© 2007
Door & Access Systems
Publish Date: Spring 2007
Author: Tom Wadsworth
Page 69
Letters to the Editor
Agrees About Commissioned Technicians
I greatly enjoyed reading your winter issue on “Sharpening
Our Professional Standards.”
The paragraph titled “A Rip-Off Feeding Frenzy”
was so good, I may frame it. When you have technicians who
are paid by commission and strongly pushed to average more
than $400 per call, the customer will certainly lose.
I was pleased to see someone speak out on these issues. Hopefully,
your article will begin a healthy industry dialogue that results
in positive changes for the industry.
Jim Duke
Bama Garage Door Company
Birmingham, Ala.
“Deluxe” Service Call
This past Saturday, I received a call from an area condo
owner with a problem that sounded like a broken or misaligned
cable. I couldn't get there until Monday, so she called [a
garage door repair company].
I saw the invoice a few days later when I went to that same
condo to fix a torsion spring that had just broken. Here are
the charges:
§ Replace “Deluxe” cables: $85
§ Replace “Deluxe” cable drums: $60
§ Replace 10 2" rollers: $140
§ Replace two end-bearing plates: $105(!)
§ Labor: $39.95
§ Fuel charge: $7
The total bill was $436.95, and the service tech didn’t
even tighten the nuts on the loose hinges. I felt very bad
for the young lady and the condo association that had paid
the bill on the spot. This job read just like one of your
articles.
It’s time to spread the word again ... Buyer Beware.
Harry Peat
Clymer Overhead Door Service
Westerville, Ohio
Mistaken Identity #1
We found two stories in your winter issue to be very interesting
reading.
First, our business was also targeted by the Internet relay
call scam. We investigated the calls by questioning the operator,
our phone provider, and the police, but we didn’t get
anywhere. It’s sad, but we now no longer accept Internet
relay calls.
The other article was about Precision Door Service (PDS).
Our company is Precision Building Products, and we have two
divisions, Precision Overhead Door and Precision Builders
(garage building division). We have separate crews for both
our divisions. We’ve been in business since 1979, and
we have no connection with the PDS mentioned in your recent
articles.
Since your latest article was published, some of our suppliers
have asked us if we are a PDS franchise. We have an excellent
reputation and are IDEA accredited. But the scams of these
franchises (whether a fact or an accusation) are negatively
affecting our reputation.
We are very disappointed in companies that give our industry
a bad name. They only confirm the saying that “money
is the root of all evil.”
Chris Schmitz
Precision Building Products
Fond du Lac, Wis.
Mistaken Identity #2
My name is Dave Dubois, and I have been in the garage door
industry for about 15 years now, working for a professional
door dealer (in Buffalo, N.Y.), Windsor Door, Wayne-Dalton,
Marantec, and now with C.H.I.
Your fall 2006 interview with Precision Door mentioned another
David Dubois, a Yellow Pages rep who was involved with the
founding of PDS.
Many industry friends, customers, and people I have met over
the years have asked me if I am that David Dubois, but I am
not.
I wish to put this question to rest, as I have worked hard
to build a good reputation in our industry. I hope you will
publish this letter to clarify the issue.
Dave Dubois
Regional Sales Manager
C.H.I. Overhead Doors
Church Hill, Tenn.
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