I assume all here have seen that effective December 15, 2007, BR-111 does not warrant any of their floors purchased on the internet. Interesting decision.

They would have to discontinue sales to those companies that sell it on-line, then.

If you sell a product, for resale, you must place a warranty on your product, PERIOD. It is a federal law.

This is retail sales way of scaring the buying public.

They can write it, but they cannot legally enforce it. It is there to please the retail community.

This also a way for them to keep claims to a minimum!! As most claims are installation related and have nothing to do with the wood, BR-111, along with every other manufacturer, is spending a lot of money on frivolously claims.

Without mentioning a company name, I can speak from experience that the internet policy can and is being enforced. Check all the major companies' warranties, and you'll find that stipulation.
Again, speaking from experience, the big guns do not sell their product to online retailers. Those retailers buy through distributors or other retailers.....no direct sale from the manufacturer. And this doesn't even touch the topic of closeout, as-is, cabin grade, etc. goods that aren't always disclosed by the internet retailer.

Anderson probably has the most detailed disclaimer out there. A lot of it is fluff, but I think it's worth the read.

It has certainly made me hesitate on buying Br111 and any other for that matter online - although prices are very attractive. Another interesteing thing, is the Br111 internet warranty policy says any retailer must be an "authorized dealer" to which they direct you to a list. We'll Lowe's carries some of the Br111 lines, but guess what, they are not listed as an authorized dealer....so what does that mean. If I opt for buying at lowes - the warranty doesn't exist? Doesn't make any freakin sense to me. Lowes is a major business. I plan on asking the Lowes staff...do you realize you are selling (at the same time advertising with a 24-year warrent) a product with no warranty. This all is very frustrating to a consumer.

I agree with Austin - then Br111 and others should stop selling their product to these online companies.

That is what Mirage does. Your not suppose to be able to find it online... But is you know how to work it, it can be had.

It's not the manufacturers, it's the distributors. Some manufacturers have been tracking where products are going from distributors. BR111 was heavy into that when they wanted to stop web sales. However, all a company has to do is create another entity with a different address...well kinda.

Some distributors stick to the rules, other don't. Mirage is really on top of things. I've had a few registered letters in the past, mostly from listing price and not being able to use any of their pictures. Not much said about internet sales itself.

Kahrs tried to stop sites from listing price, but it didn't last for more than a few months. Now Anderson is enforcing that kind of policy. Both BR111 and Anderson will not allow any products going from distributors (drop shipping) to internet customers, so the products have to go to the dealer first then ship to the customer. Both must go as far as checking records with distributors.

So what is the purpose behind all this? Is this to protect bricks and mortar retail outlets? Is this to keep retail prices higher? It must be or why would the manufacturer care.

There was a time long ago, I as an installer, could go to my distributor, and buy any flooring they carried.

The retail dealers put a stop to that.

Wood distributors were about 15 years behind the carpet distributors doing this. About the time the carpet places started really getting on the prefinished bandwagon.

Now the retail dealers are pressuring the distributors once again, buy pressuring the manufacturers. ( We will drop your products) is the line they use. That is a lot of business to lose, but what they don't realize, are they really going to lose it... Yes, no salesman to tell the consumer what they want to hear.


It would be way better is the manufacturers would sell it directly to the public, but stipulate that no warranty if not installed by a Trained and Certified installation professional.