Now I know we have all had discussions about manufacturer’s websites that require us to register to download tech brochures, data, dwgs, etc., and how it is an unnecessary step.
BUT THIS ONE TAKES THE CAKE!
I am so very angry at this I had to share with my fellow specifiers. Sorry LOL!
After registering, and going through the whole process at this site, up pops a error code saying that my zip code indicates that I cannot get their brochure or tech data because they do not offer products in my area!!! OMG!!! REALLY…REALLY!! Do they NOT UNDERSTAND!!! I am trying to specify their products on a HUGE COLLEGE project, and I am hitting a roadblock like this!!!
Je suis tellement en colre ce fabricants stupides que je pouvais cracher. Jsus-Christ!
AS I mentioned earlier - When I attend Construct in Phoenix in September, I plan on informing each manufacturer who requires registration to access their website, that I will not be specifying their product.
I’ve spent the better part of a year updating a Master Guide Spec for a Client and I can tell you with reasonable certainty, that any manufacturer who required registration to access their website did not make it into my spec.
@Gerard, yes French is the best language to swear with these days when everyone has evolved to Spanish or German. LOL!
@Gerard and @Richard; I do have to specify this product for job though. I cannot call them because I want to maintain some civility.
I did tell the architect what was going on; he cannot get them on the phone either. So, hopefully…he will see this as I see it. Hopefully I do not have specify them any longer. I would love to yell out publicly whom this manufacturer is to all of you…but again…I would like to maintain my sweet southern composure. LOL hee hee.
There are limits, but simply registering for site access is not an unreasonable request, as long as it’s limited to a few items. I certainly don’t mind registering once, and most websites will set a cookie so you don’t have to log in again.
In this case, it seems Melissa had to go through a lot more than entering her name, and the automated response was ridiculous. I have several canned responses of my own, which I quickly send to those manufacturers who put up unnecessary roadblocks. The good thing is, while I used them frequently many years ago, I haven’t had occasion to use one for quite some time, so things are getting better.
Refusing to specify those manufacturers that require registration is similar to the “I won’t specify you unless you’re a CSI member” attitude. Remember, you’re working for your client, and if you eliminate a perfectly good product - perhaps one superior to all others - simply because the manufacturer wants you to register, you are not serving your client’s best interest.
Point taken.
Given all others interests, mine count for something too and I do not live to feed demographics to marketing people. Dante has a level of hell designated for marketing people.
Sometimes the simple solution is an email to the appropriate person avoiding the bottom feeders. I always remember the author Tom Peters solution he used when he was having some difficulty with a company. He contacted the CEO. Sometimes all it takes is the top guys knowing that they could lose business due to their own employees actions. Remember, all they hear from their employees is that everything is fine and that marketing is now gotten all these new business leads.
If it was only that easy…
Sheldon is right. We cannot just ignore a manufacturer but we have trouble with getting their info. I also remember when I recieved a set of shop drawings that looked like a 3rd grader drew it. I wanted to reject it, but after talking to the lead CA on the project, I was persuaded to change my mind. The subcontractor was the best installer of the product in the area. He just did not hire good draftsmen. As my CA put it, do you fire the best installer just because they give you bad shops? The shop drawings were right with the information on them. They were just sloppy and hard to understand. BTW, they were even drawn on Manilla Construction paper. I keep saying the guy got his kids to do the shop drawings.
The true absurdity here is the assumption that the specifier only works in her local area. How parochial is that? My firm does work all over the United States as do many others. I would hope I would not have to “register” each project that was in a different part of the country. That said, I do appreciate when a manufacturer’s representative tells me honestly that they do not have a presence in a certain area. In fact, that is something I try to allow for when editing my master specifications for a particular project.
Yes, it is maddening to have to register to get information from a manufacturer’s web site, especially when it is more cumbersome than it needs to be. If someone can demonstrate the value to my client of my registering I will do so gladly.
What if Melissa gave the information to all of us and we all informed the manufacturer of our displeasure? I think we’d carry more weight as a larger set of individuals.
I understand what Sheldon is saying, but our time, especially for the independents out there, is valuable and to have to spend an inordinate amount of time registering for access to a website as did Melissa, and then be told they can’t send you the info because of your location is a total waste of time. When I was working on the master updates, I was on a tight schedule and didn’t have a lot of time to waste, so if I couldn’t get the info I needed, I moved on to the next manufacturer. Another way around it - most websites have some contact info available before you need to register - so if I really wanted or needed to spec that product, I would call them. At the same time I would explain to them my frustration with being required to register.
It would be a valuable service that CSI could perform for its members if it offered marketing tips to those who want to sell to us. Maybe they do: does anyone know?
Or, CSI could develop a website registering system so that we would register once, for all manufacturers who participated. I’d bet that a lot of manufacturers would find it valuable enough to spend money on.
I keep thinking that if CSI offered more, tangible benefits, people would want to join. I hope CSI staff monitors forums such as this to learn better what are the daily hassles. Then they can try new ideas rather than focusing on the same old insurance and car rental benefits.
I do a monthly newsletter to manufacturers - advertisers and those who want the newsletter. You can see many of them in my “Marketing 101” area. http://www.4specs.com/marketing/
While my consistent theme is faster, easier to use and more comprehensive, no registration to access the specs, cad and bim is a secondary theme. I do not provide the icons indicating they have the info if registration is required.
Every month I get several manufacturers asking where the “names” are sent. I have to explain that names can only be obtained with registration and why we do not require any registration.
I use an example that seems to hit home to the manufacturer. Would you return to a real estate website if after visiting several property pages a day later you received a call from a Realtor asking if you needed more information on specific properties? Everyone seems to understand that example - and thus why registration should not be required on their website.
Melissa, I think you should out them right here on 4specs. What you are complaining about is simply factual, and non slanderous. Maybe that would get their attention a bit.
CSI staff cannot initiate services that would have a cost to the Institute without first receiving Board approval.
Although your idea, in concept, has merit, it may be a little beyond CSI’s current capabilities–I don’t know. If you feel that this is a feasible idea, do some research on the subject and approach an Institute Board member (an officer or director) with your findings. If the board member is in agreement with you about the idea’s viability, they can present it to the Board.
This process goes for any idea. The brain trust for CSI does not just reside in the Board, staff, committees, and task teams, but also in the members themselves. If you have an idea that you think will benefit CSI and its members, please let the Board know.
I sent an idea (Building Technology Education program) with pretty good description to the Board last March and the only response was from two board members. Not very encouraging! You would think Board members would be a little more responsive whether it was positive, neutral, or negative.
I have since had the idea discussed extensively on CSI LinkedIn and three chapters have jointly submitted a resolution for the annual meeting on the idea.
