he had contacted Steve first then we would all be none the wiser about the 'issue.'
-
Mine is still like new Spruce :D ;D ;D
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1581960645_2D6C853D-71C0-4CAA-B166-132768AF4FCC.png)
-
Mine is still like new Spruce :D ;D ;D
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1581960645_2D6C853D-71C0-4CAA-B166-132768AF4FCC.png)
;D
I wondered if I spoke too soon after I posted it the other day.
-
;D ;D ;D ;D
-
Postman just came with this from Exceed , big enough to be a complete Univalve !
Or is it a spring packed very well ;D ;D ;D
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1582381422_D24EADCC-12EB-4583-8D18-67065F977F25.png)
-
Cheers Steve and Sam ;D
I was hoping though ;D ;D ;D
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1582382032_495DBC1E-E93E-479B-A28F-44ED0ABEEEEA.png)
-
I’m not sure if that’s funny or taking the P
-
Got my 30mm China springs today, I had to cut a ring and a half off but they seem to work, the 25mm should work fine, ideal if you just have a broken spring and want to resurrect your univalve.
-
Got my 30mm China springs today, I had to cut a ring and a half off but they seem to work, the 25mm should work fine, ideal if you just have a broken spring and want to resurrect your univalve.
Thanks for that update.
-
Lee GLS , can you post the link to the 25mm ones that you think will work without chopping any off please , I was going for the 30’s .... but then again maybe the 30’s have more margin to play with ?
If the 25’s don’t have the rebound they might not work ?
-
These are the 25mm. But I’ve just tried one but it doesn’t operate properly, they may be slightly too short, the 30mm trimmed slightly seem to work, I will have to fit to my pole and see what the longevity of them is.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F274072673263
-
These are the 25mm. But I’ve just tried one but it doesn’t operate properly, they may be slightly too short, the 30mm trimmed slightly seem to work, I will have to fit to my pole and see what the longevity of them is.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F274072673263
Ahh , so I was right about the 25’s then ;D
Did you try stretching one a bit ?
Or maybe get some of the 5’s and add one to a 25 , as I say it’s very much trial and error !
-
I'm really not impressed that you think the motive for changing the spring was we have downgraded the univalve.
We changed the spring as had to many complaints that the stainless steel spring didn't operate at height as it was to soft.
So went for tempered galvanised to address this.
These still will last 2 years though, which I think is long enough.
Imagine you guys cleaning windows once every 2 years, you'd be out of business.
If you keep complaining don't buy it, but really guys I'm trying my best to supply you with a good product.
I've got stainless steel springs.
Send your univalve back to me and I'll put one in, but it will be a pain as it will be a pain at height.
I'm really at Loss what to do tbh, really the amount of convenience you get for £30 is a bargain.
I went to pizza hut and it cost me £40, lasted 15mins.
You guys clean windows some for £30 last a month.
What if I bring a cleaning Product out that once windows are cleaned for £30 don't need cleaning for 2 years?
Would you be Impressed, no.
If you want me to continue to exist as a company and supply you univalve then don't expect them to last 10 years.
No exceed innovation no univalve.
I really am irritated at silly remarks, and if you don't want univalve don't have it really.
-
I'm really not impressed that you think the motive for changing the spring was we have downgraded the univalve.
We changed the spring as had to many complaints that the stainless steel spring didn't operate at height as it was to soft.
So went for tempered galvanised to address this.
These still will last 2 years though, which I think is long enough.
Imagine you guys cleaning windows once every 2 years, you'd be out of business.
If you keep complaining don't buy it, but really guys I'm trying my best to supply you with a good product.
I've got stainless steel springs.
Send your univalve back to me and I'll put one in, but it will be a pain as it will be a pain at height.
The thread is two years old Steven………in which case they’ll be needing new springs by now 😆
-
That is true lol.
However had a few cheapskates just lately, and really not impressed.
We always do our best at exceed.
Here's a bit of boring fact:
Univalve is operated at least 100,000 times a year, quite durable I think.
