Imagine this scenario if you can.

A company orders a pump. He puts down his deposit and the financing is approved. The next day, the operator that will run that machine travels to the manufacturers training facility and checks in. Between the time that the financing is approved and the pump is delivered the operator is receiving training from the manufacturer. Pump hydraulics 101 – pump electrical 101 – concrete 101 as well as the logic and practice of setups and safety training. Pumping on the test stand and troubleshooting intentional breakdowns on the test stand, and then repairing them. It is years worth of experience and knowledge compressed into a month or so.

How much would that add to the cost of a $475,000.00 pump?

How much could it save the owner?

How much ‘brand loyalty’ would the manufacturer gain?

What would it hurt?

         Just something to think about

Bob,sounds great on paper,i'm in.What you are proposing is much like the schwing school of time passed.The problem I have seen is the larger companies usually have a designated driver that shuttles pumps.

If the factory really cared they might consider sending a knowledgable rep upon delivery of there pumps before being put in service.The factory already figures in many things already,why not education.Lets say for the sake of aurgument they add $1500 to base price for education upon delivery,no big deal.

How much would that add to the cost of a $475,000.00 pump? A guesstimate,perhaps $1500-$2000 to buyer,well worth the money.

How much could it save the owner? How much is a load of concrete? Backcharges? Lost pipe? the list grows

How much ‘brand loyalty’ would the manufacturer gain? Price and support is what the game is all about,well the machine as well.

What would it hurt? Not one darn thing,now all they need to do is do it "can do sir"

A wise guy once told me it cost $100,000 to train an operator? I bet the man was right! I came to pumping from the restaurant industry. The sad thing is the training is about the same! Fortunately in the restaurant industry you send the kid out with 30 bucks worth of spatulas that he dings up! Unfortunately in the pump industry you send the kid out with $500,000 + worth of equipment!

Many, the only new pump I have ever got came with a service rep! The only pump I ever bought came with a service rep, he is still on speed dial and they keep me in business! Putzmeister!

Seed  

If they treat you well you would be crazy not to stick with them ;~)

Well said Bob! It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll! 

Right on seed,they did there part (cutomer service).One would have to gaze into a crystal ball to see what the manufacturers do next.My best guess is they have trimed all the fat from there operations at this point (price).So what's next,more creative financing (mmm) or customer relations to get new equipment back out there.It will be interesting to see.

A byproduct of a happy and trained operator has many benifits to a manufacturer.Any ideas?

For those of you out there that own pumps and have a good relationship with the dealer, why not let someone ride shotgun for a week with the same machine that they are goin to operate? No charges , no wages just a simple exchange of information. We do with the loacal sermac dealer and it works wonders, on old and new equipment.

At the end of the day you end up with a good healthy relationship with the dealer who is also a good friend, and its good to see new faces in the industry who hopefully you send off in the right direction.

Wow Guys....Not sure where you all are from, out here in the Midwest service is our name. We are a vendor for Schwing and do all Ed Lothamer's service and warranty work. As an extra for a new pump sale Ed Lothamer has my partner Doug Short deliver the pump to the customer either stay 2or3 nights and go over every inche of the pump, mostly for safety reasons. Also We go with the customer to thier first pump job, see if the pump is running properly, and if the operator has any questions. You never know you might have to do a crash course. Better safe then sorry.

That is the way it is supposed to work.

Midwest values ;~)