So I went to my local BK dealer.... questions, comments, n pricing...

[Bster13]

Brought the Fiancee to my local Blaze King dealer to see the Princess Insert in person. Here's the memory dump and questions:

- You could see gasket sticking out between the door and the glass.
- Sticker price was $3191 w/ Black Door, blower, and standard surround.
- Install price (generally takes 4hrs) is $1240, including all the parts.
- He stated they use 5 1/2 smooth liner instead of 6in if chimney was more rectangle than square (can't recall the dimensions he speced), but insulated liners all the way for the Princess. Stated it was good I had semi-internal chimney (backside of chimeny goes to uninsulated garage).
- Dealer handled my fiancee's questions wonderfully:
1) Will it smell? "It should only smell if you are doing something wrong."
2) Is it safe with pets home? "It's a closed system, with the CAT stove can load it and leave it all day."
3) Is it safe he cleans the chimney himself <with sooteater>? "Sure. Shouldn't really need cleaning with a CAT stove and dry wood."
4) Can we still install the honking mantle? "sure."
- The blower was surprisingly quiet. Though we did not listen to any other units.
- The blower will need yearly cleaning w/ pet hair. Bearings are not sealed and can go over time.
- SS liner and stove should last me a lifetime.
- Dealer had a sign above the princess insert that advertised 20 hour burn times.
- I have to admit, it was the ugliest stove there.
- The owner of the store stated that he brings educated customers to the BK for those that want function and are engineer types. (Thank you hearth.com forum members!)
- He ball parked my chimney to be ~20 feet from pictures of my 1 story ranch I showed him.

Questions:
- Gasket sticking out from door to window looked unfinished. Is this normal?
- How is the pricing of unit and install? Can I expect significant drops if I purchase in the summer?
- What are your thoughts on the 5.5in "smooth" liner and draft?
- Would my 20ft chimney they is semi-insulated scare you with a low flue temp CAT stove?
- With the dealer's talk (and I appreciate his honesty) of the stove and SS liner being lifetime (I can handle regular maintenance of replacing gaskets and CATs), how much should I value a local dealer and perhaps pay more for his services w/ a dealer farther away for cheaper price? If I buy a stove somewhere else, I figure that has to piss off my local guy...heck he may not even install it then.

And some tidbits for the heck of it...

- I started collecting wood on 11/3/2012 and by my calculations 3+ cords of wood now. I aim to be at 7-8 shortly so I can get a year ahead on my stockpile of mainly norway maple with some oak mixed in.

- My Fiskars X27.. works well, but the metal was really soft at first. now after a few filings it seems to be holding an edge much better:

(broken image removed)


- My wood pile this morning... There's been a breach! (still working on my stacking-fu.)

(broken image removed)

- OK, I feel better now:
(broken image removed)

 

[weatherguy]

Did the $1240 install include the liner?

 

[Bster13]

Yes, it included everything. I'll amend my original post.

 

[weatherguy]

Not too bad a price, Ill answer more when I get home to my computer, I cant type on this thing

 

[Bster13]

They even gave me a ruler, haha:
(broken image removed)

 

[HotCoals]

The gasket deal don't sound right.

Forget the plastic and the neighbors won't like it when it blows into their yards. lol

Prices don't sound bad but I don't really know..the 5.5 should be fine.

 

[claybe]

Brought the Fiancee to my local Blaze King dealer to see the Princess Insert in person. Here's the memory dump and questions:

- You could see gasket sticking out between the door and the glass.
- Sticker price was $3191 w/ Black Door, blower, and standard surround.
- Install price (generally takes 4hrs) is $1240, including all the parts.
- He stated they use 5 1/2 smooth liner instead of 6in if chimney was more rectangle than square (can't recall the dimensions he speced), but insulated liners all the way for the Princess. Stated it was good I had semi-internal chimney (backside of chimeny goes to uninsulated garage).
- Dealer handled my fiancee's questions wonderfully:
1) Will it smell? "It should only smell if you are doing something wrong."
2) Is it safe with pets home? "It's a closed system, with the CAT stove can load it and leave it all day."
3) Is it safe he cleans the chimney himself <with sooteater>? "Sure. Shouldn't really need cleaning with a CAT stove and dry wood."
4) Can we still install the honking mantle? "sure."
- The blower was surprisingly quiet. Though we did not listen to any other units.
- The blower will need yearly cleaning w/ pet hair. Bearings are not sealed and can go over time.
- SS liner and stove should last me a lifetime.
- Dealer had a sign above the princess insert that advertised 20 hour burn times.
- I have to admit, it was the ugliest stove there.
- The owner of the store stated that he brings educated customers to the BK for those that want function and are engineer types. (Thank you hearth.com forum members!)
- He ball parked my chimney to be ~20 feet from pictures of my 1 story ranch I showed him.

Questions:
- Gasket sticking out from door to window looked unfinished. Is this normal?
- How is the pricing of unit and install? Can I expect significant drops if I purchase in the summer?
- What are your thoughts on the 5.5in "smooth" liner and draft?
- Would my 20ft chimney they is semi-insulated scare you with a low flue temp CAT stove?
- With the dealer's talk (and I appreciate his honesty) of the stove and SS liner being lifetime (I can handle regular maintenance of replacing gaskets and CATs), how much should I value a local dealer and perhaps pay more for his services w/ a dealer farther away for cheaper price? If I buy a stove somewhere else, I figure that has to piss off my local guy...heck he may not even install it then.

