Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Neal Oxley on April 28, 2009, 02:37:16 pm
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I have been away for a few days but heard about the issue with solutions on the grapevine. I note that Doug has closed the thread but I wanted to make a few comments which I think are valid.
Ken - I agree that you shouldn't speculate without knowing the facts, but both Hydramaster and Solutions have created this problem by appearing to conduct the whole matter of their merger, or whatever it is, in a very unsatisfactory manner. I guess there are people closer to the directors who know what is going on, but for the rest of us, well, you are left to draw your own conclusions.
I am a regular customer of both organisations yet I have never heard officially from either that they have in fact joined forces. I only found out by word of mouth. Apparently Nick posted something on the Cleantalk forum a while back, but not being a daily viewer I missed it.
My view at the time was, and still is, if it was such a great leap forward for both companies why wasn't there more publicity? I concluded as I'm sure others did, that at least one of the companies must be in financial difficulties, but no-one seemed to know with certainty whether it was hydramaster, solutions, or both!
The news of Solutions going into liquidation just adds fuel to the fire, and I don't think you can blame people for wondering what the hell is going on down there.
Anecdotally, I have noticed an indefinable change in the staff customer relations, and not for the better.
Gossip is rife out there at the moment, and unless John and Nick get their act together folk will start to change their allegiances, in fact I'd say it is already happening.
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good thread Neil, my thoughts exactly.
Mark
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Neal,
rather than making the effort to join a forum to make your first post about somebody elses business,
would it have not been easier to call and ask Mr NVW and ask what is going on with his business.
We had talk on here the other day about this, and people were making up all sorts of accusations,
none of us know if he owes people money or not, maybe there are a few hundred carpet cleaners out
there all owing him money, it does happen in these dificult financial times.
They are still being supplied by there suppliers from all over the globe and the UK, which sugests
they all have faith in solutions.
As for you jusT finding out, i wouldnt think he would make an anouncment on here, as he did on CT.
As for Doug starting the thread, at least he had the gumption to give them a call and speak to Nick.
Think its time we got on with our own businesses.
Andrew
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Hi Guys
The reason I locked the last Solutions topic was that as Andrew has said, it was deterioating as Solutions topics often do and I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, because as far as I know no CC has lost out by their insolvency.
Nick has tended to live or die by the forums, whereas John has always been much less prominent and perhaps it is this approach which is being followed now.
Cheers
Doug
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Has no one been on the phone to HM yet to put an order in and ask point blank.
Will Solutions creditors be paid one way or another because as a customer I would like to know what sort of company I'm dealing with?
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Who cares. I really dont think solutions master really cares either about a few vocal cleaners on these boards. Whats it got to do with you anyway.
As long as you pay your money and get your chems. Relax go clean some carpet.
Mark
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here here mark, i don't understand this fascination with what has or has not happened down there in cornwall, if anyone on this or other forums has lost money, let us all know or let's just leave it alone,
colin
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That's your opinion, fine.
Although you would be whinging if you did a commercial job for a couple of grand, they went bust and set up again and you did it for nothing like a mug, how would you feel then about the new company?
There are plenty of other suppliers, and some trusted ones could have their reputation tarnished, which would be unfortunate FOR THEM.
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Something was said to me about it a few weeks back when I was in HM, but I didn't really take much notice to be honest. I thought maybe it was just a bit of streamlining or something ???
Anyway, HM Blitz and their rinse works a treat and the solution hose is fantastic and that's all I'm bothered about.
As long as they remain friendly and helpful as ever, I don't envisage any problems?
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Mike
Businesses all over the world will keep most of their business strategys to themselves, and, IMO, quite right too. Would you, or any of us here, openly discuss some of the finer or major aspects of our business (or personal) financing and strategys for all and sundry to pick over? I for one certainly wouldn't.
As a society, we've become obsessed with a "right to know" even when we have no rights to know at all. Again IMO, I feel that the media has fed curiosity beyond a point of being healthy.
I'll repeat what I have said earlier. I have been priviledged to information and details during conversations with the leading figures down in Redruth, and I have no problems with what's happened.
