Heat & Glo, Mendota Wholesale

[iamokim]

I am a master gas fitter/HVAC installer and have a customer who I'm working with installing HVAC for new construction and the customer wants 2 fireplaces. In working with her she has decided on Heat & Glo or Mendota. I'm looking to get a good price so I can pass this along to her as the budget is getting tight.
To me it looks like the fireplace line of business is all sewn up and there are no deals out there. Anyone know if I can purchase fireplaces for new construction at wholesale or at least a reasonable price?

CMS-iokim

[gasguy]

I'm not sure how the distributor network is where you are (I'm in Kanuckistan) but here most of the major brands (higher quality) are sold only through authorized dealers who have to make their $$ on selling the equipment. The only way to get a better price is to buy in volume. Fireplaces are considered a 'luxury' item and should be budgeted accordingly. I would recommend NOT getting a 'cheap' or 'builder-grade' unit. I have installed a couple of cheapies at the customers insistence and they were not happy with the results. The cheap units don't look that good (major reason for having one!) are made of thin metal which pops & pings & oil-cans a lot, and aren't very efficient. I know you're trying to make your customer happy, but in the long run if she doesn't have the budget for luxury items it may be best to not do it.

[iamokim]

Gasguy-
I'm in Falls Church, VA 22042.
I agree with you on the builders grade and that a fireplace is a luxury.
I guess I'll try to save else where for her or let her know that the bottom price is what the retail is providing.

Just wanted to confirm what I though might be true. Since I'm only purchasing 2, I wouldn't think that is the kind of volume respective of a discount.

Iamokim

[hearthman]

You can contact FireSide Hearth & Home in Manassas about setting up an account. They cater almost exclusively to the builder channel. Other competing brands do have similar installing distributors such as MASCO.

To walk into a hearth retailer and think you're going to get a discount is dreaming. Most of these shops won't even discount to chimney sweeps who send them business, much less a builder they may or may not ever see again.

A word of caution: some mfrs. will not warranty equipment sold off the internet. Buy locally where you have someone to turn to for support and service. That in and of itself does hold value.