-
I think they want to speak to you on the other forum 👍 sexywing has made a repair kit.
-
I think they want to speak to you on the other forum 👍 sexywing has made a repair kit.
Yep that's been removed has copyright
-
I think they want to speak to you on the other forum 👍 sexywing has made a repair kit.
Yep that's been removed has copyright
I wish you luck. They ain't happy.
-
Neither am I tbh.
Please don't buy my stuff, easier tbh.
-
I think they want to speak to you on the other forum 👍 sexywing has made a repair kit.
Yep that's been removed has copyright
You cannot copyright a spring and rubber o ring and they haven’t been removed
-
I'm afraid you can when it's listed as part of my product.
-
I'm afraid you can when it's listed as part of my product.
No you can’t if that were the case how do euro car parts sell OE filters for all the cars on the road , I think you need to get some legal advice
-
I'm really not impressed that you think the motive for changing the spring was we have downgraded the univalve.
We changed the spring as had to many complaints that the stainless steel spring didn't operate at height as it was to soft.
So went for tempered galvanised to address this.
These still will last 2 years though, which I think is long enough.
Imagine you guys cleaning windows once every 2 years, you'd be out of business.
If you keep complaining don't buy it, but really guys I'm trying my best to supply you with a good product.
I've got stainless steel springs.
Send your univalve back to me and I'll put one in, but it will be a pain as it will be a pain at height.
I'm really at Loss what to do tbh, really the amount of convenience you get for £30 is a bargain.
I went to pizza hut and it cost me £40, lasted 15mins.
You guys clean windows some for £30 last a month.
What if I bring a cleaning Product out that once windows are cleaned for £30 don't need cleaning for 2 years?
Would you be Impressed, no.
If you want me to continue to exist as a company and supply you univalve then don't expect them to last 10 years.
No exceed innovation no univalve.
I really am irritated at silly remarks, and if you don't want univalve don't have it really.
Stop crying man , it does you no favours.
You totally ignored me when i had a batch of slick connects that kept breaking after only a few weeks ........... then a few months later they were strengthened, no offer of a refund the faulty ones i had though!
-
This forum is not a nice place.
And hopefully no one on this forum buys any of my stuff.
Fed up of cheap skates.
If you keep on reconditioning products they will disappear out of production for good and no one can use them then.
Don't you get business?
You depend on repeat cleaning don't you or just one off.
Want stuff to last 20 yrs.
Clean my windows but don't return for 20 yrs as I will buy a maintenance kit
-
This forum is not a nice place.
And hopefully no one on this forum buys any of my stuff.
Fed up of cheap skates.
If you keep on reconditioning products they will disappear out of production for good and no one can use them then.
Don't you get business?
You depend on repeat cleaning don't you or just one off.
Want stuff to last 20 yrs.
Clean my windows but don't return for 20 yrs as I will buy a maintenance kit
Steve I think you need to calm down a bit you aren't doing yourself or your business any favours by behaving in this manner it’s hardly a professional image the guy that’s selling the spring and o ring is hardly going to put you out of business or become a millionaire off your back . We all have to survive in the business wield with ones undercutting our prices etc But we don’t all throw our toys out if the pram
-
This forum is not a nice place.
And hopefully no one on this forum buys any of my stuff.
Fed up of cheap skates.
If you keep on reconditioning products they will disappear out of production for good and no one can use them then.
Don't you get business?
You depend on repeat cleaning don't you or just one off.
Want stuff to last 20 yrs.
Clean my windows but don't return for 20 yrs as I will buy a maintenance kit
I do hope people don’t take notice of this. You have brought some great products to market that has made the working day a lot easier for many a window cleaner, myself included.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for you and people will realise you have said some things out of frustration and draw a line under it.
-
Where on earth has this come from ? - bit of a meltdown?
I buy a fair bit off exceed but I may to reconsider after these posts...
