Dear Customer,
I'm sure you've heard the saying "You get what you pay for." Well, that statement could not be truer when it comes to buying your Inflatables! In the long run, buying strictly on price alone can turn out to be the most expensive mistake you can ever make! Before you spend your hard-earned money on an inferior imported Inflatable, ask yourself how long you want your new Inflatables to last!
When you thoroughly compare eInflatables products to the imports our competitors are selling, we offer you the best value for your dollar.
Once upon a time, all Inflatable Play Structures were made either in the United States or the United Kingdom where they were first invented over 40 years ago. But as with most things in life, things change. In the last few years, most U.S. "manufacturers" have thrown in the towel and are no longer making their own Inflatables. They're now importing China made Inflatables and passing them off as "Made in the U.S.A." In addition, a new breed of internet phonies are posing as "manufacturers" and selling "China made Inflatables" or acting as a distributor for some other inflatable company.
The fact of the matter is there are only a few manufacturers left that still build their entire product line of Inflatables right here in the good old U.S.A. Even the so-called "Cutting Edge" companies of the industry are now building in China. eInflatables is proud to say that we're the only company that not only builds our entire line in the U.S., but also builds our Inflatables with lead free American made vinyl. It's a lot more expensive, but far superior in durability to foreign made vinyl that our competitors are using. And yes, in spite of what you have been told, there is a big difference in Safety, Quality, Craftsmanship, and Durability. Simply put, eInflatables products can't be matched by cheap imported Inflatables from China or India.
We believe (and so do our loyal customers) that paying a little more for your Inflatables can save you a lot of money in the long run, not to mention a whole lot of aggravation and lost customers! Buying the cheapest Inflatables can many times turn out to be a very expensive mistake as the comparison chart demonstrates.
You should ask yourself how much in lost rental revenue you will incur if that bargain Inflatable falls apart in a few months, right in the middle of your busy season. A lot more than you might think. And good luck trying to get it fixed in less than a month or two. (Especially if it has to be shipped back to China for repairs.)
During that time, you would have lost 10-15 rentals multiplied by your average rental rate which could cost you as much as Two Thousand Dollars or more each time your China Inflatable is out for repair. The few hundred dollars you thought you were saving when you bought your China Inflatable has now turned your "Great Deal" into the most expensive Inflatable you've ever purchased!
We see this happen all the time. We can tell you countless stories (even from some of our own Customers who strayed) that some lessons are learned the hard way. At eInflatables, we strive every day to build the Safest, most Durable and Attractive Inflatables in the world which are guaranteed to give you the best Return on Investment for your money!
Like many of our competitors, we too could have taken the easy way out by giving away American jobs and going the cheap route by making our products overseas. And while it would be much more profitable for us to do so, we believe our customers would pay the price in the form of inferior quality of raw materials and substandard workmanship.
Like them, we could start cutting corners by buying cheap foreign vinyl, inexpensive thread and single stitching our units. We could also cut corners on many of our exclusive safety features to save even more money. We could eliminate many unique features that make our units user-friendly to save a few more bucks. Hey, while we're at it, why not also cancel our product liability insurance and save a fortune? A lot of our competition has!
But you know what, if we did do all of those things, we would be just like them...selling you an inferior imported product that may not be safe, isn't going to last nearly as long, and from a company that probably has no product liability insurance. Fortunately for our Customers, that's not what eInflatables is all about.
We believe you cannot control Safety, Quality, and Production Times if your products are being made a world away. And because eInflatables has built its reputation on Quality, Safety, and exceptional Customer Service, we have a responsibility to continue that tradition for our Customers.
We sincerely hope that before you make the decision on who you're going to buy from, you ask all the right questions, then consider all the facts, features, and benefits of doing business with each company you're comparing and resist the temptation to buy on price alone. Like a trusted advisor once told me, "A smart investment is one you still feel good about many years down the road."
Sincerely,
Greg Wishni
Sales Manager
P.S. With so many internet companies "claiming" to be U.S. "manufacturers", you can't be too careful! Most of the companies you'll find on the web are nothing more than a one man distributor or Rental Company claiming to be a "manufacturer" working out of his apartment selling inferior "China" inflatable Knock-Offs. Before you buy from anyone, ask the company you're talking to all of the questions listed below.
Click to go to printable version of the questions or simply scroll down to read the questions.
Please print these questions out.
Make copies of these questions and take notes from each company you talk to.
Questions Regarding Quality:
1. Are you the manufacturer of the products on your website? (Don't expect to get an honest answer from most of the companies you talk to) If they say they actually build the products on their website, tell them you want to visit their manufacturing facility in person. If they hesitate at all to invite you to their factory, it's because they don't have one. You'll know you're been lied to. The next question you need to ask yourself is, "Do I want to trust my hard earned money to someone who just lied to me? Probably Not.
2. Are you just a distributor? (If they're just a distributor, why would you want to deal with a middle man anyway? Plus if you have a problem with your Inflatable, you won't know who is responsible to fix it. Find the actual manufacturer and cut out the middle man.It will save you money and a whole lot of aggravation.)
3. Where are your Inflatables made? - In the U.S. or overseas? (Ask for proof) Can I come visit you?
4. How long has your company been building Inflatables? (Anything less than 5 years could be trouble.)
Ask for 5 references that have bought from them in the last 6 months and call each one. You'll learn a lot.
