Lopi factory tour

[Treacherous]

Mods please move if wrong area....

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I took a (broken link removed) of the Travis Industries factory in Mukilteo, WA on Wednesday. I was very impressed at what I saw. Every step of the build process was on display, tour lasted about 2.5 hours and you are given a free lunch at the end of the tour. They are definitely ramping up for the hybrid cat models and also had a prototype ZC model they plan to target for condos/apartments that they claim will have the lowest particulate output of any stove they have ever made. It was a relatively small unit that seemed smaller than a Lopi Answer. I also saw a large stack of the Cape Code Hybrid models being built. Everyone was very friendly and company appears to be doing quite well. They purchased their factory outright, after leasing for years, from Boeing last year. In fact they lease another section of their factory back to Boeing now. They do other contract metal work fabrication when sales slow down. This helps maintain employment at the factory which can peak to 600 employees.

There was another area where they do long term burns on older models of their stoves to ensure the long term durability of their products.

I also got the chance to talk with Kurt Rumens (founder and current president) for about 10 minutes. It was great to see the passion he has for the products his company produces. They have a display unit of the first Lopi model in the front end showroom of factory. Kurt talked about the history of how he got started many moons ago and even got into a detailed story of an ad campaign they undertook with Johnny Cash at some point. He said they are now selling some products produced in factory over in China now. There are a couple new distributors in Beijing. Kurt seemed like a real down to earth guy.

I highly recommend the tour if you are in the area. They normally run a few times a month April through August. Tours only run on Wednesday.

 

[johnsgunworks]

I will definitely check out that factory if I ever get to Washington. I watched the online tour and have wanted to see it person ever since. I am preparing for my first burn season with my newly refurbished Endeavor. I sure do admire the quality of materials and
workmanship that they put into this stove.

 

[Vincent]

I love my Lopi Endeavor.

 

[BrowningBAR]

The new Cape Cod is a 3 cu ft stove.

 

[Treacherous]

The small one I was referring to in my post was just an un-named prototype at this point. I think they planned to have that one out next year.

The Cape Cods I saw were over near the area in factory where they were welding the flue collars on.

The new Cape Cod is a 3 cu ft stove.

 

[BrowningBAR]

The small one I was referring to in my post was just an un-named prototype at this point. I think they planned to have that one out next year.

The Cape Cods I saw were over near the area in factory where they were welding the flue collars on.

My post was unrelated to your comment and was more of a general Lopi info post as I saw the stated the size of the stove on their facebook page.

 

[BrowningBAR]

Also, they didn't seem to take to kindly to Todd mentioning Bk's burn times.

" If we slow the burn down that much you're not getting any heat of your wood stove. Lopi is in the business of making heaters."

 

[begreen]

Thanks for posting. Gotta do that tour one of these days.

 

[rdust]

"If we slow the burn down that much you're not getting any heat of your wood stove. Lopi is in the business of making heaters."

 

[fossil]

I'd like very much to visit that factory. I'd have a chance to tell somebody face to face what think of their stupid policy concerning replacement parts. Great stoves, dumber than dirt parts service. Rick

 

[Treacherous]

I have not had to deal with that issue yet. Fortunately, I have 4 or 5 dealers that are fairly close to me should the need arise for a part. Kurt did discuss the reasons he didn't sell through places such as Home Depot or Lowes. It seemed to be more or less related to liability since many of those places do not have qualified staff who are knowledgeable of the various codes and regs.

 

[fossil]

I have one dealer...where I bought the stove & arranged for installation. They seem to care more about selling hot tubs, grills, and patio furniture. They do not keep a well-stocked Lopi "parts department" by any stretch of the imagination. All I'd ask is that Lopi sell through their own Internet store setup. Seems to me it would be a low-overhead profit center for them. They quite obviously have access to folks who can create a marvelous website. I wanted the gasket between the window and the door frame on my Liberty...the guy barely knew what I was talking about. I had him bring up the exploded parts diagram on his computer and pointed to the items I wanted. He didn't have them in stock, didn't offer to order them, tried to push some generic gasket material on me, and I walked out. I still need to replace that gasket. The one between the door frame and stove front I did replace with something off his shelf, and it's fine. Rick

 

[johnsgunworks]

What is their policy regarding replacement parts, fossil?

