History has proven that wholesalers serve a valuable and irreplaceable niche in the industry.
Like Jim, I've been there too as a younger, less-experienced reporter (you see this on the local and national news all the time), predicting the imminent fall of the sky for our industry. Let's see, there were the franchises that were supposed to take over the HVACR contracting business and buy their parts direct; then the public utilities that were buying up contractors who were going to buy direct; then the huge chains that were buying up all your competitors who would cut prices and drive you out of business; then the builder-supply chains that were going to take away all your business; and then … and then…