Good evening Joe,
I have a few questions and concerns.
What really is the reason
IICRC is involving it's self into CRI and SOA.
I feel strongly apposed to this who idea because of what they do
certify.
It looks so much like regulations on mostly the independents.
I can understand an effort to keep the "hack types out, but that is not
going to happen. They will always be with us just like the beggars on the streets.
I see it as an effort to give more prestige to carpet cleaners by having credentials. Bottom line though, customers decide who serves them.
Customers yes can be confused if they have never had carpets cleaned before, or if they have and were unhappy, they don't know who to call unless they know someone who can refer.
Still, Customers do not know what CRI or SOA is. It really means nothing to the average consumer. You can even go into retail stores that sell carpet and they don't know either.
They don't know what
IICRC is.
When I was in the Chem-Dry system, I never heard of
IICRC either.
It was at Chuck Dewald's water restoration school that I started to hear about these things.
I understand now that Chem-Dry is encouraged to go to
IICRC classes for certifications. That is a fact.
I just don't trust the whole thing. I see it as a way for the organization to create cost on the industry and make more benefit for themselves.
I really would have to be convinced. I'm sure though if they are going to move ahead as they have, they don't really need to convince me of anything, but there are a lot of us who do not buy into it.
I can also say, there is no place any where near where I am to even go to any of these things. I am sure I am not the only one.
Most of us who are O/O and cannot afford the time out of the field. We have families to feed and care for and time out is loss out of the pocket book on top of the cost of going to the classes. It is not feasible for everyone. There has to be an on line system, or a DVD to buy and review.
Something more than taking time out of the field to sit for 3 days in these classes. Carpet, Upholstery and just general cleaning is not really a specialized field like Water Damage and restoration or Fire Damage and mold remediation.
Joe, we all know taking tests that you can pass does not a competent carpet cleaner make.
I go behind many all the time. Many of us have been cleaning for many years and going to 101 classes is an insult. New people coming into the industry.........well, different story.......In fact you and I know as well as others that if your not good at what you do, you die on the vine.
I have really serious feelings against the whole thing.
Like I said I and many here are very reluctant to accept this whole thing.