| I'm sure you've heard the saying "You get what | | | | you? |
| you pay for." Well, that statement could not be | | | | 4) How long has your company been building |
| truer when it comes to buying your Inflatables! In | | | | Inflatables? (Anything less than 5 years could be |
| the long run, buying strictly on price alone can turn | | | | trouble.) Ask for 5 references that have bought |
| out to be the most expensive mistake you can | | | | from them in the last 6 months and call each one. |
| ever make! Before you spend your hard-earned | | | | You'll learn a lot. |
| money on an inferior imported Inflatable, ask | | | | 5) Is the vinyl used in your units manufactured in |
| yourself how long you want your new Inflatables | | | | China? (Most companies are using cheap China |
| to last! | | | | vinyl with a lot of "fillers" in it. That vinyl won't last |
| Once upon a time, all Inflatable Play Structures | | | | long, Beware!) |
| were made either in the United States or the | | | | 6) Are your Inflatables double stitched from top |
| United Kingdom where they were first invented | | | | to bottom? (If not, you're in for big problems.) |
| over 40 years ago. But as with most things in life, | | | | 7) What high stress areas on your units do you |
| things change. In the last five years, most U.S. | | | | reinforce with either webbing or vinyl? (If they |
| "manufacturers" have thrown in the towel and are | | | | hesitate or stumble answering this question, they |
| no longer making their own Inflatables. They're | | | | probably don't reinforce their units. No |
| now importing China made Inflatables and passing | | | | reinforcement means trouble.) |
| them off as "Made in the U.S.A." In addition, a new | | | | 8) Do your units have drain flaps on the bottom |
| breed of internet phonies are posing as | | | | of your mattress to remove excess water in |
| "manufacturers" and selling "China made | | | | case the unit gets wet? (If not, good luck getting |
| Inflatables" or acting as a distributor for some | | | | your units dry in less than 8 hours which means |
| other inflatable company importing from China. | | | | more hassle for you.) |
| The fact of the matter is there are only a few | | | | 9) How many deflation tubes, flaps or zippers are |
| manufacturers left that still build their entire | | | | on your units? (The more the better for quicker |
| product line of Inflatables right here in the good | | | | take down and easier roll up.) |
| old U.S.A. It's more expensive, but far superior in | | | | 10) How much does your unit weigh? (The |
| durability. And yes, in spite of what you have | | | | heavier the unit, the more men it takes to set it |
| been told, there is a big difference in Safety, | | | | up which means higher labor costs and less net |
| Quality, Craftsmanship. | | | | profit per rental.) |
| Paying a little more for your Inflatables can save | | | | 11) What is your warranty? |
| you a lot of money in the long run, not to | | | | 12) What is the warranty on your blowers, 1 year |
| mention a whole lot of aggravation and lost | | | | or 2? |
| customers! Buying the cheapest Inflatables can | | | | 13) Will you put in writing that if I have a |
| many times turn out to be a very expensive | | | | warranty issue, you will pick up freight both |
| mistake. You should ask yourself how much in | | | | ways? If they don't pick up freight both ways, |
| lost rental revenue you will incur if that bargain | | | | they have no confidence in their product. |
| Inflatable falls apart in a few months, right in the | | | | 14) If I have a warranty issue with my unit, |
| middle of your busy season. A lot more than you | | | | where will I send it for repair? Will I be sending |
| might think. And good luck trying to get it fixed in | | | | the unit back to you or someone else? |
| less than a month or two. (Especially if it has to | | | | 15) How long will it take to fix? (If it takes more |
| be shipped back to China for repairs.) | | | | than 1 week -- there goes your "Great Deal.") |
| During that time, you would have lost 10-15 | | | | 16) Will you put in writing that if it takes more |
| rentals multiplied by your average rental rate | | | | than 1 week to repair, you'll cover all my lost |
| which could cost you as much as Two Thousand | | | | rental revenue? (If they won't, you're in for huge |
| Dollars or more each time your China Inflatable is | | | | financial losses because of lost rentals. So much |
| out for repair. The few hundred dollars you | | | | for buying on price alone.) |
| thought you were saving when you bought your | | | | 17) Can you prove to me that your company has |
| China Inflatable has now turned your "Great Deal" | | | | Product Defect Liability Insurance? Please fax me |
