[Greenbuilding] Radiant Floor Company

[Laren Corie]

 "Lawrence Lile" <LLile at projsolco.com>

> I have had an interesting experience with The Radiant Floor Company
> http://www.radiantcompany.com/ 

> According to UPS, we recvieved 7 boxes of stuff,
>  but nobody can find but 6 of them. 

> They (the sender) insisted that we had all the parts we needed

Hi Lawrence;

   I am sorry to hear that you are having a bad experience. Owner
contracting is usually about as stress filled as a death or serious illness
in the immediate family.   Good people, on all sides, can get emtional,
and end up turning troubles into a lot more than they really need to be.
What appears to have happened here, is that UPS lost a box.  They
do insure all of their shipments, up to a point, but whomever signed
for receiving the shipment (and the UPS driver) may have not looked
at the shipping manifest and counted boxes.    In other words, they
may have signed a statement that they received seven boxes, when 
they really only received six.   However, if UPS says that they got
seven boxes from the company, you can be pretty sure that the
company (which you are angry with) is not responsible for this
situation.  If your plumber blew up, and kept falsely accusing them
of a dishonesty that they are not guity of, I suggest that you develop
a little well deserved sympathy for them, and forgive them their hurt
feeling, and any defensive things they may have said in response. 

     Not everyone is a saint when falsely accused, and you
really need these guys on your side, right now   It can only help
your cause.  Even if someone at your end (and UPS), screwed
up, and gave their signature that you received a box you actually
did not get, it is sure not the fault of the sender, and you most
definitely want them on your side, at this time.  

 If I were you, or you were my design client, I would:

1) Make dead certain that the seventh box was not delivered,
2) Call UPS to see if they found it, and file a report and claim. 
3) Call the radiant company and appologize for their being
    accused of something that the UPS shipping memo proves
    they did not do, and see if they will forgive your people
    and help you to remedy your problem.  

  These things happen. The biggest thing that differentiates
a professional contractor from a first timer, is that the pro
knows that a custom house is always an R&D project, to
some extent, so a lot of things are going to go less than
perfectly. Getting through these things efficiently, without
poping an artery, is what the job is about.  Now is the
time to "make lemonade" and get on with the rest of
your dream house.

-Laren Corie-
Natural Solar Building Design Since 1975
(specializing in planning for owner builders)
www.LarenCorie.com

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