[USMA:34814] Re: Fwd: Metric Directive Queries

[Daniel]

It would seem from the tone of the questions asked, the guy is under some type of pressure to convert his products.  But he is looking for some way out of it.  It seems some of the problems listed below might be what they are encountering.  Non-metric fasteners don't exist in the EU and products that have them are almost impossible to service.  Some people may end up forcibly replacing the non-metric with metric, possibly damaging the product beyond repair and of course voiding any warranty.  Sometimes you can retap to the next larger metric size.  If the fastener is a set (screw, washers and nut) then you can easily replace a non-metric set with a metric set.  Say 1/4-20 with an M6.   Some years ago I heard horror stories about servicing MTD products in Europe, especially lawnmowers that used non-metric fasteners.  News of it got around and MTD sales dropped like a lead balloon.  People did not want to buy a product that could not be serviced without having to resort to using special tools and parts.    Why should anyone in the world have to buy an American product using non-standard components when there are so many other producers everywhere producing the same products or similar that is using standard parts?  Former, existing and potential customers may not complain verbally about any company's choice of measurement units, but they complain financially when they choose someone else's product over yours even though you may feel yours is a better buy.  They may be looking at the future cost of repair and the cost to repair something using non-metric components will always be higher.   Dan       ----- Original Message ----- From: Jim Elwell To: U.S. Metric Association Sent: Tuesday, 2005-10-11 18:34 Subject: [USMA:34813] Fwd: Metric Directive Queries (b) We do not have any direct sales force in Europe, but we do have a distributor and a couple of representatives. It seems every time I meet with them, they thank us for producing metric products. They just hate having to deal with English-based products, for the converse of the reasons you list above: they have to stock two sets of fasteners, sometimes two sets of tools (e.g., wrenches). I can say with no doubt at all that making metric products gives us an edge over our competitors in Europe.