It has begun

I should just become a harman dealer. Not a bad Idea

 

Heck, we should all be Hormon's dealers

 

Says the dealer.. or Harman?
Harman is warrantying the stove, not the dealer.
I looked at the paperwork on my new one, and no where does it say that
the appliance has to be installed by the dealer.

 

I don't want to make a bunch of quotes topside of this, so, I will address them all at once. Short side: Pete Z. is correct. The dealer does not warrant the stoves, Harman does. AND, the stove doesn't have to be installed by a dealer to still be covered under warranty.....you can do it yourself, as long as you follow the directions, proper clearance, floor protection, etc. As long as you do this, you're fine.
Now, as for warranty work.....the original selling dealer is the one obligated BY HARMAN to perform the warranty work. The reason for this is that Harman, as well as many stove companies, pays a very low amount for warranty work....$55, flat fee. They don't reimburse for travel time, shipping on parts, additional time, etc. So, given that figure, NOONE makes money on warranty work. Harman recognizes this, and basically feels that, since warranty work is a money-losing proposition for the dealer, the retailer has to build something into the original sale to cover the warranty work where we lose money. And, of course, stoves don't break during the slow months, only the busy ones! So you can imagine that a dealer is somewhat hesitant to do warranty work for his competition, when there is NO WAY he is going to make money doing it. This is kind of a sore point for me, as we have a competing dealer, who shall remain nameless, who charges customers a service fee to do warranty work on the stoves he sold, who pi$$es customers off to the point they wont allow him in their place anymore, etc. I can go on, but there is no need. We do warranty work for folks when they call and ask, but charge them a service charge, since it isn't our stove. They can argue with Harman for reimbursement.
So, if you've a problem with your new stove, you go back to the dealer who made the profit in the first place. I AM NOT required to do work on stoves I didn't sell....this is unlike car warranty work, where if you buy a Ford, you can go to any Ford dealer. Also factor in that all of our work are house calls. So, if I have to work on my competitions' units, I am going to make money doing it.
If a dealer is telling you that the stove isn't warranted if you install yourself, I would check with another dealer (which is a good idea anyhow). Now, some of these changeout units, like the Mass CEC changeout units HAVE to be installed by a dealer, but that is set by the state, not by Harman.

ok, guys, give it to me.....like how I should do warranty work on my competitors' units to build customer loyalty, etc, for the next time they buy a stove (mines' 17 years old)......

 

Sure, give it a go....just call them up, buy a few units, and you're in business! Always nice to have new blood in the pot!

 

I would agree if this were the truth, but sadly, its not.

 

Kevin I always appreciate hearing your side of the story and helping to set the record straight

 

yea, but its just my side of the story....there will be other viewpoints....manufacturers, other dealers, and customers. This is what makes these forums particularly valuable....someone giving the OTHER viewpoint. Everything sounds easy until you have to do it yourself!

 

You always shoot straight with us , no BS and don't blow smoke up our azz . I for one respect that very much .

 

thanks, man...your check is in the mail.......

 

You don't have to pay me ,man well maybe a few Smoothies

 

X2

 

Dan

 

Im seriously considering this now. I already have the real estate

 

Keep laughing..... ford laughed at me to once. Then i stopped by and showed them my brand new duramax

 

great! go for it! Then we can both ruminate on this business which is so easy any idiot can do it! Nice to have another retailer here, especially one selling Harman. In all seriousness, I think you need more than real estate to make it work. I certainly do invite you to try it out.....maybe you are a natural stove dealer/tech?! Never know until you try it! There was another guy on another forum doing the same thing....I dont recal lhis name, or how it went....

 

If you were in the business, you'd get the joke.

 

Excellent how you threw in the Beer payment there, Will.

 

he's a master, thats for sure!

 

Just want to add props to you LW, always appreciate your insight and knowledge here.

(Send more Beer.)