Yale Appliance + Lighting

The Lights Dim in Beantown

2009-07-15T02:12:00.004-04:00

Have to confess, I am an insomniac..always have been. So here it is at 2:14 in the morning, and I am reading Boston.com. Two businesses, Boston institutions, are calling it quits, Yolandas and WBCN.

Fo the unfamilar, Yolandas was the place to buy a bridal gown in the city(I have deftly managed to avoid that scenario). She is 74, and simply calling it quits to spend time with her family. She is going the way of many, locally owned businesses. Between capitalization and succession planning, most businesses dont reach a second much less a third generation...

WBCN shutting down is a shock. The station created alternative rock back in 1968. I remember as a kid always listening. In fact, before I went to college in 1982, I used to wake up at 5 just to listen to Charles and The Big Mattress Morning Show. That was unbelievable, free form radio. Over the years, to quote J Geils(their frontman Peter Wolf was an early DJ) BCN "must have got lost"(great tune), and with competition from Itunes and satelite could not compete without a clear value proposition.

Sad day for this city especially since there is no clear replacement..as the CEO of Yale(an institution wannabe) the message resonates: Stay relevant, competitive and plan for the future or else

Buy This, Not That...Maybe

2009-07-14T13:51:00.004-04:00

Love that book, Eat This, Not That...especially when I discovered my favorite tuna sandwich was 1200 calories with 75 grams of fat.

Our adaptation is Buy this, Not that.....(am I reaching?)

Buy this: The french door refrigerator will allow for greater lateral storage and more refrigerator room than a side by side. The doors are also split, which is better in tighter spaces and island installations.

Not That...Maybe. The side by side used to be the standard. It is not as hip, cool or functional as the french. It can be, however, almost $1000 cheaper in a shallow depth configuration. Some people have a different idea of cool with another $100 in their pocket

How to Light Your Kitchen...Part 4

2009-07-13T10:20:00.007-04:00

To review, the other 3 components of a light plan:

Task Lighting: Track, recessed and undercounter lighting designed as the backbone of your lighting plan.

Accent: Designed to highlight objects

Decorative: Chandeliers and wall sconces designed to personalize the space. Decorative adds light, but is secondary to task for overall illumination.

This brings us to a forgotten, yet important element of your plan, Ambient lighting. Ambient provides pleasant(weak word, but I am just returned from the red eye), environmental lighting. It has been called the "roaring fire" by lighting designers.

I prefer to call it "uplighting" or fixtures, which light the ceiling. Pendants and semi-flushes can provide ambient lighting...Cove lighting. can achieve the same result as well

Let me show you a few applications...

You are confused? Just remember a pendant, for example, can provide decorative and ambient functions.

How to Light a Kitchen Part 3: Accent

2009-07-09T09:47:00.001-04:00

Why am I spending so much time in the kitchen? When you watch TV in the living room or go to sleep in the bedroom, you are shutting the light down or off. Kitchens and baths are a different story and really the only true task applications in your house.

As the kitchen has become all encompassing to include the living space, there are many opportunities for different types of light. You may have artwork on the walls, pottery on a counter or crystal in a cabinet, which you would like to highlight. Accent lighting provides this function.

For example, Next time you are in a nice hotel and see a beautiful flower arrangement, look up. It will most certainly be highlighted by accent lghting. The most common accent lights (for now) are pinhole recessed, which looks like this(they can be smaller)...

Or track lighting

They both utilize a low voltage bulb, which is slightly whiter than an incandescent. This whiter light is great accent lighting. Crate and Barrel utilizes this light commercially better than anyone, especially glassware.

Off today...will respond to questions Monday.

Lighting a Kitchen Part 2: Decorative

2009-07-08T09:34:00.002-04:00

So we have our task lighting, which is the most important. Most consumers, however, would believe the chandelier or decorative element is the most crucial. This is partly true, because decorative personalizes the space, but task lighting lights it.

Most people think otherwise. The old way was to size light, which was 24 inches off the table and 12 inches less in diameter. With islands and penisulas being the rage, finding a fixture with those specifications is not easy.

Forget convention, I am writing this at home. My chandelier is 36 inches off the table and way smaller. I think it fits the space. But here are some other ideas. Remember what I have said previously...Have fun with this.

Applications

We may as well show off a bit...Have a look at some new stuff.

Accent lighting is tomorrow. Then I am on vacation. We will finish and amalgamate a plan next week.

How To Light Your Space...Kitchens

2009-07-07T10:00:00.001-04:00

Ok, now how do you light a kitchen?

This is a much hard question, because lighting is not direct replacement like appliances. There is so much more to proper illumination as well. First, there are 4 sources of illumination: Task, decorative, accent and ambient. I will cover task today, and the other three in separate posts.