5. Is the vinyl used in your units manufactured in the U.S.A. or is the vinyl foreign made? (Most companies are using cheap China vinyl with a lot of "fillers" in it. That vinyl won't last long, and some China vinyl contains lead. Beware!)
6. Are your Inflatables double stitched from top to bottom? (If not, you're in for big problems.)
7. What high stress areas on your units do you reinforce with either webbing or vinyl? (If they hesitate or stumble answering this question, they probably don't reinforce their units. No reinforcement means trouble.)
8. Do your units have drain flaps on the bottom of your mattress to remove excess water in case the unit gets wet? (If not, good luck getting your units dry in less than 8 hours which means more hassle for you.)
9. How many deflation tubes, flaps or zippers are on your units? (The more the better for quicker take down and easier roll up.) We have a minimum of 4 on each of our units.
10. How much does your unit weigh? (The heavier the unit, the more men it takes to set it up which means higher labor costs and less net profit per rental.)
Questions Regarding Warranty:
1. What is your warranty? (We have a 2 year warranty on all of our bouncers.)
2. What is the warranty on your blowers, 1 year or 2? (We give 2 years on our blowers.)
3. Will you put in writing that if I have a warranty issue, you will pick up freight both ways? (If they don't pick up freight both ways, they have no confidence in their product.)
4. If I have a warranty issue with my unit, where will I send it for repair? Will I be sending the unit back to you or someone else? (If it's not going back to them, they're obviously not the manufacture.)
5. How long will it take to fix? (If it takes more than 1 week – there goes your "Great Deal.")
6. Will you put in writing that if it takes more than 1 week to repair, you'll cover all my lost rental revenue? (If they won't, you're in for huge financial loses because of lost rentals. So much for buying on price alone.)
Question Regarding Manufacturers Insurance: THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!!
1. Can you prove to me that your company has Product Defect Liability Insurance? Please fax me proof. (If the company you buy your Inflatables from cannot prove they have product liability insurance, you should move on to the next company. In fact, why would you put yourself in a position where you could be held financially liable for a manufacturers product defect? That would be a terrible position to be in, and one lawsuit could put you out of business!)
Questions Regarding Safety:
1. Are your Inflatables certified by registered engineers to meet or exceed all standards of ASTM? (If they say yes, ask them what ASTM stands for. If they can't tell you, watch out! ASTM stands for - American Society for Testing and Materials. Most China Inflatables are not built to ASTM Standards.)
2. If I go on the Internet to check and see if your Inflatables are approved and registered to do business in the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, what will I find? (These are the two most difficult states in the country for a manufacturer to get licensed in. They have the most stringent Safety Requirements in the country and eInflatables is the only U.S. manufacturer who has its complete product line of over 100 different Inflatables certified in both states. If they are not certified to do business in those states, their Inflatables probably do not meet U.S. Governmental Safety Requirements. – Watch Out!
3. Are there safety manuals provided with your units and are they in compliance with ASTM Standards? (If not, once again you'll be putting yourself in a terrible financial situation in case of any injury or lawsuit.)
4. When I receive my Inflatable, will your company's name be on the safety rules that are sewn onto the unit? (If not, they're just a distributor) If they say no, ask, What company's name will be on the unit? Where are they located? (The name on the safety rules should be the manufacturers.)
5. Do your bounce houses have a permanent roof sewn on or is it a removable (convertible) roof? (If roof is not permanently sewn on, you run the risk of a child climbing out and getting hurt or the sun beating down on the kids as they play. Plus, you'll have a lot more clean-up on your units because of leaves and debris falling inside.)
If you're buying a Combo Unit ask:
1. What does your Combo weigh? (Anything more than 295 pounds will require 2 men to set the unit up which means higher labor costs and less profit for you. eInflatables Combos weigh only 275 pounds so 1 man can set them up. We are the only company with Lightweight Combos.)
2. How many square feet of bounce area is in your Combo? (They probably won't even know. Our Combos have as much as 170 sq. ft. of bouncing area – equal to a full size bouncer.)
3. What are the dimensions of your Combo? (The bigger the dimensions, the fewer backyards their unit will fit in which means lost rentals. eInflatables Combos are, 15'L x 15'W x 14'H. (Same as a large bouncer.)
4. What is the slide height from where the kids actually sit down to the landing area at the bottom of the slide? Most companies will mislead you with their answers. eInflatables slide height is almost twice as tall as our nearest competitor which means even teenagers can go down it and still have a good time.)
5. Can the climbing step cover and slide cover be removed for repair or replacement without having to ship the entire unit back for repair? (Our step and slide covers are easily removed by the Customer if a repair or replacement is needed.)
6. How many different styles of Combos can I choose from? (Most companies will offer you 1 or 2 styles. eInflatables has over 50 different Combos to choose from. We're known as the Combo Kings!)
7. Is your slide area completely enclosed on all sides including the roof so the kids cannot climb or fall out? (This is very important! eInflatables units are completely caged in so it's impossible for a child to fall or climb out of our slides. Our Combos are the Safest, Most Attractive, and Lightest in the World.)
8. Does your Combo unit have a no jump safety screen at the top of your slide to stop the kids from standing up or jumping off and hurting themselves? (If they answer no, watch out – you will have accidents. eInflatables invented the no jump safety screen and it's a standard feature on all of our slides.)
Go to page containing only the questions - perfect for printing out to use when calling for quotes.
