Something to focus on when buying a softener from anywhere/anybody is to make sure it's 'sized' properly for your home and your current water condition (iron, hardness, mineral presence, etc.). Another consideration is how efficient the softener is - how much salt and water are used for each regeneration of the softener - this will be a big consideration for cost-to-own over time.
How many people are in the home (an indication of water usage, generally), how much 'extraordinary' water is normally used (heavy laundry usage, lots of car washing, etc.), and the maximum water flow rate that can occur at any point in time (ex. doing laundry, washing a car, filling the tub all at the same time, potentially?) - those are the things to consider regarding getting a unit that's properly sized. If the softener selected doesn't have the capacity to keep up, it won't be softening properly.
Water quality can be determined by testing an untreated water sample from your home. The softener companies will do that as part of their sales pitch. You can also send a sample out to an independent facility for testing. Plus you can also find DIY test kits at various stores, including the big box stores. Again, ensure the softener specs will adequately address the results noted from the water testing.
Maybe this all seems like over-kill.......but it is the way to make sure that you're buying exactly what you need - and nothing more or nothing less. Don't pay for a softener that far exceeds your needs and likewise, make sure you're buying a system that's not undersized for your situation.
If you're a DIYer, buying a softener and installing it yourself isn't too big a deal. If that's not you and/or you're concerned about long-term maintenance/warranty things and are willing to pay a bit more for the product up-front, then going with one of the commercially available name brand companies might be the way to go. You've got to do what you're most comfortable with.
Bill