 

[MarkinNC]

Thanks for posting. I have been very happy with my Lopi product. I believe Travis Industries makes a robust product line overall, as do others. An online parts service would be pretty sweet. I will have to take a tour. The Buck stove factory is about 50 miles away and they have tours as well. I have thought about doing that.

 

[fossil]

"What is their policy regarding replacement parts?"


No Internet sales by anyone. No Lopi parts get shipped anywhere. No parts get sold from outside the local dealer's territory. You want a genuine Lopi replacement part...you gotta go to your local Lopi dealer and get it from him...even if he doesn't quite seem to know just what it is you want, doesn't have it on the shelf and isn't sure about how he orders from the factory. All of this apparently in the name of preserving the integrity of the sales territory. Stupid. None of these dealers depend on selling Lopi parts to make a living. Most of them probably would rather just keep selling the stoves and then never seeing us stove buyers again. All I want is a Lopi factory Internet store. You'd think that would be easy. Rick

 

[Don2222]

Hello

Thanks for the nice report of the factory tour! Travis has been heating my entire home now for the past 3 years!

I just rebuilt a 1997 Lopi Pioneer for a friend and Craig put a pic in the Gallery. For a 15 year old stove it looks so modern!
https://www.hearth.com/gall/v/PelletStoves/1997LopiPioneerPelletStove.jpeg.html

Interesting about models from China. I just made a picture report of the Travis brand new Avalon AGP.
For an introductory price of $2660 I bet that is made in China!
See > https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...llet-stove-with-horizontal-rotary-disc.89190/

 

[webbie]

Travis made their $$ by deciding to cater to dealers - mom and pop - as opposed to going the way of big boxes. It was a difficult decision, because at the time most stove companies were being tempted by the Call of the Boxes. It's much harder to deal with mom and pop because each store is different and MANY of them would bend Kurts ear in person or on the phone about all kinds of things - especially internet sales.

So it as a valid decision and it turned out to be a good one financially since the profit margins as well as the unit projections, etc are much more reliable with the diversification of hundreds of smaller dealers.

I do understand the part situation. Fact is, most mom and pop dealers suck at it - they don't have either the time or the know-how...and often not even the caring attitude, to take care of these things. In a day and age when we are used to high level service, it can leave a sour taste.

It would be a fine thing if they set up a subset of their dealers who agreed to serve end-users as "internet parts sources" and allowed them to sell replacement parts online. The same goes with some other makers. It's time to put the CUSTOMER first as opposed to the Dealer. The dealer and travis all owe everything to the customer, not to each other.

 

[rdust]

No Internet sales by anyone. No Lopi parts get shipped anywhere. No parts get sold from outside the local dealer's territory. You want a genuine Lopi replacement part...you gotta go to your local Lopi dealer and get it from him...even if he doesn't quite seem to know just what it is you want, doesn't have it on the shelf and isn't sure about how he orders from the factory. All of this apparently in the name of preserving the integrity of the sales territory. Stupid. None of these dealers depend on selling Lopi parts to make a living. Most of them probably would rather just keep selling the stoves and then never seeing us stove buyers again. All I want is a Lopi factory Internet store. You'd think that would be easy. Rick

I bought mine from my local dealer, when I bought they were very helpful and friendly. During my first season I needed some roll pins since one fell out of the burn tube(stupid design). I went to them for it, they didn't stock or offer to order them, hell it should have been under warranty! I ended up going to the local hardware store and just buying a roll pin that was the right size. Not a big deal by any stretch but I expected them to at least offer to order one, instead I got the "Oh we've never heard of that happening before", sure you haven't!

I also bought a door gasket from them and wanted them to order the OE gasket but they had no interest in that. They sold me some off the roll insisting it was the same stuff. I actually opened the door on one of their stoves and showed them it wasn't the "same". It worked but I don't think it sealed as well as the OE one.

So I agree and internet store would've been nice!

