How is a blower and option for an insert?

[cocey2002]

Still wanting to purchase the Hampton wood insert and now that I got my taxes done I am about a month away from purchasing. I got a few quotes that want an extra $400 for the blower. I find that hard to believe because if you don't have the blower to this unit the unit looks incomplete. Its like purchasing an insert without glass. Are you guys paying extra for a blower for your units?

 

[Rich M]

It's a must have for most insert installations, I believe that's why they are so expensive - they know they have you over a barrel. Like you said it's like selling a unit without glass and then charging you extra for it. The one for my Country Stoves was around $250 and will heat my whole house, without it barely heats the room.

 

[paulie]

i started with a Regency i1200, and it came with the unit...promotion. but even so, it otherwise was only around $250.00, Lopi also has one for there units that is around the same price. Rich M sounds like his price was also inline. I would push the issue with your dealer some, and try to get it thrown in on the deal, or at least get that price down some. $400 does seem a little high !

 

[paulie]

And your right cocey....that should not be an option they claim to heat a certian sq ft, then it should come eqiup to do so ! pisses me off...don't get me started

 

[cocey2002]

It is sort of dishonest. I don't mind them making some money off of me but I have a pretty good idea of what things cost- stove, blower, installation and they have the $ jacked up well over $1000. Can't blame them as much as the company as they are the ones listing it as an option.

 

[paulie]

I know, but the dealer can cut a little profit and give you a better price on that, good customer service ! and yes, the company's are the one's that do that, and put the dealers in a bad spot. I would still talk with your dealer, see what they can do ...if they want your business they will work with you...good luck !

 

[jadm]

Cocey- I just purchased a Jotul 550. The blowers were not a separate charge. The surround was. I guess it could have been the other way around. I would not have wanted this unit without the surround. It was one of the reasons I picked it.

I also considered the Hampton but Jotul won out due to the construction. I think it was the Hampton that had air tubes that weren't very secure on the top of the fire box. I knew I'd be knocking them down on a regular basis and going through a lot of stove gloves. Jotul's air tubes are secure...

I may be wrong about the air tubes on that unit - I was looking at a lot of different brands. I just mention it as something you might like to take a closer look at....Best to know before you pay and install....

 

[burntime]

I have the hampton, great stove but the factory sucks. No follow thru and talk out of both sides of their mouth. Buy it right, 400 is rediculous. They run promos where the blower is free. I ordered the optional liner kit to fit the top of the stove...don't go with the 3 L brackets. Again, great stove just don't rely on the factory being much help...and the dealer may try but the factory is the final say so. In my opinion you NEED the blower. Without it you are wasting your time.

 

[whphel]

Well you could think of it this way and make a positive out of a negative situation. Your going to burn wood at a fraction of the cost of oil, gas and electricity which will quickly diminish the cost of your stove.

 

[cocey2002]

Another thing I'm getting charged for is the extra large faceplate ($600). I wonder if the regular size faceplate comes with the stove or is it an add on? Every quote I've gotten wants around $4500 for install and stove. Seems high.

 

[Rich M]

Yep, faceplate surround is extra too - like anyone would want an insert without one! I needed the extra large size also but it was only around $100. $4500 is about what I was quoted for better known brands from larger dealers. My Country Stoves was the least expensive I could find at $3200 installed including liner, blower, surround etc.

 

[budman]

I can't believe they make the blower an option on a insert.That stove would be useless
with out it.

 

[STOVEGUY11]

That is just how Regency prices out there stoves, everything is individual. On the inserts, the stove, door, surround and blower are all seperate prices. They do the same on there freestanding units as well

 

[burntime]

That may be but it still is kinda crappy. Just a way to try and squeeze more from the consumer. The dealer should just list the price together and not carry over the foolishness. I can see adding for a larger surround but not the blower. Thats like buying a new f-150 and the dealer asking...Did you want the tire and rim package with that? Nope, I will just ride it on the rotors It really is that foolish Value accordingly, mileage may vary!

 

[STOVEGUY11]

I think its good in the sense that you actually see what you are paying for. But when you buy from the dealer, they usually add everything up for you anyway. So you dont even know the difference.

 

[burntime]

You sound like a good dealer...the ones I deal with said the stove is X, and when you got interested they started adding the door is y, the blower is w and so on. Deception is not sales in my opinion. You need to open a store in Wisconsin, sounds like you do things right!

 

[STOVEGUY11]

Well Thank you. I can see how dealers can make it more confusing to the consumer than it needs to be.

 

[budman]

That may be but it still is kinda crappy. Just a way to try and squeeze more from the consumer. The dealer should just list the price together and not carry over the foolishness. I can see adding for a larger surround but not the blower. Thats like buying a new f-150 and the dealer asking...Did you want the tire and rim package with that? Nope, I will just ride it on the rotors It really is that foolish Value accordingly, mileage may vary!

Well said burn

 

[cocey2002]

What would happen if I stated to the dealer that I couldn't afford the blower so lets do the install without it. For this stove the blower is a part of the stove I believe and the front would have a big empty spot. My point is I don't think they would install this stove without the blower? Could be wrong though.

 

[burntime]

Sure they would. They would just tell you not to burn it cause you may overfire it;~) Point is you need it, they know it, let the games begin. I have the hampton stove and I have said before...it is great, the factory is a joke as far as customer service but the stove is good. One thing if yoy buy it. You will have to slide the blower out and bend the bracket with the snap disc forward so that it will contact the stove and activate the blower.

 

[STOVEGUY11]

Im sure they would push against that, but you never know. Yea there would be a hole underneath the ash lip, and you would see the silver plate with all of the info of the stove on it.

 

[burntime]

When I looked at mine the dealer told me that the blower was not needed that natural convection would do it, just don't burn it with the damper full open long. They agreed that it would look stupid but said the manufacturer sells it that way. Having had an insert I know that you need it. Once again stove guy, I wish that all dealers did business RIGHT, unfortunately too many just don't care.

 

[TMonter]

Contrary to popular belief, you don't need a blower on every insert. My Quad 3100i functions perfectly fine and heats over half my house without one. If your stove is installed properly and does not have an outside wall chimney, a blower simply isn't a necessity and I have several neighbors who operate without them as well. Blowers do circulate heat faster but once the room is warmed up offer little to the inserts performance.

 

[burntime]

It would depend on the insert. I think if you got one you would probably change your mind. I am not 100 percent sure but lets say 95%. I looked at the 3100 and 4100 inserts and settled on the hampton. All are nice but if you saw the hampton you would wonder who poked out an eye if it did not have the blower

 

[RedRanger]

A blower is not an option on an insert-ridiculous!! You have to be camped less than 10ft away to enjoy any heat otherwise.. That is why when I buy my next insert it will again be a Pacific Energy, they still include the blower in their pricing.

As for the other guys that sell it as an option? Very,very poor marketing, they would be better off to raise the price of the unit so the customer at least will not be ticked off because the insert is delivering less than a quarter of the heat it is capable of.

Best advertising is word of mouth, worst advertising is bad mouthing the product cause it failed to deliver.!!