EcoLawn Sprinkler Systems

Mr. Korff, I would like to know your thoughts please on this commentary regarding your industry. Thanks in advance. TR

CRUSH THE SPRINKLER GUILD!

I suspected as much! What the lady at the Home Depot called the “sprinkler repair cult” is an emerging guild seeking privileges and regulations from the government. That means a supply restriction, high prices, or another do-it-yourself project. But there is a way around it.

I first began to smell a rat when the automatic irrigation system on my front yard needed work, but had unusual struggles in trying to find a repair guy.

The first place I called informed me that they could accept no more clients. Clients? I just wanted a new sprinkler thing, for goodness sake. I don’t want to be a client; I want to be a customer. Is there no one who can put on a new sprayer or stick a screwdriver in there or whatever it needs?

Nope, all full.

The next call was not returned.

The next call ended with the person on the line fearfully saying that they do landscaping but will have nothing to do with sprinklers or “automated irrigation systems”. Umm, ok.

The next call seemed more promising. The secretary said they had an opening on the schedule in three weeks. Three weeks? In that period of time, my yard will be the color of a brown paper bag!

The next call failed. And the next one. And the next. Finally I was back to the off-putting secretary. I made the appointment but the guy never came. Fortunately, in the meantime, a good rain came, and then at regular intervals for the whole season, and I was spared having to deal with this strangely maddening situation.

Why all the fuss? We aren’t talking about brain surgery here. These are sprinklers, little spray nozzles connected  to tubes connected to a water supply. Why was everyone so touchy about the subject?

Why did all the power seem to be in their hands, and none in mine? Must I crawl and beg?

Above all, I wonder why, with most all lawns in new subdivisions sporting these little things, why oh why are the people who repair them in such short supply?

Little did I know that I had stumbled upon the real existence of a most peculiar thing in our otherwise highly competitive economy: a guild.

It had all the earmarks. If you want your nails buffed, there are thousands of people in town who stand ready. If you want someone to make you dinner, you can take your pick among a thousand restaurants. If you want to buy a beer, you can barely go a block without bumping into a merchant who is glad to sell you one. None of that is true with sprinkler repair.

What does a guild do? It attempts to restrict service. And why? To keep price as high as possible. And how? By admitting only specialists, or supposed specialists, to the ranks of service providers, usually through the creation of some strange but largely artificial system of exams and payments or whatever.

Guilds don’t last in a free market. No one can blame producers for trying to pull it off. But they must always deal with the defectors.   Even the prospects of defectors can cause people who might not otherwise defect turn and attempt to beat others to the punch. There is just no keeping a producer clique together for long when profits are at stake.

There is also the problem of an unlikely: high profits attract new entrants into the field. They must either join the guild or go their own way. This creates an economically unviable situation in a market setting that is always driving toward a market clearing rate of return.

Further evidence of the existence of a sprinkler guild came from the checkout lady at home depot. I was buying a sprinkler head and she mentioned in passing that they didn’t used to carry these things, and the decision of the manufacurer to supply them in retail got some people mighty upset. She spoke of the sprinkler repair people as a cult that should be smashed!

Now, does this guild really exist or is it an informal arrangement among a handful of local suppliers? As best I can tell, the name of the guild is the Irrigation Association.They are active in:

*Providing a voice for the industry on public policy issues related to standards, conservation and water use on local, national, and international levels

*Acting as a source of technical and public policy information within the industry

*Raising awareness of the benefits of professional irrigation services

*Offering professional training and certification

Uniting irrigation professionals, including**** to be continued

Having a beautiful landscape doesn’t mean you have to spend hour after hour working in your yard. With a professionally installed Rain Bird automatic sprinkler system, your lawn will be the envy of the neighborhood!

In addition to keeping your landscape attractive year-round, an automatic sprinkler system will help conserve water too. Your system will place exactly the right amount of water on specific lawn and garden areas so that water is not wasted. Rain Bird also has moisture-sensing devices that can automatically turn off your system when it rains.

In fact, a professionally installed automatic sprinkler system is one of the best investments that you can make for your home. Just ask anyone who has one. There is no easier or more cost-effective way to beautify your home, increase its value, and save yourself a lot of time and money.

Keep in mind, however, that there is more to a sprinkler system than just sprinklers! System design and installation are critical factors that will affect your system’s performance and longevity. This is why it is important to have a professional irrigation contractor design and install the right system for your home. You can count on a professional to do the job right the first time.

So put away your garden hose and let Rain Bird do your watering for you — automatically! You’ll have greener grass, healthier plants, and much more free time to smell the roses instead of watering them.

Why purchase a Rain Bird automatic sprinkler system?

• YOU’LL SAVE TIME: Your system will do all the watering for you.
• YOU’LL SAVE WATER: An automatic system uses less water than watering by hand.
• YOU’LL SAVE MONEY: Your water bills will be lower and your plants will live longer.
• YOU’LL REST EASY: The Rain Bird name is your assurance of quality, value, and performance