 

[Treacherous]

I notice on the Lopi dealer locator site there is one in Lebanon and Salem. Perhaps they might be willing to sell you the part over the phone?

I have one dealer...where I bought the stove & arranged for installation. They seem to care more about selling hot tubs, grills, and patio furniture. They do not keep a well-stocked Lopi "parts department" by any stretch of the imagination. All I'd ask is that Lopi sell through their own Internet store setup. Seems to me it would be a low-overhead profit center for them. They quite obviously have access to folks who can create a marvelous website. I wanted the gasket between the window and the door frame on my Liberty...the guy barely knew what I was talking about. I had him bring up the exploded parts diagram on his computer and pointed to the items I wanted. He didn't have them in stock, didn't offer to order them, tried to push some generic gasket material on me, and I walked out. I still need to replace that gasket. The one between the door frame and stove front I did replace with something off his shelf, and it's fine. Rick

 

[rdust]

It would be a fine thing if they set up a subset of their dealers who agreed to serve end-users as "internet parts sources" and allowed them to sell replacement parts online. The same goes with some other makers. It's time to put the CUSTOMER first as opposed to the Dealer. The dealer and travis all owe everything to the customer, not to each other.

It would even be easy for them to set it up so if I ordered a part from them directly on line the dealer in my region got credit for it. Just have the site bring up a list of dealers in your area and select the one you would've purchased from if you walked into their store.

 

[Treacherous]

Hello
Interesting about models from China. I just made a picture report of the Travis brand new Avalon AGP.
For an introductory price of $2660 I bet that is made in China!
See > https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...llet-stove-with-horizontal-rotary-disc.89190/

Actually....they claimed they were selling the US made stoves in China.

 

[Treacherous]

Here is a dealer in Maine selling parts but looks like it is limited to their service area.

(broken link removed)

 

[Don2222]

Travis made their $$ by deciding to cater to dealers - mom and pop - as opposed to going the way of big boxes. It was a difficult decision, because at the time most stove companies were being tempted by the Call of the Boxes. It's much harder to deal with mom and pop because each store is different and MANY of them would bend Kurts ear in person or on the phone about all kinds of things - especially internet sales.

So it as a valid decision and it turned out to be a good one financially since the profit margins as well as the unit projections, etc are much more reliable with the diversification of hundreds of smaller dealers.

I do understand the part situation. Fact is, most mom and pop dealers suck at it - they don't have either the time or the know-how...and often not even the caring attitude, to take care of these things. In a day and age when we are used to high level service, it can leave a sour taste.

It would be a fine thing if they set up a subset of their dealers who agreed to serve end-users as "internet parts sources" and allowed them to sell replacement parts online. The same goes with some other makers. It's time to put the CUSTOMER first as opposed to the Dealer. The dealer and travis all owe everything to the customer, not to each other.

Good point Craig
Maybe it is getting better. I set email to the Travis support Tech Sean Hanley for a manual to the 97 Lopi Pioneer. He was in training for the week but I got a copy of the manual in the email the very next day. My Travis dealer is also ordering some parts for it but takes at least a week! The prices are not so bad. Hopefully more improvements will come.

 

[BrotherBart]

Don't know. Bought my last stove from a stove shop in 1986. They were gone by 1987. Said never again. Got stupid and bought the Jotuls from a local dealer. Poof after delivering the stoves and dropping one on the sidewalk and breaking it. They went bankrupt before they fixed it. Jotul didn't want to hear it and a Mod on hearth.com com that was a dealer saved my butt by having the casting drop shipped to me. Thank you Ryan.

As for me and my house, we ain't gonna be buying anything from anybody but factory supported parts folks.

 

[Don2222]

Here is a dealer in Maine selling parts but looks like it is limited to their service area.

(broken link removed)

Hello

Yes, but without pics and details of the parts it makes it very hard! I just replaced a Blower on the Lopi Pioneer and I was very determined to get a good Fasco Combustion Blower at a reasonable price. Well after some hack sawing, drilling and splicing wires I did! ! ! ! !
See pics and detail > https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/lopi-pioneer-bay-exhaust-blower-fan-replacement.89209/