Replies

1. 
   ryder | Nov 22, 2009 11:48am | #1

   Why do you ask?

1. 
   KFC | Nov 22, 2009 07:25pm | #3

   Barclay Simpson recently missed a public appearance.
   Barclay Simpson is the head of the company, I guess he took it over from his dad. If you like what the company does, it is in large part due to the philosophy and actions of the family.
   If you own stock...
   k

2. 
   jimAKAblue | Nov 22, 2009 06:49pm | #2

   I hope they dissappear off the face of the earth.

1. 
   KFC | Nov 22, 2009 07:25pm | #4

   Feel better now?
   You'd miss 'em.
   k

1. 
   jimAKAblue | Nov 22, 2009 07:34pm | #5

   LOL...I love walking past their displays in the home stores knowing that I don't have to buy them anymore.

1. 
   KFC | Nov 22, 2009 07:47pm | #6

   And I love being able to tell someone on the internet I've never met, in an unknown locale "a good way to hang those would be H 2.5 rights and lefts" and know he can find a picture of that exact thing in the catalog on his shelf, or online, or find the actual physical thing at the store. When i try to describe a header hanger to someone, all i have to say is "look up "HH" in the Simpson catalog".
   Not to mention being able to show the printed, verified results of tested loads in x, y, z, axes and moment to a questioning inspector.The mononpoly thing does bother me, but until someone else invests the time and energy to come up with an equally comprehensive, verified and worldwide source of information and parts, I take it as a comparatively small thing.
   k

1. 
   Gene_Davis | Nov 22, 2009 08:04pm | #8

   There is always Gibraltar, if you can get them.

   http://www.uspconnectors.com/

   Starbucks, UPS, I-Level, and other outfits all have great approaches to market dominance, but there are always competitors.  That is, until the Fed operates everything. 

   View Image

   "A stripe is just as real as a dadgummed flower."

   Gene Davis        1920-1985

2. 
   KFC | Nov 22, 2009 08:16pm | #9

   Good point. It's not a total monopoly.
   But, I just don't feel confident telling someone take a look in your Gibraltar catalog and find GH22... I'd probably start by saying it's like a Simpson XYZ, they'd look it up in their simpson catalog, and try to find the similar item in Gibraltar brand.
   Simpson is the universal language, and that's due to their incredible investment in testing, publishing, and delivering.
   Hope 'ol Barclay's ok. Be a shame if the family lost majority control of the company, for any reason. I shudder to think what Bain capital could do to the quality and reputation (and employees) of a company like Simpson if it seemed like it could be leveraged out from its director.
   k

3. 
   ryder | Nov 23, 2009 09:21am | #10

   I also love being able to look up pproducts, seeing their spec, nail size etc.  So tell me, is there any truth to the rumor that simpson flies engineering types to information seminars in exotic locations, all expense paid, where they wine and dine them and sell them on new products that are then pushed on the industry...I know, very conspiratle (I think I just made up that word, very proud of it...then again maybe I just misspelled it)

   I swear they just keep adding this #### that didn't used to be needed.  Some designs seem to be trying to defy gravity and it's understandable that they need alot more hardware, but some of thes house have a ridiculously larger amount of hardware then the designs of yesteryear that are still standing....

   Last plan had 3x6 pt mudsill (totally common here) tons of a-35's ( each I joist to mudsill, ply conections at plates , H'1on trusses, A35s connecting bird blocks to top plates,etc, etc, etc)

   I'm not an engineer but would love to hear ones take on it. 

