Good rural shopping experience

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Bobcatter

New Member
Jan 23, 2009
31
Pennsylvania
I'm still shopping around, trying to look at different brands, and looking for an end of year season sale.

For future buyers, here's the deals I found:

Lowes: had them on clearance "last week" (that was 3rd week of January) Home Depot: one store had them half price, but not the Englander NC 30. The other one had the 30, but still had it at $1100. Looks like a good stove, if I only lived closer I could check every once in awhile and get some sale price on it.

Lopi: had $300 to $500 off the prices, but some of the prices seemed suspiciously high. I could get a Lopi Leyton for $2400 with the sale price. The Avalon Rainer (1.8 cu ft. box) for $1700. The Lopi Republic 1750 for $1400. The Lopi Endeavor for $2100.

I started to focus on the quadrafires, and noticed that their web site now features a "cold cash - hot deals" with a link to participating dealers. Drove about an hour to be prepared to "put my money where my mouth was" and found a sales rep that said "oh, we are selling lots of stoves, no need for us to discount them. They're going fast, better get one now" Wasn't aware of "any national program". Dang internet.......

Talked to another dealer, didn't seem too promising, but, hey, I want to check out a Quadrafire. Seems like the typical rural dealer I have run into before - probably doesn't really carry stoves. He was not listed in the "cold cash" promotion, so I wasn't surprised when he said he didn't have any 3100 or 4300 in stock. His reason? "can't sell any stoves since last summer, no one is buying", but "I can get them in a few days, they are in stock again". We chatted for awhile, and then the shoe dropped: "I do have a Isle Royal I am sick of working around, if you drive out here you can have it for $1500" I was stunned! Isnt' this the fancy stove toward the end of the catalog, that I don't even look at??? Probably a beat up demo, return, or something wrong ......

Hooray, it was a new "in the box and on the pallet" genuine Quadrafire Isle Royal. So much for 2.0 cubic foot fire boxes, I'm moving up to the 3.0 fire box and "build a little fire if I want a little heat" group! Unfortunately, I'm not installing it right now, my plan was to re-do my set up and spruce things up a bit when I have some vacation time. Hmmm, may have to rethink that, I wanna see it in action! :)
 
Sometimes the best deals are from the the little guy, not the big box guys. Personal service is another plus, as well as the relationship you can build with a small dealer/professional. Sounds like you made out just fine!
 
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