Message Board - Turf Products: fertiliser
17 Apr 2006 by lawn care
anybody recomend a company who they have delt with that provides good service re:- fertiliser etc
thanks dave
17 Apr 2006 by Anonymous
Rigby Taylor - watch their prices mind.
17 Apr 2006 by stevejack1
try alpha amenity , very good service .
17 Apr 2006 by Hipper
Avoncrop Amenity
17 Apr 2006 by peter poyton
eden park
18 Apr 2006 by Wilson Boardman
Amenity Technology through Seoul Nassau
18 Apr 2006 by general_lee
Eden Park are very good. just used them for supplys for pitch repairs. delivered on time and at a very good price.
19 Apr 2006 by Markone
Sheriff Amenity Products. Good variety and competive prices.
25 Apr 2006 by Anonymous
Watch Amenity Techs reliabillity - gone right downhill lateley
25 Apr 2006 by Anonymous
amenity technology - promotion anyone?
25 Apr 2006 by lawn care
thanks all a mixed bag though.i purchase about 6ton per yr but recieve little tech advice or even a visit from current suplier.thanks again
dave
26 Apr 2006 by Hipper
Although suppliers reps can be knowledgeable, I would not rely on them for technical advice.
Sure, ask them what a solution to a problem is, but if you are really going to act on the problem, get advice from experts.
26 Apr 2006 by chucky
I have used Avoncrop Amenity for the last two years and I have to say that their products, prices and service is great.
No wonder I'm Mr Grumpy!
26 Apr 2006 by chucky
I should have said "are great"!! Please excuse me
No wonder I'm Mr Grumpy!
26 Apr 2006 by Anonymous
Hipper, what exactly do you mean? Do you mean all reps?
What about the reps who have experience as greenkeepers/groundsman? Ones who have gone through the education system, City and Guilds etc, gained qualifications such as BASIS - not an easy thing to do.
Get advice from an 'expert'! How do YOU define expert. Someone who you have to pay £500 to turn up!
If suppliers reps can not give technical advice - who do you think can?
Do you think 'reps' are just salesman? If you do, then my friend you are way off the mark!
Advice from the experts! what a joke!!
27 Apr 2006 by ticky21
to be fair Anon....there are a lot of "reps" who are not knowledgeable, and are literally salesmen, ive had the afore mentioned, turn up on site armed with shiny catalogues, as for advice from experts, i dont think you can go far wrong by using things like this website , and ask fellow groundsmen who are at the root of the trade(scuse the pun) rather than Vectra deisel man who just wants to sell you a pallet of 9-7-7 fert, its not just these products that are affected either, ive had machinery dealers who cant even be bothered arrange a demo of a mower, in the end i went straight to the manufacturer,
Ticky supports British farmers...!!
27 Apr 2006 by Anonymous Last edited 27 Apr 2006
And what makes me die is that despite them not being 'knowledgeable' there are plenty of guys who are happy to use them. how does that work? why deal with someone who is talking *****! what reason is there to deal with them?
there are knowledgeable people out on the road - unfortunately they are looked at just another rep and considered the same as the rest. yet who is the first person who gets called when a groundsman/greenkeeper has a problem.
if your 'rep' cant give you straight, educated and technical answers to your questions - well, you shouldnt be dealing with them. whats even worse is some are giving ILLEGAL advice and they still get listened to!
so who is the uneducated then!!
perhaps there are other reasons why they are used as a supplier??????????????????
27 Apr 2006 by Loammeister
Hi Melly
Any supplier worth his salt ought to be able to give you reliable honest informed advice on any of their products.
f you are buying as much as 6 tonnes of fertiliser in a year then we would regard you as a pretty important customer, and for a customer in your sort of usage not to get at least a visit is pretty scandalous.
Try some of the names mentioned and one or two others (hint, hint) and you can judge by people's response as to what and from where you ought to be buying. After all, what do you currently base your choice of fertiliser on ?
Good Luck!
The light at the end of the tunnel is not a train
27 Apr 2006 by Neil Dixon
I can honestly say that none of the companies i deal with ( and have dealt with) have ever given me " bad" advice.
Yes, some of the advice may be geared to there products, but they are paid to sell there products, and if they think there product would be beneficial to a particular situation, or scenario, why shouldnt they Plug it??
This is where it can be beneficial to use different suppliers, build relationships with the reps and ask a couple of them there opinion.
At the end of the day no one holds a gun to anybody's head forcing them to buy stuff, no matter how good or bad it is claimed to be, the only people who can be blamed for that are the people actually buying the materials!!
