We have a local Service Company/Dealer. They sell & install Trane units. Of course they service all brands since they are a "Service Company". They do not sell to anyone but their customers/clients. Seems unfair that I cannot buy Trane units in my area. They have the monopoly. Another Local Service Company deals in American Standard Units - same thing. Is there a way around this?
How big of an area? In our large metro, there are plenty of dealers of every brand. In a small town I could see them limiting it to 1 dealer. I guess just depends upon the supplier. May just have to pick someone else.
I think Trane is pretty loyal to their dealers for the most part and doesn't want just anyone selling it... and end up a lower tier brand. How could they overcharge you then for their equipment.
You might need to get ahold of a regional sales rep and see if htere are any options. But I suspect they don't want anyone undercutting their existing dealers. I'm sure those dealers sure as he** don't want someone else being able to sell that equipment.
Then again, Carrier has managed to remain a premium brand and in my area at least, there are 4 Carrier/Bryant dealers. While Trane only has 1, and they are terrible. I can't beleive Trane still lets them sell units. Actually they might have pulled their sales agreement. I think the local rep mentioned they were on a "do not sell hold" some times last year for unpaid invoices. Then again... so were we for a while But we have SAP and plenty of middle management... enough said.
Lowes doesn't sell without install. Population about 50K +. I'm researching this. Never heard of ducane or lennex. I will check it out. That's Lennex, not Lennox?
We were looking to make a switch from being a Carrier to a Trane dealer last year. Had several meetings with the local area rep, received pricing from him that was unbelievably expensive and it was getting no where. We ended up flat out telling him that we purchased X amount of dollars from Carrier last year (1-2 million range) and Trane had an opportunity to take over that market share with us. His boss ended up coming down with him and basically told us that Trane was satisfied with their market share in our area. I believe there are 4, low volume Trane dealers in this area. Staying faithful to the little guys maybe....? Not sure, disappointing for them and us.
just become friends with the trane sales rep
and he may be able to slid ya some units if you have a customer that is interested if not then sell them your main line.
I only have one negative thing to say about trane other than price. Sometimes getting warranty parts can be a SOB. Unlike some other equipment we sell and sell lots of it they do whatever they can to take care of us. Trane may do the same thing but we dont sell to much trane. we used to sell tons of American standard before i came to the company but on two occasions the units had labor warranty but it would take 2 weeks to get a compressor needless to say they dont have american standard anymore
Go ask your trane dealer if they sell amerstar. it is supposedly a unit that trane has their hands in but is made in Chine( not for me) but if a customer wants something with trane you maybe able to sell that to them. Good luck
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