Liner Disciples: not Eating Their Own Dog Food

I have been visiting water garden forums lately, and "I have not had this much fun since kindergarten art class."

Wow! Did I discover something amazing. I have known for many years that one of the major challenges in raising koi fish is to keep the koi from eating their own. Consequently, the eggs are separated from the pond as quickly as possible to prevent this.

After spending some time reading the Piranha Press (water garden forums), I am scared to wade into the water [forum] or even “get my feet wet.” Good grief, talk about “eating their own” . . .

Where are the loyalty, appreciation, gratitude, dedication, camaraderie and “family pride” Pride? In the Lion’s Pride, the lioness hunts to feed the Lion and her cubs. If she is unable to bring home the bacon, the cubs could become lunch for the Lion. In the Liner Pride, there is no “Pride” [sense of fam fam] and like the cubs, they are all branded as “food storage”! … with a very limited shelf life.

Some time around 1990, Greg Witstock, the lion of the liner industry, started the “pond liner craze” which transformed into the “pond liner frenzy,” as quoted in many pond magazines. I have lovingly given Greg Witstock the title of “Liner Messiah,” since he founded Aquascape Design Inc. Aquascape manufactures pond liner kits, and Greg has developed a marketing plan (“the way”), selling through his nation-wide network of pond liner installers, the “disciples.”

Witstock has invested a fortune in product engineering and development. He has developed successful sales tools and techniques for his “disciples” using a diverse line of products, training videos, books and sales materials that can literally guarantee a “disciple’s” success if they follow the “way”.

You may ask, that all sounds very good, so what is the down side? Well, the liner industry is marketing an overpriced and inferior product with a dismal track record.

The pond liner track record speaks for itself:

More than 37% of all waterfalls have serious structural damage within 3 years of construction.

57% of homeowners say they are rather unsatisfied with the way their waterfall came out after the project was completed.

One in three waterfalls and ponds are leaking water within nine months of completion.

63% of “do-it-yourselfers” say they wished they had the proper information from the “get go” or that they had hired someone.

These statistics are from the pond liner industry itself (Bob Wilder, 48-Hour Waterfall; pond liner installer for 18 years). I can confirm and attest to these figures myself. I have built over 1,900 concrete and rebar waterfalls and ponds over the past 26 years. I have ripped out and replaced dozens of defective liner ponds and replaced them with concrete and rebar, attaching lifetime warranties. I have also advised and aided angry pond liner owners by successfully suing the installers that refused to come back and correct serious leak problems.

The words “frenzy” and “craze,” used often when relating to the pond liner industry, are ironically very appropriate. “Crazed” is usually used as an adjective and means wildly insane or excited. The industry is exploding. Why? It is basically fueled by greed (a get rich quick scheme).

Where else can you spend $500 - $800 for a do-it-yourself kit, install it in one day, and walk away $2,500 - $4,500 richer? You should ask questions when you discover that professionals with college degrees are leaving their professions to install liner ponds. That’s really “craze-e!”

The word “frenzy” is a noun defined as a state or “period” of uncontrolled excitement or wild behavior. That sort of describes the eating etiquette of a Piranha! Notice, it is for a period of time. What happens when there are more pond liner kit installers then there are customers? Even professionals with college degrees are installing pond kits, due to the exorbitant profits. What about the growing awareness of the statistics related to the undependability of liners? Or the reputation of, or lack of, business ethics and shoddy workmanship? What happens when the clients find out they were deceived by not being told the whole truth about liners? (Read, “Pond Liners: Seven Reasons Why I Don’t Use Them” by Doug Hoover – Google.) What is the answer to all these questions? The “frenzy” state or period of uncontrolled excitement or wild behavior will cease.

And what about the state of the water feature business’ reputation when the proverbial dust settles and the truth about pond liners becomes evident? This is the reason I am speaking out now! Building waterfalls and ponds has been my love and my bread and butter for over a quarter of a century.

I was eavesdropping on one of the hundreds of forum sites. I copied only two pages of posts and replies by forum members and/or pond liner “disciples.” Here is a brief summary:

Greg Witstock was praised for his accomplishments. Greg’s financial success of “ADI” Aquascapes Design Inc. was touted.

Comments were made about overpriced products, bordering on gouging. Discussions took place on how products could be produced using specific common plumbing products, for a fraction of the price. Better priced pumps with longer warranties could be found elsewhere.

However, the liner disciples are still using Greg’s beautiful brochures, videos and door hangers, which he makes available to all his disciples at a fraction of the cost. But they are not being loyal to their “messiah” by using Aquascape products because they are shopping around for cheaper products. There is no such thing as product loyalty or professional etiquette. But then again, are Piranhas or starving lions known to demonstrate loyalty or appreciation?

After logging in on this particular water garden forum, I tried to share some facts about concrete pond construction or using high performance pumps and quality building products. Let’s see, which of these is easier to do:

1. Build a pond using concrete and steel that takes a week to finish and nets $5,000 profit, and guarantee the finished product for 20 years or more?... or

2. Build a liner pond in a single day, for a profit of $5,000, and guarantee the liner for one year against factory defect and not have to be responsible when rats, gophers or tree roots compromise the liner, because it wasn’t covered by the warranty?.

Is it any wonder that after I posted my articles “Pondless Waterfalls: Concrete vs. Liners” and “Pond Liners: Seven Reasons why I do Not Use Them,” I was locked out of the forum and banned from the website? It was akin to shouting, “I love the Jewish people!” at a Klu Klux Klan rally.

I discovered the forum administrator was also the webmaster and owner of the domain name and owner of a landscaping company that installs pond liners!

The “Liner Messiah” showed them the way, and his “disciples” took what they wanted and went their way.

Don’t compromise your integrity. It is the essence of who you are and what you will become. Build your character on a strong foundation, and when the storms of life and winds of adversity beat you upside the head, you will stand!

Build your waterfall and pond on a strong concrete (4500psi) and rebar foundation. And when the rats, gophers and tree roots come, you will have no regrets, your integrity will shine like the noonday sun, and your waterfall will bring you long-term joy, peace, relaxation and pleasure for decades to come. I Promise.

Update from the “Pond Liner Soap Opera Digest” by Doug Hoover