Maybe some of you other vendors have had this problem. Granite guy calls and he's going to send employees to a Corian certification class. Of course, Dupont has a set list of tools you MUST have at the class. Been the same list of tools for as long as I can remember. We provide exactly what is on the list. We've done this 100's of time but the vast majority are usually to cabinet folks or several individuals getting in to doing their own Solid Surface tops.

Granite guy is oblivious to what these tools are for or how to use them. We try to educate them as best we can. However, 2 times in the last month we get a call perhaps a week after granite guy has taken the class informing us that the class is over and they no longer need some of the tools. This is due in part to several factors:

A) They're cheap bastards and think "big box mentallity." In other words, buy it on a Friday, return it on a Monday with some excuse.

B) Someone at the class informs them that they can save a buck (literally) on a differant product.

C) Both of the above.

We at Federal, DO NOT rent tools. We deliver what they ask for on their PO#, get paid for it and hope we can supply their Solid Surface tool needs down the road. The problem is granite guy has been conditioned to attempt any way possible to BS, lie & screw  his way in to the cheapest thing he can buy without regard to building relationships IMO.

Anyone had this problem?

Dave,

Can I borrow the Festool plunge saw Wes has for a couple hours?

John

Cristina, cristina, cristina...Yes you may but this, to me, is a very important topic.

Ok, if your serious, it is his sample tool. Have him leave it for a couple of days.

Cristina, I was kidding as well.

Dave G., a used Porter-Cable 332 sander? These things are like $69.00. No market for used. A used 3/8" single flute plunge bit? No market. These guys are attempting to use a supplier to get through the class. Aint happening with this supplier.

One granite guy that called had spoken to a differant supplier. The granite guy faxed me their "suggested tools". It included a 6" Festool Rotex! No solid surface class, EVER has a Rotex on their list for a class and I told the guy as much. Saved him a lot of money...then he attempts to screw me. 

Ummmmm, ISSFA uses Festool sanders in their class, I'm just sayin.

Norm,

That's the best way to do it. We sell SS,E-Stone, & Granite. But the one thing we never do is bad mouth one or the other with the potential customer. The main thing we do is Educate the customer on these products and let them make an informed decision.  By the way Dave, that cyclone 3/16 coring bit is working awesome 17 holes and counting. Waiting on the next set of letters to come in before we drill. Since I'm not truly a "Granite Guy"  can I return when i'm done if I repaint the worn area?

When I took the Avonite training in Belen, NM, at their plant, there was a couple of granite guys there taking the training.  One of them didn't know anything about routers, kept trying  to push it the wrong way with hillarous results to his work.   He kept showing up later and later, till on the finial day, it was around 11:00 or so when he showed up.

Talk about hacked up projects, the rest of us were glad these two bozos were there, made us look good.  They said they were taking the training so they could buy the sinks.

Al, there's more to this story than I can say right now. As soon as I can, I'll let all of you know what extremes granite guy will go to. This granite dude is about to be summarliy spanked like he's never felt before.

Don't get me wrong, we have many granite companies that see a value in our service and I am very grateful for them. However, there is a certain segment of this industry that wants to play games. What they fail to realize is that I am a master at game playing!

Avonite offers their class about once a month and only costs $400.  While you still have to head to the factory in Belen, NM you should be able to catch a competitve fare on Southwest into Albuquerque.  After 3 days you will be trained in Acrylics and Polyesters and see some great stuff on the plant tour. 

Chris