Three, they think the future is not solid surface, but something else. This is the most likely in my opinion.
If true, and I think you’re right al, then the whole point Jon, Mory, and Andy are making is for nought. I was at a conference in January ’05, when the solid surface manufacturer repped by the distributor openly admitted that they were placing most of their eggs in the Home Center basket. (Jon – you were there too). This is telling in several ways:
They are after the big numbers. Nothing wrong with that, but it does not mean me. I buy a serious amount of solid surface. One of the largest buyers in my state, but I don’t hold a candle next to the necissarily high-volume guys who perform fabrication for Home Centers.
They care less about the long-term health of the industry than about moving the numbers now. This is short-sighted, but it is their right to do it. The result is an expanded version of what we do here and now: defend and promote the product as you need to to stay alive.
The bean counters have taken over the plant. All that talk about efficient manufacturing, volume pricing, the possibility that you are “over-fabricating” the product (I have actually been told this), helped the manufacturer move more product (which has not seen the price reductions that fabrication has endured), and keeps us in a never-ending loop for new and more jobs.
Your links in this thread, by the way, have been nothing less than spectacular. My hat is off, sir.
Tom