I've been on all kinds of trade-bulletin boards like this one, and one thing I've noticed is that there seems to be more cut-throat attacks and flaming between carpet cleaners than anyone else.  Why is that?  Does this represent how local carpet-cleaning competition acts twords one another?  

  I am also wondering about some of the very basic things concerning this industry.  There are less hardfloors than there are carpets, if you include residential.  Yet everywhere you go there are supply depots where you can buy equipment and supplies for hardfloors.  I have yet to find a place that I can walk into to shop for carpet cleaning equipment and supplies.  If they do exist they exist in much smaller numbers than the hardfloor places.  Why is that?  Is it just where I live? 

Tom

The lot of guys on this forum are around this area and yes they are close competitors. I would prefer to think of their flaming as arguing there point. I do not think it is a problem to give your opinion and then have it challenged  back. Yes some of these opinions can be very passionate in there wordings but it all seems to work out in the end.

I found out the hard way not take what people say to personally, after all this is the INTERNET.  Take the information offered to you and sort out what Steamer calls the foolishness and walk away, but never stop giving your opinion because you were challenged. Everybody to me has something different to offer this has to be a focal point of being here.

Maybe I am wrong and I'm sure someone will let me or you know about it.  Let me know were you are from and maybe I can help you with someone hopefully in your area that is a serious supplier.

Keep plugging away!!!!!  

    Actually, it seems like the worst back-biting goes on at the now closed-down ICS forum, but ya, these guys here do seem to get pretty passionate.  Don't worry, I'll never stop giving my opinion.  I know nothing about carpet cleaning, yet I'll give an opinion on just about every topic on these boards.  I don't take anything on the internet too seriously.  Like you said it is about information, and it is up to a person to make the most of that info.  regardless of the package it is delivered in. 

  I don't mind ordering over the web or a catalog, just wondering why there seems to be a million hardfloor showrooms here and hardly any carpet showrooms.  I live in Pittsburgh PA btw. 

the foolishness....I like it.... I just tell and give advice on my own personal activities.... I clean a lot of carpet, but it's like anything else somepeople can and some people can't... I'm just good at it...I've had helpers ..even with me being the trainer, couldn't clean to save their own lives..

Like I've said before....Everyone thinks their cleaning is the best....and they damn well should...

how can you offer a service you don't believe in