[John Kelly]

Shaw industries, one of the worlds largest carpet manufacturers are changing their domestic warranties from 2008. They now state that the carpet should be cleaned with HWE at least every 2 years. From 2008 they will state that the carpet should be cleaned at least every 2 years............by an IICRC registered company who must have an IICRC technician on site and they must use products and equipment certified by the CRI. How do you get your equipment and products certified, you have to take it to them in America pay them about 3000 dollars and an annual fee if it passes. They state this is to protect the consumer. I think it is just another way to extract money from manufacturers (which is passed on to you). PS Rug Doctor is CRI approved.
See here http://www.iicrc.org/SHAWPressRelease9-2006.pdf

[BRSL]

That good news surely

but how do you mean take there equipment to the states for testing does this mean ours or the manafacture to do it on the equipment they supply if so also good news as mine won the gold award for maximum soil removal using the RDM or RX20 

James

[John Kelly]

It probably won't make one jot of difference to us over here and most people wouldn't read their carpet warranty even if they got one.
Shaws have alway advocated HWE to clean their carpets. What I object to is this "you must use this or that culture" and then you have these psuedo organisations which spring up, which have one purpose, to make money.
Manufacturers have to take their equipment for testing. This all adds to the end price.

[NigelD]

I agree with James, surely this is good news.

Is it not the first step towards a more professional approach?

Nigel

[craigp]

its good to a point, im IICRC quilified but a 'IICRC certified firm' is different thats purly finacial once you have quilification, ie. you have to pay a yearly fee.

[Art]

That's a good post John.

When i was on an IICRC course earlier this year that was mentioned, but as i suspected it was only a selling point to get the £40 for the exam, which thankfully i decided not to take.

Yet another marketing ploy.

 Wolf in lambs clothing springs to mind.

[carpetguy]

In 20 years of c/c I have never been asked about the method I used, with regards to, whether, or not, it complied with warranties.

robbie

[Ian Gourlay]

Art

It was £40 for exam and then another £100 to be a certified firm.

The problem is if we want receptable well run organizations at some point you have to have administration, meetings etc.

Look at all the time you Chris and Andy put into your organization.

[Art]

Ian,

 I understand what your saying but... the figures in the first post are a bit much, especially for a new starter.

As has been said many times before on the forums, how many people have heard of or care if your in an organisation or not?

Arthur

Ps The SCSF was set up to help people, not to extract money from them.

[John Kelly]

I'm all for the qualification of carpet cleaners. That can only be a good thing. It is the other "organisations" which spring up which I am concerned about.
If you certify a machine it doesn't say the person using it is going to use it effectively, but I suppose if he was trained as well, maybe a good thing.
Problem is the customer doesn't care a jot.

[Robert Watson]

Sorry guys have to disagree, most might care on initial contact.
But when your giving your pitch, " Yes madam I am an NCCA members Bla, Bla Bla."
I can easily make them feel like they are getting the best possible service.
And I get the best possible price. (Still working on that, but getting better all the time)
Rab.

[Ian Gourlay]

John

I agree with you about  the equipment side.

Was pleased to see my Rug Doctor qualified

But I also  have a superior piece of equipment also where the manufacturer did not have it tested, which would mean I would have to use my rug doctor.


A lot of us quote Shaw industries in our scripts etc, but I have read many variants from truck mounts  to HWE (never rug doctor) as their preferred method.

Not being as knowledgeable of Carpet Suppliers in UK as I would like.

But on my visit to Carpet Shops in UK I cannot recall seeing  product  made by Shaw industries


If this scheme did come to UK perhaps full IICRC membership would be better than NCCA


At the risk of  starting a debate it has been said before that IICRC is not a trade body but NCCA  both give an industry training qualification.