Saw these WaterBoss units at Menards over the weekend and noticed a couple things. One, the packaging looked and felt fine. I moved the boxed one around and there's no internal movement so it feels like they have good, tight packaging. Two, the label says "Engineered, designed, and assembled in the US" and my first thought went to "a whole bunch of non-USA parts", i.e. China, are what it's made of. Now, this might only apply to their Menards-specific units as they do build (2) models only for Menards.
The research I did on these models, IIRC stated the design of the water softener was engineered in Ohio, and specifically the valve is a USA design/ build. Just like a Ford or GM assembled in Detroit, some of the parts must be coming from Asia, without question- but at the end of the day this is a USA designed and built water softener- right in Ohio.
Menard's sells over five different water boss models. Menards typically stocks two models, a "city water" model, and a well water model. Some of the other models that one can order from Menards (which I have), to include an Iron filter model which I have installed ordered and installed three of.
The damage comes from dropping the units. The plastic barrier between the top and the brine tank often gets cracked. Does not impact performance, but nobody is happy with a new unit with cosmetic damage.
A few more notes, although Menards and Home Depot only stock two of the five plus Water Boss models, they sell all the models. What i have discovered is some people order the non-stocked models, but never pick up the models. If one may want a non-stock model, they can search other Menards or Home Depots, and sometimes find "order only" models in stock, and at Home Depot, often at a deep discount.
A feature Water Boss has that other that most other softeners do not have is a internal sediment filter as part of the control valve. This sentiment filter backwashes itself as the first step of the generation process. The greatly reduces the control valve from having setiment enter into it. A great built in feature.
Finally, when I have had problems with Water Boss, I call the factory, the diagnose the problem, and send me the part. Very easy to self-service. The factory representatives are very knowledgeable about their product, and not the most friendly bunch. I will take a knowlegable representative with the ability to diagnose a problem, and ship me a part, than a Philippines or Indian call center going down a list of questions, by a person who has no knowledge of the product.
