Local suppliers

Do you have one locally ? What do you think about them ? Or do you exclusively buy your stuffs online ?
My experience with my local suppliers has not been entirely good, I feel that they think I need them more than they need me.

All on line. It is nice to have a place where you can just pop right on in and get something in an emergency. One thing I will no longer do is pay to ship water my main cleaning solution is going to powder. Procyon to be exact

I have 2 suppliers about 45 minutes away. One is a franchise and the other is an independent.....neither has been great. Neither one keeps much in inventory and has to order most things that I need so I figure that I can do the same thing.

I buy most of my stuff online.

Me too, Jon don has been beyond great for me, trustworthy, takes care of issues ( wrong part, etc ), and great chemical prices, as well as Joe for wands and accessories purchase.
I just hate when a business feels that their customers need them, it's really stupid ! The feeling should be mutual, I can't imagine treating my customers the way my local disty is treating me.

On chemicals, the local has the upper hand so they can act that way. My brother is the absolute worst customer service guy in the world, but his is also the only boat repair place within 100 miles, so people tolerate it.

For me, the problem isn't the chemicals, it is all those little thing that you suddenly need like hose reducers, shut-off valves, QC, etc. I left my 1.5 hose reducer in the shop awhile back and figured I would swing by the distributor and pick up a new one.....neither business had one.

Sad, a part that is a common need item had to be ordered. They are nice people and are always friendly, but when all they can do is tell me that they can order the item, what value do they really have?

My local is crap.
They carry very little that I need. What they do have is BETCO stuff. So I always ordered online.

Like 175 pads. I have a smaller machine (12 inch) and I would have to buy a box of pads and they were 4x the price I could order them for.

Window cleaning, they didn't carry the cleaners I wanted (glass gleam), only had limited and WAY overpriced stuff, and just flat out didn't want to work with me.

My local sucks. If I have to drive an hour or more for a good supplier, I'll just order it and save the hassle.

Funny how Freemind's experience is a common one.  How do these places stay in business unless the majority of the cleaners in that area use Betco....which is more janitorial anyway.

Someday I want to open a small distributorship with the cleaner in mind.  I don't think you can make everyone happy when it comes to chemicals and that takes up a lot storage space, so I would probably just carry one product line and then stock the hell out of all the disposable items that we all need a ton of over the year.

Then, you offer an oil change and tm tune-up service for both the van and machine along with a testing room that every cleaner can go to try out the tools and chemicals before-hand.

Now that would be my kind of distributorship....and hula girls, has to have hula girls.

Anyone want to spot me a few hundred thousand to make this happen?  Dp, your year has been going well and maybe AC could chip in to help an American who is down on his luck.

Sounds like a pretty solid idea.

Can anyone spare a dime for a brotha, to help him out?

I can help with the filter bags.
And maybe some felsnaptha bars

Joe is my local guy so that works out well, but hes about 45min south of me so I do grab a lot of stuff at Jon Don.

Interlink is also nice, they are also about 45min away.. theres only one in south seattle but they have some stuff like the omni minis (which are awsome btw) that jon don doesnt.


Heading there soon to grab some flex ice

Sounds like you have good support in your area then AC....I am jealous.

Rob, who should I make the check out to ? A million is good or you need more ?

Try living in the middle of the Pacific ocean. I use Jon Don for stuff I can't find here. All but one of the suppliers is janitorial. The one carpet cleaner specific disty is a competitor. I've always ordered dry powders in bulk from the mainland as well as parts. Order several extras unless you think you won't be in business next year. LOL I use Jon Don's encap and pads. Cheaper than the local supplier. He was charging $35 a gallon. I said f$$K that and ordered from Jon Don.

I'll load my suitcase with extras for you when I fly down in March Rainbow.

98% Jon Don.....I have no real local and the ones that are close enough to travel to always self promote.....they are big and have a cleaning company as well....If I want something and they dont carry it, they say this is better! get this and grab it as if I'm getting it. NOBODY spends my money.....except my wife....oh, and my son. Both of which manage money well.

Milspec6, Looking forward to it. In February the wife and I are planning on a vacation to Australia and NZ with my brother and his wife from Kansas. Our first vacation together since we were kids.

I am jealous....never made it to Australia, but did make it to NZ years ago. I think I still smell the sulphur to this day.