Distributors dominate HVAC equipment sales

Journal Article · Mon Jan 29 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Energy User News; (United States)

OSTI ID:6275264

Schneidawind, J

A survey of those involved with the heating, ventilating, or air conditioning (HVAC) industry indicates that it is inadvisable to try by-passing the distributors. Direct procurement is discouraged on grounds of selectivity and redundancy for the industry and the desirability of direct servicing for the users. Distributors are able to save time by forecasting customer needs to the manufacturers. One company, however, sells directly to customers by having a well-trained, veteran sales staff. Either approach can lead to proper equipment installation if responsibility for the selection, purchasing, and installation functions is centralized so that the user has someone with whom he can communicate. Government procurements are usually made by life-cycle costing methods, while other users make choices on the basis of size. Spare parts for HVAC equipment have been a problem for many users and some contractors have chosen to replace rather than repair faulty equipment.

• OSTI ID: 6275264
• Journal Information: Energy User News; (United States), Journal Name: Energy User News; (United States) Vol. 4:5; ISSN EUSND
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
298000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Consumption & Utilization
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320100 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Buildings
AIR CONDITIONING
CONSUMER PROTECTION
CONTROL
COST
EQUIPMENT
HEATING SYSTEMS
LIFE-CYCLE COST
MAINTENANCE
MANAGEMENT
MANUFACTURERS
MARKET
PROCUREMENT
QUALITY CONTROL
VENTILATION SYSTEMS