7 replies to this topic

[GLMR]

Curious ...

Does anyone know about the relationship between Tekweld (supplier) and the distributor Promotional Solutions Inc. (PSIpromos.net)?

When you Google the address for Promotional Solutions Inc ("promotional products superstore" - i.e. a distributor) you see that Tekweld is listed at that address as well.

I compared Tekweld's pricing, minimums, and production times and they appear to be higher, larger, and longer than the distributor PSIPromos.net offers ... which really causes me to wonder, is their relationship similar to that between BelPromo and Discount Mugs?

Compare:

http://www.tekweld.c...kklick-360.html

with

http://www.psipromos...ku=360snapmints

[GLMR]

Update:

After a couple email exchanges, Pamela Ferguson of TekWeld shared the following (re. PSI):

"They moved into a building that we use to be at about 4 years ago. We were at 85 Sea Lane, Farmingdale, NY 11735 till about 3 months ago until we purchased our new building about 6 months ago, and are now located at 180 Central Ave. Farmingdale, NY 11735." And then added: “Please note we are a reporting agent to ASI & PPAI and get audited twice yearly from ASI/PPAI. We report on all our customers on paying habits and volume of sales”.


I recommended to her that Tekweld update Google so this did not happen again.

Not fully satisfying answers but it will have to do.

[twistededge]

GLMR said:

“We report on all our customers on paying habits and volume of sales”.

Did you say something in your correspondence to prompt this addition? Seems a bit arbitrary to put that in your response on a completely different topic. It could even be construed as a threat!

On a different topic (sorry) I didn't know that ASI and PPAI audit their suppliers. What reason and authority would they have to do this?

[jimknecht]

twistededge said:

On a different topic (sorry) I didn't know that ASI and PPAI audit their suppliers. What reason and authority would they have to do this?

They don't audit us, so I have no idea what this supplier is trying to say. Now if you subscribe to ASI's credit service, then twice a year you have to give a full accounting of transactions... but that is not an audit & only required if you pay for their credit info. Only thing PPAI asks for is your annual sales, so as to know what dues category you fit in. That is definitely no audit either.

[GLMR]

Nope. I didn't say anything to prompt that comment. It seemed a little strange to me also (which is why I included it in my update w/o change or comment). I'm guessing Pam simply tired of my pressing into something that (if it exists) is structured beyond inquiry, or (if it does not) is a waste of time to pursue. So I'm dropping it. I wasn't trying to make an adversary. I appreciate Tekweld and the work they've done for me. I just wanted to know what I could about what seemed like a peculiarly close relationship - at least geographically. ts

[Nicole Miller]

Here's my question - in more than 1 location PSI Promos mentions Tekweld.... like it's a printing method....

HERE and HERE

Seems a little odd to me.... Then search Tekweld on their site & you get THIS

Not saying they're the same... but it is weird...

[GLMR]

Guessing that it could just be because of the incentives Tekweld extends to distributors who feature Tekweld products on their website. Here's what Pam told me on a previous email:

"We do not control what distributors put for pricing. We do however offer anyone who showcases our products on their website EQP pricing and other incentives such as discounts on paying their invoices early and rebates."

This may account for the feature page and the apparently symbiotic relationship. It was this dominant presence I saw initially that triggered my Googling PSI's address and Tekweld's address ... finding them to be the same. And THAT got me going on my "supplier as distributor" suspicions.

[ScottH]

I did notice that Tekweld's address in ESP is different-even though Google Maps shows them at the same location.

I did a whois and tekweld is through a proxy. Both are registered at GoDaddy, but that may just be a coincidence.

My guess is that they're being honest. Normally if you see a distributor / supplier relationship, there's a clue in there somewhere - same whois, same proxy registration, etc. Or even same phrasing in an 'About Us' section. There is only one phrase common to both (cutting edge), and I would expect to see a lot more.