[EandM]

I am deeply cynical about pretty much everything - and I mean everything. However today I started using my first Gardiner pole, a CLX-22.
I could go on about how easy it is to use, how well designed the lateral clamps are and how it's nicer to work with than any of the other makes of pole I've used over the last seven years and how the length and rigidity allows you to work over conservatories with ease and that it is actually 22 feet long.
I won't rave about it too much though because it's all been said before.
If you already have one you know how good they are - If you're thinking of getting one then just get one.

[mlscontractcleaner]

I wish folk would just say what they're thinking instead of beating about the bush.


So what exactly are you saying??

[EandM]

That I should return to my 30 foot Aluminium Pole that weighs a tonne and has so much whip it's a danger to passing aircraft......

[Lee Pryor]

good thread.

To be honest the only reason other companies sell poles is because the people buying them havnt tried gardiners.

[Dylanb]

I think the only reason other companies are still selling poles is because Gardiners only sell direct, and poles stocked at the bigger retailers are easier to find if your newbie. Only once you do a bit of research you find Gardiners.

Does make me wonder why they don't wholesale, surely then they would completely dominate the pole market(even more so!)?

[Lee Pryor]

Gardiners do not only sell direct

[Dylanb]

not strictly but almost in the uk

[dd]

I guess by selling direct they are able to maximize their profit margin and also helps to keep the price down.

[rosskesava]

I've got an Ionics composite 28' pole.

Within a week I knew I'd made a mistake.

6 months on and I'm sick to death of it.

The red extension paint line has completely worn off on 3 sections. The amount of times I have extended it too far is now getting seriously annoying because it separates. The problem is that if it's not completely extended far enough each time, it wears unevenly which affects the clamps. i.e. they're done up enough to grip the middle of the section but too tight to allow that section to be fully extended.

The other problem is the clamps keep coming off the collar on the first 2 sections. If I don't notice, I extend the section, tighten the clamp, but it's not tightening onto the pole, I let go to extend the next section and the first section then slides back into the pole. I have ended up with a really nasty black mans pinch three times and last time in the cold weather, boy oh boy did it hurt or what.

I emailed Ionics before Christmas but never got a reply. I phoned them and was told how good their poles are and it was implied I'm using the pole wrong.

Guess what make pole I'll be ordering very soon?

[DeLuce]

Another good reason why Gardiners should keep things in Cornwall under the watchful eyes of its owner is that they can continue to provide excellent customer service

[[GQC] Tim]

If you think a CLX is good, try an SL-X, big difference. Then go from an SL-X to SL2 or Xtreme and enjoy again a nice difference.  

To be honest, I have to stop myself thinking of reasons to retire my 4 year old Mark 1 SL-X for the Xtreme. The SL-X is still going strong!

[rosskesava]

Another good reason why Gardiners should keep things in Cornwall under the watchful eyes of its owner is that they can continue to provide excellent customer service

That is so true about customer service.

I won't buy Ionics stuff again. I guess my 200 quid is just little pennies to them.

I could have been a customer for years to come but to be told how to extend a wfp pole when I'm saying repeaedly that's how I am using it, only for the person to repeat themself untill I end up getting annoyed.....

Last year I bought a Gardiner trolley and the thing wouldn't charge. It turns out the charging socket was brocken. Alex Gardiner couldn't have been more polite or helpfull. The problem was solved within 24 hours.

[Roy Cauldery]

rosskesava
This is exactly how I feel about Brodex too!

[Richard iSparkle]

If you think a CLX is good, try an SL-X, big difference. Then go from an SL-X to SL2 or Xtreme and enjoy again a nice difference.  

To be honest, I have to stop myself thinking of reasons to retire my 4 year old Mark 1 SL-X for the Xtreme. The SL-X is still going strong!

I have to say i find the CLX a better pole than the SLX.  I have both and have used the SLX for 4 days over the last week, was delighted to have a new brush on my CLX today so i could use it again. 

[[GQC] Tim]

Better bang for buck, but certainly not better in any way apart from the price I'm afraid.

[ray mck]

yep just got my first clx22 great

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

If you think a CLX is good, try an SL-X, big difference. Then go from an SL-X to SL2 or Xtreme and enjoy again a nice difference.  

To be honest, I have to stop myself thinking of reasons to retire my 4 year old Mark 1 SL-X for the Xtreme. The SL-X is still going strong!

I have to say i find the CLX a better pole than the SLX.  I have both and have used the SLX for 4 days over the last week, was delighted to have a new brush on my CLX today so i could use it again. 

That's the strangest statement I've seen for a long time!

[Paul Coleman]

If you think a CLX is good, try an SL-X, big difference. Then go from an SL-X to SL2 or Xtreme and enjoy again a nice difference.  

To be honest, I have to stop myself thinking of reasons to retire my 4 year old Mark 1 SL-X for the Xtreme. The SL-X is still going strong!

I have to say i find the CLX a better pole than the SLX.  I have both and have used the SLX for 4 days over the last week, was delighted to have a new brush on my CLX today so i could use it again. 

I'm surprised to read that.  CLX is fine but if you need to extend it fully at awkward angles, the bend in it (27 footer) can cause the clamps to catch on things.  But I don't expect SLX performance for CLX price.  In normal use I reckon the CLX is the best value when balancing price, performance, weight etc., but it's helpful to have a more rigid pole around too for exceptionally difficult windows.

[Richard iSparkle]

the bend in the CLX is useful too tho for some hard to reach windows.

i havent compared a longer CLX as I have bought the SLX 35

would be interesting to try an SLX 25 to compare with my CLX 22... 

so far for me though, the CLX wins hands down.  and i dont get black hands from it!