Problem:
ComplaintResponse |
Date
of Problem:
2007-05-12 12:36:05.0 |
Company
Name:
Air Flow Air Conditioning |
Has
this problem been resolved yet?
No |
Submitted
by:
JOHN M. |
FIRST OF ALL LET ME SAY I'M VERY SORRY FOR YOUR EXPERIENCE. THE PROBLEM HERE IS YOUR HOME WARRANTY. I WAS FORMERLY AN HVAC CONTRACTOR WHO HAS DONE AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING WORK FOR HWC'S FOR OVER 20 YRS. I WILL TRY TO EXPLAIN AS BEST I CAN WHAT I MEAN.
AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING CO'S. ARE SEASONAL BUSINESSES. WE MAKE A LITTLE IN THE WINTER, MAKE A LITTLE MORE IN THE SUMMER, & STARVE IN THE SPRING & FALL. ALL OF US NEED TO FILL THAT LACK-OF-BUSINESS VOID DURING THESE PERIODS. WE ONLY HAVE A FEW WAYS TO DO THIS. (1)RUN SALES DURING THIS PERIOD (IN WHICH CASE WE KEEP OUR PEOPLE BUSY BUT MAKE NO PROFIT), (2)SELL & SERVICE MAINTENANCE PLANS (THIS IS BREAK EVEN ALTHOUGH NECESSARY WORK), (3) DO HOME WARRANTY WORK.
THE REASON WE DO HOME WARRANTY WORK IS THE SAME AS THE FIRST 2. TO KEEP OUR EMPLOYEES BUSY SO WE DON'T HAVE TO LAY THEM OFF. THERE IS NO MONEY TO BE MADE DOING WORK FOR THESE COMPANIES. THE ONE AND ONLY ADVANTAGE TO US IS WE CAN ADD TO OUR CUSTOMER BASE, GET OUR STICKERS ON THE EQUIPMENT, & HOPE THAT AFTER THE FIRST YEAR YOU WILL BE SO DISSATISFIED WITH YOUR HWC THAT YOU WILL DISCONTINUE YOUR CONTRACT & USE THE COMPANY THAT HAS TRIED TO GIVE YOU THE BEST SERVICE (OUR CO.), BUT ON A RETAIL BASIS. LET ME EXPLAIN FURTHER.
THE HWC'S,IN ORDER TO MAKE THEIR CONTRACTS APPEAR TO BE A GOOD DEAL & MAKE MONEY AT THE SAME TIME, HAVE TO KEEP THEIR COSTS DOWN. THEY BUY EQUIPMENT DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURERS AT A FRACTION OF WHAT WE PAY FOR IT, & THEY PAY US NEXT TO NOTHING TO INSTALL IT. PARTS ARE'NT QUITE SO BAD. THEY LET US FURNISH MOST OF THEM SO WE CAN AT LEAST TAKE A SMALL MARKUP BUT IF WE HAVE A FAILURE & WE HAVE TO RETURN, THEY PAY US NOTHING. IN SHORT, THEY PINCH US TO DEATH.
THIS IS WHY SUMMER & WINTER IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET SERVICE IN A TIMELY MANNER. FROM START TO FINISH (OUR) AVERAGE HWC REPAIR DURING THESE TIMES WAS ABOUT 5 DAYS. FALL & SPRING REPAIRS WERE USUALLY COMPLETED THE SAME DAY. YOU SEE WE ARE FORCED TO TAKE THE (RETAIL) BUSINESS OVER THE (WHOLESALE) IN ORDER TO LIVE. IT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT TO DO, I'TS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO EVEN IF WE DON'T LIKE IT. ALSO, MOST OF THE CONTRACTORS USED BY HWC'S ARE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, THE DREGS. OPERATIONS THAT HAVE UNSAVORY REPUTATIONS. MOST PROFITABLE ORGANIZATIONS STAY AWAY FROM HWC'S. BY THE WAY, DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE TERM "PREFERRED CONTRACTOR". THIS SIMPLY MEANS THE GUY WHO DOES THE CHEAPEST WORK FOR THE HWC.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS: IF YOU WANT CHEAP REPAIRS, THE UNRELIABILITY THAT GOES WITH THEM, & YOU DON'T MIND WAITING A WHILE, STAY WITH YOUR HOME WARRANTY CO.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU WANT QUALITY REPAIRS IN A TIMELY MANNER WITH A GOOD GUARANTEE, & DON'T MIND PAYING FOR IT, GET RID OF YOUR HOME WARRANTY CO.& FIND A GOOD TRUSTWORTHY CO. (THIS CAN ALSO BE A CRAPSHOOT BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY)
DON'T TRY SHOPPING AROUND FOR A BETTER ONE. WE DID WORK FOR 6 DIFFERENT ONES & THEIR ALL PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. THE PHRASE "YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR" WAS NEVER TRUER.
REAL ESTATE AGENTS CAN BE A PROBLEM SOMETIMES UNKNOWINGLY BECAUSE SO MANY ARE QUICK TO TELL NEW HOMEOWNERS SOMETHING LIKE "IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS JUST CALL YOUR HWC & ALL YOU'LL HAVE TO PAY IS YOUR COPAY". SOMETIMES THIS IS ACTUALLY THE CASE BUT DON'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU NEED A FURNACE OR AIR HANDLER & THE CONTRACTOR TELLS YOU YOU'LL HAVE TO PAY $1000 OR MORE FROM YOUR POCKET FOR "NON-COVERED CHARGES."
THIS IS PROBABLY NOT WHAT YOU WANTED TO HEAR. BUT I'TS THE REAL WORLD. HWC'S HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT IN THE END IT'S THE CUSTOMER WHO PAYS THE PRICE. I HOPE THIS HAS BEEN ENLIGHTENING IF NOT HELPFUL TO YOU. IF YOU NEED HELP IN CHOOSING A CONTRACTOR OR SOLVING A PROBLEM YOU CAN E-MAIL ME AT MRAC5@BELLSOUTH.NET.JOHN M.
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