With high end integrated/built in appliances you want a specialist to do the install. Miele, Sub-Zero, Wolf, etc. have quirks. If you want custom panels on the fridge and dishwasher it becomes a sync issue between the cabinet and appliance people. If you have standard slide in or drop in appliances I don't think it matters much.

Just because a store sells an appliance doesn't mean their install team are factory authorized installers. I have high end, integrated appliances from different manufacturers and (purchased from different stores). I used a company that specializes in installation of all makes for the installation of my ovens, fridge and freezer. My plumber installed the dishwasher, my electrician installed the cooktop and my cabinet guys put the panels on the fridge, freezer and DW.

I live in Canada, and if I remember correctly, only Miele and Wolf/SubZero have their own authorized installers.

Joseph - I agree that is how it should work, and I honestly don't have any qualms about the GC's ability to do the install or have it done. My concern is that I have read several posts on here about people who had an appliance failure and the manufacturer refused to honor the warranty because they claimed it was an install error. The people who posted didn't believe that was true. I am just wondering if it gives me more leverage if the store I bought from installs, in case of a similar issue. The store we use is a very large local store that does their own install and warrenty, and has excellent customer service, so I have no concerns with them standing behind the install or product. I am just not sure the best route to take. My main concern is the induction range, which will be Bosch.

The appliance installation follows the manufacturer's installation instructions or it doesn't.

Installation of appliances is not rocket science. They all come with instructions.
What is important is that the area the appliance will be placed is correctly prepared to accept the appliance. Cabinets, electrical and plumbing have to be set up properly prior to installation to accept the appliance. Installers set the appliance up, level it and connect it. Certified ones may know how the thing works. ;-) They are basically repairmen for the company.

Many so called certified installers work at the bottom of the pay scale. Independent appliance repairmen/installers are often more skillful. It's like the difference between the "certified" Rotor Rooter guy and the licensed plumber who been in the trade for 35 years. Don't let the jargon fool you.

The general contractor is the one in charge of the prior things needed before installation so he/she should certainly be capable of seeing they are properly installed.

My gc installed mine. Better for me to only have one person to deal with, plus I'm pretty sure that they are probably more qualified than the delivery guy who normally does it. And, what if they damage a cabinet or floor or something in the process? Is your contractor going to fix it for free?

I'd have the GC do it. Mine were installed by the store, and we've had some minor issues that generated finger pointing about whose problem it was to fix.

Caveat: mine have been in for a few weeks now, so can't comment on potential warranty issues you mentioned above. However the store installers I've worked with (from Lowes and Sears, YMMV with a higher-end store) seem to be the lowest bidder and as likely as any GC to not install per manufacturer instructions.

Caligirl - the store we use has their own installation and service dept. they are a large family owned store that has excellent customer service. That said, you make a good point about finger pointing!

I'm my own GC and used a specialized appliance installer. It took them 3 days with 4 guys for my double oven combo. The pigtail was too short and they used two different lifts plus brute strength to maneuver my 650lbs ovens into the cabinet which had only 1/8" allowance on each side.

Three guys had to balance the two ovens on a lift while the 4th crawled in on top and connect the hard wire.

They weren't cheap but boy they earned every penny.

I also had to provide paperwork to the manufacturer and signed by the company to certify that they were qualified installers so my warranty would be honored.

I think you need to check with the manufacturer as to their requirements. For Blue Star, a GC doesn't qualify.

4 men working 3 days is 96 man hours. Even if each guy was only making $20.00 per hour and their employer charged $40.00 per hour which is really cheap, that'd be $3,840.00 for installation alone.

They were at the house about 2 hrs each day. The short pigtail was the issue. They had 2 people the first day and 1 lift. 2nd day was 2 people and a different lift. 3rd time was the charm along with a replacement pigtail.

I ended up paying $900 for a rangetop and the two ovens.

Interesting comments above.