I know reps who could sell sand to the Arabs as i am sure everyone does, it doesnt mean you have to buy from them if you are unsure about a product, and websites such as this gives Professional Groundsman and Amateur Groundmsan the chance to compare notes
28 Apr 2006 by lawn care
i base my choice of fertiliser on forgive me price but also have used it for some time now and gives good results i have spoken to a rep last yr whos price was ok but i felt that he was only intrested in making a sale and diddent view the order as important.
i buy slow release fertiliser in bulk but sometimes i need advice and diffrent fertiliser, products etc also good delivery.
thanks
28 Apr 2006 by Paul lowe
Hi Dave
Most of the well-known company’s / suppliers will offer a good service. They have to be good in this competitive market, the difference can be the individual rep. A poor rep can work for a very good company!
Lets face it, most are selling the same thing. I like to use reps that will tell me about there products. I need them to be honest and I will decide if it is for me and I hate being told that I am not using enough feed (you know who you are! he he) and I like to have a good working relationship with them, you need to have laugh in this job!
I have found the best are ex Greenkeepers they are more sympathetic!
If a new rep visits me I will ask them about a product that is totally wrong for us and I will see if he tries to sell it to me. If he does I wont use them!
I don't come across many that will
30 Apr 2006 by Wilson Boardman
Wow, didn't that one get complicated, and a little heated? All companies employ reps/salesmen, some are technical, some are just good floggers.
Some will bore you to death with technicalities, and some will just offer you a result at a price.
Different salesman suit (get on with) different customers.... BUT every supplier worth his salt has a technical guy (or guys) in the background checking out the alternatives developing products and providing good sound advice.
Bias?
Every company will provide advice biased to the products they make/market or believe to be the best.
When you find the rep/support person who tells you that in this instance a product from a competitor is the best choice, then you've struck gold.
As always, caveat emptor, you pays yer money and yer makes yer choice...... Choose as wisely as you can - and sleep soundly. 
30 Apr 2006 by Anthony Asquith
Hi
I`ve been watching the posting with great interest
Over the years many reps have come to see me however it`s now at a stage that i only deal with one or two ie ones i`ve not been impressed with (Reps) i don`t bother with !
However everything i purchase is done of my own back (Or nearly everything) so i don`t get anyone trying to flog me overhyped products
The two company reps i deal with call about once a month for a friendly natter !
However i`ve spoke to some inexperienced (And venerable) groundsman who`ve been targeted by such reps trying to sell so called "Wonder products".
It`s unfair to class them all the same though !
Yes there are some poor ones but then again some are very good
In fact the main company rep i`ve dealt with for a number of years is as knowledgable as many sports turf managers i know
However nobody is forced to purchase products from anyone !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take it all what they`ve got to say and make your OWN decisions
Thanks
30 Apr 2006 by Anonymous
Are 'promotions' acceptable in this industry?
30 Apr 2006 by Grassman2011
Am i getting this wrong? Surely you have an independant soil analasis carried out. This will then inform you of your facilities needs. You then either trust your choice of supplier to come up with the reqiured goods at an acceptable price, or you play the field for the very best price that you can get.
19 Jun 2006 by DJH
I have been reading these posts with interest.
Most reps out there now are pretty good and in general know their job.
I would suggest you use a manufacturer rep as in general they know more about their products.
I could probably name 2-3 manufacturing companies I would use out there.
But a good rep would know about other company products rather than just his own and I would also probably lean to a rep who has had greenkeeping experience again there are a few out there.
I would also disagree with the reference to most of the fertilizers are the same, totally wrong their is a huge difference out there to quality.
A good manufactuere rep should only need to visit you 4 times a year once you have your program in place and unless there are any unforseen problems.
20 Jun 2006 by Steve63
Melly,
what area are you in? Although all the big companys are good and competative, their reps are the people that you see. speak to somebody locally, who you trust, and deals with a sound rep. Then take their personal reccomendation.
Regards
Steve
Don't talk to me about Contractors Wonka, I am one myself......
3 Jul 2006 by IGS
Forget reps - use them to get costs for the materials that you require - as that is what they do - Sell you their products whether suitable or not.
A full soil diagnosis will provide a good guide and understanding of what your soil / rootzones possess, telling you why and how your soil are what they are (eg - why the pH is this or that, why phosphates maybe locked up, etc) and which materials will be effective both agronomically and economicaly for your soil and turfgrass plant requirements.
give me a call on 07795 467938 for further information
Stewart
3 Jul 2006 by jlawrence
I use Avoncrop, their rep down here seems pretty good.
It turned out that he used to supply the ground in the past, and he's let me know what he's supplied them with previously. In my mind it's always helpful to know what's been done before - he came to visit us knowing full well that we won't be buying anything this year.
He seems quite knowledgable, and doesn't appear frightened to talk about other people's products without rubbishing them. We have had independant samples done, but if Avoncrop will provide me with the hand holding I'll require then I'll happiliy use them for all my needs - almost regardless of price.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
Back to Top - Go to Next Unread Message
This Message is closed, you may not post a reply at this time
