Am I getting scammed?

[HeyBob]

HeyBob, I get the concept, certainly for a home builder the savings could be dramatic. But I guess I just don't understand the incentive for this guy, a residential contractor, to do it if the savings is small. Why bait and switch for a "few gallons of gas" on a sale that is a couple thousand? It seems like that is a recipe for disaster in the long term, and the guy has been in business a while.

He may primarily be a new construction contractor and stocks G40's or maybe just has a lot of that stuff in stock and wants to get rid of it. I am almost afraid to ask, but what the heck are the first 5 digits of the S/N?

I had to dig to find those differences, I don't sell low line equipment so I was suprised myself that there was that much difference between a G50 and a G40, he may not know himself and I have been a Lennox dealer for quite a while.

[LurkerDan]

According to the registration paperwork (not sure where to find it on the unit) the S/N is 5907G07260. And just for good measure, the model number (or at least I assume M/N means that) is G40UH-36A-070-15

[HeyBob]

According to the registration paperwork (not sure where to find it on the unit) the S/N is 5907G07260. And just for good measure, the model number (or at least I assume M/N means that) is G40UH-36A-070-15

Those are good numbers. The serial number is current, built in 2007.

[sotexkoolbreeze]

tell him you will settle for a 10 year parts and labor warranty at his cost. might be a good settlement for both fo you. also be sure and get your copy of the warranty contract. either one of the ignitor boards will cost 400 to 500 dollars out of warranty. you will have to replace it at least once during that 10 years probably.

[t527ed]

I had to dig to find those differences, I don't sell low line equipment so I was suprised myself that there was that much difference between a G50 and a G40, he may not know himself and I have been a Lennox dealer for quite a while.

we have had lennox 25 yrs and i did not realize that much difference in the 2 units, we have never sold one of the G40's

for the difference in price i ASSumed the only difference was the blower insulation.

our main units are G61mpv and we use G50 for the low end.


still don't understand why warranties on dave-net are identical???

[LurkerDan]

still don't understand why warranties on dave-net are identical???

Are you sure they are identical? On lennox.com (I assume dave-net is their professionals site), they look the same at first glance, but aren't.

G50: 5 year limited warranty on parts and controls
G40: 5 year limited warranty on covered components

looks the same, but slightly different.

[t527ed]

Are you sure they are identical? On lennox.com (I assume dave-net is their professionals site), they look the same at first glance, but aren't.

G50: 5 year limited warranty on parts and controls
G40: 5 year limited warranty on covered components

looks the same, but slightly different.

on dave-net they are IDENTICAL, both state 5 yr limited warranty on covered equipment and components.


warranty used to state right on it for the cheaper units it was 1 yr parts and 3 yrs on the ignition board.

not to long ago they went to 5 yr warranty but made no statement about the board??
hard to keep track of the legal mumbo jumbo......


like Bob we don't sell the low end units so i never kept close attention to the warranty.


did they leave you the paperwork for the heater? should have the warranty certificate in the package.

[LurkerDan]

Apologies for the long post. bolded the important parts.

I just spoke with the contractor. And I found the whole discussion very odd. First, he tried to say that there was no misunderstanding, that he always installs the G40 and that I was mistaken in my impression that I was getting the G50. Even though the only Lennox brochures he provided indicated the G50, he circled the G50 as the cheaper option for me, and in my discussions with his office person before the purchase I mentioned the G50, and after the purchase, she said they tried to get the G50 but it wasn't available so they went with the G40.

He actually claimed that the pricing to him was such that the G40 costs more than the G50 (that is hard to believe, and if it was true, why would you sell the G40?). He acknowledged that the board and ignitor was different but downplayed that, and said that both had 5 yr warranties across the board. He said the only real difference was the more insulated blower in the 50. I told him that I had spoken with a number of professionals, some of whom knew that the G50 was a much better unit off the bat, and some of whom discovered it after digging into it a bit.

He insisted that there was little difference between the units, and insisted that his "quote" price for the G40 was actually more expensive than the G50. He then asked me what would make me happy, and asked if he changed out the furnace would I be happy. I said that would be one solution, but I didn't know if that would be one that was acceptable to him. He said he would check with Lennox to see if they would take the furnace back, and call me back.

He called me back more agitated and combative, claiming that he is not changing the furnace out for me. That he sold me the G40, and that's what I got. He started to say that all of his paperwork says G40, until I reminded him that the quote he gave me did not say G40, but that he gave me promotional literature and circled the G50 as the basic single stage option.

He then said that yes, what I got is construction grade, but that’s what he sells as his low end. He asked me what he could do to make me happy. I told him that I would like some assurance that the warranties are the same, which should be very easy to give me if they indeed are, and I reminded him that I had received a quote from one professional indicating that the he sells the G50 for $250 more than the G40.

He got very agitated at that, saying that I’m asking him to change out the furnace and that I am asking for assurances that the warranty is the same (as if that would be hard to give if they were; my only conclusion to his reaction to that was that he knows they are not) and for money back for a furnace that actually costs him more money. I was trying to be very calm, because he was not. I basically said to him, you’re asking me what would make me satisfied with this situation, as if you might comply, but then react in such a way as to indicate that you’re not going to give me a thing. I told him that he was the one who originally offered to change out the furnace, that yes that choice would satisfy me, but I approached the conversation knowing that might not be a fair option to him.

he said “you want $250, fine, I’ll send you a check for $250, have a good weekend.” I said “ok” and he hung up.

The whole thing makes me feel very odd. And the really sad part of it is I have read that the single most important thing when buying a furnace is not the brand but a reputable contractor who will stand behind his product. Which is why I picked this guy, he was recommended by an acquaintance. But I'll be damned if I have him do any service.

[HeyBob]

Another solution would be a 10 year Lennox CompleteCare extended warranty.

[HeyBob]

Just checked...........I am 99% sure a CompleteCare policy can be sold on a G40 Merit Series unit.

Any Lennox Dealer can service it!

Want me to sell ya one?

[HeyBob]

Complete Care Plus

[LurkerDan]

well, I'm certainly willing to consider it!

[Milk man]

How about asking him for his Territorial Manager's name and number. This should catch his attention and sooth his disposition.