6/24/2008
3:55:29 PM 

so, I am doing my promotional work today,
I have been going around to all the dealers and distributors re-
introducing myself,
learning what has happen to old friends,
learning what did not happen to old friends,
meeting new ones,
meeting in person many people I have talked to on the phone,
learning all about the other inspectors who work my area,,,and
you know what!??? I bet when they call upon these people, they
say bad things about ME just like they do about THEM!

but, that is another story,,, I arrived at my last stop, went into
this ProSource in Greenville, SC...walked up to a lady not busy
with an As. Manager ID/plaque in front of her,
I introduced myself. She asked how she could help, and I
handed her my brochures I am so proud of I made myself! She
told me before she would recommend me or place them where
the people could see them, I would have to join, she handed me
a form to fill out.
I said no, and asked for the brochures back. A man sitting there
looked at them, told her I was an inspector and they would not
have a listing for me, and to just put them out. She informed
him she was the manager in charge and I would have to pay her.
I picked up my brochures, and left. I told her I would be calling
the corp. since I do some work for them already.

Gee, everywhere I go, somebody just has to start with
me,,,,then, I realized, Ray and Roger told her I was making the
rounds and said BAD THINGS ABOUT ME! :( YEA, YEA, YEA, YEA,
THATS IT!

6/24/2008
8:01:22 PM 

Retailers and associates need as much re-edumaction as installers and many inspectors.

Thats a good idea Lee, Just don't do it around these parts if you know whats good fer ya.

My good fortune is dependant on the uneducated.

6/24/2008
10:31:50 PM 

umm, Hugh, explain "pat each others back?"

Guys, you know, I have been enjoying this. I have not done it in
years! When I started, I hated making the rounds,,,,now, I look
forward to it. I am re-meeting old friends. For example, Tim
Wood would call me when he managed one store, I would drive
to it, we would get in his big ole pick-um truck, and go do
inspections in the mountains on his installation...we must have
talked for an hour last week....
At one store in Greer, I talked to another old friend for 45
minutes until a serious customer came in,
another store, I met a man who cussed me out many times on
the telephone,,,,the first thing he told me when he realized who I
was, was that if he had known how dang ugly I really really was,
he would have felt sorry for me and not cussed me, so much,
still would have cussed me, but, he said, not as much.
In Spartanburg, a man asked me to explain an old report, I did,
we went over it and the standards, after that, he was happy. He
said he did not like the "separation" between inspectors and
dealers. I told him there actually was not any separation, he
could hire me direct. He said that was good, and told me that is
what he is going to start doing.
Another store, in Taylors, SC asked me if I would give his sales
people a class. I have already done that some in Columbia, SC. I
said sure, but, only a "general standards" class.
Right now, this is like playing.

6/25/2008
1:05:47 AM 

Well... I guess that sounds a little friendly.
What about them Broncos?

Meanwhile back at the ranch.....
How many inspections do you do in Charlotte?
What are your limitations?
Prices?
I will be back in Charlotte in about 4 weeks perhaps we can talk or you can email me.

6/25/2008
9:27:44 PM 

We will not even be doing installs for a while if ever in the area. We are mainly internet.

We are just getting started in the area and you are restarting. The best way to get good business is with contacts, a good inspector is a lifeline in todays world.

I can set you up a profile link on the site,no charge.I will need a pic and all your info,you make the profile I will post the info you give.

I am working on one for Stephen, Hey Stephen I need a pic for your profile!

I can also generate a link and put your name in almost every flooring inspector page Yahoo Search will bring up in NC or SC.
Now you would have to pay me back for that but all cost will be open book.The average cost per click is about .35-.50 per click.

We have been online just over a year and we can rave with over 2 million page request to date.

Just remember us when you run across that guy looking for some flooring products.

I refer you, you refer me back.
You might even know some quality installers in the area that we can refer the customers to.

I do not want to run installers I do not have time.I do want my clients, if they outsource, to have good installer do the job.

Drop me a Direct email:
hscott@indianafloorsllc.com
We can talk further.

6/26/2008
8:14:09 PM 

You figured it out?

There is strength in numbers.

Hard to survive this life as an "Island", as you have chosen to do.
Being a part of something and being part of something bigger is the key. No secret to that.

6/26/2008
11:45:13 PM 

No phones in the office yet we just are running on cell phones.
My office manager is 704 AC the Ft Mill area.

He needs some good training and he picks up fast.
What would you charge to provide him with product information training.

When I get over there we always spend more time solving office issues, very little training time seems to be available.

6/27/2008
3:36:03 PM 

www.FloorReports.com

FloorReports was developed for the Certified Inspector to manage his business online, from report writing to status reports to invoicing to accounts receivables.
The site grew to be an online source for anybody searching for certified inspectors as well as an online Claims Management program for companies using Certified Inspectors.

This site, and affiliated sites, are popping up on search engines and becoming the dominant sites that pop up when searching for flooring inspectors.

The purpose of this post is to clarify Stephen's post. I'm sure there are inspectors not listed with www.FloorReports.com that are doing well without the exposure offered by FloorReports and the half dozen affiliated Certified Inspector Sites listing the participating inspectors.

Thank you for the post Stephen and the opportunity.

6/27/2008
6:52:50 PM 

Thank you for the post Stephen and the opportunity....to spam us again and again?

Yeah I should know better.