Push suppliers to own issues

Ask a question hereLee’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 episodeCold 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 takeawaysDon’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 showThank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: [email protected]