[gary999]

looking for unbiased opinion on a forum :

[Paul Coleman]

Definitely trawl the back posts to see who appears to give balanced viewpoints - pointing out both pros and cons of various products.  That is the most reliable guide IMO.  Being wary of someone's opinion who has very few posts is a good idea - especially if there is a positive reply from someone who also has very few posts as they may well be two people representing the same company (or even one person using two user names).  The lack of an email address/website may be a guide.  However, some (such as myself) choose not to make an email address public on the profile due to spambots.  Also, not everyone bothers with a website.

There are good reasons for not listing an email or website. With yourself and many others who do not list these details it is still fairly easy to see whether you are genuine and reliable. Looking back at the  history of your posts and the informative nature of what you post, it is easy to build up a picture of you and other users. I am sure though that you did use a genuine email when creating your account with CIU unlike our friend who has just joined us.

Indeed I did Alex.  My (hidden) email address is the real deal - as is the name on my postings.

[Paul Coleman]

How bizarre. I think Gardiners poles get a lot of acclaim on this site purely because they are so good and affordable. The annoying poster seems to have the memory of a gold fish regarding prices. Carbon poles were far more expensive five years ago.
The bent piece of metal he refers to was probably a gutterscoop Alex tried due to pressure from myself, we thought it might be possible to scoop out gutters from the ground with window cleaning poles. It wasn't a real success in reality. However Alex got one or two made up and welded from aluminium. of course they were going to be expensive, they wern't mass produced and considering the materials and man hours to make it I doubt Alex made any profit.
Gardiners are always popular because they listen and try different areas (remember vacuums and van mounts?) and make the products we want. I have many gardiners products and would say none of them are perfect but they are pretty dammed close. Why people choose to come on here just to knock a company and do nothing else is beyond me, maybe it's jealousy who knows?
I don't tend to have a go at products I haven't even used but I might moan about their prices or marketing techniques.
I've never owned anything from Ionics - don't like the fact I have to register just to view their catalogue.
Won't touch Brodex simply because of the way they tend to bombard you with texts or emails with 'special offers'
Facelift - don't know much about them just always thought they were pricey.
Pure freedom - no problems with them.
Tecbuk - I've bought from them but to be honest any following they might have had is being destroyed on this site by one moron.
Several other companies out there that I've never tried.

I've bought products from quite a few companies and the two that stand out for me for customer service and aftersales service are Omnipole and Gardiners.  Two very different styles of doing business yet I've been happy with both.  I did have to abandon using Omnipole's ali poles some time ago as I found that they were a bit heavy for every day use and affected my shoulder and elbow.  The poles may well be suitable for someone a lot younger than me though or someone who doesn't have any joint issues creeping in as they age though I do prefer to be able to alter brush angles.  This doesn't seem to be possible with the Omnipole poles as any attachments that fit on the end are not generic.  However, I've found Omnipole to be just fine for system maintenance and installation, finding one off solutions for unusual situations, fixing things on my van mount at short notice (this has been less necessary in recent years as I've learned to self maintain a lot better now) and the guys there have occasionally guided me through stuff over the phone.  The latter was non profit but I suppose they don't mind that if you spend money with them which is fair enough.

As far as Brodex is concerned, have you tried asking them to remove you from their telesales/text/email lists.  I did and they stopped.  Occasional mail or snailmail not so bad.  Receiving a call or a text while cleaning can be a pain though.  Especially so if I'm working 80 metres from the van and need to walk back to it to get my reading specs to read the text message.  I could have delayed reading I suppose but, for quite a while, I had an ongoing situation in my personal life that required me to respond/stop work urgently if I got a particular message.

As for Tecbuk.  I've done a small amount with them and all seemed OK.  If this "Alex." is from Tecbuk, as far as I'm concerned, he is harming what was a reasonable reputation.  I'm hoping that he isn't from Tecbuk as they were alright.

Alex (Gardiner) even made me up a particular tool recently as a one off (from pre-existing parts).  I'm pleased to report that it's made a couple of my jobs easier.  I haven't yet had the opportunity to use it on the job I bought it for as that isn't very frequent and won't come around again till late October/early November.  I'm sure that most supplier's wouldn't put themselves out like that and I wanted to say thanks more publicly.

[H S and Son]

My impression of this 'Alex' chap is that his modus-operandi is most similiar to Ewan. I imagine them to be the same individual.

[Londoner]

Forums are forums, you will not change the way people are. I have found several suppliers that I stick to because they are good. If somebody asks me who  I will tell them. Does that make me biased? Does that make the forum biased? If you want unbiased you will get no valid advise.

