CRI has been recruiting CSP's (Certified Service Providers) (requires an annual fee*) for more than five years. A big mill has mandated that their carpet must only be cleaned by an IICRC certified firm (requires an annual fee*) and the CSP must use CRI/SOA products (requires test fee*) or their carpet warranty will be void.
Most thinking people in our industry see this as an attempt to circumvent warranties while increasing CRI and IICRC revenues at the expense of cleaners and suppliers. One wag on an industry bulletin board said it best, "It's like Big Al's protection racket." The added expenditures are of questionable value to established professional cleaners, many of whom have years of experience and most of whom use time tested methods and products.
The irony is consumers** with no experience can rent a Rug Doctor® and clean their own carpet with equipment that is highly-rated by CRI. They don't pay the IICRC fee like professional cleaners and their warranty remains in full force. This is an insult to professional carpet cleaners and deserves an apology from the CRI and accomplice carpet mills.
Logistically, that warranty mandate will not work. According to CRI's own web site, only about 300 independent cleaning firms out of more than 40,000, have signed on to the program. About two thirds of the 987 CSP's are franchises, many of which are owned by carpet mills. Of the thousands of cleaning agents, cleaning machines and peripheral products on the market, only a small percentage have been tested by PTL, CRI's exclusive testing affiliate.
Sadly, the result of these shenanigans will mean that a multitude of carpet warranties will be declined or at least be in jeopardy to further aggravate consumers. The resulting higher cleaning fees that will give consumers even more reason to choose another floor covering the next time they buy. It's time for CRI to rethink this project before it bankrupts the entire industry.
* Just like licenses and taxes, fees always go up.
** Nearly all cleaning related complaints are generated in the DIY market! Professional Cleaners' complaints are nearly all about Bait & Switch operators. There are virtually none about equipment, cleaning agents or methods.
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