Hearthlist Digest #438 - Thursday, April 6, 2000
 
re:  Recent article in Hearth and Home - Vent Free Products
  by <[email protected]>
 

(back)
Subject: re:  Recent article in Hearth and Home - Vent Free Products
From: <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 13:40:44 -0400
 
Responding to the recent article in April's Hearth and Home -
 
This article has quite a slant "for" Vent-free products or as we refer to
them "Room-vented".  That is what they really are, when you think about =
it.
 
I was quoted incorrectly. The quote stated that we sell vented products =
for
the dollar value of the sale and if a customer wants ventless, then okay.
 
This is NOT what I told the author of the story.  We spent about 30 =
minutes
on the phone and what I described to him was a different view than was =
told.
 
Points I made, not published -
 
We hear complaints from room vented fireplaces and logs, whether we've =
sold
them or they were purchased from others.  Complaints include odors, =
moisture
and too much heat, thus a fire can't be enjoyed on a 40 degree evening.  =
At a
recent Home and Garden Show, countless consumers would stop in our booth =
and
ask "can I do anything with my ventless fireplace?"  They would go on to
explain their problems of moisture, "black stuff," odors, looks, etc.  A
common question that simply frightens me -- "Can I buy a couple of logs =
and
some embers to put on my ventless logs to make them look better?"  We, of
course, explain they can't. How many consumers go elsewhere and "fix up"
their logs?  The answer -- plenty.  (As an industry, we must ask this
question and others then find the answers.)
 
In our market, Builders are moving AWAY from room-vented fireplaces to =
vented
products.  Several large apartment builders recently told us, "No more
ventless fireplaces in my units, I'm tired of the problems!"  Single =
family
builders also are not happy with the room-vented fireplaces.  Many =
builders
had used ventless as a 2nd fireplace in a rec room, Florida room or living
room.  They are telling us -- "I want something vented, my customers =
aren't
happy."
 
We have removed 14 room-vented fireplaces in the past 1 1/2 years for
builders and homeowners and replaced them with either cash back or vented
products.
 
Now we explain the "good, bad and ugly" regarding room vented products to
consumers and builders. If they insist -- we will furnish them the =
product.
Most times, a vented product is purchased.  It won't be long before our
Companies will not handle room-vented fireplaces.  Business dictated we
handle them (or so we thought).  Now our market demands -  Vented =
Fireplaces
 
Vented products do increase sales and profits.  We have opportunities to
offer venting, glass doors, other products and services.  Not only are =
vented
fireplaces better for the consumer, they are better for the distributor =
and
dealer. This is called -- "Win - Win"!
 
 
 
Michael Whiteman
President/CEO
JMW Products, L.L.C.
Colonial Fireplaces
The Fireside Shops