Termites don`t play fair...
...neither should you!
Call us today 1800 6 12345
Greenpest Videos
Testimonials
How to Install, Check &
Treat a Green Bait System
How to Install
Ec2c Termite Windows
November 2009 / Vol.6 / Issue 11
Hello and Welcome to the November Greenpest News. Each month we aim to provide you with some useful information, keeping it short, sweet and pertinent.
Pest Talk
Waffle Pods.
You would have to think that in this modern day and age our building industry would be building new homes that are termite proof or at least termite resistant. Sadly, in the interests of cost saving many homes are being built with Styrofoam waffle pods in the foundations. It saves time because it is quick and easy to set up, and it uses less concrete so it saves on concrete costs too. All in all, it represents about a $5,000 cost saving compared to other foundation construction methods. However, it is sometimes a false saving because it may become a perfect haven for termites later on. They like the Styrofoam and will actually nest in it. It is also very difficult to treat for termites later on. Simply put, they are a professional termite manager’s worst nightmare. The Styrofoam doesn’t hold chemical and it also prevents the chemicals reaching the termite nest which is very difficult to locate. The application of a termiticidal dust to active termites may have a chance of destroying the nest; otherwise the application of an aboveground bait station such as Sentricon AG may do the trick.
If you are building a new home and the builder is going to use a waffle pod then we suggest a metal frame structure or the use of treated timbers throughout. Keep in mind however, that treated timbers are still at risk because the quality of the treatment is hard to measure and if the wood is cut then it may well become susceptible to termite attack.
A Green Termite Bait System will help to reduce the risk of termites but as with all termite baiting systems (as well as chemical treated zones), they may be less likely to succeed if the termites are already established under the slab. Why? Simply because the termites have all they need to survive directly above them, so they won’t need to venture away from the home (towards the baits or the chemicals) for many years. In some cases, new homes are built directly on top of existing underground termite nests and we have seen homes suffering early damage even before completion!
So, if you have a waffle pod (and know it) then be vigilant for termites. If you are looking to buy a home, make sure you determine if it is built on a waffle pod or not. Ask. If no one knows, then ask a builder. It’s not always easy to tell. The majority of waffle pod homes have been built in the last 5 years.
In conclusion, we strongly advise all home owners to conduct a regular inspection for termites at least once a year and even more so if your home is constructed on a waffle pod.
A customer recently rang us for a quote on a termite baiting system. He mentioned that he already had a baiting system in place but that it was of no value. It had cost him $3000 6 months earlier and the company that installed it refused to service it unless he paid a further $3000. He was away on a business trip at the time it was installed. His wife had made the decision to get some termite protection and had thought that $3000 was the all up cost. The salesman for the pest control company (we can’t name names) was basically a very slick operator and a complete con man. Refunds were refused when requested and the company even had the audacity to tell the gentleman that his wife was stupid.
Surprisingly, this company has even won a business award. Its growth is rapid and to anybody looking in from the outside you would have to think it was a fine organisation. Actually, it is a very well run con. Business is generated from large call centres as well as junk mail. The reason business is so good is because they make an offer that is irresistible!
It goes like this: For $220-$250 they will treat your house inside and outside for cockroaches, silverfish, spiders and ants and they will give you a 12 month warranty on the lot. But wait, there's more. They will also include a full termite inspection with a written report for the same price.
As a member of the general public myself, I was dumbfounded the first time someone rang my home and made me this offer. In the next six months I received the offer twice more which goes to show just how powerful their marketing program is. Of course, because I’m a professional in the pest control industry, I felt compelled to ask their call centre girl a few questions and once more I was left thunderstruck by what I was told. They must be on commission because she would say anything to make a sale. In a nutshell what I heard was total rubbish and in parts completely wrong, but to the uninformed it would have sounded like a really wonderful bargain. When I enquired how long the work would take, I was told no more than 1.5 hours.
Well, the time part is true. He’s all done in 1.5 hours or less, but the job isn’t even remotely done. It takes a true professional technician that long to just do the pest control and then another 2 hours to do a full inspection and a proper written report might add another 1 to 2 hours on top of that. So how do they manage to achieve about 5 hours of work in under 1.5 hours? Plainly they can’t. Ask any honest pest professional. No doubt, the body governing the pest control industry in Australia, AEPMA, would also confirm this point if asked.
What you get for your $250 is a shonky job backed by a completely worthless warranty. Many people have reported their dissatisfaction to us, usually with “I won’t say who did it, but…” to which we reply “Is it xxxx company?” and they sounding surprised say “Yes, how did you know?”
Plainly I won’t name names, but I imagine it’s only a matter of time before “A Current Affair” cotton on to this rort and expose it for what it is. Most people who are unhappy about a service don’t complain. They might tell a few friends, but in general they don’t take it to Consumer Affairs/Department of Fair Trading because it is just too much bother. There is probably not much they can do anyway, because there is no specific law being broken. There are no ‘quality’ police to enforce 'value for money'.
It’s easy to have rapid growth in a business when you are selling a $500 service for $250 and then delivering a worthless quickie spray plus a glancing look around for termites. This company also does termite quotes over the phone in 10 seconds without ever coming to your home to see what the problem is or what style of home you have. One price, $5,000 fixes all. Take it or leave it.
