A follow up

[mmc]

Someone posted here a while ago about GinSans and Industrial Vacuum Systems troubles. Then we heard from a GinSan salesperson that everything was just fine. They did exhibit at ICA but my GinSan employee friend told me that they laid everyone off but two people one to answer the phone and the other to take trouble calls so no one would know. They aren't building anything. They went to ICA to see if somebody would give them some money down on some equipment but they arent really 'in business' as a manufacturer right now. They've got like 3 salesmen at ICA, so theyll be up to 5 employees when they return. Wow.

 

[RykoPro]

One of our branch offices is about two blocks away from Gin San (just happens to be the office I work out of). I noticed the other day when I drove by the parking lot was empty. I have no idea what is going on, I only know the lot is empty. I will take a look later on today and see if there are any signs on the door.

 

[Greg Pack]

I think any company that sells SS only equipment is going to have scale down and become "lean and mean", or branch out into other industry segments.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I guess I should think twice about buying some new meterboxes from them? It's too bad if they are closing up shop, I have always liked their products.

 

[RykoPro]

I drove by Gin San and spoke with an employee smoking in the parking lot. He assured me they were open, but everyone is still at the trade show. He says since there was a trade show, they sent everyone else home for the week.
I am not sure why they would stop production for a trade show?

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I talked to my local distributor and he said that as far as he knows everything is fine with Ginsan. They are both in Grand Rapids and work together quite often so I would assume that I am getting good info.

 

[mmc]

My friend says that they are open but not making anything right now. He was laid off and they said they would bring some of the employees back if they got any orders at ICA. So I guess the guy that rykopro talked to was a member of the skeleton crew. There phones were also down all day yesterday.

 

[car washing systems inc]

MMC your ginsan friend is full of crap funny i order parts just about every week and also order a lot of new equipment and have never had a wait time i thought was to long, sounds like your ginsan friend does not have the balls to say something like this him self because he him self knows it is not true so he is using you as his mouth piece. I see alot of distributors and companys get banged on this fourm if it is true than thats fine but in this case its not its just a rumor started by you before and i think you or you so called ginsan friend have some sort of axe to grind, could it be your friend or mabey you your self got canned fron ginsan and you are not happy about that, i dont no why bill lets these rumors go on here but if i had an ad here i would think about pulling it and i think companys that do have ads SOULD PULL THEM MABEY BILL WOULD WATCH A LITTLE CLOSER The outher fourm does not seem to have any of these things on it. Mabey we should start a thread telling people who help or have ads on this fourm to stop helping and pull there ads bet bill would pull that post down because it might hit him in his wallet.

 

[pitzerwm]

Trust me that I am watching this thread, I'm waiting for a call from Ginsan telling me what are the facts. If it is a rumor it will be dealt with. And they can post the truth here too.

 

[mmc]

I would never post anything that wasn't true on here. My friend works there or at least he did, he's not exactly sure along with the rest of the workers. They have salesmen but no workers Im kind of torn because I want the company to be around but I don't want anyone to pay something down and loose there money either. I like GinSan products but come on a company with no manufacturing shouldnt be lurking around Heres the other thing, your a distributor so there trying to fool you (if its true) My friend actualy works there and knows first hand

 

[car washing systems inc]

All sales go through distributors unless they happen not to have a distributor for that aera, if they are not making anything how did i get my express key and meter boxes just before we left for the show after ordering 10 days prior, sounds like they are still making things

 

[RykoPro]

I do not want to start rumors either. Last week when I noticed they looked closed, I did not think about it until I saw this post. They share the building (looks like right down the middle) with a water treatment company and I think they are tied together. The other company seemed to be open. I have only been to this building once to buy parts and if I remember correctly you enter on the water treatment side. I still buy parts from them but now I go a few blocks away to W.E.T., the company who has provided service and parts sales for Gin San in the MI region for the past few years. I am betting both are still open and Gin San is producing equipment. The MI economy has been in the dumper for a few years now so it may just be a temp cost reduction thing. Looks like we will have to wait to find out.

