[SPE]

..................has this thread been locked ?

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=128977.0

have just been reading it with interest as I've had a few issues with clamps etc. NOT just gardiners products but with the quality and design of products in general.

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=128703.msg1115764#msg1115764

I'd like to have added that a clamp coming unstuck or a barrel nuts thread stripping in itself is no big deal to put right but the down time and emailing or phoning to get some glue sent and waiting in for delivery etc. is a pain.

Alex, If I were to order a new pole from you I would be asking for some glue, a couple of spare clamps and a handful of barrel nuts to be sent out with the pole as a matter of course.
Your products are at the frontline in innovation and competitively priced, plus supported by excellent  customer service.
I think a little tool kit of essential parts and glue , stop tape etc. sent with every new pole would be a good idea.

Simon

[paul saunders]

Sending out spare clamps/parts and glue is like admitting there is a problem with the pole being supplied. No supplier in his right mind is going to do that. Plus why would they give away products that they could sell for a profit.

[Alex Gardiner]

 

I think that Simon's idea of carrying a few spares is a good idea - a bit like buying a puncture repair kit when getting a new bike (doesn't come as standard but useful in case you need it).  I never bother carrying spare clamp bodies though as the most a loose clamp will ever need out in the field is a quick wrap of tape.

We could supply a 'kit' with each pole, but this would have to be reflected in the pricing of the pole as they are already keenly priced.  This would mean that the vast majority (99%) of pole users would be paying more for their pole for the minority (1%) of clients who experience a problem with their pole - not such a good idea and not actually necessary.  All our spares are fairly priced and a quick comparison on replacement pole parts will show this to be true.  If a client does have an issue with a reasonably new pole, we always send the spares out for free in any case.   As this doesn't happen very often this is not something we have to factor into the pricing of the poles.

[davids3511]

Alex one bugbear of mine a couple of weeks ago was I bought a couple of new clamp bodies and a couple of new leavers but the barrel nut doesn't seem to be considered part of the lever. I stupidly assumed it would be and was disapointed when it all arrived and I couldn't do anything with it as I had no barrel nuts.

[Alex Gardiner]

Alex one bugbear of mine a couple of weeks ago was I bought a couple of new clamp bodies and a couple of new leavers but the barrel nut doesn't seem to be considered part of the lever. I stupidly assumed it would be and was disapointed when it all arrived and I couldn't do anything with it as I had no barrel nuts.

Hi David

To assemble a complete new clamp, you would need to purchase a clamp body and a complete lever set. The lever sets comprise a lever arm, barrel nut, stainless bolt and bolt cap. We also supply the lever arms as a separate item - just replacing a lever arm will refresh the cam part of the lever which does the most work day in and day out on the clamp and is obviously much cheaper to buy as a single item.

If you need the links to these products, email me on alex@agardiner.co.uk and I can email you the different links for each item. If you are still in need of some new barrel nuts then either email me or ring the Office and we can sort this for you.

[SPE]

Sending out spare clamps/parts and glue is like admitting there is a problem with the pole being supplied. No supplier in his right mind is going to do that. Plus why would they give away products that they could sell for a profit.

fair point, but how many posts have you read lately regarding the glue on the clamp levers ?
All but one of my levers has needed to be re-glued so far in the last 1 - 12 months.
I expect this to some extent though due to heavy usuage.
Alex is very good at sending out replacement parts and spares (and as he says often free of charge for recent purchases - thats brilliant service ) however things normally fail when you least want them to and the down time and waiting for a delivery is annoying.
Personally I still think its a good idea ; there would'nt be so many complaints with regards to the clamps etc. on an open forum, less emails and postage costs to cover.
I know its like admitting theres a fault and in an ideal world there would'nt be the need, but its the real world and reading this forum shows there is a need.

[Tom White]

Alex, I'm interested in buying a 'clamp repair kit'; could you put the links up here; or could you just bag one and stick a price on it and give me a link where to buy the thing?

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

I've never had one fail in 4 years of using Gardiners poles.

The people who have them fail- do you let the clamps slam together when collapsing your poles?

I don't but my poles get hammered in every other way, I've just never had an issue with the clamps coming loose.

[Alex Gardiner]

Alex, I'm interested in buying a 'clamp repair kit'; could you put the links up here; or could you just bag one and stick a price on it and give me a link where to buy the thing?

Hi Tosh

I cannot put links on this site, but drop me an email on alex@agardiner.co.uk and let me know what you need.

Sending out spare clamps/parts and glue is like admitting there is a problem with the pole being supplied. No supplier in his right mind is going to do that. Plus why would they give away products that they could sell for a profit.

fair point, but how many posts have you read lately regarding the glue on the clamp levers ?
All but one of my levers has needed to be re-glued so far in the last 1 - 12 months.
I expect this to some extent though due to heavy usuage.
Alex is very good at sending out replacement parts and spares (and as he says often free of charge for recent purchases - thats brilliant service ) however things normally fail when you least want them to and the down time and waiting for a delivery is annoying.
Personally I still think its a good idea ; there would'nt be so many complaints with regards to the clamps etc. on an open forum, less emails and postage costs to cover.
I know its like admitting theres a fault and in an ideal world there would'nt be the need, but its the real world and reading this forum shows there is a need.

