Alert: High Levels of Arsenic
Found In
Imported Pipe
Contracting is a competitive business,
and the temptation is always there to cut a cost here or there to save a buck. Do that
enough, and the savings can be substantial, right? Well, maybe.
Consider the cost of tearing out a job
and replacing it with different material. An unlikely occurrance? Tell that to the guy in
Pennsylvania who had to do just that because he used imported pipe that did not meet
standards. Where do you think his bottom line was on that job? For that month? Year?
Consider also the cost of not getting a
job because word gets out that you're prone to cutting corners. Successful contractors
depend on repeat business. You simply cannot be as profitable as possible if you're
constantly replacing old customers with new ones. Sooner or later the well runs dry, or at
least word leaks out that you're willing to take risks with other people's money. Not the
best scenario for getting repeat business and referrals, and that should be every
contractors primary objective.
Consider also the longer term liability.
What if arsenic or asbestos or who-knows-what else is found in ground water and the enviro
detectives start looking for a culprit? What do you think would happen if they traced that
contamination back to pipe you installed five years ago. Do you think your phone would
ring, maybe get a visit from a man in a gray suit? How much will it cost in legal fees
alone to defend against a lawsuit brought five or ten years from now for pipe you're
installing today? Did the few extra bucks you made on this job warrant the risk of that
phone call? If you're the type of person who takes his paycheck and races off the Vegas to
double it, then by all means, use imported pipe. If, on the other hand, you're building a
business that has real value and you plan to keep building, then consider carefully the
risks of using substandard material. Saving a dollar today could really cost you tomorrow.
Or the next day.
Let's face it, when all is said and
done, business is about money. The people we meet during the course of our workdays and
the challenges we face are great, but the bottom line is money; always has been, always
will be. Are you protecting yours by insisting on quality products that won't bite you in
the backside later? You can bet the guy in Pennsylania is taking a second look at his
buying strategies. Should you?
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