Just think for a minute about the rent/mortgage/business rates that existed with the company in Bodmin. Now think of the same overheads in Redruth. This isn't betraying any of the confidences I've been party to, just common sense.
Safe and happy cleaning :)
The Ken
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Honest people go bust it's a fact of life. Do honest people go bust, buy back their stuff at a knock down price, wipe out debts any start all over again doing exactly the same thing?
And before you say we don't know whether that's the case and it's not our business to know well to me that's a cop out.
Part of what is wrong with todays society is people are very happy to look the other way so long as it doesn't affect them directly.
It's just my view on it that's all.
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Lots of ways at looking at this situation,
a friend of mine has a very big heating engineering company,
a customer of his in London went bust owing him 6 figures..
no chance of getting the money back his own option because of his cash flow was to do the same.
I asked him if he felt comfortable doing this, his reply was,
"better than my 85 staff being laid off with no redundancy, and nothing for the families to live off.
Maybe the law should be changed on moral reasons, but at the moment all this is Legal !
Andrew
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Keeping employees in jobs is a good point, they're the victims if the whole thing shuts down.
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Mike have you had a bad experience with Solutions?
Agree with Mark Roberts and haven't noticed a drop in customer service from either company.
mark
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I don't think I'm getting this across very well and it perhaps is a minority perspective.
It's nothing to do with me getting bad service, losing money or anything else directly to do with me losing out. It's the fact that I would prefer not to deal with a company that does something which I feel is corrupt, if not legally then morally.
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Mike want you have said makes perfect sense and I totally agree with you, it can be dressed up all it wants but it is wrong. you know it, I know it and so does everyone else.
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These are not my words, I copied them from the t/mers forum ( thanks frans :))
It is perfectly possible to put a company into liquidation without any of its' creditors losing a penny.
It only takes a bank to recall a loan or cancel an overdraft facility due to head office policy change (not unusual in present conditions) and a business can find itself short of working capital.
A new company with new backing, buying up the assets, even at advantages prices, could well cover any creditors of the liquidated set up
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Wheres roger when we need him ???
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Yes Mike but is it morally right to cast doubt on a public forum about anothers morals without knowing the facts, Ken says he does and everything is Kosher and I trust Kens word.
Mark
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Mark I'm stating an opinion, which I'm entitled to do.
All I am saying is I would prefer not to deal with a company if that's what they have done. Is it my fault that we don't know the answer and I'm asking the question?
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Fair enough Mike :) hows life with the TM?
mark
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Over the years i've worked for 2 companies that went into voluntary liquidation, owing nobody any money, or being owed money. Trading conditions changed, and to continue would have led to eventual bankruptcy.
Voluntary liquidation was a means to buy back all assets at a reduced price, and restructure the company to make it financially viable.
This may or may not be the case with Solutions. The simple fact is we will probably never know.
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Mark
Using it is a shear pleasure. I sometime look at all the expensive oily bits and worry about them going wrong. but overall very happy indeed.
I saw your post about bigger TM made me laugh, I can't see how anyone would need anymore heat or suck, but after a month or two it becomes the norm and before you know it the Titan is the order of the day. ;D
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I'll repeat what I have said earlier. I have been priviledged to information and details during conversations with the leading figures down in Redruth, and I have no problems with what's happened.
I made comments on the origional topic which resulted in Nick calling me yesterday morning.
Clearly I'm not going to go into detail about what was said, other than to say if I'd been dumped on in this fashion then I'd do the exactly the same thing.
'And' before anyone thinks I'm one of Nicks love children be assured that I'm at the front of the que when it comes to down grading all the hype on charlie pads and M Power. Some love them and I don't.
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My 6 month old Scorpion developed a fault last week so i took the machine to a local firm of Prochem suppliers to have a look at it.
The problem was diagnosed and Solutions contacted who supplied a new part the following day and paid for the labour charge to the other company with no fuss whatsoever.
Excellent service and if they are having problems i certainly didn't notice it.
