Mitsubishi Minisplit ductless install costs

[wlpywd]

I have priced the unit i want and am finding i can get it $*,***.** cheaper if i buy it myself online and have it delivered rather than buying it from one of the limited number of local install shops that can sell me one. Especially upsetting were the 2 that told me they had to order it and wait to get it, which is the same as i could do myself ordering from somewhere else, this is including shipping. This is fine, normal, this is the nature of the internet. This is how amazon makes a gajillion bafrillion dollars.

Now, when i call all hvac i can find that can install these, they each are giving me a price for install thats about TWICE as much as the install cost if i purchase the unit from them. Not equipment costs, install only costs.

So, i have to buy the unit for $*,***.** more than i could on my own in order to pay $***.** for install, or I buy the unit on my own, save $*,***.** on equipment costs, but pay a price of $*.***.** for the install.

So, add it all up, I can go through all the hassle and trouble of trying to get it myself and only come out $***.** ahead, just barely enough to buy almost 2 tanks of gas for my car.

So, professionals, is this normal? is this fair or legal? To charge twice the amount for an install simply because i didnt buy the equipment from them??? I'm here to ask as this wasn't just one guy being dickish, it was 5 different nice polite professional shops i could find that will install these.

Do I have any options with them on this? do i have to find some guy on craigslist and hope his post is honest about being certified?

I have no ductwork, no heat (broken rusted boiler before i bought the house), and simply can't afford a "real" ac/furnace or even a new boiler + steam pipes. the total for the mini heatpump system is about half of a new boiler and even less than installing central duct AC/heat.

I'm ok with the costs, but, for a 4 digit price difference simply by not buying your equipment... its putting this awful taste in my mouth over it. the kind that makes me not want to be the a-hole customer who is a pain because i'm upset about something not the fault of the poor tech they send out.

Help!

[bigbird]

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[wlpywd]

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[bigbird]

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[Tempted]

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[wlpywd]

manufacturer for defects, and seller for parts and craftsmanship, for 30 days of purchase and 1yr/5yr on unit. Same as any retail purchase. Credit Card also gives me protection on faulty unit should anything go wrong.

...and i'd hope for a 14-day, 30 day, something warrenty for the actual install as they are suppose to be certified and bonded per this state and epa regulations.

I wouldn't go back to the installer for any unit defects or malfunctions unless it was an install issue within a matter of days.

--
I am talking about reputable service and sellers, not buying from the classifieds or from some guy selling units out of his garage or off a truck. And i want to go with real, in-the-phone-book hvac install, not some random guy off craigslist with no credentials or anyone's relative without being certified.

And honestly, for that much of an installation price difference, i'm ok with giving up on a long-term warranty anyway, even though i don't see how or why i'd legally have to. its just not as important to me as saving that money now.

--
Let me also clarify, after reading around here for a week, and checking all the rules, i left off all pricing info so my post wouldn't be censored or deleted. but I'm not asking here if this is normal because i'm worried about a couple hundred dollars i'm worried about not paying them for the install, I'm here because over a grand difference has me freaked. maybe it shouldn't be considered a lot of money to most people, but thats a lot of money to me for the exact same install. actually, easier as they don't have to load it on a truck and bring it, it'd already be here for them. I can see from the professional's point of view, and i'm not trying to ask how i can be a cheapskate once they start.

[tipsrfine]

The hvac companies you called are like any other company. They have to make a certain amount of money for their work to cover cost & still make a profit. Whether you buy the equipment on the internet, or they buy it themselves, make an honest mark-up on it and then charge less for the labor, or make what they need to make on just the labor. There is nothing about this that should put a bad taste in your mouth.

[wlpywd]

ok, now we are making sense!

So, its the warranty and warranty issues that would be causing this. i.e. he gets out here, installs the unit, it doesn't fire up, then its a "you bought a dud" vs "you broke it" argument?

if you buy from a real retailer, and you only buy a new, original manufacturer's unit, i still dont see why that would be a conflict though. The warranty would be in tact, their sales pages state the original warranty is included, and they have their own (short term) warranty as well, but, when i call for an install, i'm just a random and who knows what the truth is.

on the flip side, i guess the tech that installs might be less caring and careful during install if its not his warranty responsibility either.

Either way, i'd expect a full service guarantee on his work, so if something wasn't hooked up right, he'd come back to fix that, but they wouldn't believe they did it either instead of faulty unit as they didn't provide it...

I gotta admit, while it makes sense to me, that makes a ton of sense to me i didn't grasp before, that still seems like a very pricey difference.

i just had a sad

[wlpywd]

i agree, except when they priced a boiler install so near and the mini-split system so many hundreds of dollars difference, that is what made me start to think it was something about the systems. there are SO FEW that will install, and even less that sell, the mitsubishi mini split systems in this area that if you told me they were pricing like that simply because they could, i would believe you.

and, now that my questions have been answered, i'll finish up with this riddle:
Why don't more shops sell or offer them or install or service them anyway!!?!?!??

ok, bigbird, tempted, tipsrfine, thank you for bringing me to a better understanding.

[Tempted]

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[-MAKE-]

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[wlpywd]

i'm getting close to being convinced. I understand the overhead cost and all, it just seems like when you discount the install by 50% just for buying from you, it feels like a 'tax' for buying my own. free market principals and all.

I have one more question, i was just about to start a new thread (someone tell me if i should!)

I had decided on the mitsubishi unit, 4 wall mounts. Its the heat pump system, listed down to i think 12(?) degrees? something 1X degrees f.

After reading around this forum all afternoon, what if i want a Daikin system? Am i going to be completely SOL? I'd never seen any mentioned on anything local when i was looking, and it was so hard to find the few that even offered mitsubishi... does that mean there is no chance i can get a Daikin system, or my only option would be to be forced to go the internet/craigslist route (which is what i'm trying to AVOID doing!!)

The more i read, is it true they are much better than mitsubishi and can survive an Ohio winter without additional heating source for the house??

(its a smaller, one story house, 1100sq ft, only about 900 really need to be heated or cooled).

----
i can post a new thread about Daikin if i need to

[bigbird]

As per the AOP Rules only Professional Members * can reply with advice to the OP. Anyone may post and ask questions. They may even question the * member answer but not give advice or expand on the advice given. Please read these rules for a complete understanding. AOP Rules

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