| into the most expensive Inflatable you've ever | | | | proof. (If the company you buy your Inflatables |
| purchased! | | | | from cannot prove they have Product Liability |
| Most of the Inflatable Manufacturers take the | | | | Insurance, you should move on to the next |
| easy way out by giving away American jobs and | | | | company. In fact, why would you put yourself in |
| going the cheap route by making our products | | | | a position where you could be held financially liable |
| overseas. And while it would be much more | | | | for a manufacturers product defect? That would |
| profitable to do so, You would pay the price in | | | | be a terrible position to be in, and one lawsuit |
| the form of inferior quality of raw materials and | | | | could put you out of business!) |
| substandard workmanship. You cannot control | | | | 18) Are your Inflatables certified by registered |
| Safety, Quality, and Production Times if your | | | | engineers to meet or exceed all standards of |
| products are being made a world away. | | | | ASTM? (If they say yes, ask them what ASTM |
| Most of the US Inflatable Manufacturers start | | | | stands for. If they can't tell you, watch out! |
| cutting corners by buying cheap vinyl, inexpensive | | | | ASTM stands for -- American Society for Testing |
| thread and single stitching. They cut corners on | | | | and Materials. Most China Inflatables are not built |
| many exclusive safety features to save even | | | | to ASTM Standards.) |
| more money. They do not have product liability | | | | 19) If I go on the Internet to check and see if |
| insurance and so you are left to battle it out | | | | your Inflatables are approved and registered to |
| yourself in case of an accident for defective | | | | do business in the states of Pennsylvania and |
| products. | | | | New Jersey, what will I find? (These are the two |
| Before you make the decision on who you're | | | | most difficult states in the country for a |
| going to buy from, you should ask all the right | | | | manufacturer to get licensed in. They have the |
| questions, then consider all the facts, features, | | | | most stringent Safety Requirements in the |
| and benefits of doing business with each company | | | | country and eInflatables has its complete product |
| you're comparing and resist the temptation to | | | | line of over 200 different Inflatables certified in |
| buy on price alone. Like a trusted advisor once | | | | both states. If they are not certified to do |
| told me, "A smart investment is one you still feel | | | | business in those states, their Inflatables probably |
| good about many years down the road." | | | | do not meet U.S. Governmental Safety |
| Questions that you can ask | | | | Requirements. --Watch Out! |
| 1) Are you the manufacturer of the products on | | | | 20) Are their safety manuals provided with your |
| your website? (Don't expect to get an honest | | | | units and are they in compliance with ASTM |
| answer from most of the companies you talk to.) | | | | Standards? (If not, once again you'll be putting |
| If they say they actually build the products on | | | | yourself in a terrible financial situation in case of |
| their website, tell them you want to visit their | | | | any injury or lawsuit.) |
| manufacturing facility in person. If they hesitate at | | | | 21) When I receive my Inflatable, will your |
| all to invite you to their factory, it's because they | | | | company's name be on the safety rules that are |
| don't have one. You'll know you're being lied to. | | | | sewn onto the unit? (If not, they're just a |
| The next question you need to ask yourself is, | | | | distributor) If they say no, ask, what company's |
| "Do I want to trust my hard earned-money to | | | | name will be on the unit? Where are they |
| someone who just lied to me? Probably Not. | | | | located? (The name on the safety rules should be |
| 2) Are you just a distributor? (If they're just a | | | | the manufacturers.) |
| distributor, why would you want to deal with a | | | | 22) Do your bounce houses have a permanent |
| middle man anyway? Plus if you have a problem | | | | roof sewn on or is it a removable (convertible) |
| with your Inflatable, you won't know who is | | | | roof? (If the roof is not permanently sewn on, |
| responsible to fix it. Find the actual manufacturer | | | | you run the risk of a child climbing out and getting |
| and cut out the middle man. It will save you | | | | hurt or the sun beating down on the kids as they |
| money and a whole lot of aggravation.) | | | | play. Plus, you'll have a lot more clean-up on your |
| 3) Where are your Inflatables made? - In the U.S. | | | | units because of leaves and debris falling inside. |
| or overseas? (Ask for proof) Can I come visit | | | | |