I was going to ask if there was ant modification/ tubeless system for the univalve to work better in the OVA-8 - think I'll give it mis now :-[
-
I want you to create slick connects that rotate, to prevent the pole hose from constantly coiling and tangling. I reckon this would make a huge difference for users, any chance you could consider it?
-
Steve is right, things don't last forever.
Univalve gives good value for the use you get from it imo. Oh and I'm one of the cheapskates ! I get maybe 3 times the life from my gardiners pole by repairing with epoxy and recoating with laquer while others buy a new one every year or two. Even I know when I'm beat though and just buy new when I really need to. Don't really see what all the fuss is about. Innovation has a price and does rely on repeat business just as pole suppliers do.
-
This forum is not a nice place.
And hopefully no one on this forum buys any of my stuff.
Fed up of cheap skates.
If you keep on reconditioning products they will disappear out of production for good and no one can use them then.
Don't you get business?
You depend on repeat cleaning don't you or just one off.
Want stuff to last 20 yrs.
Clean my windows but don't return for 20 yrs as I will buy a maintenance kit
I do hope people don’t take notice of this. You have brought some great products to market that has made the working day a lot easier for many a window cleaner, myself included.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for you and people will realise you have said some things out of frustration and draw a line under it.
This is a really nice response. I have often said over the years that I wish I had half the design ability Steve has. From the first launch of the Aquadaptor he had my respect. What a brilliant piece of kit.
Unfortunately, the Univalve has lasted too long. That doesn't help for repeat business and a continued income stream. He is passionate about his business as is seen from his responses and feels the need to protect his products. I think we all understand that. The cost of the Univalve reflects the cost of the dies needed to make the product. Those are very expensive and often it takes many years to recoup the investment made manufacturing and maintaining them.
In the late 1950's in central Africa there was a German car called a Borgward Isabella. I loved that car and would have liked to own one. I loved the lines and the look of that car. It was indestructible too; it just never broke down and stood up to the rough gavel roads of that era. Everyone said it was the car to own but there weren't many around. The company went bankrupt in the early 1960's. Many said it was because it never broke down. I'm not sure that was solely the reason. Unlike DKW Auto Union which later absorbed into Audi, the plant was sold and moved to Mexico. That didn't work out, unlike VW who continued to manufacture the VW Beetle in Mexico for many years after they stopped manufacturing them everywhere else. (My first car was a DKW Auto Union two stroke estate back in the late 60's. I replaced the 850cc engine with a 1 litre from a saloon car I purchased for spare parts.)
As far as wfp is concerned, I kind of think that there isn't much left to design and manufacture for our niche market. This must be a concern to Steve. Basically this means that he will have to spread his proverbial wings into other things. I would find that quite daunting tbh.
I'm sure Steve must be sick of us fickle window cleaners. I remember when everyone continued to complain at the weight of the Aquadaptor and he tried to reduce the weight with each variant he supplied. We had 2 x SLX22 poles on the van, one with a Univalve and the other with an Aquadaptor. Honestly I didn't notice a significant weight disadvantage using the pole with the Aquadaptor attached.
-
Well posted spruce
I will add people quite happily pay £40 to £50 for a brush that has approx 4 to 6 months lifespan ( yes you can make them last longer but effectively they have lost their cleaning edge after this time ) but point out £30 for an automatic tap that lasts well over a year and usually 2
Darran
-
Steve why don’t you just sell the o rings and springs as spares anyway ?
Even put a high price on them , I would happily pay £10 for the both over having to pay £40 or whatever a new univalve is these days !
I just hope Gardiners don’t go down the same road and expect me to buy a new pole section when I break a clamp
-
Looks like he has had a further tantrum and closed his membership on hear as he’s now a guest , I think it’s best ones take his advice and don’t buy from him , I stoped several years ago due to very poor customer service . Deal with him at your peril
-
Looks like he has had a further tantrum and closed his membership on hear as he’s now a guest , I think it’s best ones take his advice and don’t buy from him , I stoped several years ago due to very poor customer service . Deal with him at your peril
Sadly he does this. He has had several account over the years.
