If only...

[MattF]

companies still had this attitude today. Was browsing through some old advertising literature, and came across this:

Definitely not an approach one is liable to see today. Also noted this one:

Seems import gear had been getting a bad reputation for a lot longer than one would think.

Both links from this page:

http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Drummond_Brothers

 

[TechnicAl]

I think some companies still do..........its customers that dont

cheap, cheap, cheap

 

[MattF]

I think some companies still do..........its customers that dont

cheap, cheap, cheap

That's a good point. There must be someone out there who still has good service and backup.

 

[TechnicAl]

I think there are some still clinging on by the skin of their teeth.

I know MIG wire and the history. We started Lincoln in Sheffield in the mid 90s. We struggled with quality and then with price competing against the Italians who got EEC subsidies and we didnt.
We battled against them and even sold the stuff at less than cost to keep the place going. Im sure we were close to closure once or twice.

Then China started selling MIG wire over here........so the Italians werent cheap anymore.........so it got worse until the welders woke up and told the buyers that this stuff is crap so instead of going back to Italy (many of them had stopped) they bought the good stuff Lincoln made.

I havent been involved for over 5 years now but I keep in touch and they are maxxed out. They can sell it for good prices and they cant make enough.

Thats just one story (that I was involved with) but Im sure there are lots of other firms having similar success.

 

[MattF]

It's good to hear there are some companies who dug their heels in and came through okay. Must've been a bit of a nailbiter for them on occasion.

 

[TechnicAl]

It's good to hear there are some companies who dug their heels in and came through okay. Must've been a bit of a nailbiter for them on occasion.

It was and it didnt happen until we got the quality right...........I spent years going round Lincoln sales outlets all over Europe telling them how good it was........only to have to return and apologise.
Eventually we built a test rig that gave us a number on how good the feeding was (under severe conditions). That gave us the where with all to make changes and assess the effects........and to argue with stroppy customers..........I even refused to supply one who constantly blamed the wire when it was clearly due to lack of maintenance / spend on equipment. They were so arrogant that if they had feed problems they would throw the spool outside. The wire would rust and then we couldnt even test it. They even blamed the wire one day when I was there and they were welding with the wrong size drive rolls and contact tip cut in half. They closed and I wasnt sorry (which is not my usual position)