Complaint Review: Superior Lamp Inc. - Maintenance Engineering LTD - Mt. Laurel New Jersey

I just became a rep for ME and just now came across this report. The kit cost now is $100. I am in AL and I would really like to talk with you about your company and if there are any opportunities here in AL.

So its been a few years since you slammed me - Are you still selling for Superior Lighting or Maintenance Engineering. 
-------or---------
Did you finally figure it out? 

 I have tried to help other unfulfilled Superior Lamp people in the past, but was unsuccessful because of the terms of uses from Ripped Off report. They make it impossible to make any contact with each other

I am glad that you took the time to give an honest appraisal and I would like to talk with you regarding your experience as an independent energy consultant

Hey Bulb Guy in Deluth.........please contact me asap at (((ROR redacted))).  I am in SC and I would really like to talk with you.  Is your company hiring?
Thanks,
1981champs

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

John Boy, I wanted to thank you for your report about ME and Superior.  You saved me $495 today. 

I had a telephonic interview with Sheila McNae at Maintenance Engineering.  She pretty much said that Superior was not affiliated with ME and that Superior operated in another state. (whatever that means). 

In our interview, I asked if GE or Phillips were the light bulb manufacturers of their products.  She said that only US companies made the product but she could not share this information.  I mentioned that when I sold over 100 wastewater treatment systems in Humboldt, Arizona, that I knew my competitors and the manufacturers of their systems so that I could focus on the positives and negatives of each system I was trying to compete with.  I can't imagine selling a product without knowing my competition's strengths and weaknesses.  She didn't want to talk about my approach.  She said I would have to learn their sales techniques and new I was trainable.  The final blow came when I told her I was not willing to pay $495 to be employed.  The conversation ended abruptly.  

Thanks again!

Deb

As an installer of energy efficient lighting working with the utility here in Arizona i would like to put in my two cents here.

T12 lamps will be obsolete soon. in the next couple of years they will no longer be manufactured or imported, In fact magnetic ballasts for these lamps are no longer being manufactured.

The next generation of T-8  lamps is now available and with electronic ballasts they have lives over twice that of T12 lamps. these lamps cost about $1.50 each High lumen lamps cost about $2.00 each. Electronic ballasts for these can drive up to 4 lamps and cost about $20.00 for a premium ballast. the installed cost of four lamps and a new ballast is about 60.00 (including labor) Our local utility will pay from 40% of the cost up to 90% of the cost to retrofit these. Oh and by the way this type of instalation will use about 40% of the electricity used by the T12's. 

I have looked at some of the DTC lamps, they are brighter, about as bright as a high lumen T8, but they use 40watts, 6 more than the energy efficient T12's they replace. But these are initial Lumens and will fall off rapidly, What are the mean lumens? That's the amount of light they will put out over the life of the bulb.  

Selling obsolete technology that won't last is a rip off! 

Bulb Guy, I have tried to help other unfulfilled Superior Lamp people in the past, but was unsuccessful because of the terms of uses from Ripped Off report. They make it impossible to make any contact with each other.

If you have been working "cold calling", you should already know who your competition is. If I were you, I would go and knock on there door and ask the if they would support you as and independent representative. You already understand the product, so bringing you on as an independent would not take a lot of there time training you.

Lighting is only 1 of many ways to save your customers money on there utility's.
I know for a fact that utility pricing is twice as much in California than in the mid-west. This is a good thing for you because your customers ROI would be short.

Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Freezers are a huge drain on electricity.
Get in contact with XDX USA. Check out there web site. They will make you study and have an understanding of refrigeration before considering you as a representative.
My local utility tested the XDX Valve and found saving of 18% on utilities, they now rebate the customer for installation. Customer service and support is excellent. Ask to talk to Antony.

Another Refrigeration/Freezer company is located in California. They are Frigtek Systems. They work with the motors and making them more efficient. They have been tested and the local California utilities rebate the installation. I can not give you a thumbs up because I have only just started working with them. I have my first installation scheduled for the end of February. The local utility will be testing it for savings and then will find out what the rebate should be.

Another avenue to consider would be Power Factor Correction. Customers that run allot of large electric motors may benefit from this technology. Mainly its for protection from electric surges to there equipment, but some utility savings can be accomplished. If you decide you would like to know more check out Eaton Corporations web site. There are allot of companies selling PF Correction, I found that Eaton can ease a customers pain for 1/6th. the cost that these other guys are selling it for.