Task is general illumination or backbone of any lighting plan and is most commonly track, recessed and under-cabinet lighting. I will provide the basic framework for a lighting plan. Ceiling height, angles, stud locations, etc. can alter the standard.

Basic recessed placement is 18 to 24 inches off the cabinet or at the edge of the counter. Place them 4-5 feet apart.

Couple of aesthetic tips: Use a 4-5 inch can rather than a 6 inch and for kitchens buy the white trim (industry term for decorative).

Second important part is the under-cabinet lighting. Typically an under-cabinet light is available in 7,16,24,30 and 37 inches. This type of task application will illuminate the shaded part of your counters and provide accent lighting as well.

Sample of one of our lighted kitchens....Don't worry in the next couple of weeks, you will be able to engineer your own lighting plan.

The Increasing Power Of Social Media

2009-07-06T03:40:00.003-04:00

I have previously written about this before, but social media has become much more important even in the last 6 months. Here is a test: How many over 40 somethings are now texting or posting on Linkedin or Facebook. Its not just for the kids anymore.

I have to respect the power, and truthfully it is a concern, threat or opportunity for anyone running a business today. We have 22 salespeople, 7 delivery vehicles and 17 service vans. Odds are a client will be unhappy at some point. We have worked on service, service recovery and immediate response to any bad postings. Constructive criticism can only help (if you can take it).

It will change the way you will buy appliances. In home improvement, there are three social media sites worth checking out:

1. Angies List..There are at present 66 reviews of Yale on this site. It is geared towards home improvement and requires a small fee to join. Well worth the cost

2. Yelp: Geared towards shopping with a younger, hippier audience, this is a fun site

3. Citysearch: Another shopping site similar to Yelp

Typically you see the negative, but look for patterns in mistakes. For shoppers, this is a good indication of your overall sales experience.

Happy July 4th

2009-07-03T09:00:00.002-04:00

Now have a look at a project we have been working on seemingly forever...

I hate our old website. This one is better, because it is customizeable

Let me know what you think

New Bosch

2009-07-02T09:00:00.001-04:00

Bosch has introduced a new side by side refrigerator. Sure, side by sides are being out sold 10-1 by french doors, and Bosch does not market that popular category...

At $1599 after rebates, it is $700-1000 cheaper than the comparable french door. This is a good, less expensive alternative for people who want to renovate/sell their units for less.

Before/After

2009-07-01T09:30:00.000-04:00

Celebrating (ok maybe merely pointing out) the launch of the new line of Frigidaire appliances....

Before

After

In my opinion, they will still have the kitchen packages, but is the styling similar enough for replacement?

Better Late Than Never?

2009-06-30T09:47:00.004-04:00

So Frigidaire has a new stainless steel dishwasher with stainless on the inside. Consumers don't buy dishwashers over $500 without stainless on the inside, and Frigidaire learned this the hard way. For years, they concentrated on plastic tanks (ok to $399) with tons of features at $599. Invariably, they would rebate the product to $450 somewhere...

But that was then, Let's look at the "new" Frigidaire...

Not bad, decent features.....but how does it compare to the best seller?

Bosch

Frigidaire has more features and is $40 cheaper, but Bosch will heat the water hotter and is quieter. Once again, I would lean to the Bosch piece, but Frigidaire will package this as part of the rebate program to enhance sales.

Extended Warranties

2009-06-29T07:17:00.002-04:00

I find extended warranties interesting. Then again, I have a strange sense of humor. These slips of insurance really run the gamut of consumer emotion. From people who think it is expensive(which it can be) and a waste of dough to customers who are irate for not buying one and having to pay for service.

Here is the skinny: If a company does not have a service department, do not buy it ever. I don't care if they return a portion of your dough after the contract expiration. The contract is worth nothing, and the seller is banking on breakage and non redemption. We spend 10,000 per month in contract redemptions. The rough percentage is 20-25%, but when you need service...the average call is more expensive than the contract.

Skinny Part 2: Be very wary of third party contracts. Often times, a dealer will hand you a contract, which is backed by a warranty provider. I have a healthy respect for most of my competitors...But in this case, run the name through the Better Business Bureau. The results can be shocking.

Skinny part 3: Do not be oversold and do not overpay. You should pay $150-$250 for a basic appliance and $250-350 for a professional piece...Some of the rates can be outrageous. Look for ancillary benefits, refrigerators can have a food loss guarantee. (ours is $250)

And remember...it is your decision.

Not My Rules

2009-06-25T11:36:00.007-04:00

Every month I review our numbers in the store. Over the past 18 months, I have watched GE grow their business. At the same time, I have seen a dramatic drop in JennAir's business. I have tried to explain nicely to the JennAir representatives to no avail.