But I always found his customer service woeful
We aren’t walking in his shoes, he may be struggling with his mental health, be short of work or even marriage problems.
I don’t know but wish him well and I’m sure he’ll be back after some reflection
Tony
-
I don’t think he had a further tantrum at all, he closed his membership yesterday.
-
I’m happy to treat my univalves as throw away items. At around £50 each (in real terms it’s cheaper as it’s tax deductible) every two years for a product that makes the working day easier it’s hardly going to break the bank is it?
-
I have always been the type to use an item to the point of it being unusable as long as it’s safe to do so .
The thought of all those univalves floating around in the sea makes me cringe ;D ;D ;D
-
I bought three of his first ones he brought out, and bought a new version but never got around to fitting it as I prefer using a tap held in the hand.
They fit on 8/5.5mm pole hose tube but I and many others use 10/8mm pole hose for a much higher flow rate without the back pressure for reach-it rinse bars, (as 8/5.5mm restricts too much water which defeats the purpose of using reach-it rinse bars), so there is a new market for his idea if he decides to sell a larger version for 10/8mm pole users, just throwing an idea out to him.
-
Some of you lot are starting to sound like a bunch of old women complaining..the women still complain. How hard house work is ..they have washers..vacs tumble dryers..list gose on and there still not happy change jobs..😁
-
If Steve ends up going out of business because of you lot of pathetic whinging cheapskates i'm going to be really upset.
He makes fantastic products, that last anywhere from 6-18 months or longer and some of you are complaining about having to replace parts or the product that costs £30? I just don't get it.....
We as window cleaners all know that if our customers just wanted one off cleans every 6-18 months we would all be out of business. We rely heavily on regular repeat business.
If Steve made the Univalve and it was 100% perfect and lasted for 3-5 years you can guarantee that after about a year of sales with the window cleaning industry it would dry up and there would not be enough orders coming in for it to be a viable business. There needs to be enough of a demand for a product for it to be viable for them to manufacturer it and/or even be in business.
As others have already said people will happily spend £50 on a brush that lasts 6-12 months, but kick off when their univalve for £30 stops working after 6 months? Or what about the Rectus 21 fittings that cost near enough £10 a set and they need replacing every few months, you dont hear people complaining about that. Could go on really with all kinds of bits of kit that we have to replace regularly.
I just don't see why people who benefit from a product that really improves window cleaning day to day would complain and spread negativity about Steves products. If you genuinely don't like the product that's fine just dont use it, but to keep using it and complaining anyway all you are doing is damaging a businesses reputation as small as the effect may be.
Actually baffles me. We should all be working together as window cleaners and suppliers to make our working lifes better all round.
-
I won’t be buying any more of them once the 2 I have are dead , I never bothered putting one on my 35 as it was a chore to get it to switch on or off , I just pinch the hose if needed .
I will just go back to doing that on the 18 and 25 too .
If he wants a steady stream of cash then he should sell the parts as I said above
-
If Steve ends up going out of business because of you lot of pathetic whinging cheapskates i'm going to be really upset.
He makes fantastic products, that last anywhere from 6-18 months or longer and some of you are complaining about having to replace parts or the product that costs £30? I just don't get it.....
We as window cleaners all know that if our customers just wanted one off cleans every 6-18 months we would all be out of business. We rely heavily on regular repeat business.
If Steve made the Univalve and it was 100% perfect and lasted for 3-5 years you can guarantee that after about a year of sales with the window cleaning industry it would dry up and there would not be enough orders coming in for it to be a viable business. There needs to be enough of a demand for a product for it to be viable for them to manufacturer it and/or even be in business.
As others have already said people will happily spend £50 on a brush that lasts 6-12 months, but kick off when their univalve for £30 stops working after 6 months? Or what about the Rectus 21 fittings that cost near enough £10 a set and they need replacing every few months, you dont hear people complaining about that. Could go on really with all kinds of bits of kit that we have to replace regularly.
