| After spending some time reading the Piranha Press | | | | That sort of describes the eating etiquette of a |
| (water garden forums), I am scared to wade into the | | | | Piranha! Notice, it is for a period of time. What happens |
| water [Forum] or even "get my feet wet." Good grief, | | | | when there are more pond liner kit installers then there |
| talk about "eating their own". . . Where is the loyalty, | | | | are customers? Even professionals with college |
| appreciation, gratitude, dedication, camaraderie and | | | | degrees are installing pond kits, due to the exorbitant |
| "family pride" pride? | | | | profits. What about the growing awareness of the |
| I have been visiting water garden forums lately, and "I | | | | statistics related to the undependability of liners? Or |
| have not had this much fun since kindergarten art | | | | the reputation of, or lack of, business ethics and |
| class." | | | | shoddy workmanship? What happens when the clients |
| Wow! Did I discover something amazing. I have known | | | | find out they were deceived by not being told the |
| for many years that one of the major challenges in | | | | whole truth about liners? (Read, "Pond Liners: Seven |
| raising koi fish is to keep the koi from eating their own. | | | | Reasons Why I Don't Use Them" by Doug Hoover - |
| Consequently, the eggs are separated from the pond | | | | Google.) What is the answer to all these questions? |
| as quickly as possible to prevent this. | | | | The "frenzy" state or period of uncontrolled |
| After spending some time reading the Piranha Press | | | | excitement or wild behavior will cease. |
| (water garden forums), I am scared to wade into the | | | | And what about the state of the water feature |
| water [forum] or even "get my feet wet." | | | | business' reputation when the proverbial dust settles |
| Good grief, talk about "eating their own" . . . | | | | and the truth about pond liners becomes evident? This |
| Where are the loyalty, appreciation, gratitude, | | | | is the reason I am speaking out now! Building waterfalls |
| dedication, camaraderie and "family pride" Pride? In the | | | | and ponds has been my love and my bread and |
| Lion's Pride, the lioness hunts to feed the Lion and her | | | | butter for over a quarter of a century. |
| cubs. If she is unable to bring home the bacon, the | | | | I was eavesdropping on one of the hundreds of forum |
| cubs could become lunch for the Lion. In the Liner Pride, | | | | sites. I copied only two pages of posts and replies by |
| there is no "Pride" [sense of fam fam] and like the | | | | forum members and/or pond liner "disciples." |
| cubs, they are all branded as "food storage"! ... with a | | | | Here is a brief summary: |
| very limited shelf life. | | | | Greg Witstock was praised for his accomplishments. |
| Some time around 1990, Greg Witstock, the lion of the | | | | Greg's financial success of "ADI" Aquascapes Design |
| liner industry, started the "pond liner craze" which | | | | Inc. was touted. |
| transformed into the "pond liner frenzy," as quoted in | | | | Comments were made about overpriced products, |
| many pond magazines. I have lovingly given Greg | | | | bordering on gouging. |
| Witstock the title of "Liner Messiah," since he founded | | | | Discussions took place on how products could be |
| Aquascape Design Inc. Aquascape manufactures | | | | produced using specific common plumbing products, |
| pond liner kits, and Greg has developed a marketing | | | | for a fraction of the price. |
| plan ("the way"), selling through his nation-wide network | | | | Better priced pumps with longer warranties could be |
| of pond liner installers, the "disciples. | | | | found elsewhere. |
| "Witstock has invested a fortune in product engineering | | | | However, the liner disciples are still using Greg's |
| and development. He has developed successful sales | | | | beautiful brochures, videos and door hangers, which he |
| tools and techniques for his "disciples" using a diverse | | | | makes available to all his disciples at a fraction of the |
| line of products, training videos, books and sales | | | | cost. But they are not being loyal to their "messiah" by |
| materials that can literally guarantee a "disciple's" | | | | using Aquascape products because they are shopping |
| success if they follow the "way". | | | | around for cheaper products. There is no such thing as |
| You may ask, that all sounds very good, so what is | | | | product loyalty or professional etiquette. But then again, |
| the down side? Well, the liner industry is marketing an | | | | are Piranhas or starving lions known to demonstrate |
| overpriced and inferior product with a dismal track | | | | loyalty or appreciation?After logging in on this particular |
| record. The pond liner track record speaks for itself: | | | | water garden forum, I tried to share some facts about |
| More than 37% of all waterfalls have serious structural | | | | concrete pond construction or using high performance |
| damage within 3 years of construction. | | | | pumps and quality building products. Let's see, which of |
| 57% of homeowners say they are rather unsatisfied | | | | these is easier to do: 1. |
| with the way their waterfall came out after the project | | | | Build a pond using concrete and steel that takes a |
| was completed. | | | | week to finish and nets $5,000 profit, and guarantee |
| One in three waterfalls and ponds are leaking water | | | | the finished product for 20 years or more?... or 2. Build |
| within nine months of completion. | | | | a liner pond in a single day, for a profit of $5,000, and |
| 63% of "do-it-yourselfers" say they wished they had | | | | guarantee the liner for one year against factory defect |
| the proper information from the "get go" or that they | | | | and not have to be responsible when rats, gophers or |
| had hired someone. | | | | tree roots compromise the liner, because it wasn't |
| These statistics are from the pond liner industry itself | | | | covered by the warranty?. Is it any wonder that after I |
| (Bob Wilder, 48-Hour Waterfall; pond liner installer for 18 | | | | posted my articles "Pondless Waterfalls: Concrete vs. |
| years). I can confirm and attest to these figures | | | | Liners" and "Pond Liners: Seven Reasons why I do Not |
| myself. I have built over 1,900 concrete and rebar | | | | Use Them," I was locked out of the forum and banned |
| waterfalls and ponds over the past 26 years. I have | | | | from the website? It was akin to shouting, "I love the |
| ripped out and replaced dozens of defective liner | | | | Jewish people!" at a Klu Klux Klan rally. |
| ponds and replaced them with concrete and rebar, | | | | I discovered the forum administrator was also the |
| attaching lifetime warranties. I have also advised and | | | | webmaster and owner of the domain name and |
| aided angry pond liner owners by successfully suing | | | | owner of a landscaping company that installs pond |
| the installers that refused to come back and correct | | | | liners!The "Liner Messiah" showed them the way, and |
| serious leak problems. The words "frenzy" and "craze," | | | | his "disciples" took what they wanted and went their |
| used often when relating to the pond liner industry, are | | | | way. |
| ironically very appropriate. "Crazed" is usually used as | | | | Don't compromise your integrity. It is the essence of |
| an adjective and means wildly insane or excited. The | | | | who you are and what you will become. Build your |
| industry is exploding. Why? It is basically fueled by | | | | character on a strong foundation, and when the |
| greed (a get rich quick scheme). Where else can you | | | | storms of life and winds of adversity beat you upside |
| spend $500 - $800 for a do-it-yourself kit, install it in | | | | the head, you will stand!Build your waterfall and pond |
| one day, and walk away $2,500 - $4,500 richer? You | | | | on a strong concrete (4500psi) and rebar foundation. |
| should ask questions when you discover that | | | | And when the rats, gophers and tree roots come, you |
| professionals with college degrees are leaving their | | | | will have no regrets, your integrity will shine like the |
| professions to install liner ponds. That's really "craze-e!" | | | | noonday sun, and your waterfall will bring you |
| The word "frenzy" is a noun defined as a state or | | | | long-term joy, peace, relaxation and pleasure for |
| "period" of uncontrolled excitement or wild behavior. | | | | decades to come. I Promise. |