If your looking for more residential info go to  MeEnergia web site.

Hope this helps, Good luck

John Boy in Duluth

(((REDACTED)))

I'm interested in distributorship!

Greg

(((Redacted)))

Thank you for your time. I welcome any information you have to offer.

Susannah - You are going to have to post your e-mail address so I can respond.

If your husband is interested in only selling light bulbs, I know a reputable source in the Minneapolis area.

Does he have contacts in the hotel, restaurant, school, grocery store arena?

I had the author's name wrong. I am seeking information from "John boy - Duluth (U.S.A.)"

I wish to seek more information from Bulbguy of Glendale.

My finacee has recently become a sales rep for ME and only now did I find any of these complaints. He's an excellent salesman, but the little bits he was telling me about his new job just kept adding up into something ridiculous. So, I looked it up and the problems I have been witness to are laid out, virtually verbatum, in this report. I would like to take up Bulbguy on his offer for advice.

Bulbguy - glendale

Not a bad salesman, just sour grapes.

I will admit that Maintenance Engineering did leave a Bad Taste in my mouth. However, they did open my eyes to a product line that everyone needs and needs to be replaced with energy efficient solutions.

After learning the basics from M.E. I went on and secured a independent representative agreement with a national lighting wholesaler. With more education and training, last year I signed contracts with a few hotels, grocery stores, hospitals a school district, and an arena (where we installed dimmable high bay T-5's) reduced power consumption by half, provided better light and saving them over $13,000 annually. The arena project has opened many doors for me. I now work with utility companies, showing their customers products that reduce energy consumption while providing utility company rebates.

I have continued to expand my experience with lighting and have added additional energy efficient products ie. Freon based valves that extend product life and reduce compressor run times that reduce energy consumption by 15% or more.  Power Factor correction devices that save on electric motors, also saving consumers 15% or more. Motion detection devices for hotels that works with the hvac thus saving energy.

One more dig at M.E. -- After leaving for greener pastures, I installed those extra bright bulbs in my heated garage. 2 of the 4 bulbs quit working within 6 months. Since I paid for them "they were included in my $495.00 sales kit and guaranteed for years" I called M.E. for replacement bulbs, they said NO. 

Bulbguy - If you are still selling F40T12 Extra Bright bulbs for $18.87 and making $6.60 a bulb and I could show you $13.00+ profit per bulb @ $18.87, respond and I'll set you up as a distributor.

Have they made you a manager yet? Then you will be able to rip off the innocent young guy/gale that you are training. Maybe you'll tell them up front that you are keeping the commissions while ridding around with them?

Good Luck,
I will talk to you if you decide you want to become a distributor as an energy consultant.

So John Boy,

You are evidently very put off by the way Superior Lamp/Maintenance Engineering does business.  However, as a salesman for M.E. for over 3 months now, I feel the need to set the record straight.

First off, the cost of the bulbs is $18.87, not the higher amount you quoted.  Furthermore, this cost is fully justified by the quality of the product which maintains its light for 7 years, is full spectrum, and is twice as bright (allowing one to us half as many bulbs!).

Second, the amount needed to sell is not $399, but $495 -- an amount I got paid back when i sold $25k in volume -- took me 3 months.  In the meantime, their support, materials, and guidance are all well worth that amount.  They flew me to Fargo for a week of training and taught me how to sell better and know my product well.

Third, I have not experienced the drop in sales you have.  I have averaged $2,000 dollars a week, and as I grow my business, so does my weekly average tend to grow as well.  Sure, some weeks are slim, and because of that, one must have some kind of credit line, savings or additional income to draw from, but as with any independent sales job, you get out of it what you put in.

Fourth, and lastly, the whole report is filled with so many fallacious lies that it is hardly worth responding to any of it.  I certainly won't respond to any more. 

If you feel like selling light bulbs, me seems to me to be a great one.

I say, "run john boy run" away from any opportunity that challenges you and be sure to bad mouth those that you do run from, because that is the coward's way, and based on the information you provided, that is exactly what you are.

Superior started in 1977 and is simply an off shoot of ME with a different sales team while sharing many of the same back office pesonnel. http://www.me-dtc.com/mission_and_history/mission_and_history.htm