Bryant dealers can't buy Carrier????

[hvac solutions]

Got a call today, the customer wanted a quote on a 5 ton Carrier cond unit, so I called the local Peirce-Phelps office and was told that they can not sell to me since i'm not a Carrier dealer....ok, sign me up then! Turns out that since i'm a Bryant dealer I cannot buy Carrier or become a dealer??????

This makes no sence at all....anyone run into this or am I just having a bad week

[i_got_ideas]

There's a hack here that sells Carrier and Bryant both...

I dunno if maybe he did quit selling Bryant but last I knew he still was. I know for sure he's selling Carrier because I've had to go fix them .

[spotts]

and I sell them all the time.

[hvac solutions]

So how do they sell Carrier ....being hacks and all? I can't get set up?? Are you telling me they know people behind the counter? Sad thing that a real legitimate contractor can't do business with Carrier just because I sell other brands! No kidding thats what I was told by a carrier rep for the North East.

What a load of crap!

I'm sorry but I'm not going to just sell one product! In order to do res business you need to be able to buy equipment. So now I need to match the existing Carrier furnace and coil to a new Trane!

[m kilgore]

In our area we can't buy any other big brand equipment except what we are a dealer for. I can't get Carrier, Bryant, Lennox or Trane. Very dealer protective area. They all have tried to get me to do theirs exclusivly but I refuse. The wholsalers for them are terrible and could care less weather they can supply you or not. Also the want you to buy thousands of dollars at a time weather you can sell all of it or not.

I have took to selling Maytag and have been having great luck with them.

Good luck if your in an area like this.

[mr big]

Most Carrier distribution has had this policy for many years. They want separate distribution networks in order to gain market shares with multiple brands. Furthermore, is it right to sell a dealer a brand only because a consumer has requested that brand. Do you go to the Chevy dealership to buy a Ford? Dealers who only sell a few systems of one brand & then call themselves dealers of that particular brand while they sell everything else is what I call an "access'' dealer. "Access dealers" are not in major manufacture's interests.

[hvac solutions]

Originally posted by mr big
Most Carrier distribution has had this policy for many years. They want separate distribution networks in order to gain market shares with multiple brands. Furthermore, is it right to sell a dealer a brand only because a consumer has requested that brand. Do you go to the Chevy dealership to buy a Ford? Dealers who only sell a few systems of one brand & then call themselves dealers of that particular brand while they sell everything else is what I call an "access'' dealer. "Access dealers" are not in major manufacture's interests.

I understand your point however, the responces above tell us that it's being done with or without the blessing of Carrier or Lennox.

As for Chevy selling Fords....
I own a Chevy and a Ford. As for repairing my vehicles, I use one mechanic.

As a plan and spec mechanical contractor I need to be able to buy all brands and as a service contractor I need to fix all brands.

The purchase of a new 5 ton Carrier condensing unit for this customer is to REPAIR his system, now if he was looking for a new system soup to nuts, then I can offer my customer a choice....Trane, York, Bryant, Arcoaire, Ducane, Unico Systems....ect (hell I might even offer Goodman).

I don't need to look out for the manufacuure's best interests, I look out for my customers

[mr big]

It would be in your customers best interest to sell him a new matching indoor coil & outdoor unit of one of the brands you represent. You never know what you are going to get with a non-factory matched system, even though the manufacturer is the same.

[mr big]

Carrier bids plan & spec work to all contractors & sells parts to all contractors. I cannot quarantee that all contractors get the same price for either.

[hvac solutions]

The truth of the matter with this customer is "in his best intrest" I can not bid the condenser replacement at all! since I'd be wasting our time quoting a Trane evap and condenser while all other bids will be just a Carrier condenser. Carrier wins! or did they?

As for plan and spec quotes from Carrier, you are correct, we can't get a good number..... "or equal too" will be the norm here.

Understand, I'm just venting...... been a Trane fan for years......lol

[mr big]

Hvac---I understand you completely. On those Carrier bids that merely include just a condensing unit, you might tell the consumer that just because the condensing unit & coil are the same manufacturer that the system will not give them the efficiency of a new factory matched Trane system.Of course, I really don't know how old the coil is. On plan & spec jobs , your Trane boys will just have to give you some mean numbers to match the Carrier bids. We all know that in plan & spec world ; low bid gets the job. No salesmanship involved in plan & spec. If you gonna do em cheap; then you gotta buy em cheap!

[Spidy]

I dont like this policy and never have.I pay YOU to sell YOUR product?Then you make me buy $10,000 dollars worth of Equip every 6 months.And dont even get the best price you offer?

Look I understand Carrier wants to keep its standards high adn this and that.But they never asked to see my installs or give me a test or check the Quality of my work.They just want to know how big my check book is and that my friend is part of what is wrong with the HVAC Buisness.IMO


But it is what it is.

[mr big]

Actually Spidy, Carrier wants you to buy close to 50,000.00-100,000.00 dollars worth a month to get undivided attention. Numbers less than that & you don't really get much attention.