Posted on 02/14/2016 8:25:40 PM PST by 11th_VA
ANDERSON, Ind. (WISH) - A HVAC company owner is turning his back on one of his biggest suppliers after he said the supplier turned its back on its employees.
Wednesday, Carrier announced it plans to relocate its manufacturing plant from Indianapolis' west side to Mexico, taking 1,400 jobs with it. The decision obviously isn't sitting well with employees but it's also bothering several heating and air companies.
It's a business decision that comes from the heart.
"We're not helping buy a CEO their 5th vacation home, we're helping feed our family," said R.D. Poffenbarger as he installed a thermostat.
He owns 911 Heating and Cooling in Anderson and is loyal to his suppliers.
"I've used Carrier products in my company the whole time," he said spanning 16 years in business. But he said that won't happen anymore, not after what Carrier announced Wednesday.
"They were always promoting that they were made in the U.S. and it just shocked me that they would (relocate to Mexico)," he said.
The out-of-the-country move is part of the reason why Poffenbarger says he'll no longer use Carrier products. "You notice different workmanship…failures," he said. "It just gets to be a cheaper product."
He also sympathizes with the workers. Living in Anderson, he knows what it's like when manufacturing companies skip town.
"Used to be Delco, Guide Lamp, GM, and they all left. So I have friends you know, I have people I went to school with as parents that all of sudden were out of jobs," he said.
Poffenbarger plans to use only suppliers like Goodman or Ameristar going forward. It might hurt his bottom line, but he said it won't hurt his conscience.
"I was talking to my service manager Coby and I said you know, we may take a hit for doing this but I feel it's right," he said.
Earlier in the day, Poffenbarger said he was at a HVAC supply store. He said while there, other heating and air company owners told him they agreed with his decision. He said the supply store was also contemplating not carrying Carrier products.
It’s hard to live with just 4 vacation homes.
works for me
Yeah, methinks QC is about to bottom out big-time.
You know, my company tried to make some parts South of the Border. Had to bring them back to the states to get them made right.
If the tax situation here were fixed (per Trump suggestions) these companies would stay and have the job done right the first time.
“..but I’ll never get another Carrier - it’s the principle at this point.”
Once again, you can thank our Liberal/Marxist “education system.” Our business schools ( can you say Yale and Harvard) teach the people who now comprise our
“busiess managers” that it’s everything for a buck! The tell their students that this business of loyalty to your country is an “antiquated” idea and that “of necessity” “nationalism” must take a back seat to “doing what’s in the immediate interest of the business owners.” Years ago, I worked for a well-known Silicon Valley company whose management was enamoured with HMBAs (Harvard MBAs). They brought these people in fresh out of Cambridge, paid them double what they were paying their senior staff, and for the most part these people couildn’t walk and chew gum simultaneously. And guess what, that company went under as a direct result of their reliance on these anything for a buck idiots!
Follow the French at Poitiers:
The French throttled the supply of VCRs into France by requiring that all ... were processed through a single understaffed customs office in Poitiers!
There were hundreds of trucks lined up at the Poitiers customs post.
I think that Trump should have a number of small doors in his wall through which goods from Mexico can be passed for inspection...one box at a time.
If you are in an area that only has LP available than a heat pump is your best bet. As long as you marry it up to a 90 plus LP gas heater. We would put an out door thermostat on the heat pump and set them around 38. At 38 it would automatically switch to the gas heater. Heat pumps are very efficient until they go into defrost.
“Those things are meant for a southern climate that doesen’t get as cold as ir does up here. Oh, well.”
Yeah, so they have to outfit them with “auxiliary heaters” which are basically heating elements like you have on an electric range that chew through the kilowatts like nobody’s business. Heat Pumps don’t work when it’s freezing outside.
I worked in the HVAC field. I hated to work on lennox and york.
good for him...hope he stays on task....
Companies moving to Mexico are heavily subsidized by the Mexican government. Most foreign companies and their factories are situated within secure gated “colonias”. They have their own schools, markets, “police” etc. The pay is good for a Mexican, average 4.75 an hour. They work em 12 hours a day and provide a free breakfast or lunch. No benefits, no time off.
Goodman makes a better product than they used to. There are 4 goodman factories, all in the U.S.
They are cheaper to run than a straight electric heater. Even in a cold climate.
I might add that Spanish is mandatory on any shop floor. Other languages are NOT ALLOWED, with the exception of the upper management.
That very well may be. My repair people are the same ones who sold it to me. They just loved these Lennox heat pumps until after I purchased it, then they blame it for everything. I keep thinking, "Then why did you convince me to buy it?" As it is I pay the higher contract price each year so that at least I know what to expect. It is all inclusive. I do not know how long they will let me do that. As it is, I will end up paying close to double for it by the time it is all said and done.
Funny you mentioned defrost. I had a customer a few years back call because they thought their outdoor unit was on fire during the defrost cycle.
I told them to go out and look at it and see if it was froze up. Sure enough it was in defrost.
Thanks for the info.
When we bought the Lennox, Trane had the best consumer ratings, but it was also quite a bit more expensive. In hindsight, the upfront price is worth it.
That’s another thing. If the guy shows up all nice and clean trying to sell you a service contract. RUN
I run into guys like that all the time. All they do is run around selling new units and service contracts on commission of course.
It’s really sad because I’ve heard guys laughing because they sold someone a new indoor and outdoor unit when the folks simply needed a capacitor.
I had it happen many a time. Especially with older people. It would get cold and at 4 in the morning the unit would go in defrost. The heat strips would kick on for the first time that season and the dust burning off them would smell and sometimes set off the fire alarm. They would look out the window and see the steam from the defrost cycle coming out of the unit and would panic. Some of them were extremely hard to convince that this was normal.
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