4. 
   KFC | Nov 23, 2009 04:36pm | #11

   A lot of people seem to feel that the codes are overly stringent, the recent deck hold-down code change is one example (and an example that seems to benefit Simpson, since they apparently are the only manufacturer to have a hold down which meets the code). I can understand the grumbling when it seems like your only option is to give a bit more of the project's budget to a single manufacturer.Me, living about 3 miles from the Hayward fault, I have absolutely no problem with using Simpson (or other) hardware all over the place, especially when it is the smartest way to carry a load path all the way through the structure. I've personally seen enough older "been there" contractors execute 90% of a good structure with one or two critical weak links that demonstrate they really don't understand the totality of the structure and its connections.I guess it comes down to a cost/benefit issue. If you're building throwaway 50-year homes with terrible waterproofing details, it probably doesn't make sense. If you're trying to make (very expensive) hundred- (or more) year old homes last another hundred or more years in an earthquake zone, there's really no intelligent debate, IMO.As far as whether Simpson colludes with or manipulates building officials, I guess it is an understandable question, since they do so much research and testing, often with engineers, NGO's and building officials involved. Did you see the video of the recent shake table test? I honestly believe that they are seeking to learn the best ways to make buildings perform well, and soliciting advice from builders, engineers and code officials to that end. They've come up with enough products that are directly responsive to real world situations that save me time and money, that I am way, way less paranoid about them than other large companies. They seem to be listening to guys in the field; both the slide-rule types, and the guys in coveralls in the crawl-space. I have had almost no quality control issues with them ever, whereas it seems like almost every other (even name brand) product is toeing the line between acceptable and unacceptable quality these days. But, they are in business to make money too, after all... nothing's pure in this world. Still, compared to most corporations, I'd say they're pretty good. The HQ is nearby in Pleasanton, and the feedback from their employees (I've heard from a few) is really very good . That's part of my reason for the post- I often wonder what would happen if a bunch of the younger family members decided to cash in their shares, and a company like Black and Decker (or Catellus, or Bain) ended up with a controlling stake. *shudder*k

5. 
   gfretwell | Nov 23, 2009 06:31pm | #12

   Simpson does have guys who fly around doing CEU rated seminars and giving out literature, although I haven't seen one lately.
   Florida may be the Simpson capital of the world because of our uplift requirements. A big stick framed house will have about a thousand of these buggers in different styles and shapes.
   Basically the design intent seems to be, you could grab the roof decking and pull out the foundation.

6. 
   KFC | Nov 23, 2009 08:41pm | #13

   Yeah, ditto here in the bay area. The EQ forces we deal with cause vertical issues as well as lateral, so you have to design for the load to get all the way from the roof to the ground, and show how it's anchored to the ground, for that matter.
   It's one thing for a company to promote its products via continuing education, quite another to imply that there's some hanky-panky going on with code writers, like the rumors the previous poster referred to.Still no extra info on what's up with Barclay, though. Hope he and his are fine.k

7. 
   ryder | Nov 24, 2009 11:12pm | #14

   Good points all, and I appreciate your later post refering to rumors I've heard.  After reading that I realized I could be perpetuating unfounded info when my real goal was curiousity about the rumors.  You seemed to know a bit about the company so seemed a good source.

   When in the act of putting some device in, usually something someone missed (never me I'm sure, lol) I curse simpson.  I have to agree with your assesment of their response to the field feed back or while else would they have come up with the screws on their HD's so we don't have to drill and bolt?

   I think they realize they have to make better applications and not sit on their lead in the game or someone else will sneek up and take over.  A better mouse trap is still a better mouse trap...what the he77 does that mean?!!lol

   Nice to be reminded of the obvious once in a while.

2. 
   alwaysontime2 | Nov 22, 2009 07:49pm | #7

   I've done ok a couple of times with their stock

3. 
   Ron2984 | Nov 25, 2009 02:41am | #15

   I think Simpson does take it's products seriously. A case in point. About 7 years ago I did a roof top deck that required a hefty hanger to support a flitch beam. Approx. 6 months after the job was finished I got a phone call from Simpson telling me they have concerns regarding the quality of the weld on that particular hanger made between a specific time period. Long story short, they paid me $700. to remove and re-install some decking so they could repair the potential fault. Pretty good attention to quality. And no, I don't own any stock in the company.

1. 
   KFC | Nov 25, 2009 06:19am | #16

   Well, there you go. I've used a few custom hangers they've fabricated, and they've all been dead on. I've also never had any run of the mill quality complaints, whereas I could gripe about any number of other expensive name brand products- my current complaint is about crappy Grace IWS with blisters and bulges...
   Sad that I give a company special respect for not screwing up, but these days, I notice and appreciate it.Still haven't heard any news about Barclay.k