Palm Harbor warranty and Reputation vs Other manufacturers

[John Grissim]

Andre and Tracy,

I think you're on the right track to give Palm Harbor a chance to earn your business, especially since you don't appear to be experiencing the hard formula sell that historically many PH sales centers forced on visitors. Until recently, stories abounded of home shoppers leaving PH sales centers in a rage, sometimes in tears, because they weren't even allowed to look at any lot models until they had surrendered personal financial info so the sales mgr. could get their credit score. Sales people would corral them into small rooms, pressure them to sit still through flip chart presentations, and refuse pleas to just look at the damn homes. My sources tell me PH has gotten the message and abated much of this odious behavior. For more info on PH on this site, please see the Grissim 2005 Ratings Report on MH Home Builders, posted just a couple of weeks back.

With Palm Harbor or any dealer, regardless of home quality, you are likely to spend thousands more than you should if you're not aware of how the game is played. Don't be a Charlie the Tuna. You've got to negotiate terms. At the risk of blowing my own horn, I strongly recommend your reading my The Complete Buyer's Guide to Manufactured Homes & Land. I wrote it for folks just like you and it is now the #1 best selling book on MH.

[Ed Heinig]

Do you install homes on Hutchingson Island Fla? They have to meet tuff codes. Maybe someone could get in touch with me. Thanks Ed

[David]

I think that PH may be a little too high priced. I have traveled to their Austin, TX plant and was not impressed with their quality. The staff at the factory asked if I was working with any of their dealers. When I said no, they offered me a factory direct discount. I decided to wait.

However, it seemed that they were trying to upgrade their plant, and they did have a single wide home there with a mildew problem that they had taken back. So at least someone had gotten some action on their warranty.

Later I moved to Alabama. After talking to the PH dealers there, I discovered that the local PH factory did not offer near the options that the Texas factory did. It seems that the factories in Texas, Florida, and California offer more options.

Hope this helps, David