Date: Sat, 6 Dec 2014 11:45:21 -0500
From: Al Cooke
Subject: Mitsubishi split mini systems
Monda Welch,
We had Mitsubishi mini-splits installed last year by Chatham Heating & Air Conditioning (919.542.5319). We were pleased with the system and, more to the point, pleased with the company and their work. I think it took them 2 days (maybe 3?) to install two outdoor units and the 3 indoor units they run. I would recommend them.
On the chance that this is one of the 5 companies you have already contacted, here are some further thoughts that may or may not be applicable:
– leaving a message does not imply a completed communication. Many times I have listened to messages where the speaker ran through a name or number so quickly I could never get it. Many other things can go wrong when leaving a message – system fails, children forget to pass along the message, accidental deletion. Call again?
– my knee-jerk reaction for the other two is that there is no good excuse for failure to follow up. On reflection, people have physical/medical emergencies, family members die or need immediate attention, and various other things take significant precedence. These types of things are much more significant for small local businesses (that may hinge on one person) than for larger corporations. The first business we dealt with for the mini-splits took several days before calling back to report difficulty with determining the size of system needed; apparently there were some issues with our house that don’t fit the “standards.” He continued until I called to tell him we had contracted with CH&AC. The first business comes highly recommended via the Chatlist. Apparently CH&AC had more experience and familiarity with the mini-splits. They were on it quickly. It may be that other companies you have called are less familiar with this equipment.
– some decades ago there was a client I failed to call back due to what I considered a condescending attitude. I didn’t intend to not call back. I could just never persuade myself to do it now. On reflection, I suspect she was just acting/speaking in a way people in another part of the world act that I wasn’t accustomed to. Or maybe I was just young and arrogant. My mistake.
– yes, sometimes small businesses have so much going on that taking time to call a “bird in the bush” is not fair to the clients they have ongoing commitments to. It’s a “good problem” to have – too much business demand. It’s not the best practice, but it’s a disadvantage of running a small business and trying to keep overhead low – no office staff other than the owner and his/her spouse or children.
Good luck with getting your mini-splits in. We encountered them in other countries and have found them practical and efficient. As you know, they are not incredibly common here. But Chatham Heating & Air Conditioning knows them and can do the work. We like ours.
Cheers.
alcooke