Hmmm. I hope it's not my job as OP to resolve all of this! :-) Actually, in my original post, I wasn't concerned so much about price. I HAD a price on a bid that was TOO good, so I took it back to the dealer and accepted another (higher) bid. The first erroneous bid was followed by two more incomplete bids before I ended up with one that "added up", figuratively speaking. The bid process, and the not-so-thorough follow-up had me questioning whether or not it was wise to proceed with this local dealer even though my preference is almost always to do "local". Of course I want a good, fair price, but I really, really want this process to go as smoothly as possible. You have all helped me have a better understanding of my local dealer's perspective, and have also made some great suggestions for how I can manage my concerns (and my dealer) and proceed. Thank you! @Sayde: I'm glad you like the little logo with me. Maybe when I get to know my local dealer (manager this time!), I will find him/her to be like yours! @Peter: You remind me of how I once (foolishly!) told a friend from Wales how much I liked his English accent! For me... I think United Kingdom accents and beer (ale?) are many and varied..., but they are all GOOD! @avidchef: I have a certified dealer in my metroplex, one four hours north, and one six hours south. I have been to lots of other appliance showrooms near me as I evaluate other products, but none have a Bluestar on their floor. I don't know where the uncertified dealers would be hiding, but I don't want to go that route anyway. Regarding the Bluestar custom paint: I went to a "meet the rep" event, and I did get a certificate for free custom paint when I asked. The rep did not mention it, but was responsive when I asked. @Stooxie: I guess I haven't worn my economics hat in a while... You're right, this range is not a commodity. I haven't been a real vendor. But, years ago, in my other life before my now teenagers were born, I was a sw systems engineer on a new development for a large unix platform project. The project required a strong database. We looked at several vendors, but the two top contenders for us were Oracle and Informix. There was little cost differential between the two. In the end, what tipped the scales (heavily) was the difference in attitude between the two vendors and the warm-fuzzy we collectively felt regarding the level of competence and customer service we thought we would get from each vendor. Informix was an easy choice! We shared a long and lucrative (for both of us) relationship. The warm-fuzzy mattered. What I was trying to figure out here was: 1) how do you decide if you have a warm-fuzzy regarding an appliance dealer, 2) does the warm-fuzzy regarding the dealer even matter if you are very confident in the actual product and the customer service of the manufacturer (as I think I am with Bluestar), and 3) if the warm-fuzzy DOES matter regarding the dealer, do I have it? I'm on the learning curve in the appliance world, but y'all have educated me some on 1 & 2, and given me tools to figure out 3. I don't expect to ever mess with a mega-databse again, but I totally expect to spend the next 20+ years getting to know my handsome 48" Bluestar range with its cool little logo! Thanks, everyone, for your help!

Well, I think you have stumbled onto something here, Antss, because, as near as I can determine, "failure to pump enough money into their system" because they couldn't "maintain margins" is very much a description of every business failure in history. So you are batting 1000. The question is why didn't Maytag have enough money coming in? Or was it too much going out? Whatever. Maytag was a billion in debt, losing money on the sale of unprofitable subsidiaries, saddled with underperforming manufacturing facilities, and had bet the farm on a machine that proved to be a dog that landed them in court and into a class action settlement that included buying customers brand new 1000 dollar washers. They lost the battle to Whirlpool Bauchnect and the Neptune is what lost them the battle. Also, you are taking my sarcasm a bit too literally. I did not mean to imply that Miele is the ONLY manufacturer engaging in the practice of retail price maintenance, but it certainly is not a commonplace practice at this juncture. How do I know this? I, and every other shopper in the country can still successfully price shop and encounter deltas in pricing across the spectrum of retailers for the vast majority of goods from artichokes to Veblen-class commodities. Including Rolex watches. You CAN price shop those, I am afraid. And your ability to frame an analogy needs some work, Antss. Miele is NOT the guy at the fleamarket. Miele is the guy who makes whatever it is the guy at the fleamarket sells. Nobody is claiming that the guy who makes the stuff should not charge exactly what he wants to charge. Nobody is claiming that the guy at the fleamarket should not charge exactly what HE wants. And that is the point. Because what Miele is doing is making the stuff, charging what it wants for it, but then telling the guy at the fleamarket what HE can sell it for, threatening his supply if he does not. If Miele wants to keep its prices high then they are perfectly free to charge whatever they wish for their products through their wholesale system. That is not what they are doing. They are preventing retailers from selling in accordance with what THEIR market realities are. Resulting in near homgeneity of price across every outlet. Now, in this discussion I HAVE NOT introduced other, previously adjudged legal forms of restraint of trade. Territories, Dealership networks, franchise agreements, all are examples of restraint of trade that have been found legal, for good or bad. I have not said word one about this. Your tossing it in is a strawman and a time waster. Price maintenance is the subject. It was previously illegal, has now been found to be POSSIBLY legal. It remains to be seen whether Congress will address this, but I have a feeling we are going to be finding out because the sleeping titans are starting to get pissed. Ebay being one, One more thing: "Health reform" was only the most minimal attempt at regulation of the insurance market. The rest of the world has shown the USA how it should be done in order to save the most lives for far less cost. We did not do that. All the health care reform bill is is an attempt to begin to regulate a market in anarchy where insurers could offload risk at will and cherry-pick the market, which is fine, unless it is you or your wife or your kid getting the recision letter. Here's the good thing about the health care bill: It can be fixed if parts don't work. This is in contrast to leaving things as they were, sitting on your hands, and refusing to address real problems. Or imagining that letting everybody do exactly what they want will fix everything magically, which is the Laissez Fairest's answer to every economic dilemma.

I read up on use tax, and certainly will pay what's owed at the end of the day, but still have to keep in mind that potentially lower online prices will mean lower taxes as well... Taking the "no tax" issue out of it, I wonder if they might deliver for free as all the online stores I am looking at will. I have printed out the 1 or 2 lowest prices I found online for each appliance. Don't know if these are from acceptable stores as far as the local's price-match policy goes, but worth a shot. I really want to buy from the brick and mortar, but we would like them to be able to come within $1000 or so of the online prices. Hope that is not unreasonable? If there is one item they are really far apart on, we may get that one thing online. I have not yet set foot in this local store (as I mentioned, it is 90 minutes away) but I have to say the customer service so far has been quite good. I emailed them to find out what exactly was in their showroom and have since exchanged 4-5 emails over 3-4 months with one of the salespeople about different products, etc. And they did offer to deliver/service outside their normal area for me. So fingers crossed for Saturday, I'll let you know how it goes! :-)

Weissman is the "Wise Man" Heed his advice!!!! STEP 1 is "Be sure you can get service for whatever you decide to buy." Plenty of posts on GW for the need for service, regardless of brand. I really don't see an "On-line" store being that much help, should something go wrong and you need service. Just one example, One guy bought 3 ovens all from the same manufacturer, In the end, after a "Long Hassle" the defective oven was replaced, but no help from the dealer/seller, finally the manufacturer came to the rescue, and more than likely, Garden Web was the initiator. Plenty of other posts on GW with the same Scenario. Also there are a number of manufacturers that downright refuse to honor warranty on an on-line purchase or an "Unauthorized Dealer", So ya might save now, but you could end up paying "Big Time" later. Not just financially but also in time lost while that appliance is down. Gary