Why the heck are blowers so expensive?

[Todd0x1]

Pricing some blowers for a project, and I can't believe how expensive they are. Why is a metal box with a 1600 cfm squirrel cage fan with a ecm motor in it $1000?

 

[nickelec]

Because you need it

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[synchro]

Pricing some blowers for a project, and I can't believe how expensive they are. Why is a metal box with a 1600 cfm squirrel cage fan with a ecm motor in it $1000?

And that price doesn't even include any squirrels.

 

[Todd0x1]

Because you need it

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

From a service guy to fix a furnace thats down, fine. This was from a wholesaler for a project 6-12 months away. This thing should be maybe $400. What do the ECM motors cost the OEMs? $80?

 

[nickelec]

But where else are you going to get it

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[Todd0x1]

And that price doesn't even include any squirrels.

Oh that's why it wouldn't turn...I thought the ecm decided it didn't feel like turning.

 

[nickelec]

If all the manufacturers got together they decided to charge $5,000 for a blower you would need to pay it what are you going to do

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[Todd0x1]

But where else are you going to get it

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

Is there some sort of fan cartel controlling the prices of fans?

 

[Todd0x1]

I wonder what it would cost to get a NRTL listing on a blower...

 

[James L]

Is there some sort of fan cartel controlling the prices of fans?

If there's any one industry that seems to have excellent camaraderie, it's HVAC. They don't care if they only sell one piece per year, they're not moving the price. All the way from manufacturers to installers.

It's like jewelry and furniture - they could put it on sale at 50% off and still make a killing.

I give them credit. Electricians need to do a whole lot better at this.

 

[LarryFine]

Is there some sort of fan cartel controlling the prices of fans?

No, but there are plenty of fan clubs.

 

[Todd0x1]

If there's any one industry that seems to have excellent camaraderie, it's HVAC. They don't care if they only sell one piece per year, they're not moving the price. All the way from manufacturers to installers.

It's like jewelry and furniture - they could put it on sale at 50% off and still make a killing.

I give them credit. Electricians need to do a whole lot better at this.

Ohyeah....theyre second only to Elevators.

 

[hillbilly1]

Yeah, Joe homeowner can go down and buy panels and breakers at any big box store, but you can’t buy furnaces and Hvac systems. They are a protected bunch.

 

[LarryFine]

I have an account at R.E.Michel and can buy any non-refrigerant-related HVAC parts and systems.

 

[Hv&Lv]

Pricing some blowers for a project, and I can't believe how expensive they are. Why is a metal box with a 1600 cfm squirrel cage fan with a ecm motor in it $1000?

Economy of scale.

profit has to be spread out over less sales.

they would be $400 if they sold 200 a day instead of 200 a month.

I wish I had come up with “that doesn’t include the squirrels”

that was hilarious..

 

[WasGSOHM]

Because you need it

Technically, it's "demand" as in supply & demand.

The economic books don't talk much about price and quality, maybe they are both covered by supply & demand.

And some very complicated graphs define what even a company like Amazon can or can't do, and still survive.