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IMHO, Nick is focused on positioning himself and his very successful Company, SOLUTIONS, UK in terms of strength within the Market. He appears to be growing and expanding operations.
Nothing has changed with his or our fine relationship, period. He has been a man of his word over all the years I have ever known him. A joy to work with.
It may seem that there was way too much speculation on this matter. :'(
The very best to all;
Ed Valentine
Cross-American Corp.
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Just think for a minute about the rent/mortgage/business rates that existed with the company in Bodmin. Now think of the same overheads in Redruth. This isn't betraying any of the confidences I've been party to, just common sense.
Safe and happy cleaning :)
The Ken
IMHO, Nick is focused on positioning himself and his very successful Company, SOLUTIONS, UK in terms of strength within the Market. He appears to be growing and expanding operations.
Nothing has changed with his or our fine relationship, period. He has been a man of his word over all the years I have ever known him. A joy to work with.
It may seem that there was way too much speculation on this matter. :'(
The very best to all;
Ed Valentine
Cross-American Corp.
Are these 2 statments contridicing themselves ?
if your expanding and growing, why the worry about the buildings they are in? when infact its stepping down :-\
well thats what i see!!!
Ed, you have been a very fortunate man, according to your statment unlike some others, I personaly have no gripe with Nick, although he appears to think so , infact he did get me out the sh*te on one occasion when I had equipment stolen. "or did he ?"
"here endeth my story "
Geoff
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More intriguing than EastEnders !
All existing or potential customers need to know is the status of the company they choose to deal with as they are prepared to invest considerable sums in not only products but in machinery and marketing which includes these products / machinery.
As I have no tie with any company and use a variety of products from around the U K and elsewhere it won't affect me who owns what or when their next " best thing since sliced bread comes along "
However I sympathise with any one who feels they've been persuaded into purchasing products or machinery which was marketed as bigger / better / healthier / greener or whatever.
My personal take is that a company started a couple of years ago marketing a range of products which were very similar to others, introduced a powerful imported machine which would outperform every other in the same category, but kept introducing " specialised " products and new " bigger / better....machines......
The market for cleaning machines and carpet cleaning products is far from finite and anyone attempting to grow too rapidly is almost certainly going to run out of development cash or buyers for their products.
What happens at that point is in this case not clear but, if a trading arrangement is set up with another company especially a company with their own established line of products there has to to be the inevitable " rationalisation "
What form this will take is anyones guess.
If you like the company you deal with and their products..............talk to them !
Speculation is what brings down banks and large corporations
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"If you like the company you deal with and their products..............talk to them !
Speculation is what brings down banks and large corporations"
I couldn't agree more perhaps it could be also rephrased.
If you like the clients you have and enjoy the profit you make out of them - have the courtesy when you make major changes to tell them. Neither Solutions or Hydramaster have done this despite having postal and email addresses for all their clients, all we know has come from the forums, hence speculation is rife
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If I remember rightly....... John Gotts made an announcement on Truckmounters and Nick VW an announcement on Cleantalk.
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i'm banned from both
awwwww bugg*r ;D
derek
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That's what I said Joe, they relied on the forums to communicate with their customers.
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What goes around comes around, survival of the fittest. :'( ;)
Ed
;) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D 8)
Joe
Think they were forced to make statements :P, don’t you think ;D
Mike
I’ve just got a Titan 8)
Len
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Better beef up your suspension in the Vito then Len. ;D
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Len
John Gotts announcement came after a bit of persuasion, I think Nicks was of his initiation.
Have you reall y got a Titan?
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Dave Roelands is absolutely correct in what he says and I would expect the same courtesy from anyone on whose mailing list my name appeared.
Just thought if people were concerned about continuity they might get peace of mind from a phone call although I agree with Daves comment.
If it was a company of mine every customer would have been sent a letter explaining the position to avoid this kind of speculation.
The subject has been totally ignored on C T apart from a brief comment around 5 or 6 weeks ago. Anyway I'm bored with this topic.
More interested in Len's Titan
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What you cleaning len with your titan ???
A beast ;D
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Titan make the best ladders i've ever seen. How's the view from up there Len ;D