Any idea if Costco screens installers?

[djp0623]

wow.

just for your information, I have read the thread.

all 2 weeks of it.

Then I read it again, just now.

I think either there's something you think you said, but didn't or you believe there is something that you think you "know" that you don't.

Either way you bear the responsibility of your choices. The membership here has been trying to help you make a good, informed decision. It would appear that you believe from statements given here (unless I've missed something) that you got a price from contractor X (who is also your local Costco contractor) on a carrier system, then at a later date a costco representative (or some other third party intermediary) visited your home to do a Manual J load calculation on the home, and give you a price on a lennox system, right?

First, I'd be very leery of a sales type personality doing a load calc. That just seems sloppy to me, but so be it. Aside from that, there are numerous technical details to be planned properly, and a material list to be compiled to properly install a system. Personally I frequently spend quite a bit of time on the existing duct system, but that will vary house to house. sometimes it's the flue that requires planning. maybe both.

That, and I frankly want to either meet the individual responsible above all others for making sure that promises make are kept, or the people doing the work, if not both.

so, yes. REALLY?

sorry if that pisses you off.

Ok, ok, I understand. Maybe I jumped the gun and apologize. Let me clarify where I think there is a misunderstand.

In the begining I thought the process was that costco sent a rep to do a load calc. This is not how it turned out, and I don't think I clearly posted how the process ended up working, but I thougt it was implied by my following posts.

It turns out the costco immediately turns you over to the contractor who schedules a vist to do/not do what is needed to quote you a system.

The contractor originally came out, did a load calc, and quoted the carrier system. I called costco a month or so later, and then the next day,the contractor called me to schedule an appointment for a quote.

The company is Annette Hale's Indoor Confort solutions. Depending on who you talk to, they are referenced as Annette Hale's or Indoor Comfort Solutions.

After hanging up the phone with the contractor I realized it was the same company that gave me the carrier quote. I called back and told them the story, that they already had my info, could they just quote me so we both don't have to waste time on calcing the house again.

My rep called me back and said no problem. The person that came out and did all of the measurements and took notes about my install ended up being the person tah tquoted both the carrier and the lennox system.

So costco really is just a middle man that puts you in contact with the contractor after you see the equioment in the store.

Again, I apologize

[B2CGURU]

Not to rain on anyone parade, But 75% of you have no clue what you are talking about.

I worked for a TRANE HVAC contractor for 5 yrs & i was the Marketing manager for those 5 yrs. We can contracts with 6 local Home Depot stores installing Trane equipment. It's extremely hard for a contractor to get a foot in the door with Home Depot, Major company and insurance screening is involved. But once you are on par with them you are golden !!!.

I had Trane displays in all my stores with part time appointment setters generating leads for "free-in home estimates" I created a system for my company. We would bring in 60+ solid leads a week with a 40% close ratio. Their are guidelines and policy's set in place by Trane and HD that the contractor must meet.

We did over 8 million in sales a year. So before anyone start bashing on Big Box home services. Maybe you should do some research 1st.

Best of luck.

[dan sw fl]

I had Trane displays in all my stores with part time appointment setters generating leads for "free-in home estimates" I created a system for my company. We would bring in 60+ solid leads a week with a 40% close ratio. Their are guidelines and policy's set in place by Trane and HD that the contractor must meet.

So before anyone start bashing on Big Box home services. Maybe you should do some research 1st.

I did my research.

A large sales amount does not necessarily equate to a good installation.

[darctangent]

Not to rain on anyone parade, But 75% of you have no clue what you are talking about.

I worked for a TRANE HVAC contractor for 5 yrs & i was the Marketing manager for those 5 yrs. We can contracts with 6 local Home Depot stores installing Trane equipment. It's extremely hard for a contractor to get a foot in the door with Home Depot, Major company and insurance screening is involved. But once you are on par with them you are golden !!!.

I had Trane displays in all my stores with part time appointment setters generating leads for "free-in home estimates" I created a system for my company. We would bring in 60+ solid leads a week with a 40% close ratio. Their are guidelines and policy's set in place by Trane and HD that the contractor must meet.

We did over 8 million in sales a year. So before anyone start bashing on Big Box home services. Maybe you should do some research 1st.

Best of luck.

Ditto on Dan's comments. This Professional forum is not filled with the typical uneducated masses you will find elsewhere. Where there are errors made another member will be eager to correct. I was the right hand man of the owner. HD contractor, Trane comfort specialist, top 5 trane contractor in CO, so don't tell me I don't have a clue. I sat in the store booth. I did sales calls. I did service and install work.

I don't give a damn what your sales numbers were. Some of the biggest hacks wear white shirts for service, and demand the highest prices. Don't be a snob, you haven't proven anything to anybody here.

Good sales numbers and white shirts are fine, but they don't prove competency.

[RoBoTeq]

I did my research.

A large sales amount does not necessarily equate to a good installation.

I am not aware of any installation issues of Trane equipment through Trane dealers who are part of the Home Depot program. When I was with Goodman, and Goodman was also with Home Depot, I had access to many Trane dealers to sell certain entry level Goodman systems if they could not sell the Trane brand on a Home Depot lead. I had only good experiences with the installs to the Goodman products installed by Home Depot qualified Trane dealers.

[ga-hvac-tech]

Not to rain on anyone parade, But 75% of you have no clue what you are talking about.

I worked for a TRANE HVAC contractor for 5 yrs & i was the Marketing manager for those 5 yrs. We can contracts with 6 local Home Depot stores installing Trane equipment. It's extremely hard for a contractor to get a foot in the door with Home Depot, Major company and insurance screening is involved. But once you are on par with them you are golden !!!.

I had Trane displays in all my stores with part time appointment setters generating leads for "free-in home estimates" I created a system for my company. We would bring in 60+ solid leads a week with a 40% close ratio. Their are guidelines and policy's set in place by Trane and HD that the contractor must meet.

We did over 8 million in sales a year. So before anyone start bashing on Big Box home services. Maybe you should do some research 1st.

Best of luck.

I sold for an HD contractor (which filed Ch 7 a while back)... Here are a few things I saw repeatedly on jobsites (homes):

*Linesets connected with a propane torch and plumber's solder (including flux).
*NO oil changes in vacuum pumps (ever).
*Changes from 22 to 410 with NO flushing (not even blowing out with N2).
*NO static pressure testing at all... not even any discussion of it. I was specifically told NOT to discuss this with a HO at all.
*We never used odd sized flex, because they do not want to stock the odd sizes of flex. 'Just upsize it to the next larger.'
*Breakers were never changed for new higher efficiency units.
*No secondary drain... only a safety switch in the pan... many pans were spray-painted when they had leaks. And no safety switch at the coil...

I could go on and on and on and on and on...

Like DarcTangent said: sales numbers have nothing to do with true quality installs. Funny thing is: The HD installs are high priced... there 'should' be enough $$$ to do it better... NO, IMO HD is about profits... not about quality.

IMO the whole operation I saw reminded me of a HUGE used car lot...

[luxuryheatingco]

What exactly was B2CGURU trying to prove here? This wasn't a thread about whether or not Home Depot, CostCo, etc. are effective venues for contractors, but rather a homeowner interested in the screening process. Don't worry sir, you haven't "rained on anyone's parade" - you just rattled off some irrelevant information.

[B2CGURU]

I was not trying to offend anyone, I was just reading threw 6 pages of this thread and people are bashing TRANE, HD and by the way they talked online makes me belief they don't even know what they are talking about. I said 75% not everyone.