VC to furlough 80 employees
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Megunticook
Burning Hunk
Why do they do that to people right before the holidays? They have to put that stress on them right now? A mega corporation like HNI can't afford a few week's wages for these people to get them through the rest of the year?
It sucks, but personally I'd rather know before I went and bought a bunch of stuff for people for Christmas that I can no longer afford.
4 years ago it took me 6 months to get in a stove that I ordered and now they are just sitting on overstock. It's wild to me that demand had dropped so much for these stoves.
I wonder if it’s because so many have been having issues with them being so finicky to run that they’ve stopped selling. I see on this forum and others of people having issues with them and people not recommending first time owners get them.
That very well could be. This was my first stove and if I hadn't found this place I would hate it. I still have a love/hate relationship, but it is more love now that I know the learning curve.
The company and product has just changed so much throughout the years. I had seen the old stoves/known people that owned one and absolutely loved it. That was why I chose to get one. The new stoves are just shadows of the originals. I don't think there is any feasible way to revive the brand. It is not just VC, most stove manufacturers are struggling to keep their stoves up to new EPA standards. I think a lot of itncomes down to cost of retooling to make a new model and the temptations to keep old well known stove models in the lineup.
Megunticook
Burning Hunk
I bought a new Encore direct from VC back in '02. As I understand it that was right before the quality issues started to come into play. Some might call the stove fussy, but for someone like me who pays attention, keeps dry wood on hand (for the most part!), and keeps up on maintenance, it's been rock-solid for over 20 years (we heat the home with it). But these stoves maybe aren't the best for a casual weekend user. And the company kind of sabotaged its reputation with poor service and quality issues.
Wonder if heat pumps are having any effect on the wood stove market...
Wonder if heat pumps are having any effect on the wood stove market...
Wisco Shepherd
Minister of Fire
The hard thing is there are so many other options these days. Some stoves are great value like Drolet and Englander models, some are ultra high performance like BK, there are great non cat models from PE and others. The VC stoves don't seem to be the "best" at anything.................
....except maybe in the looks department (to some, surely not me, but discussing taste is useless...)
Visually, they make classic beauties. They sell on looks, features, good quality casting, and long past reputation. The original VC stoves were disrupters bringing European casting quality to the US market. Some people really like top-loading stoves and they were one of the earliest to have thermostatic control and still do.
Market trends are affecting the wood stove industry. For one, a new woodstove install has become too expensive for many. It's getting harder to justify a $9k+ purchase with install cost for fuel savings. I also see a trend toward more contemporary looking stoves, VC has none. Their insert is a single-burn rate now which is not that popular. And the incoming administration may kill energy tax credits. If so, it will not just be VC that is affected. And yes, with the increased price of wood stoves, heat pumps are offering an alternative that is competitive in many areas.
Market trends are affecting the wood stove industry. For one, a new woodstove install has become too expensive for many. It's getting harder to justify a $9k+ purchase with install cost for fuel savings. I also see a trend toward more contemporary looking stoves, VC has none. Their insert is a single-burn rate now which is not that popular. And the incoming administration may kill energy tax credits. If so, it will not just be VC that is affected. And yes, with the increased price of wood stoves, heat pumps are offering an alternative that is competitive in many areas.
Woodsplitter67
Minister of Fire
I dont see the return on investment going forward as compared to years past. The cost of everything has increased so much. I spent around 2200 for my stove plus install. My total cost was less then 4k to get started. I dont buy wood as many others do so I have no cost for fuel. I cant see spending 8K+ and buying wood.
I originally was looking at VC, lopi and wanted to go with the blazeking. My wife was absolutely against putting a blazeking in the living room.. she said it looked more like a washing machine
Some of my friends have VC and the stoves ran well so I was more then ok with the encore. The blazeking was very appealing with the long burn times
I originally was looking at VC, lopi and wanted to go with the blazeking. My wife was absolutely against putting a blazeking in the living room.. she said it looked more like a washing machine
Some of my friends have VC and the stoves ran well so I was more then ok with the encore. The blazeking was very appealing with the long burn times
EbS-P
Minister of Fire
Speaking to the ROI. You were speaking personally, and I think VC corporate is agreeing with that statement on a business level. How many good working value brand stoves are being sold at prices less than $1800?
Well I was going to list the englander 32, and then decided to see how much of a price increase it has undergone since I purchased mine a couple years ago. It seems it may have been discontinued? Can’t really find it in stock anywhere and some retailers list it as discontinued.
EbS-P
Minister of Fire
Listed as out of stock. https://www.englander-stoves.com/us/en/heaters/wood-stoves/esw0018/
Looks like it may be the only leftover design from SBIs purchase of Englander. All the others I think are firebox’s from SBI’s other lines. So my guess is it’s not EPA certified yet.
Was there another recent EPA recertification besides 2020? The 32 was Englander’s answer to it and it replaced the 30.
EDIT: Just perused Englanders online retailer linked from their website and only the 4 blue ridge stoves (SBI design?) are listed. No more 30/32.
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Not surprising to hear stove companies slowing down. The tax credits and novelty of wood stoves always seems to run in cycles. Once people experience the real world of a woodstove is work and it's dirty the novelty wears off and they tell all of their friends. One thing about VC is even if you only burn it for the atmosphere of a wood fire it's a pretty stove sitting in your house. I'm amazed at the price of new stoves, my VC is from 1987 so I have gotten my money's worth as it was high end back then.
Woodsplitter67
Minister of Fire
This is a real eye opener. I did a quick search and I tell you the choices of stoves from the value side has really decreased. Pricing for what is out there is high for what your getting. couple that with low home inventory, I guess this is why the change. Im super glad I got installed when I did... 20 bucks went farther then
I was telling my kids I could take their mom out for breakfast for 5 bucks.. Dennys, grand slam for 1.99.. The kids were like.. WHAT... I was 30 years old at that time
I was telling my kids I could take their mom out for breakfast for 5 bucks.. Dennys, grand slam for 1.99.. The kids were like.. WHAT... I was 30 years old at that time
$9K for a stove installed is crazy. I am in mine for $3000 before tax credit with the liner, stove, and block off plate with all materials. Self installed though. I’ll make my ROI back within 1.5-2 heating seasons .
Sad to see the market what it has become for wood stoves. I wish all those employees the best.
Sad to see the market what it has become for wood stoves. I wish all those employees the best.
EbS-P
Minister of Fire
That required manufacturers to re test stoves instead of just renewing the certification
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