I just don't see why people who benefit from a product that really improves window cleaning day to day would complain and spread negativity about Steves products. If you genuinely don't like the product that's fine just dont use it, but to keep using it and complaining anyway all you are doing is damaging a businesses reputation as small as the effect may be.
Actually baffles me. We should all be working together as window cleaners and suppliers to make our working lifes better all round.
I love the univalve....its got to be the best thing invented for wfp in regards to water control.....I've bought 5 of them....one I binned after 4 years of constant use,2 I use on both my 25ft main pole and my 47ft high level pole and 2 spare....I did buy 2 of the repair kits too so I'll probably be OK for the next 10 years or so univalve wise
-
I want you to create slick connects that rotate, to prevent the pole hose from constantly coiling and tangling. I reckon this would make a huge difference for users, any chance you could consider it?
I'd buy that! (If it lasted 20 years 😀)
-
One thing that makes the Univalve last much longer is the Gardiner 'water through' gooseneck. This neck prevents any dirt, water, etc. getting in through the top of the pole and.... it also makes the valve operate better! Win win!😁 I put a new Univalve on well over 6 months ago, at the same time as a water through neck, and it still looks and operates as new! They normally look knackered by now and are starting to stiffen up!👍
-
If Steve ends up going out of business because of you lot of pathetic whinging cheapskates i'm going to be really upset.
I was really upset when British Leyland went out of business
He makes fantastic products, that last anywhere from 6-18 months or longer and some of you are complaining about having to replace parts or the product that costs £30? I just don't get it.....
I can’t get them for £30?
We as window cleaners all know that if our customers just wanted one off cleans every 6-18 months we would all be out of business. We rely heavily on regular repeat business.
America seems to work on 1 or 2 cleans a year.. We also have massive competition in our market place
If Steve made the Univalve and it was 100% perfect and lasted for 3-5 years you can guarantee that after about a year of sales with the window cleaning industry it would dry up and there would not be enough orders coming in for it to be a viable business. There needs to be enough of a demand for a product for it to be viable for them to manufacturer it and/or even be in business.
New window cleaners and companies come into to the sector every day.. There would be a constant source of business if he offered a repair kit at say £10
As others have already said people will happily spend £50 on a brush that lasts 6-12 months, but kick off when their univalve for £30 stops working after 6 months? Or what about the Rectus 21 fittings that cost near enough £10 a set and they need replacing every few months, you dont hear people complaining about that. Could go on really with all kinds of bits of kit that we have to replace regularly.
People “kick off” because the product seems to be being made with cheaper components while going up in price.
I just don't see why people who benefit from a product that really improves window cleaning day to day would complain and spread negativity about Steves products. If you genuinely don't like the product that's fine just dont use it, but to keep using it and complaining anyway all you are doing is damaging a businesses reputation as small as the effect may be.
Steve seems a decent bloke.. He has no real competition to the product but won’t offer what people are asking for, repair kits and back to stainless steel springs.
Actually baffles me. We should all be working together as window cleaners and suppliers to make our working lifes better all round.
If another manufacturer brought to market something similar, at half the price with a non nonsense guarantee, would you still be blowing smoke up his arris?
I can’t highlight!
-
What people forget is that window cleaning equipment is hardly a mass market! I wonder how Gardiner’s etc would fare if their poles and brushes lasted forever? I’m surprised that anyone could think that someone would spend a lot of time and money to bring a product to a tiny marketplace, then shoot themselves in the foot by offering a repair kit, meaning there was very little or no repeat business.
-
I think the point is a brush cannot be repaired, whereas if the spring breaks in a univalve it is a replaceable part, so throwing something away that can essentially be repaired for a part that would only cost a few pence goes against common sense. Just because a new univalve only costs a small amount of money doesn’t negate the fact that it can be repaired. If your car, washing machine, oven, boiler, etc break, you replace the broken part, you do not buy a new one, so throwing away a £30 item that I know can be fixed goes against the grain.