I had to show them (what I will show you)

For roughly $200 GE Cafe will offer a 17,000 BTU griddle burner as well as a second oven (instead of a warmer) below the main oven. The GE is also more aesthetically pleasing.

In other words: Improve your old design or continue to be outsold...

Rebate Boy and The Maytag Company

2009-06-23T09:10:00.001-04:00

Compiling appliance rebates is a nightmare. There are 6 different places, which can rebate the same model only with different dates. You always have the best deal in the unlikely event that they eclipse at precisely the same moment.

Now we have state of the art computers and some of the most brilliant appliance minds in the industry. When they fail, it comes down to one man. That man is Jay Upton, also known as Rebate Boy. I actually had him as a mentor (old people are assigned new people its serious business here), and the poor dope actually volunteered for this time consuming yet thankless task. (You can't teach everything.)

Let me show how Rebate Boy changes a $1799 dollar Maytag Epic laundry set into $1199 based on rebates, which expire July 5. All the writing is different rebates.

This is the set of Maytag/Whirlpool Epic Duets, which are the same pieces.

This is Jay "Rebate Boy" Upton.

Post 701 and Handles

2009-06-22T10:21:00.001-04:00

Hard to believe the ole blog has surpassed the 700 landmark. Now social media is the rage because it helps the brand, google rank and corporate credibility. We started The Yale Blog in 2007 to advise people honestly on how to shop for appliances, plumbing and lighting. I never really considered social media back then. Just wanted to be a reliable source of information in an industry that seems to need it.

The Yale Bloggers:

Frigidaire has a new line of appliances. It is updated aesthetically with three different handles styles, which can be good until you try to package their different lines.

Lets look at this new range. It looks different, but it is $100 more expensive than the model it superceded. The older piece also had a second oven, which is not available on this unit. So for $100 more, you seem to be buying less.

Frigidaire has always occupied an interesting niche of affordable stainless steel. Perhaps they should have rethought this latest line. GE, their largest cooking competitor, will have a new line of economical stainless steel appliances in August.

File this post under bad timing...

Innovation09

2009-06-19T04:09:00.001-04:00

Have a look at this....

Yale Appliance & Lighting Innovation09 Event

Have a nice weekend

LED Yet Again

2009-06-18T10:48:00.008-04:00

I have been searching through the internet looking at the total dollar savings between LED and incandescent lighting. One thought has been popping in my head: Incandescent bulbs need to go away. These circa 1802 inventions are only 10% effective and waste tons of energy.

So the question is how much would you save with LED over the lifetime of the bulb...A couple of assumptions first: Massachusetts energy costs (insanely high) are .22 cents per kilowatt hour. A LED bulb is $50, and a par halogen(halogen is incandescent) is $6.50. Lamp life is 1000 hours for halogen and 50,000 for LED. Further, your time in replacing the bulb is worth $15 and you will be paid for your time replacing the bulb.

Last assumption is the bulb will be on 8 hours a day every day. Bad assumption? How many lights have been left on in your house as you are reading this?

The answer is below...

A couple of good resources are www.ledwaves.com and www.energystar.gov

How To Buy Appliances..Part 7

2009-06-17T09:11:00.003-04:00

This is really not all that difficult...Its easy if you know what you want. Much harder when you have no idea. How about a novel idea? Lets stay under your budget, pick desirable items and as an added bonus, not lose your mind.

1. Establish a budget. You will stick to it.

2. What pieces do you really want. Is it a SubZero, stainless steel appliances, slide in range?

3. Rebates. I hate to say it, but $500 in rebates would sway my loyalties between similar items.

So lets say you have no idea:

4. Start at the range. There are more tough choices than any other product.

5. Refrigerator next, once again the most difficult dimensionally.

6. Dishwasher and over the range microwave should match the other two pieces.

If you stay within the same brand, there are numerous budget saving rebates. I am not partial to side by sides, but this Bosch package has a whopping $1350 in rebates...I can learn to love it for that type of money.

Why You Don't Buy Green

2009-06-16T09:31:00.005-04:00

I think Green is important. We only have one Earth, but people are not buying Green products as once expected. Recession is a reason. People just do not have extra money.

The payback also needs to be clarified. In the example below, we have two undercounter lights. There is $100 dollars between LED and standard halogen.

The LED is cooler, has a 20 year lamp life, versus 7 months for incandescent, and is 90% more efficient. You probably still see $100.

Now look again:

You see a 4 year payback and a benefit to the environment...not including trips for burnt out bulbs, the heat which turns on you HVAC system and several other microbenefits....

