I just don't get it.
A group of educators, who by the way, all make their living by running active shops (and are not traveling the country supporting themselves through teaching, speaking and writing) is invited by a manufacturer to tour their manufacturing plant and spend some time with the marketing department- and as a result, all of their years of experience in the trenches actually working with clients and various framing products is immediatelty discounted?
What impressed me about the group that was invied is that we were from all different parts of the country, had very different business models, and we were never asked about our "feelings" about Tru Vue products or whether or not we sold them prior to the invitation or as a "condition" of the invite.
In fact, there was never a sales pitch, not even a hand out or other product related "pro- Museum Glass propaganda" or a request that we change our pitch about their products or change our way of thinking.
I was shocked to find that there were more than one of us that does not use Museum Glass as a regular part of our product mix, or has "drunken the Kool Aid" re: that it is the "best" solution for our glazing needs.
We were "allowed" to be outspoken, tell the people at Tru Vue honestly how we felt about a variety of things related to the company and its products (and other products from other companies and distributors as well).
However, a reasonable person (and I will generously include Paul C in the mix) could not have come away from the tour without being impressed by the facility and have a better appreciation of how the product is manufactured, the amount of money it takes to manufacture the product, and the potential problems that are inherrent in the manufacturing process.
I am not here to debate the "use MG or not" concept. Or whether or not there are no "alternatives" to MG. I will tell you that I believe it to be a high quality product manufactured with state of the art equipment - and that there are many framers who have found it appropriate for their framing needs and are making a significant amount of money as a result.
I believe that as an industry, we suffer from "self limitations" and in many cases, DENY OUR CUSTOMERS an opportunity to spend their money on something that we personally feel is "too expensive" or whose style/design does not fit our mold.
With all of the "what's so-s" (meaning cost, handling, price differential from Michaels etc) taken into consideration - to not sell MG "on principal" or even offer it as a part of your product mix (at any price) is foolish. AND - that was my opinion before the tour

. And, if you want to make even more $$ on your glass sales, a dialogue regarding proven effective pricing and sales methods from those who do use it and are succesful would be way more beneficial than the dogpile on Tru Vue and a few educators who took a tour.
I know of framers who in Alaska outright rejected 6" wide mouldings because "no one else had them" and there was not a perceived need. One framer I knew took a chance and put some samples up and they immediately began selling, with the first comment from a customer being, " I have never seen anything like this before."
I am disappointed and offended that anyone (including Tru Vue) would think that a simple trip to view a manufacturing plant would:
A. Radically change the way I feel about a product such that I would become a "witness" and begin going frameshop door to frameshop door to promote the product.
B. Negate the "value" of my 40 years of experience in this industry. Or that my values are so low that I could be "bought."