[jouk45]

i dont think many of the members intend to advertise any supplier, the whole idea is giving advice from experienced wfp cleaners to all newbies, which equipment, and new products they have tried, and then let us all know how it has improved their working day ect, myself i have some of the best poles and gadgets out their, yet i still prefer using my harris pole for domestic work,  :  so on my last note, am i advertising for harris, definitly not, gardiners is my N01 supplier for quality,,  because they have been around for many years, and are trust worthy,and the effort alex puts in to see that all is in order, i have also bought brushes from tecbuk and they are very good, the point is, we should be able to say, what we have bought and used, also company name without being accused of being a sales person, or agent,  for that company,

[wpclean]

i dont think many of the members intend to advertise any supplier, the whole idea is giving advice from experienced wfp cleaners to all newbies, which equipment, and new products they have tried, and then let us all know how it has improved their working day ect, myself i have some of the best poles and gadgets out their, yet i still prefer using my harris pole for domestic work,  :  so on my last note, am i advertising for harris, definitly not, gardiners is my N01 supplier for quality,,  because they have been around for many years, and are trust worthy,and the effort alex puts in to see that all is in order, i have also bought brushes from tecbuk and they are very good, the point is, we should be able to say, what we have bought and used, also company name without being accused of being a sales person, or agent,  for that company,

Good post, and i would take note of your reviews because I have read your back posts !
Which is the main point of most of the replies 

[G Griffin]

If I do post something, I am being dishonest, because I`m a liar.
So, don`t listen to me.

[mci services]

If I do post something, I am being dishonest, because I`m a liar.
So, don`t listen to me.

shut up you loony

[G Griffin]

If I do post something, I am being dishonest, because I`m a liar.
So, don`t listen to me.

shut up you loony

I was only being honest  .

[mci services]

If I do post something, I am being dishonest, because I`m a liar.
So, don`t listen to me.

shut up you loony

I was only being honest  .

don't believe you LIAR

[G Griffin]

If I do post something, I am being dishonest, because I`m a liar.
So, don`t listen to me.

shut up you loony

I was only being honest  .

don't believe you LIAR

That`s the problem with interweb forums.
Anyway, Kirsty Gallacher`s just called round wanting a bit. It`s a pity for her that I`m gay  .

[mci services]

If I do post something, I am being dishonest, because I`m a liar.
So, don`t listen to me.

shut up you loony

I was only being honest  .

don't believe you LIAR

That`s the problem with interweb forums.
Anyway, Kirsty Gallacher`s just called round wanting a bit. It`s a pity for her that I`m gay  .

that is a shame send her to mines my mrs is away and I am not gay

[CLEANCARE WC]

did your neighbour return your joint of beef in time for lunch today Griffin?

[G Griffin]

did your neighbour return your joint of beef in time for lunch today Griffin?

We didn`t lend it to them. Last time there were chunks missing out of it, which they filled with newspaper and painted brown.
Still, it tasted better than the missus`s meat usually does (ooh err), but it was just the cheek of it.

[G Griffin]

If I do post something, I am being dishonest, because I`m a liar.
So, don`t listen to me.

shut up you loony

I was only being honest  .

don't believe you LIAR

That`s the problem with interweb forums.
Anyway, Kirsty Gallacher`s just called round wanting a bit. It`s a pity for her that I`m gay  .

that is a shame send her to mines my mrs is away and I am not gay

I tried, Stu but she wants my big, black, circumcised, Jewish, ginger hair covered willy  .

[Paul Coleman]

Does anyone ever look back on their late night posts and cringe with embarrassment?

[G Griffin]

Does anyone ever look back on their late night posts and cringe with embarrassment?

Not usually. It`s a private joke, carried over from the other section.
I know I should take window cleaning more seriously, but I find it difficult at times.

Added later:
And there was a point to my silly posts. People can post all sorts, so who do you believe or trust?
Your van thread is a good example; you`d have been alright if you`d have paid for every job suggested  .
Still, too much info can be better than not enough; it`s sorting out which is best.

[richardlingard]

Gardiners do not need to promote thier products or poles at all whatsoever on here as everyoneknows they are the best and most affordable equipment avaliable, nor, looking over Mr Gardiners posts do i believe he does promote his products, i believe he is here to enjoy this forum like the rest of us and to understand what we all want and need as window cleaners, so he can stay at the top with cutting edge products and great customer service.

[Paul Coleman]

Does anyone ever look back on their late night posts and cringe with embarrassment?

Not usually. It`s a private joke, carried over from the other section.
I know I should take window cleaning more seriously, but I find it difficult at times.

Added later:
And there was a point to my silly posts. People can post all sorts, so who do you believe or trust?
Your van thread is a good example; you`d have been alright if you`d have paid for every job suggested  .
Still, too much info can be better than not enough; it`s sorting out which is best.

I'm surprised that I wasn't inundated with posts trying to sell me vans and systems 
As for the suggestions, although I will never be a mechanic, I can usually filter which suggestions and diagnoses are right for me and the van.
There are two elements for me with the van:  Keepiung the cost down.  Keeping the stress and complication down.  We are all very individual in our situations.  I believe that I've steered the right course for me in getting it sorted.  It's not the cheapest way.  It's not the way that would be the most complicated for me either.