This is true. The largest manufacturer of compact shelving has exclusive territory dealerships and therefore it is not possible to get a real competative bid within that territory for the same brand. A second quote would be at odds with that dealers' contract. Replacement parts are likewise sold within this exclusive territorial system. It reminds me of how Bill Gates marketed the computer OEM's, either exclude lotus and other competitive products or don't use the Windows operating system.
Several manufacturer use this method of distribution in addition to the folks in Wisconsin, the good people in Canada and the provider in Alabama all use an exclusive territorial contract.
We represent several open lines as we have found that each manufacturer has a sweet spot that they do very well. By focusing on the client's application rather than the manfacturer a better solution can often be crafted.
The specifications should focus on the unique use of the system instead of the patented features of a particular manufacturer. If you want to avoid sole sourcing the purchase and if you want the best value, make sure the spec's can be met by several manufactures. The competitors will tell you if you have something that is patented, then I recomend looking for alternates which address the use, but are featured from several manufacturers.
mark
----- Original Message -----
From: "Diana Banning" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, July 1, 2008 12:05:28 PM (GMT-0500) America/New_York
Subject: Compact Shelving Inquiry
My dear colleagues,
I'm collecting information about compact shelving that will help craft an
RFP I'm writing. In essence, I'd like to hear about your experiences with
compact shelving: purchasing, installation, working with vendors, operation,
maintenance and warranties. For instance, I've heard that some of the
manufacturers are fully proprietary, which poses problems down the road when
looking for parts. What other problems have you experienced that could have
been mitigated with clearer specifications? Are there specifications that
you included in your RFP (or wished you had) that you'd like to share?
Thanks in advance for your guidance!
Diana Banning
Archives & Records Management
City of Portland, Oregon
503-823-4564
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