License to buy material

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Look at it this way, when you see a DIYer with a cart full of electrical material in the local big box store asking the guy stocking the shelves for advice, it's job security for you.
 
JFletcher said:
For electrical, there is nothing needed for a 250' roll of 14/2, but someone ordering a 2000A 480V switchgear is not installing that in their own home, if you get my drift.
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You underestimate the DIY people. The main reason they don't buy 2000 amp gear is the price, if they think they are getting a good enough buy don't be surprised if there hasn't been some that have purchased such things.

I have been asked to install three phase load centers - where only single phase exists because they got it cheap at an auction - never been used and it is a 200 amp panel - that should work
 
A/A Fuel GTX said:
Look at it this way, when you see a DIYer with a cart full of electrical material in the local big box store asking the guy stocking the shelves for advice, it's job security for you.
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Also lets remember how super amusing it can be when you are in a big box store and overhear a DIY'er and the electrical dept worker trying to figure something out or explain something to each other....Hes got like a piece of SER some LFNC, 11/4 PVC, a handy box, and three of those meter offsets...... ;)
 
Looks like a strong NO majority.

What do you all think of the wholesale HVAC distribution chain ???

It is super restrictive and protective.
 
dionysius said:
Looks like a strong NO majority.

What do you all think of the wholesale HVAC distribution chain ???

It is super restrictive and protective.
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True......I was at a wholesale house where I have an account and tried to buy a Gastite fitting. Couldn't do it!
 
A/A Fuel GTX said:
True......I was at a wholesale house where I have an account and tried to buy a Gastite fitting. Couldn't do it!
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I think that is by choice not by law. I do believe there are laws on distributing refrigerants though. I see you can purchase small containers of R-134 in some stores, but I don't know you can purchase a 30 pound cylinder if not qualified. Yet you could just purchase 30 pounds in small containers:roll:
 
dionysius said:
Looks like a strong NO majority.

What do you all think of the wholesale HVAC distribution chain ???

It is super restrictive and protective.
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That is a private business policy, not a law.

I don't really like either but there is a huge difference between them.
 
An EPA license is required for _some_ refrigerants, in particular those that are considered 'ozone depleting'.

Many places won't sell any refrigerants without a license, but the less regulated refrigerants are available online.

Most refrigerants are quite safe, and the only reason that they are regulated at all is because of global warming potential...which often seems silly when you see the same chemical being used as an aerosol propellent...

The EPA technician license for handling refrigerants is not that difficult to get. As I recall a simple online class and a test, probably with a small fee.

-Jon
 
peter d said:
There are a few suppliers in my area like that, but there are others where you can buy everything but refrigerant without an account or license.
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Most of the HVAC suppliers in my area wont sell you duct tape unless you are a licensed contractor and have an account with them.

Now days you can buy a complete unit online with free shipping. Getting a tech to come out and charge the lines for you might be a problem. Most of the techs I know flat out refuse to do it, they see it as an end run around their 50% mark ups on equipment and bad for long term business.

I have heard that manufactures dont honor warranties for DIY installs. I dont know how true that is or not.
 
Saturn_Europa said:
Most of the HVAC suppliers in my area wont sell you duct tape unless you are a licensed contractor and have an account with them.

Now days you can buy a complete unit online with free shipping. Getting a tech to come out and charge the lines for you might be a problem. Most of the techs I know flat out refuse to do it, they see it as an end run around their 50% mark ups on equipment and bad for long term business.

I have heard that manufactures dont honor warranties for DIY installs. I dont know how true that is or not.
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You see how some trades stick together to protect their turf and jobs? Too late for that to happen with us but wouldn't it be nice if the Big Boxes didn't sell any more than replacement items like switches, receptacles and light bulbs and supply houses booted anybody without an account? You can say all you want about picking up some work when a HO messes up but wouldn't you have more work if all of them couldn't do it in the first place?

I think we are all forgetting that there is a life and safety issue here. Sales of something is usually prohibited to the general public because specific training or qualifications are required to use that something. Hair care products and refrigerants have been mentioned but there are pesticides, drugs, syringes and quite a few other items that fall into that category. We all know that electrical work is inherently dangerous and can cause death and property damage if not performed by someone with the proper training. Yet we give a pass to the DIY who might be putting his life as well as his families' in jeopardy just because it's a free country.

Another problem I have is when a homeowner does his own work or hires a jackleg then sells the house. He not only put his own family at risk but now another innocent and unsuspecting family is put in jeopardy because of his negligence. If electrical material beyond replacement items like switches, receptacles and light bulbs were difficult for HOs to get we would be much safer.

-Hal
 
iwire said:
That is a private business policy, not a law.

I don't really like either but there is a huge difference between them.
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That would be an interesting policy to challenge legally on the basis of discrimination. If they have an open to the public counter they are contravening many laws if they refuse to sell to you a member of the public.

First thing to do is to request a copy of their policy in print.
 
dionysius said:
That would be an interesting policy to challenge legally on the basis of discrimination. If they have an open to the public counter they are contravening many laws if they refuse to sell to you a member of the public.

First thing to do is to request a copy of their policy in print.
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It's well established that this is not discrimination.

That is unless they are choosing who they serve based on race, gender etc.
 
hbiss said:
You see how some trades stick together to protect their turf and jobs? Too late for that to happen with us but wouldn't it be nice if the Big Boxes didn't sell any more than replacement items like switches, receptacles and light bulbs and supply houses booted anybody without an account? You can say all you want about picking up some work when a HO messes up but wouldn't you have more work if all of them couldn't do it in the first place?
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Long before the big boxes came along, there was Sears, a mom and pop hardware store in every town, and there were the smaller regional "big box" type of places. You could buy electrical items at these places and you still can for the places that remain (some do.)
 
peter d said:
Long before the big boxes came along, there was Sears, a mom and pop hardware store in every town, and there were the smaller regional "big box" type of places. You could buy electrical items at these places and you still can for the places that remain (some do.)
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You could buy the whole house from Sears.
 
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