 

[MEP001]

All sales go through distributors unless they happen not to have a distributor for that aera, if they are not making anything how did i get my express key and meter boxes just before we left for the show after ordering 10 days prior, sounds like they are still making things

If the gossip bothers you so much, why do you keep feeding it?

 

[DavidM]

I can't speak to the health of Ginsan overall but I can say that I ordered a pump for our spot free system from them last week and had it overnighted direct from the factory. There is at least someone answering phones and shipping parts, I know that much.
I agree with an earlier poster, I have always liked their equipment and I hope they are around a long time.

David

 

[Dan kamsickas]

All,

My name is Doug Empie and I am a Territory manager for the distribution of the GinSan full line product offerings in the United States and Canada. I can assure you that GinSan and Industrial Vacuum Systems are healthy and operating. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at my toll free number, 877-995-1675 or my cell phone: 616-340-3173.

Douglas Empie

 

[mmc]

All,

My name is Doug Empie and I am a Territory manager for the distribution of the GinSan full line product offerings in the United States and Canada. I can assure you that GinSan and Industrial Vacuum Systems are healthy and operating. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at my toll free number, 877-995-1675 or my cell phone: 616-340-3173.

Douglas Empie

So were you manfacturing last week or not? Are you manfacturing now?

 

[mac]

Doug, thank you for posting here. One of the reasons that these "rumors" get started is from poor servive. While GinSan may be shipping parts and answering the phone, the folks at IVS don't seem to care. I have been buying from them for probably 10 years, but now it take two or three days for someone to just return a call. That is poor service no matter what the economy is doing. While most every other supplier I deal with has slowed down, thus greatly shortening delivery times, the last items I got from IVS were much longer than I have ever seen. And contrary to some who get their shorts all wadded up over "bashing", we professionals don't do that unless it's called for.

 

[Kevin Reilly]

mmc,
It would seem to me that you need a reality check! If you think that the SS manufacturers and suppliers show up for work, press a button and start manufacturing, then think again. If you look at ANY SS equipment, you will see that most of the in-house manufacturing may be the platforms that the pumps, motors etc are mounted on.

The rest of it is assembly to match the purchasers requirements (pumps, size, motor HP, etc.)

I did business with ginsan for 20+ years as a distributor and manufacturer until i sold my company in 2002. They are a first class company. There is a downturn in the industry for all the reasons that have been talked about in the various subjects on this forum.

I have been in the car wash business for the past 43 years and have seen a few downturns in the industry and watched good companies close up shop or sell out.

To ask "were you manufacturing last week or not?" It would seem to be that the answer would be "no" unless they had an order in hand with deposits.

If you want to see them manufacture something then place an order and you'll then see some action.

 

[Dan kamsickas]

Kevin,

Thank you for the kind words and educating MMC on manufacturing 101.

Mac,

I am passing your comments on to Jeff Anderson (owner) who does not take poor customer service lightly. Please feel free to call me direct with your vacuum or S/S equipment inquiries.


MMC,

I have passed on some of the comments you have made to some of your ex-co workers in the IVS manufacturing plant. Needless to say they are a little shocked. These are the people you call your "friends", correct?

Douglas Empie

 

[pitzerwm]

Here I sit in Key West, in a hotel room straightening this mess out, instead of getting sunburned on the beach that I'm paying dearly for. I just got off the phone with people that are in the know at Ginsan and here are the facts. Ginsan is alive and well as can be in this media induced recession. I don't know their numbers but, I know that many manufactures in this business, quarter or last year's quarter are hurting. The fact that many people were at the show and it was spring break in GR, Ginsan gave everyone the time off. I'm assured that the possible drop in service will be looked into and addressed. MMC apparently, is an x employee with an agenda and shouldn't have been posting, if this had not gone on this many days I would just delete it but since it has, an explaination is a better plan. BTW, MMC has been banned, if you are an X employee don't post about your old company.