Price of AFCI set to go UP

[brantmacga]

I was talking to my salesman today about the code changes. He says tamper proof receps are going to cost me about .80, but he says squareD told them that they are about to raise the price of their AFCI's because of the demand that will be placed by the code change. What the hey!?!? Anyone else heard this? I would fully expect them to retool to meet that demand knowing full well it is coming. If its true, I think I'll be looking for another distribution equip. manufacturer.

 

[Davis9]

The new AFCI's have a different technology than the ones available to now. I'm guessing that's the reason for the increase.

Tom

 

[peter d]

For starters, the cost of the new AFCI's will come down over time as that's always what happens when a new product is introduced. Remember when they redesigned the GFCI's to the new UL standard a few years ago? A GFCI cost around $12. Now you can get the "new style" for $8.

As far as the cost goes, more expensive AFCI means more mark-up, and more profit for contractors.

On the flip side, the new combination technology is still in the "unknown" phase for all intents and purposes, and they may end up costing contractors a lot of money in the long run related to callbacks for nuisance tripping and defective breakers. Time will tell if this pans out.

 

[brantmacga]

OP said the price increase was on their current model, and because of demand, nothing to do w/ technology (unless they were mistaken). The question is whether or not other manufacturer's are doing the same. SquareD has a history of being very proud of their stuff.

 

[peter d]

OP said the price increase was on their current model, and because of demand, nothing to do w/ technology (unless they were mistaken). The question is whether or not other manufacturer's are doing the same.

The Siemens AFCi's that my boss purchased last week at the supplier were $50. The "regular" ones cost $30. So I think we can assume the price will increase across the board.

 

[BryanMD]

On the flip side, the new combination technology is still in the "unknown" phase for all intents and purposes, and they may end up costing contractors a lot of money in the long run related to callbacks for nuisance tripping and defective breakers. Time will tell if this pans out.

Not that I'll be gloating (much) but it will be interesting to see how it all pans out for the "early adopter" states.

As if the resi guys didn't have enough problems already

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Lets see -
Everybody pays the same or close to the same for material.

I get (hypothetically) 20% for material.
$30 x.2 = $6

$50 x .2 = $10

Which one would you rather buy?

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Lets see -
Everybody pays the same or close to the same for material.

I get (hypothetically) 20% for material.
$30 x.2 = $6

$50 x .2 = $10

Which one would you rather buy?

Apply that to all of your material.

 

[mdshunk]

Lets see -
Everybody pays the same or close to the same for material.

Right, and it all gets marked up. It's not like any price increases are coming out of our pockets. Even bid work contracts are often linked to the PPI by some means.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

A spot check of local supply houses in preparation for adopting the 2008 code in our city found that the combination type AFCIs are about 25% higher than the branch circuit/feeder type. The cheapest tamper resistant recptacle was $1.25 and a tamper resistant GFCI was $14.75.
Given the status of the housing market, I expect that in many areas the resi contractors are hungry and will not be getting their full mark-up on these things.
Don

 

[satcom]

The price goes up we just pass it on, our mark-up is part of our profit, were not about to take a hit on profits, auto service stations have been passing on parts increases and mark-ups, with success for years, and you have to bring the job to them, the excuse of the customer knows the price, will not waver them, try to bring your own parts to a service center and see what happen, be it a one man shop or a chain, they will escort you out the door.

 

[brantmacga]

i'm thinking the guy must have misspoken about why the price is going up. its gotta be because of the new combo type.

now think of this:

of course we all mark up our materials, but w/ the customer spending more money on code required items, its harder to get them to part with their cash on a luxury item that you have a higher markup on, which I do. You can win the job being competitive and having the same markup as the other guy, but when you get the job and try to start upselling on more recessed lights w/ nicer trims, scene dimmers, generator ready, etc. . ., it'll be tough if they just forked over another $500 in breakers. make sense?

 

[jcole]

Are the combination type AFCI's available yet? I like to use Murry and SuareD Homeline models.
I tell my supplier about the new type requirement and he looks at me and says "HUH?" Even my inspector doesnt know about the requirement. He just says we havent adopted the 08 yet. I refuse to inform or argue. Small town Kentucky is something to behold.

 

[electricmanscott]

Given the status of the housing market, I expect that in many areas the resi contractors are hungry and will not be getting their full mark-up on these things.
Don

I would think this would apply to all materials. Not just the ones specified in this thread.

 

[boboelectric]

I'm trying A.C. this year.

 

[electricmanscott]

I'm trying A.C. this year.

That's cool.