Hearthlist Digest #504 - Tuesday, October 3, 2000 Poll by "Jim Hartsen" <[email protected]> Commodity fireplaces continued ... we hope by <[email protected]> Poll by "Laurel Matt" <[email protected]> (no subject) by "Ed Fackler" <[email protected]> Re: Commodities by "Grant Darrow" <[email protected]>
(back) Subject: Poll From: "Jim Hartsen" <[email protected]> Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2000 21:04:23 -0400 --=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D_-1241587432=3D=3D_ma=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Content-Type: text/plain; charset=3D"us-ascii" ; format=3D"flowed" Poll is very interesting, We have seen a huge interest in both wood & coal stoves, however our gas sales are still holding steady with last year. I can't give pellet stoves away. Even our local big box store has given up selling their 699.00 pellet stoves. Craig is right about pellet stoves, coming to market too quickly, we did our part on the in home research and development that many companies preformed. Too bad they screw it up so badly. Good Selling, Jim Hartsen Williamson Hardware Inc. --=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D_-1241587432=3D=3D_ma=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Content-Type: text/enriched; charset=3D"us-ascii" <fontfamily><param>Arial</param>Poll is very interesting, We have seen a huge interest in both wood & coal stoves, however our gas sales are still holding steady with last year. I can't give pellet stoves away. Even our local big box store has given up selling their 699.00 pellet stoves. Craig is right about pellet stoves, coming to market too quickly, we did our part on the in home research and development that many companies preformed. Too bad they screw it up so badly. Good Selling, Jim Hartsen Williamson Hardware Inc. </fontfamily> --=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D_-1241587432=3D=3D_ma=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D--
(back) Subject: Commodity fireplaces continued ... we hope From: <[email protected]> Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2000 21:14:45 -0400 I find the ongoing commodity fireplace discourse very interesting >>> but one of Roger's comments struck me forebodingly... Roger said >>>>>".......... You might more accurately want to look at the effects on local hardware stores, stereo stores etc. from competing with the Walmarts, Home Depots and Costcos selling commodities. The local stores are gone, regardless of their service. The survivors don't promote commodities any more." <<<<< Roger, the local hardware stores were specialty shops similar to us in their day ..... they were not just sellers of commodities >>>> and many of those that remain have only been able to remain competitive because they joined forces through Hardware Hank, Ace, or Our Own Hardware groups. Are you implying that we will ultimately meet a similar fate ..... as the Walmats, Menards and Home Depots squeeze our market down to those special-order-only items that they find unprofitable to sell & service themselves..... Is that supposed to be enough for us ...... to be able to sell the items that the large chains do not find profitable or require too much service to gain their interest? Ken Fulgione Leisure Home Center ____________________________________ Visit the Leisure Home Center FIRE - LIGHT & CASUAL COMFORT http://www.leisurehome.com 1-715-835-2112 1-888-295-FIRE VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV UNITED BUYERS Forging a Stronger Fire
(back) Subject: Poll From: "Laurel Matt" <[email protected]> Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2000 21:15:31 -0400 You're right on the money Craig. That's exactly what I think about the pellet stove industry. The voting %'s also just what the customers are buying. I'm hearing a lot of people say that they are following up on = last year's plan to get a gas stove. They don't say that about wood. A few customers make comments on the higher gas costs. Doesn't matter what kind of stove they either have or are planning to buy. Telling the customers that are interested in pellets that a pellet stove requires electricity sometimes kills the sales on that type of appliance. Maybe they weren't really serious about pellet stoves or alternative ways = of heating. Many people are saying, "Yea, I heard some stuff about pellet stoves, tell me more about them." There is a very significant increase in our area with the amount of woodstove purchases. We have a slightly evident increase in stove sales anyways, but it's hard to define how much of that is strictly local.
(back) Subject: From: "Ed Fackler" <[email protected]> Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2000 21:15:58 -0400 TO: Roger and Tim. Go for it!!! You guys are doing more for the readership of this outfit than anything I've seen in years. You guys aren't on the payroll for HNG or Jotul, are you? Bet those outfits are loving this to death. How about getting a good "donnybrook" going in the why's and wherefores of unvented gas logs? Now, there's one a lot of people could get their teeth into!! Or, if we have enough "enviormental wackoos" that read this, let's get going on wood burning. Since God has been burning wood on this planet for 50,000,000 years,( that I know of) this could be fun, if we can get someone to take the " stop burning wood" side. I'd like to have "a piece" of that one. Ed Fackler
(back) Subject: Re: Commodities From: "Grant Darrow" <[email protected]> Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2000 21:16:43 -0400 Tim and Roger; Ever throw in a gas furnace at $100 over cost to get the wood stove or gas stove sale? I have! Man you ought to see the contractors line up over that deal! Also it gave my HVAC friends something to think about. This commodity debate has been one of the best. The only other commodity I carry are Weber BBQ's which I give away with installations of high end products. I buy Webers at the same price as Home Depot and Bi-Mart and they are delivered to my door at no cost! As Roger has pointed out I let Home Depot display the commodity and I make the = sale. The pitch is simple, the customer can have a free gold door, free vent or = a free BBQ on a complete installation. (I supply and do everything) If the truth be known most all HVAC hardware, from furnaces to ducting, is sold as a commodity right out of a box. Thetas why Home Depot is getting into the, 'HVAC and installed', market. There's no reason why your installers can't do furnaces also, in many cases they are much easier than hearth products because all they need do is make heat. Hearth products = need to look good. Also, most of the time the HVAC guys spend a great deal of time trying to keep their guys busy so when it comes to servicing furnaces, they'll = service anything. Well, that was timely, I just got a call from one of my girls school teachers. Seems the commodity that came with their manufactured home quit.... Willieweep alias Grant Darrow Chimney Sweep www.northcountrystoves.com