The End Of The Handshake Agreement

2009-06-15T09:50:00.002-04:00

An unique agreement was forged in the 1920s. The founders of Whirlpool and the managers of Sears forged an almost 100 year alliance. Whirlpool would supply the washers and dryers marketed under the Kenmore name. As legend has it, this deal was first struck with a handshake (it was years before the class action lawsuit.)

This just ended...Now the winner of the contract was LG. Sears marketing(I suspect) will revolve around technology and steam. The machines will start looking like this:

Instead of this.

Now I have my opinions of LG, but for consumers like yourself, it should be interesting. Whirlpool has to keep the factories running without Sears' help. This can only mean one action in the very near future: Big time price drop.

I am a Bosch guy for now, because they are just dumping their product (previous post), but Whirlpool can really regain share by being similarly aggressive.

16 Minute Seminar

2009-06-12T08:30:00.002-04:00

I walk into work today to discover I am to represent Yale in a 10-20 minute sales seminar in about 90 minutes. Other than that I am a perfectionist, it really is a great opportunity to speak to architects, designers and homeowners.

If I cannot show them anything compelling, than I have a big problem...

But what to choose? EnergyStar? LED?, Color rendering fluorescent? Induction? Installation? It's also good practice since we have a weekend dedicated to it at Innovation '09 on June 20 and 21.

You can't be too technical with any crowd. You are toast when they start looking at their PDAs.

Following is my presentation sans my explanations and the Q and A.

My thanks to Design Magazine and Van Millwork for including us in their seminar series.

My Most Interesting Post

2009-06-10T10:33:00.003-04:00

It isn't all champagne and caviar being the CEO. Sometimes the best intentions dont quite work...So now you are now me(minus the issues)...What would you do? Before you read the complaint a couple of points

1. Unit is out of warranty. There is very little recourse from the manufacturer

2. We dont push warranties. Our sales percentages are less than 8%.

3. Average length of life is just that. For every 20 year old product, there is a few that do not

Winning solution receives a $25 gift card...Here goes

Dear Mr. Sheinkopf,

I purchased a stackable washer and dryer, a stove and a refrigerator on September 14, 2005 and like all of the people who commented on your blog I was very happy with the sales and delivery process. The hinge on the stove broke and was replaced while under warranty and is already not working properly again, but my main complaint is with the refrigerator. It is only three and a half years old and the "mother board" is broken according to your service man. I had to pay $99.00 to find that out and your customer service department wanted to send the serviceman back for another $280.00 or more.

I lost about $300.00 in food and I don't believe the life of a refrigerator should be three and a half years old. Apparently the craftsmanship is worthless and that is the reason you all push extended warranties. You advertise that you stand behind the products you sell but you don't mention the additional fees. I spoke with GE and they at least will send me the part for a fee but I would like my $99.00 refunded, I don't know why the refrigerator I purchased would have a mother board nor was I told that it did or that there were other options. A few months after this purchase my 20 year old extra refrigerator died and I purchased an inexpensive one from Sears which still runs perfectly and much colder than the GE ever did.

My purchases may be small in your eyes but replacing appliances is an investment for us
and we expect they will last at least 10 to 15 years. I will wait to for your response.

Handle This...

2009-06-09T08:31:00.000-04:00

So Whirlpool is Maytag, GE Cafe is GE Profile (in some cases), Bosch, Thermador and Gaggenau can also be similar. Here is the one uniform feature difference...

The Handle

Quick suggestion to save you money: Forget the brand, buy the least expensive yet similar model. Unless of course you did not like the style of the handle.

Dimming

2009-06-08T09:33:00.008-04:00

Have a look at this color rendering fluorescent bulb...Notice anything different?

Dimmable Fluorescent Bulb

This fluorescent actually is dimmable. How? It has an electronic rather than magnetic ballast.

I still like fluorescent bulbs for many reasons. Although it does have trace levels of mercury, there is a greater presence of mercury in your cavities. Better fluorescent lights are also way more efficient than incandescent and have similar rendering.

As I wrote last week, LED may be the bulb of the future, but fluorescent should be considered right now.

Innovation 09 And Fluorescent Bulbs

2009-06-08T09:30:00.003-04:00

Last year, we had an event called Innovation 08, which focused around new products. This year is a little different. We are focusing around better yet money saving technology. With the economic hardship, consumers need a ROI for their money. This year, we will show you.

Perhaps, one of the cooler activities at Yale are the private cooking demonstrations. Ours are a little different. You learn how to cook rather than watching a demonstration. This year, we will have 6 chefs including Jose Duarte of Taranta, Nelson Kognac of Kouzina, Steve Shipley of Johnson and Wales, Jay Murray of Grill 23, Dorchesters finest, Chris Coombs of dbar, as well as our own Kurt Van Kahle.

Innovation 09 is June 20 and 21.