Push suppliers to own issues

Ask a question here Lee’s back on home turf (and grand-dad duty) and Shane’s in the chair from New Zealand for a lively episode that starts with a wild Guy Fawkes blackout story and lands on a pressing industry issue: two major distributors have exited the NZ market, leaving pros scrambling for parts, warranties, and sensible logistics. In this episode Cold open: A powder-monkey grandad, one huge bang, and parts of Melbourne go dark 😳 NZ shake-up: Two big distributors stop supplying nationwide—what that means for warranties, spare parts, and service timelines. Reality check on freight: When a book of stickers costs $20 to ship, what will a pump or salt cell run? What to tell customers: Bulk email blast or handle it case-by-case? Lee explains why targeted, honest comms win. Owning the problem: Why suppliers should proactively notify recalls/faults (shout-out to Fluidra for doing it right). When brands fold: Lessons from the Poolrite era—who actually carries the warranty, and how pros protected clients (and their own reputations). Smart playbook: Vet suppliers for staying power, not just long warranties. Consider buying groups to consolidate freight. Explore becoming a local warranty station to turn pain into pipeline. Key takeaways Don’t panic-email your whole book—inform affected clients individually with options and realistic timelines. Push suppliers to own known issues and send parts proactively; it saves everyone’s face. Strength in numbers: coordinate orders and freight with nearby companies. A long warranty is meaningless if the brand won’t be around to honor it. Got a topic, tip, or rant? Email: [email protected] — Rudy will route it to the right crew. Happy Monday, and stay safe out there! Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: Facebook Instagram Tik Tok Email us: [email protected]