Lucky for them there are plenty of gullible people who take up their offer. We haven’t written this because of sour grapes or jealousy. We are flat out and very busy doing honest work, thank you. We have written this because we are annoyed and someone needs to draw attention to this scam that cloaks itself in the guise of legitimacy. As the expression goes, “If it looks too good to be true…”
The Order Hymenoptera contains ants, bees and wasps. There are some 108,000 species of which 8,800 can be found in Australia. The vast majority of these insects are beneficial helping to control many other plant pests naturally as well as providing pollination services for most plants. Sometimes they become a pest to humans - invading our homes or stinging us when we are in the garden.
When this happens you’ll need a pest controller. If you have wasp nests hanging off your house we normally eradicate them for free as part of a regular outdoor spider treatment. To come out and only treat a wasp nest costs the same as a regular spider treatment anyway, so keep that in mind if you have any wasps posing a risk to you.
To quote Monty Python, “And now for something completely different…” Last month we spoke about the rare times when we unfortunately have to kill nuisance bees (when there are no other options to remove them safely) and we received the following email from a deeply concerned lady that we would like to share anonymously. Whether you find it interesting or amusing will depend on your point of view. We have only corrected the spelling (not the grammar).
I am so disappointed in the bee story. Would it not be more sense to educate people more about the prevention of bee problems than to encourage them to seek the help of the pest controller? We all know what is in the head of a pest controller, and that is to kill, kill, kill. It is a real crime to kill these insects and many more, knowing the problems the earth has now. You should be learning to let nature make the cure and not stupid human beings who have already b#ggered up the eco system. Mate, we need the bees to make the honey and to pollinate the plants so that we can all benefit from the earth staying green and not turning into some isolated moonscape, like Queenstown in Tassie, where the council insists that any little shoot that pokes its head through a crack get the wand treatment. Pest Controllers should become more responsible in their field of work, and for me I do not see this. Please, prevention is better than the cure, always has been and always will be. Forget about the big bucks and come down to reality and be a responsible human being earning an honest living and not picking on something much smaller than you.
If you guys stopped sniffing your own chemicals, then your brains would be working like they should be. It should not have to be somebody like myself to remind you of the state the environment is in at this present time. Lead the way and become a responsible pest controller and not plant the seed of evil into people's heads.
Or better still, you and all your fellow pest controllers should do a real course in university learning the science of the insect world and not just being just the two bob happy wanderers running amuck with a wand full of deadly chemicals, not understanding the real catastrophes they are having on the eco system and also the human race. With the amounts that are sprayed willy-nilly by you guys, who knows, this is possibly one of the most harmful poisons we are all breathing in and suffering the ill effects from. Or should I say, I do know. The fact that you guys are still using chemicals that are prohibited in the US is astounding. And if you are well schooled in the way you are handling your chemicals, then you should know the one I am talking about. How do we know that this particular chemical could be the route of the human being problems, causing chain reactions like it does in the insect world? You may say there is no proof, but let me tell you, that was what they said with Agent Orange.
If you want to be a responsible citizen, then may I suggest that you join and lead the way that many others are doing, by giving the chemical companies a miss and do something that will keep your family safe from the chemical world of wrongdoers.
She followed this up with another email. We will share a segment:
I have never been a greenie, but do believe we have all been put on this earth for a purpose. If we do not keep the eco system turning around like it should, then the balance will go right out the door. We only have to remember what happened about the culling of the elephants. Killing all the adults could not save the babies because they had no elder to teach them their habits of life and therefore ran amuck when they became adolescents. We humans get our grounding from our parents, and so do the animals.
With the insect world the same groundings of life is basically the same. Knock out the leaders and you have got the rest running amuck. This planet is not all that big, but if we all share it and live in harmony, then there should be no problems.
If you listen to what the astronauts have to say about our planet, then you would realise what a paradise we all live in. Destroy the balance and we have nothing. Think about it.
Oh by the way, "Green Pest Control" is not an appropriate name when you are using chemicals. Try something organic, and then the name will be up there looking after mother nature.
Well, there you go. That wasn’t over the top at all…
Monthly Special Promotion.
This special is no longer available. Please go to our current newsletter for this month's special.
If you wish to read previous newsletters, or if this newsletter has been forwarded on to you and you would like to subscribe, please: Click here
Got a question or some feedback? Please send it here: Feedback/Question
The Greenpest News is Published by J & A Furnell Nominees P/L; Shop 23a Franklin Square, 60 Railway Street, Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of Jerry Furnell. The reader is encouraged to seek further information from appropriate government and statutory departments before taking any action based on this material alone.
Privacy: We're committed to protecting your privacy. We do not sell, trade, rent or otherwise disclose any personal information you provide to us. This newsletter is sent to our customers, subscribers and potential customers who have made enquiries with us.
Unsubscribe: If for any reason you do not wish to receive this email please simply hit your reply button and enter unsubscribe.
To update your details please click here.
See you again next month.
Always... At your service,
Jerry Furnell
Green Pest Control & Green Termite Bait Systems.
Phone 1800 6 12345.
Copyright 2009 Green Termite Bait Systems & Green Pest Control. All rights reserved.
International Orders Welcome
