Government involvement Poll

[Tony Shelton]

This poll is anonymous so vote how you really feel about it.

True or False

If you are a professional it is perfectly acceptable to lobby the local/state/federal government and help them write BMP's that make it almost virtually impossible for competitors to bid on jobs unless they already own or go out an purchase the thousands of dollars of equipment that you own.

[Carolina ProWash]

Tony that is dumb. We don't own the thousand's of dollars of "the" equipment, yet we can still bid on any job we want to. It's not all about the equipment :(

[GrimeBusters]

Only in America.

[Guy B]

It's not all about the equipment :(

What Chew Talkin Bout Willis?!?!?! Hahahahaah!!!!!!!!!

[Tony Shelton]

Tony that is dumb. We don't own the thousand's of dollars of "the" equipment, yet we can still bid on any job we want to. It's not all about the equipment :(

I don't understand your statement. I'm not making any accusations. I'm just trying to get a feel for where people stand on this issue.

Let me give an example to make this more understandable.

Let's say you own a roof cleaning company. You don't have any concrete evidence that there is any detrimental effect to any forms of life using bleach the proper way. YET, you have come up with a bleach substitute (that, of course doesn't work nearly as well, and you can sell at a higher profit) and you lobby the government using your money to scare the daylights out of politicians and homeowners so that they write laws ELIMINATING the use of bleach thus lining your own pockets based on false science.

That is EXACTLY what is happening in the "reclaim" industry. The question is IS IT ACCEPTABLE?

[Russ Spence]

The more equipment needed the more me and Guy like it!

HAPPINESS IS A YARD FULL OF EQUIPMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tony Shelton]

BTW Russ, how's that reclaim working out for ya? I heard it cleans the carpet out in the truck pretty good. And if you hook a flo-bee up to it you can trim a dog in a jiffy!

[Carolina ProWash]

That's what I'm getting at........your statement implies that the professionals are the ones with equipment already or have the means to get it or may be selling it.

MY point is that being environmentally responsible is something that we should do as people not at contractors, but at the same time, as contractors our responsibility is elevated because of what we do. Everybody always wants to build a better mousetrap and those people are always going to try to sell that mousetrap. As a professional, I simply want to insure that the rules in place about an activity (pressure washing) don't force me to buy something in order to be compliant that I can't afford.......

Oh I am rambling. Just got home from my son's football game - he was a STAR :) Gained more yards in ONE run than the entire team did for the rest of the game. Poop on pressure washing - I'm raising a pro football player!

[Guy B]

The more equipment needed the more me and Guy like it!

HAPPINESS IS A YARD FULL OF EQUIPMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You're one up on me Big Fella, reclaim. That will be my next purchase, and it will be this year......Craigslist and ebay willing.:)

I think it's how you market the Enviro side of this. Sure you may be able to do the same thing with a sump pump and a tank, but it's hard to sell a sump pump and a tank. Demo a Pro reclaim set-up for a customer, demo a sump pump and tank for a customer...See what I mean? I like to make a show of it myself, then sell higher price.

Gov and States are going to enforce CWA, BMP's and it's going to get worse. States are hurting for money, busting Contractors for non-compliance will be a easy Money Maker. I'm going to get ready, even though flatwork ain't my main thing, I'll have more stuff in the yard. :)

[GrimeBusters]

I'm big on smaller, less intrusive government. That said, realistically the Fed's and local authorities will realize all the potential revenue they are missing out on, and the CWA will eventually be strictly enforced, coast to coast.

Environmentally friendly cleaning works, and for some clients is the closer, at least in my experience. I've found several excellent products that I use exclusively, all of which are eco friendly, bio degradable, etc.

Once the economy rebounds, we will once again be able to enjoy the $0.20 a sq ft + reclaim rates. Currently, at least in my market, my reclaim jobs are well below that rate.

Speaking of work, gota go............