-
Difference being the cars, washing machines, ovens, boilers etc that you mention are all mass market products and have many components, therefore selling spares for these products can be rather lucrative.
-
I actually find it laughable that all the people on here who brag about what they can charge per house and what they can earn in a day then moan because a £50 piece of equipment doesn’t last them more than 2 years.
-
I think the point is a brush cannot be repaired, whereas if the spring breaks in a univalve it is a replaceable part, so throwing something away that can essentially be repaired for a part that would only cost a few pence goes against common sense. Just because a new univalve only costs a small amount of money doesn’t negate the fact that it can be repaired. If your car, washing machine, oven, boiler, etc break, you replace the broken part, you do not buy a new one, so throwing away a £30 item that I know can be fixed goes against the grain.
only because you can unclip it - if Steve had bonded it together then you wouldn't get it apart
Darran
-
on Ebay...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175166723038?hash=item28c8c013de%3Ag%3ADycAAOSwW4ViEQWk&LH_ItemCondition=3000
Reconditioned Univalve service.
Send your univalve back to us for an official reconditioned unit.
Send to:
5 sheepfold close,
Rowley Regis
West Midlands
B65 8hb.
Please don't buy DIY kits has this will void this offer.
DIY kit suppliers offer no responsibility to their advice or 3d printer products.
Please contact ex-ceedinnovation.co.uk
[email removed by eBay].
-
on Ebay...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175166723038?hash=item28c8c013de%3Ag%3ADycAAOSwW4ViEQWk&LH_ItemCondition=3000
Reconditioned Univalve service.
Send your univalve back to us for an official reconditioned unit.
Send to:
5 sheepfold close,
Rowley Regis
West Midlands
B65 8hb.
Please don't buy DIY kits has this will void this offer.
DIY kit suppliers offer no responsibility to their advice or 3d printer products.
Please contact ex-ceedinnovation.co.uk
[email removed by eBay].
Steve only began offering this service after our window cleaning friend started to sell repair kits.
Regarding your earlier post Darran, if it can be repaired then my mentality is to fix it rather than throw it away.
I'm sure that you would just replace a broken/worn/damaged o ring on a Hozelok tap connector rather than buy a new one.
In general manufacturers support the throw away society. In fact they drove it in many instances although they can blame the end user for being price driven when buying the product to begin with.
Then they keep changing the spec of their product to entice the owner to replace rather than repair. They then make the cost of the repair parts so expensive to reinforce it's better to replace rather than repair.
Take our Bosch washing machine as an example. After 3 years it stopped working. The carbon brushes in the motor were worn down. A £7 replacement part. Local repairer wants £80 labour to replace motor and another £80 for a 'reconditioned' motor replacement. That's £160 + vat. I could buy a new Bosch washing machine from Currys (when I looked) for £365 including vat.
Bosch wanted £265 + vat for a replacement motor which doesn't include labour to fit it. Then they want another £125 + vat for the drain pump motor assembly.
They don't want us to fix the old washing machine. They want us to buy a new one and recycle the old one.
-
im totally with you - I have yet to get a univalve with a broken spring but if they get sticky I'll crack it open - clean it and put back together and tell the lads its brand new ;)
Darran
-
I think the point is a brush cannot be repaired, whereas if the spring breaks in a univalve it is a replaceable part, so throwing something away that can essentially be repaired for a part that would only cost a few pence goes against common sense. Just because a new univalve only costs a small amount of money doesn’t negate the fact that it can be repaired. If your car, washing machine, oven, boiler, etc break, you replace the broken part, you do not buy a new one, so throwing away a £30 item that I know can be fixed goes against the grain.
only because you can unclip it - if Steve had bonded it together then you wouldn't get it apart
Darran
But the fact is he hasn’t so it can be taken apart and be fixed so that argument is irrelevant!
