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Ultra reach poles
- Thread starter kevo10
- Start date
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- Messages
- 4,198
- Location
- Gloucestershire
Never heard of them. I see they have been around since 2023 and have a rather poor website. They don’t exist on Trustpilot or Google. The Facebook page has 9 reviews. They haven’t been going long enough to need to register for VAT… IMHO I couldn’t risk the sort of outlay you’re looking at for even one pole with them. It is good they fit the Gardiner goose neck. In all honesty if you could give me a phantom pole with a Gardiner Goose neck and a Gardiner end cap I’d be happy.
- Messages
- 9,452
- Location
- Teesside
Just generally. Gardiner poles have done as well over the years. I have no desire to look around for any thing else.
I know that the backup service from Gardiners is topnotch, and for me, this is the most important.
When I look back at what we had to use before Alex started his pole business, it's a wonder how we actually did the job.
Back in those early days, Facelift was the only carbon fibre pole worth looking at. But they were heavy and financially, they were out of our reach.
So we struggled with Unger Ali poles with Vikan car wash brushes which weight a ton. The worst decision I made was buying a couple of Prolong Ali poles from Brodex.
I know that the backup service from Gardiners is topnotch, and for me, this is the most important.
When I look back at what we had to use before Alex started his pole business, it's a wonder how we actually did the job.
Back in those early days, Facelift was the only carbon fibre pole worth looking at. But they were heavy and financially, they were out of our reach.
So we struggled with Unger Ali poles with Vikan car wash brushes which weight a ton. The worst decision I made was buying a couple of Prolong Ali poles from Brodex.
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- Messages
- 4,198
- Location
- Gloucestershire
I wouldn't buy from anyone else. I've just ordered several poles, spare sections and brushes this morning. Bill was huge but the quality is great so
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- Messages
- 9,452
- Location
- Teesside
The only way another pole supplier is going to compete against the established suppliers is on price.
I don't know what their prices are, but for me, choosing a product on price criteria isn't a good policy.
The other thing is, we have a long term history ourselves of Gardiner poles longevity. The first SLX22 lasted me 9 years. It is still on the van with a CLX22 top section in it and a non splay flocked brush for a couple of really older leaded windows on our route.
Another thing is that Gardiner poles are good value for money. I don't see any reason to change now. And this just isn't my personal experience. Many window cleaners say the same.
Some might say that they fancy a change. I don't understand that reasoning. When it comes to choosing a holiday, yes, but not with choosing equipment.
But this is just my opinion.
These are from the USA, supposedly they will supply us here in the UK. Suppose to be more rigid than Gardiners Ultimate.
xeroproducts.com
XERO Destroyer Water Fed Pole
The XERO Destroyer Water Fed Pole is the ultimate pole for tackling tall buildings because it extends out to 90 feet long. Buy today from XERO Water Fed.
xeroproducts.com
- Messages
- 11,717
- Location
- Durham
At £1,252.89 without shipping and import taxes for a 30ft pole I should hope so, surprisingly it looks very much like a Gardiners pole with red band on the base of the section, only the clamps are differentThese are from the USA, supposedly they will supply us here in the UK. Suppose to be more rigid than Gardiners Ultimate.
XERO Destroyer Water Fed Pole
The XERO Destroyer Water Fed Pole is the ultimate pole for tackling tall buildings because it extends out to 90 feet long. Buy today from XERO Water Fed.
- Messages
- 11,640
- Location
- Sunderland Tyne and Wear
And considerably heavier
- Messages
- 11,717
- Location
- Durham
I didn't look at the specs, Americans always want bigger and think it's better
- Messages
- 4,198
- Location
- Gloucestershire
It’s not. We’ve suddenly had a bunch of poles break. Parts and new are due any minute now. I tried to work with a 50. Managed one office block and headed back. I’m going to have a coffee and find this leak in my van while I wait for the FedEx
- Messages
- 11,640
- Location
- Sunderland Tyne and Wear
When you get to my age anything over 30' is guesswork
- Messages
- 4,198
- Location
- Gloucestershire
Having the 50 fully extended is hard work and I genuinely have my heart in my mouth at times. Anything above that is not for me!
- Messages
- 4,198
- Location
- Gloucestershire
Just an update on FedEx…. I received 2 of the 3 boxes. One full of brushes. One with a backpack…. The important one with the poles… yeah that’s in Bedford. I can never fathom how Gardiners have stuck by these guys so long!
ched999uk
Well-known member
- Messages
- 5,170
- Location
- Lancashire
I don't think they have much choice as not many delivery companies will take long packages like poles.
Hope it arrives soon.
At least they don't use Evri. They knocked on our door to say 'I threw your parcel over a red door down the road' and walked off. Took 6 months for us to find it! Then the other day Evri tracking said they had our parcel and it was at the local delivery office, then they delivered it, after 2 hrs I received an email to say it was out for delivery and 1 min later it was delivered, when it actually arrived 2 hrs before they said it was out for delivery! I have 4 more parcels that are due to be delivered by Evri, not looking forward to the guessing game. I would have avoided Evri but the company I ordered from only use them, so no choice!
- Messages
- 4,198
- Location
- Gloucestershire
I have a new slogan for them… “Evri parcel delivered…. Somewhere”
I find with Evri that it’s hit and miss. We’ve been lucky recently to have a decent fella. For a while they were shocking. Sending things with them is pot luck.
I would have thought DPD would cut them some kind of deal. I know parcel force also take oversized parcels. I recently posted some van suspension with UPS. I imagine it’s a big enough contract they could work something out for them surely
ched999uk
Well-known member
- Messages
- 5,170
- Location
- Lancashire
Just looked at DPD and they wont take a slx25 (1.72m) Parcel Force do but would charge £44.20! OK so this is only on their public web sites but I'm not sure Gardiners do enough volume to persuade DPD or Parcel Force to do them a deal.
You are right about Evri though, it's a gamble if you get a decent driver or not.
I do like your slogan for them - very fitting.
- Messages
- 1,172
- Location
- Cornwall
Hi P4dstar
Thanks for the latest order
You would have thought delivering all three parcels together would have been a fairly simple thing!
I have checked tracking and it looks like the poles were then delivered the next day. Shame when we got the order out next day to you
Why do we stay with FedEx? A question we often ask ourselves and recently I did another round of contract bids from various other providers such as Parcel-force and DPD. No one could get close to FedEx on the long poles sadly.
Because these make up more than 50% of our deliveries most of the courier competitors quickly become very much less competitive or totally unable to quote us.
One courier recently needed a special insurance charge for each long parcel and this charge alone was more than we pay per parcel to FedEx for each pole. This would have cost us about £250,000 extra per year alone.
So we stay with FedEx, as their service is simply the best we can achieve with our high % volume of long freight.
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