And some tidbits for the heck of it...

- I started collecting wood on 11/3/2012 and by my calculations 3+ cords of wood now. I aim to be at 7-8 shortly so I can get a year ahead on my stockpile of mainly norway maple with some oak mixed in.

- My Fiskars X27.. works well, but the metal was really soft at first. now after a few filings it seems to be holding an edge much better:

(broken image removed)


- My wood pile this morning... There's been a breach! (still working on my stacking-fu.)

(broken image removed)

- OK, I feel better now:
(broken image removed)

Yes gasket sticking out is normal. You can try to push it in a little. I just got my princess insert for 2333 for the unit, 485 for the gold door, 189 plus 80 for the surround with gold trim. They charged 575 for the install which was a waste of money because I could have done it by myself. The princess calls for a 6 inch liner so I don't know why he is recommending a 5.5??? Your chimney will be fine. I would get it cheaper and install yourself, but that is just me. Good luck!

 

[webby3650]

Shouldn't really need cleaning with a CAT stove and dry wood."

Not true at all. Every solid fuel appliance needs to have the it's flue cleaned.

 

[Bster13]

Thanks for the pricing stats claybe. I guess my dealer isn't too far off on the stove itself. I wonder if the price drops significantly in the off-season? The liner install may be a factor of local labor rates.

BK says there should be about a $50 price difference in east vs. west coast as they have fixed their east coast distribution problem. I could probably do most of the install myself w/ a one story house, but grinding away at my fireplace damper is not something I'm up for. I also would like a professional look over things.

They only will install the 5.5in smooth liner if my existing masonry chimney is too narrow, otherwise they rock the 6in as normal. I hope my draft will be ok

 

[Bster13]

I agree, i think he was trying to put my Fiancee at ease. I told him I was going to buy a sooteater and DIY.

Not true at all. Every solid fuel appliance needs to have the it's flue cleaned.

 

[webby3650]

They charged 575 for the install which was a waste of money because I could have done it by myself

Maybe they just made it look easy because they do it everyday.

 

[claybe]

Maybe they just made it look easy because they do it everyday.

The liner was already in place. They simply wheeled it in and hooked it up. My wife and I could have done it faster. They were a bunch of idiots too!

 

[Bster13]

Well I have no existing liner. So a professional install is ok with me... I suppose my insurance company will appreciate that, haven't called them yet to see what sort of hoops they put me through.

 

[weatherguy]

I wouldnt skip the cleaning, first year Id check after a cord or so to make sure everything looks ok, after that Id clean it once a year.

 

[nate379]

Gasket is normal, mine is same way as is several others I have looked at.

Install cost is a smoking deal if that is including all the parts. I paid $1000 just in labor for mine to get installed. Took two guys 4 or 5 hours, but they worked quick. Would have took me a whole day just in measuring to make sure I put the hole in the right place!

I've never cleaned my blower. I had it apart a few weeks ago and it was a bit dusty but not overly concerning. Been running for 3 years now.
Dog gets hair EVERYWHERE but with the stove in the corner doesn't really get hair there for some reason.

 

[denjohn]

claybe.............have mercy on us w slow internet connections, no need to quote an entire pic heavy post.......thanks.

 

[nate379]

Loaded ok for me and I doubt many folks have slower internet than I do.

claybe.............have mercy on us w slow internet connections, no need to quote an entire pic heavy post.......thanks.

 

[ArsenalDon]

i think he was trying to put my Fiancee at east

Can you get much further East than CT?

 

[Bster13]

Doh, at ease... and no, in CT, I'm about as far East as it gets, though I don't have one of the Mansions on the shore.

I'll have to reconfirm the install costs... I'm glad it sounds like a good deal.

@Claybe, can you reconfirm the costs of your stove?

Mine was $3191 for the black door, the blowers, the regular surround.

If I try to make it apples to apples then your cost was:

$2333 Black Stove (no colored door)
$189 Regular surround (no gold)
= $2522

You have my price beat by ~$500 (provided you confirm your blowers were included in your price, but sure if they are standard on the Princess).

 

[claybe]

You forgot the door. Mine was $489 for the gold door up grade. I think the regular door is $289. So all in all it sounds like you are where you should be. Get them to give you the breakdown for everything.

 

[blades]

5.5"liner eliminates need to remove red clay flue liner, having to bust that all out and removal of same can easly add $1000 to cost.

 

[Bster13]

Do they always remove the clay or is that only when the standard six in liner won't fit?

 

[nate379]

I'd have to pull out my receipt but I seem to remember that the stainless/nickel (whatever it's called) door was ~$300 extra. The regular black door was included with the cost of the stove.

You forgot the door. Mine was $489 for the gold door up grade. I think the regular door is $289. So all in all it sounds like you are where you should be. Get them to give you the breakdown for everything.

 

[webby3650]

Do they always remove the clay or is that only when the standard six in liner won't fit?

Only if the 6" won't fit and the 5.5" won't work. Also, $1000 is out of control to remove clay. It's not really a big deal.

 

[PapaDave]

I wouldnt skip the cleaning, first year Id check after a cord or so to make sure everything looks ok, after that Id clean it once a year.

This is very good advice, considering you just started c/s/s your wood last November.
Also, nice to see you have it in mind to stockpile for next year too. If you have the room, do another year.
You'll be glad you did.
Everyone who comes on here that follows that advice returns with an appreciation of dry wood.