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Open Letter: IWFA hiked fees for international distributors

Counterpart

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Counterpart

Counterpart

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Dear Mr Darrell Smith,

There are some unhappiness among the international IWFA distributors when they renew their membership lately. The international distributors faced a massive fee hike of over 900% and some of them had been with IWFA for years but there was no consensus sought prior to such moves. It came as a shock. Did any of them decide not to renew?

You would agree that most of IWFA's achievements and efforts are within US soils. While this is a limitation, the fact that IWFA recognized this issue in the past and offered a different membership structure for foreign companies to keep everyone under a common platform, was commendable.

For years, the key benefit for these international IWFA member companies' participation was a regular hardcopy of Window Film Mag which kept everyone informed of our trade's development. Now, IWFA has also switched to softcopies to save costs.

We risk segregating "I"WFA into "American" Window Films Association if the companies boycott(which is happening). Is it true that some are not renewing this year and it was embarrassing to keep removing names from IWFA membership directory? There are many tinting associations around the world (eg. Korea, thailand, ANZ, Europe, etc) but these are regional-based. Now this issue has encouraged opportunists to form international-themed coalition for our trade, there's at least one more now. Let's not mention names here.

Here's another issue. I understand that you offer a lower hike of >600% to nearly everyone if their are recognized as customers of IWFA manufacturer. Instead of embracing everyone in our trade, why is IWFA effectively discriminate private labels or customers of suntek, Korean and India factories who are non-members? As truly neutral institution in our trade, IWFA should avoid policies that risk polarising members, right?

In your personal opinion, do you think IWFA regulatory policies accurately reflect the voices of their members from all walks of the trade or directed by the big boy members? It's alright if you can't do anything about these. This letter will at least shed light on some grudges from the ground.

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Fiveofeen

Fiveofeen

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What was the price? And what did it go to?

What do US manufacturers pay compared to overseas, US distributors vs. overseas?

I really wish someone from the IWFA would post on here but I can understand why they don't. Being from a mfg and posting is hard enough.

Perhaps at least on Linkedin where you are at least going to have to stand behind what you say with your name and company behind it. That tends to keep things a little more professional.

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V4V

V4V

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Perhaps at least on Linkedin where you are at least going to have to stand behind what you say with your name and company behind it. That tends to keep things a little more professional.

...and boring (IMHO)

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MikeMN

MikeMN

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Perhaps at least on Linkedin where you are at least going to have to stand behind what you say with your name and company behind it. That tends to keep things a little more professional.

...and boring (IMHO)

Mike, why do you think it is boring .......... ?

I am just asking because I have joined, but I have not even looked at it.

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TomTint

TomTint

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Perhaps at least on Linkedin where you are at least going to have to stand behind what you say with your name and company behind it. That tends to keep things a little more professional.

...and boring (IMHO)

Mike, why do you think it is boring .......... ?

I am just asking because I have joined, but I have not even looked at it.

It is deffinately a snooze fest. Very little worthwhile reading

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V4V

V4V

Posted
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It's a politically correct site that has good intentions (or at least I'd give it the benefit of the doubt.)

We are essentially competitors-- or not.

There are no in betweens.

Tintdude is honest, frequently ugly and intentionally or unintentionally humorous. It's far more influential and educational than any window film industry website.

It's not even close.

Feelings get hurt because participants are passionate here.

The Linkedin site is like going to a church social.

It's all "please" and "may I" with fake smiles all around.

But that's just my opinion; please see for yourself.

:blind

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MikeMN

MikeMN

Posted
Posted

It's a politically correct site that has good intentions (or at least I'd give it the benefit of the doubt.)

We are essentially competitors-- or not.

There are no in betweens.

Tintdude is honest, frequently ugly and intentionally or unintentionally humorous. It's far more influential and educational than any window film industry website.

It's not even close.

Feelings get hurt because participants are passionate here.

The Linkedin site is like going to a church social.

It's all "please" and "may I" with fake smiles all around.

But that's just my opinion; please see for yourself.

:blind

Mike, Thanks for your opinion.......... :thumb

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