I'll say if you are installing a Sears Kenmore grade fridge or range then I'd trust a GC to get it done right. However if you are installing $50 to 100K worth of top of the line appliances -- names mentioned above Miele, Sub-Zero, Wolf, etc. -- I'd make absolutely certain the GC uses the manufacturers installers (get it in writing). Your appliances will be there in ten, 15 and 20 years, will your CG be also be there to back up his work? And one final point, it's easy to say an installation followed the manufacturer's installation instructions, but five years down the road it's the appliance manufacturer that has the final say in this if a dispute ever arises. If the manufacturer (or his authorized agent) did the install then there is no question. This is why some of the big names have switched to using their own installers.

Future retiree - I am not buying anything nearly that expensive, but I am buying a Bosch Benchmark induction range that costs more than I had planned to spend, and want to be covered if anything goes wrong. My fear is exactly what you mentioned. A few years/months out the range dies and the manufacturer says installer error. The GC may have installed it right or wrong, but they aren't going to give me a new stove. The appliance store may just do that if they installed it and can't work it out with Bosch.

I've watched both approaches. There are horror stories on both sides of the issue. Go with the guy that does dozens of these in a month. It's comparable to hiring a orthopedic surgeon who does lots of hip replacements in a week versus hiring a GP. Your GC may be the greatest, smartest, most efficient, most capable and honorable person in the world. But, he only installs two or three of the item you have selected in a year.

I bought a Bluestar range top. It's the most simple appliance in the world. It wasn't cheap. I could install it. I didn't do it. You slide it into the space, you hook up the gas connection, you plug in the plug. Presto! You are in business. But, my contractor had no idea. He had never seen one before. I hired the fancy appliance store guys to do the installation. Once they hauled it into the house, it took all of 15 minutes and they calibrated the flame, too.

The best situation is to have your GC on site when the appliance installer starts work. This way, any issues can be resolved immediately and you get a good installation.

We let the builders install most of them, I did the rest, all hi-end. The cabinet guy had all the appliance specs and the builders ran all the dedicated wiring. I had the appliances delivered to my garage. Since it was a new build and timing was important having the appliances on hand while the work was going on was handy. I live very remotely and one of our biggest headaches was coordinating times between different contractors. Nothing goes as planned. As mentioned above installing appliances isn't rocket science and since I care I was there and assisted or installed them myself. It took 4 guys to haul the BS range up the stairs once it was disassembled as far as possible. I used my tractor and 4 guys to bring the SZ fridge around to the back of the house and in through the slider. Wall ovens aren't very heavy. The only appliance I had a trade install was the dishwasher, any future issue I want covered on that one.

Once everything was in we had the SZ installer come out to 'set-up' the fridge which was completely unnecessary as I had done it already but it put a check mark on the books for future warranty stuff if needed.

"The best situation is to have your GC on site when the appliance
installer starts work. This way, any issues can be resolved immediately
and you get a good installation."

Agree. An experienced GC will know to be onsite, and he will either have onsite or on call a plumber, carpenter and electrician when the install happens.

Allow me to tell you about today's callback.

Several days ago, I cut a 4" high granite backsplash to allow the installation of a GE freestanding range. The GE specifications, provided by the customer, called for a 30" opening; the existing was 30 1/16" so I did nothing.

The customer put the appliance installer on the phone today to tell me the range won't go in. I'm skeptical, but after a site visit, it's true. The GE specified 30" cutout requires 30 1/4" in real life. GE lied.

I cut the opening larger, but that was pure luck because we had some overhang between cabinets. Had the cabinets and countertops been installed based on GE's faulty information, this could have had tremendously expensive consequences.

The customer knew I broke my own rule by cutting her splash without the appliance on site, so she graciously paid me for the callback. More amazing luck on my part.

The appliance installer has to come back. The gas stub is too high on the wall and has to be lowered to the recess provided on the range in order to push the range all the way in.

You wanna be your own GC and save money and have subs over whom you have no leverage? Good luck. This is the kinda crap you'll face.