You could use the argument that laptops, PlayStations, Xbox’s are not designed to be taken apart and have components replaced on the circuitry, but if the HDMI socket breaks, the power sockets breaks, people will be out there buying a new socket for a couple of £ rather than replace the whole board or even the whole item, just be aside it costs hundreds of £ more doesn’t mean something cheaper shouldn’t be fixed if it can be.
I just feels wrong to throw something away regardless of the cost and how much money we earn and can afford to buy a new one when it can be fixed.
I suppose different people have different outlooks, I’m like Spruce, I’ve always tried to fix something rather than replaced.
-
I think the point is a brush cannot be repaired, whereas if the spring breaks in a univalve it is a replaceable part, so throwing something away that can essentially be repaired for a part that would only cost a few pence goes against common sense. Just because a new univalve only costs a small amount of money doesn’t negate the fact that it can be repaired. If your car, washing machine, oven, boiler, etc break, you replace the broken part, you do not buy a new one, so throwing away a £30 item that I know can be fixed goes against the grain.
only because you can unclip it - if Steve had bonded it together then you wouldn't get it apart
Darran
But the fact is he hasn’t so it can be taken apart and be fixed so that argument is irrelevant!
You could use the argument that laptops, PlayStations, Xbox’s are not designed to be taken apart and have components replaced on the circuitry, but if the HDMI socket breaks, the power sockets breaks, people will be out there buying a new socket for a couple of £ rather than replace the whole board or even the whole item, just be aside it costs hundreds of £ more doesn’t mean something cheaper shouldn’t be fixed if it can be.
I just feels wrong to throw something away regardless of the cost and how much money we earn and can afford to buy a new one when it can be fixed.
I suppose different people have different outlooks, I’m like Spruce, I’ve always tried to fix something rather than replaced.
When I took mine apart the only issue was the tiny plunger o ring that needed replacing. The spring and the larger O ring were totally fine. (I did replace all 3 items in the service kit though.) However, if the teeth of the rotary Parker Jotter copy mechanism were worn, then that makes a good case to replace with a new Univalve rather than to repair it.
From what I understood, the patent that Steve has on the Univalve design is on the pull operation. This is why Peter Fogwill had to go for a twist operation on his Aquatap. I can't see how he could have a patent on the mechanism as it's application is Parker Jotter pen (and possibly others) copy which has been in the public domain for decades.
-
I ordered a Univalve replacement kit from Steven the other day along with another item.
The order came today while I was out working.
If anyone is interested, I have included a photo of the repair kit.
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1646321579_IMG_20220303_150301.jpg)
The asking price for the kit is £15.00 plus VAT and postage. TBH I think that's pretty good valve for money. Exceed Innovations also linked to this repair video in the confirmation video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeAtoUl_-Sk
-
Has he gone back to a stainless spring?
-
that's nearly a full uni valve !
I took one apart today - it was a bit sticky - on opening all was fine, gave it a clean and greased the spring and o-rings now perfect
Spruce - yet again you delivered a wonderful post !
Darran
-
that's nearly a full uni valve !
I took one apart today - it was a bit sticky - on opening all was fine, gave it a clean and greased the spring and o-rings now perfect
Spruce - yet again you delivered a wonderful post !
Darran
And that basically what I have been doing. The only issues I have had are the tiny O Ring on the plunger. It came off on one of the valves and the other that tiny plunger O Ring deteriorated and wasn't sealing properly. The Univalve with the deteriorated O ring was purchased 5 years ago (16/3/2107). There is no way I can complain about that. We have 4 Univalves and not one of them has had a corroded or even rusty spring.
And yes, I agree, it's nearly a full Univalve.
-
Has he gone back to a stainless spring?
How would one tell the difference?
-
Stainless isn’t magnetic, but I’m not sure it will help as I think that the new spring material could be non magnetic too , can’t remember what it was though !
-
New spring is tempered galvanised, which I think is just a coating so could well be magnetic .
But hey I’m just a window cleaner so what do I know !