Verified record
John S. Martin Co., Inc. is a Marblehead fuel-oil company selling, servicing and installing oil burners and oil heating equipment, with roots the Better Business Bureau traces back to 1886 and a Massachusetts incorporation in 1967; it's now run by President Frank W. Chandler and VP John Chandler. The Massachusetts HVAC/oil-burner technician license registered under John S. Martin's own name shows expired on the state registry. The written record is short and split. A December 2025 review calls the company responsive and reliable for annual oil service and furnace purchases spanning years with no problems. But three separate reviews — from 2022, 2023 and a recent one from February 2026 — describe a similar pattern: delivery drivers blocking one-way streets and refusing to move, hostile responses when asked to pull over, and in one 2023 account, a driver knocking over a retaining wall with the office declining to address it when contacted. Worth asking directly about current licensing and getting clear expectations around delivery scheduling and street access before signing up for oil service.
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from John S Martin Co Inc. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
Estimated range
$5,000 – $11,400
Typical HVAC project around $8,200
Oddly hostile and rude team that works here. Was stuck behind a truck from this company blocking an entire one way street, and trying to decide if it was better to try back down the street or wait it out. I asked the driver "how long does this usually take?" And though he was very clearly able to hear me, chose to ignore multiple attempts to talk to him. Fine, whatever, maybe hes having a bad day. When he was done filling the tank, he yelled at my car "call the police i dont care" And other heated things. Quite the escalation. Ok. So, I tried calling the number on the back of the truck to let them know something seems off and this is how people are being treated. The man who answered seemed to have a similar flippant and rude attitude immediately upon answering the call, and when I tried explaining he cut me off a few words in and said "yeah whatever honey, we have 15 minutes to fill the order we dont care" and hung up. I would not recommend giving business to a group of people who seem to have a disgust for the general public? Yikes.
They are so responsive when we call for service here in a real timely matter. Always have oil and serviced each year. Myself and another previous owner of condo purchased new furnaces yrs ago, never a problem. They are the best!!
Wish I could give negative stats! Drivers park in the middle of streets, not allowing others to pass. Become angered when you asked them to pull over and still won’t move. Damage property like knocking over retaining walls and leave it with total disregard for property. Then when you call their office to inform them they act like complete jerks. I guess, leadership trains their drivers to be that way. All they needed to say, is apologies and we will bring it up to our drivers and contact the property owners regarding the wall. Best to give your business to someone else.
I was unpleasantly surprised by attitude when my wife was asking for help in regards to oil boiler and instead of help she was given advise to call other company because we are not customers.
Specializes in
Also offers
Languages
1 change recorded — last scanned Jul 31, 2026.
Boiler & gas-fitting work3.5
Prompt water heater replacement3.4