Carol DeRousse is feeling angry and betrayed. The owner of DeRousse Heating & Air Conditioning of Red Bud, Ill., recently found out that her customers can buy Trane unitary equipment direct through Home Depot's Maintenance Warehouse subsidiary.
"We think this is the worst move Trane's ever made," DeRousse said. "In this area it has alienated a lot of dealers. We had no intention of taking on another line, and now we sell Bryant. I won't be just a convenience for the homeowner to call me and come out and install it."