Hi SPE

The problem is not really admitting fault, but the incurred cost that everyone would have to carry for such a low % of occurrence with the poles. The other problem is which clamps would you include in a standard pack? If this was to be done you would have to include one of each size of clamp when in reality the clamps almost never break, they just occasionally come loose.

I can only think that a pole repair kit should include the following:

1 tube of glue
1 alcohol wipe
1 roll of tape for joint stops and 'on-the-job' repairs
2 spare barrel nuts
1 spare lever

Retail value about £10 - The only items that are not readily available from your local Asda are the barrel nuts and spare lever. Quite a few of our clients do maintain a spares toolbox which includes clamp parts.

Personally this is what I carry in the back of my van as spares (apart from 2 spare poles):

2x spare brushes
3x spare plastic angle adapters
1x carbon gooseneck
4x brush socket screws
2x standard brush sockets
2x 90° brush sockets
1x alloy top screw
2x end caps
2x pole hose lengths
8x male EZ-Snap connectors
20x O Clips various sizes
2x pole valves
1x Protecta-Ball
1x reel of insulating tape

This is just the pole spares, I then have many pump, hose and fittings spares in another toolbox.

I do not carry spare clamp bodies, levers or other clamp parts. The most these have ever needed is some tape - on some of my prototype poles the clamps are not glued on, but are taped on to allow easy access for making changes and adjustments.

Like any spares, you hope you won't need them but life happens and it helps to be prepared.

[SPE]

Alex, I'm interested in buying a 'clamp repair kit'; could you put the links up here; or could you just bag one and stick a price on it and give me a link where to buy the thing?

Hi Tosh

I cannot put links on this site, but drop me an email on alex@agardiner.co.uk and let me know what you need.

Sending out spare clamps/parts and glue is like admitting there is a problem with the pole being supplied. No supplier in his right mind is going to do that. Plus why would they give away products that they could sell for a profit.

fair point, but how many posts have you read lately regarding the glue on the clamp levers ?
All but one of my levers has needed to be re-glued so far in the last 1 - 12 months.
I expect this to some extent though due to heavy usuage.
Alex is very good at sending out replacement parts and spares (and as he says often free of charge for recent purchases - thats brilliant service ) however things normally fail when you least want them to and the down time and waiting for a delivery is annoying.
Personally I still think its a good idea ; there would'nt be so many complaints with regards to the clamps etc. on an open forum, less emails and postage costs to cover.
I know its like admitting theres a fault and in an ideal world there would'nt be the need, but its the real world and reading this forum shows there is a need.

Hi SPE

The problem is not really admitting fault, but the incurred cost that everyone would have to carry for such a low % of occurrence with the poles. The other problem is which clamps would you include in a standard pack? If this was to be done you would have to include one of each size of clamp when in reality the clamps almost never break, they just occasionally come loose.

I can only think that a pole repair kit should include the following:

1 tube of glue
1 alcohol wipe
1 roll of tape for joint stops and 'on-the-job' repairs
2 spare barrel nuts
1 spare lever

Retail value about £10 - The only items that are not readily available from your local Asda are the barrel nuts and spare lever. Quite a few of our clients do maintain a spares toolbox which includes clamp parts.

Personally this is what I carry in the back of my van as spares (apart from 2 spare poles):

2x spare brushes
3x spare plastic angle adapters
1x carbon gooseneck
4x brush socket screws
2x standard brush sockets
2x 90° brush sockets
1x alloy top screw
2x end caps
2x pole hose lengths
8x male EZ-Snap connectors
20x O Clips various sizes
2x pole valves
1x Protecta-Ball
1x reel of insulating tape

This is just the pole spares, I then have many pump, hose and fittings spares in another toolbox.

I do not carry spare clamp bodies, levers or other clamp parts. The most these have ever needed is some tape - on some of my prototype poles the clamps are not glued on, but are taped on to allow easy access for making changes and adjustments.

Like any spares, you hope you won't need them but life happens and it helps to be prepared.

sorry Alex I was meaning pretty much what you've listed rather than clamp bodies as spares
ie; a spare lever and a handful of barrel nuts plus glue
Yes ,I like many others do carry a tool kit (nowhere near as extensive as yours )and have bought glue and repaired as and when needed from asda or wherever. I do not know what glue you send out to people (presume its a two part epoxy resin type araldite stuff) but you obviously recommend it and it maybe better than what people will be buying locally to them hence the suggestion of a repair kit , that icidentally atleast one person (tosh) is already interested in 

[Alex Gardiner]

]sorry Alex I was meaning pretty much what you've listed rather than clamp bodies as spares
ie; a spare lever and a handful of barrel nuts plus glue
Yes ,I like many others do carry a tool kit (nowhere near as extensive as yours )and have bought glue and repaired as and when needed from asda or wherever. I do not know what glue you send out to people (presume its a two part epoxy resin type araldite stuff) but you obviously recommend it and it maybe better than what people will be buying locally to them hence the suggestion of a repair kit , that icidentally atleast one person (tosh) is already interested in 

Yes, any two part epoxy glue like Araladite will do the job.  It's important to mix the two parts thoroughly though and apply to both surfaces and then twist together.
I'm waiting for an email from Tosh