I have used Arxx's ICF for years before they were bought out. I now have access to Fox Block but looking at BuildBlock ICF because they sell direct. I just recently discovered the director of sales I have been speaking to is no longer there. After contacting several distributors on their map I was informed the sales director was the 5th one and turnover rate is extremely high in every department? I am looking for a new block, any shared experiences with Personal and customer service would be appreciated to help make a decision. Also is the connectivity too tight and difficult to align up? Montana Tom

Posted By icftom on 09 Jan 2015 11:34 PM
I have used Arxx's ICF for years before they were bought out. I now have access to Fox Block but looking at BuildBlock ICF because they sell direct. I just recently discovered the director of sales I have been speaking to is no longer there. After contacting several distributors on their map I was informed the sales director was the 5th one and turnover rate is extremely high in every department? I am looking for a new block, any shared experiences with Personal and customer service would be appreciated to help make a decision. Also is the connectivity too tight and difficult to align up? Montana Tom

Sales director at Fox or Buildblock?

I sell Fox but have a few BuildBlock dealers in my area. The problem they seem to be having is, they have dealers but anyone can buy direct. So what is the point in trying to succeed as a dealer/sales manager if you do all the leg work and then you get cut out by the client buying direct. Selling Direct to everyone isn't the answer in my opinion. One job bought and installed by a less than competent installer hurts us all.

The ICF industry likes to say we are united and other ICF Manufacturers are not the competition, but that's the furthest thing from the truth! BuildBlock has dealers and distributors but will provide a direct seller block cheaper then their long time repeat dealers which isn't right????? Speaking to a BuildBlock dealer in The Salt Lake Area I was informed that he was bidding on an decent ICF project in his area and BuildBlock gave a cheaper priq to a direct buyer to win the job so BuildBlock competes against its own customers. BuildBlock will let a dealer educate and do all the leg work to spec their product then go head to head with their dealers to win jobs at lover margins????

Plus......if you use BuildBlock always arrange your own freight. They mark up the freight to their customers as another profit center. The new leadership at BuildBlock is a marketing director without any sales experience. Again a tiny internet marketing company trying to compete as a major player.

This is interesting news to me. I'm an owner/builder in the planning stages of my home. I've been leaning toward Builblock because it seems user friendly and I'm considering DIY. When I contacted them, I was disappointed with the knowledge of the person I talked to. Instead of answering my questions he kept saying, "I'll send you that information". I assumed he was a local distributer but now I'm not sure. Any thoughts on this?

Most blocks work the same but you need good local back up on the distributor level. If your interested in BB, go to their distributor page and see if they have one in your area that can answer your questions. The reps. usually have the answers not the bean counters at the HQ.

Thanks. I'll definitely look further into that.

Unless someone new has been hired, BuildBlock does not have a director of marketing now. They are still a small company, and most will have better success talking to a distributor in your area. BB is a great block, and while I get offers from other ICF manufacturers, I stay with them....no company is perfect.....but they try, and the network is always available. If they were as bad as some might suggest, they would not survive in the competitive sales environment today.

The distributor scenario is a myth with BuildBlock, nothing against them but it really is a vapor type of relationship, you can buy direct, most of the projects i have done with Buildblock have been where the home owner has purchased them direct. the block works fine just watch the corners and you will have to foam them, but overall they are a C to C+, pricing is in the B+ to A range from what i have heard.

Check Into Nudura Block Go to futurestone.com

I should have mentioned that I used to sell ARXX and I think Fox is a superior product. Faster than ARXX and with a lot better corners. No foaming, no cleating, no zip ties. The Fox corner is a nice size 24" on the short let 40" on the long leg. Reversible. You don't have to "baby" them when you pour either.