I ordered my 42" PS-11 through my appliance store. I did call the company to ask questions and they were very helpful but they referred me to the distributor when I started talking about buying. I don't think there is a "right" person to talk to.

Marthavila and I both have the MA hoods...

Here is what I gather from info gathered on GW. A while ago, MA had a policy whereby anyone who lived within a rep's territory HAD to buy through the rep. If you lived in an area that no rep existed, you could call direct and they would deal with you. I am not sure if this has changed or not. But it appears that they recognize a rep in the area you live so won't deal directly with you. The reps put on a very large % and then resell to you.

In my case it was 50% higher. I found this out because the MA rep in our area (CA), was an absolute idiot and in addition to the many mistakes and incompetent actions he did, he also accidentally sent me the invoice from MA to him that said how much they were charging him. Then he sent his invoice to me and he had added $2,500. For talking to me on the phone twice, not showing up at an appt, and mismeasuring my hood, he charged me $2,500. Be forewarned.

I hear Rangecraft and possibly Vent-a-Hood can make the same barrel hoods that many are looking at. Not sure about the PS-15 though. Also try Abbaka Range Hoods.

Good Luck with Modernaire--obviously you will have a different rep in your area, but yikes on the mark-up!!

I don't know if that's still true. I don't live in an area with a dealer, but got a quote directly from the company and it was the same exactly as buying through a dealer out of state. This was 6 or 8 months ago I think.

Pricey, but I love it.

I live outside a dealer area.
Last spring I called Modernaire and got a quote (they were very prompt and friendly) and then later talked to Trevor. Wound up ordering from him at the same time as getting my Culinarian.
Prices were the same .... actually if I remember correctly Trevor/Eurostoves was a tiny bit less due to a difference in shipping quotes.
Love the hood... but yes I wish it had been about 1/2 the price. :)

Gah: I'd been pining for an MA hood since 2008, and spent waaaaay too much time trying to figure out how to get a good deal on one. Yeah--the dealer markups are very high! I called and emailed so many reps, at so many different times.

A couple years ago, I had my brother in Colorado (where they had no reps), get a quote to order it for me. It came back the SAME price as the local dealer gave me. Just like cottonpenny experienced.

So I finally give up. Yes, they make an excellent ventillation product. But the additional thousands they charge for those pretty, pretty barrels that they are now installing on (it seems) a daily basis, is just wrong to me. Of course, it may just be sour grapes on my part, since I can't afford them, but I feel like they are laughing all the way to the bank.

Francy (whose lips are all puckered from the sour grapes)

:-)

Thanks to everyone for the helpful info! I guess it's time to give up and go on the search for a similar aesthetic at a much lower price point.

Fwiw,
My local appliance store came in less than the price I got quoted by modernaire directly for my custom sized hood.

Still expensive but they were a few hundred less.

Joneswest,
If your nearest rep is in Mass that wold probably be Trevor at Eurostoves. I would at least contact hum for a quote since he came in less for gbsim and has a very good reputation as a dealer in general.