I'm pretty much talking from
past experiences from this point on but I always had good repor from directing customers to Sears/Kenmore water heaters.
They have 6,9,12 year warranties with the product specs different from each warranty. Not just a tag they put on the heater like A.O. Smith tanks do.
Only tanks to have the RotoSwirl dip tube that directs the water fully to the bottom and spirals around where keeping the sediment waterborne is crucial.
Their website is an easy read for the customers; everyone knows sears, a good deal have their credit cards and tanks including installations can be as simple as putting it on the card.
Their extended warranty for $79 is good for 5 years; you have to fulfill your end and call before the anniversary date to honor the warranty. They come out, inspect/service/repair at no charge. If you do not call, you void that $79 extended warranty. I personally cannot offer my customers 5 separate trips to drain/cover repairs on any water heater. I guess the benefit of dealing with a national brand.
A large majority of the time the service after the sale is for the most part good. You still have to call a 1-800 number. I used to be the hired dummy who had to go and inspect/service any MA warranty issues on the tanks for another plumbing contractor. 95% of the time the customer got either a water heater @ no charge or diminished replacement charges even though the customer installed the heater themselves. Not bad in my opinion.
I've installed nearly all the brands common in my area. I guess when I entered myself into business I wanted the luxury of having people pay for their water heater through a well known establishment. I pick it up and I don't have the responsibility of any arising issues of product defect. I still tell my customers to call me first before the 1-800 number. Their diagnosis and my questioning usually pins the problem and I always offer my services first for a fee, letting them know that Sears will not charge. If they want hot water fast enough, they'll call me. It happens that way sometimes. If it isn't a tank leak I can address all issues with them except those damn powervents.
No thank you, I'd rather count air holes in my computer monitor.