What's up with the guy in TX selling NIB units for < 1/2 of retail price? He includes free shipping and he states that the warr is done on-line by the H/O.
Just merly inquiring if the deal is legit and how he can pull it off, although he has a high E-bay satisfaction rating
I'd say it says in the fine print your supposed to get a "Qualified Technician" to install the system. Then if it doesnt they're responsible for it.
Sorry...no point in advertising of this nature on the site.
Last edited by Senior Tech; 12-08-2009 at 08:59 PM.
remember the old saying if something sounds too good to be true, but i bet a few will bite im new to this site they have rules against diys but they let this junk in if its for real ask for model and serial then call local carrier rep they know whats up with this equipment im sure the real hvac guys wont bite.
Anyone know the Texas District sales rep for Carrier... he/she probably would be interested to meet this person for lunch...
If nothing else, to be sure equipment is not warranted when it is installed by a non-licensed person.
Here in GA, most of the distributors will not sell to non-licensed folks. No exceptions.
GA-HVAC-Tech
Your comfort, Your way, Everyday!
GA's basic rules of home heating and AC upgrades:
*Installation is more important than the brand of equipment
*The duct system keeps the house comfortable; the equipment only heats and cools (and dehumidifies)
*The value of comfort, over the long term; leave economic choices behind!
Choose your contractor wisely!
If one found a licensed HVAC installer, would that satisfy the warr requirements? Do most muncipalities require pulling a permit and an inspection also?
I am not sure how it works with Carrier... however:
If one looks at the Rheem or Ruud website, it has a large 'warning' place to click on... Site says equipment purchase online will NOT be warranted... period.
GA-HVAC-Tech
Your comfort, Your way, Everyday!
GA's basic rules of home heating and AC upgrades:
*Installation is more important than the brand of equipment
*The duct system keeps the house comfortable; the equipment only heats and cools (and dehumidifies)
*The value of comfort, over the long term; leave economic choices behind!
Choose your contractor wisely!
Look in order to properly install an infinity system you need specialized training from Carrier. If there is a problem you need to have access to Carrier technical assistance. If you want an extended warranty you need to have a certified Carrier contractor purchase and validate the policy.
Next good luck finding a qualified Carrier contractor to install equipment you purchased online. Next just try and find any qualified contractor to install equipment you purchased online.
Next how much money do you realistically expect to save; here is a clue you will end up spending more in the long run. Do yourself a favor and find a qualified contractor and get a quality system installed with a solid warranty.
Good point and a deal breaker. I would think that Carrier would be equally as strict w/ its warr requirements as Rheem, especially on a system as involved as the Infinity.
I actually read the Carrier warranty. All the homeowner has to do is register online and the parts warranty is good. However I doubt Carrier would provide any labor support for online purchases.
I am not sure the manufacturer is the one embracing online sales... most of the time it is the distributors... There is a program going on to track where the unit was shipped... If the distributor is in Texas, and the unit is installed in Florida... then it probably was sold online... As I understand it, this is the reason for online registration... to track serial numbers.
I register the RUUD installs I do online for my customers... the warranty papers are sent to me first... I make a copy and send them along to the customer. The warranty slips that come with the unit say 5 years, if they are registered online, it is for 10 years...
We will see if the online thingy helps to reject warranties for online sales.
Again, it is not the factory that is pushing online sales.
GA-HVAC-Tech
Your comfort, Your way, Everyday!
GA's basic rules of home heating and AC upgrades:
*Installation is more important than the brand of equipment
*The duct system keeps the house comfortable; the equipment only heats and cools (and dehumidifies)
*The value of comfort, over the long term; leave economic choices behind!
Choose your contractor wisely!
I'm not sure why this is interesting to anyone except to an installer who cannot otherwise buy Carrier. The cost will be higher than to a dealer. So a homeowner who wants one will have to pay a higher cost to the eBay seller on top of paying a qualified installer. Net cost: higher. Plus the risk that you will take in using a non-Carrier installer.
It is more likely that the dealer involved is just using another online technique to broaden his marketing at very low cost for the listing. Anyone called him yet?
Embracing is probably the wrong choice of words. It seems like most of the manufacturers talk about dealer partnerships but look the other way when it comes to online sales. It's hard to turn down any venue for incremental sales and online doesn't seem like a real threat to the dealers.
In the case of Carrier, they could get Ebay to pull the listings just by claiming their DRM rights were violated. (the seller representing Carrier's warranty is probably sufficient grounds). Ebay will go along with any manufacturer's complaints about DRM violations whether they're valid or not.
My understanding is that the units sold online are not shipped directly from the manufacturer; rather from a distributor... or someone obtaining them from a distributor.
This way, the manufacturers can truly say it is beyond their control...
I think you are right though... the manufacturers could contact Ebay and put a stop to this...
Goes to that attitude of greed we talked about in a different thread... making money doing business in a questionable manor... (manufacturer consciously allowing sales of their product through terms that are not in the best interest of the buyer).
GA-HVAC-Tech
Your comfort, Your way, Everyday!
GA's basic rules of home heating and AC upgrades:
*Installation is more important than the brand of equipment
*The duct system keeps the house comfortable; the equipment only heats and cools (and dehumidifies)
*The value of comfort, over the long term; leave economic choices behind!
Choose your contractor wisely!