Refrig repairman doesn't get the WDW thing (long)

[mom2boys]

Sears guy came to fix my fridge yesterday. (Problem:excessive interior condensation)
Conversation went something like this:
Searsguy: Your gaskets are bad. Central airconditioning would solve the problem.
Me: Except we don't have any duct work
Searsguy: You have an attic don't you
Me: Yes
Searsguy: Just run the vents through the attic
Me: That & at least $3,000 will solve get me air conditioning (While thinking I could probably upgrade my Fairytale Vacation from an all-star to a deluxe. My family can do a week a WDW for $3000.)
Searsguy: Gaskets are bad. Door panel needs replacing. Gaskets are around $85, you need two. Labor will be at least $150. Door panel will be another $150 plu labor.
Me: I can live with the door panel.
Searsguy: It's not worth fixing. You need to buy a new fridge.
Me: Now you are interfering with my quest to go to Disney World
Searsguy: What????
Me: I am trying to get back to Disneyworld. A new fridge messes with my plan.
Searsguy. I NEVER heard that before??????
The conversation spiraled downward from there.

Who's fridge has this guy been repairing???? I am majorly bummed. $800 for a basic fridge is 1/2 of the cost of my Fairytale Vacation package for October.
DH is going to look at old fridge. He really doesn't have the time but even $300 is ridiculous. I HATE sepnding $$$$ on appliances.

So now the Searsguy knows my secert obsession. He clearly doesn't get that every major expenditure I make is weighed against how much WDW vacation it would get us.

P.S. He swore he gets no kickback on the new fridge or central air he recommended. AND he kindly handed me a 10% off coupon for appliances at Sears.

DISCLAIMER: This is in no way meant to be a Sears bashing

 

[kejoda]

I'm amazed you let a non Disney person in your house! Maybe we should all get signs on our front doors.

 

[jrmasm]

I think that they are currently running 0% financing through June 2004. So the way I see it, buy the frig now and pay for it when you get back!!!

I can justify anything!

 

[clutter]

Yeah, just because we'd never go into debt for our vacation doesn't mean we won't for a fridge!!!

But.... no air conditioning???? I grew up that way. My dad installed central air the summer he retired. I'm still working on forgiving him for that!

 

[Disney845]

Hmmm, they were having a good appliance sale at Sears, in fact I am currently waiting for the delivery man this afternoon to bring the new Washer and Dryer and Stove. Needed a new dryer, the inside lining was rusting and would get stains on clothing, but the repair man stated there was no fix for the problem, so we went to JUST get the dryer. Of course 3 appliances later..... Plus they have free delivery if you buy more than $399 worth of appliances. I also think it is 0% till 2004. Or maybe it was no payments till 2004 if you used your Sears card....

 

[Dodie]

Now, I'm as big a Disney fan as anybody and have sacrificed a lot of things to make trips to WDW, but the thing that strikes me about your original post is...

You don't have AIR CONDITIONING?!!!!

I'd buy a new fridge with 0% financing. In fact, I think I'd do the same with AIR CONDITIONING!!!!!

 

[Harambe]

Last week I had a plumber to our house (need a new toilet! - that's even worse to spend money on than a fridge.)

To pay him (over $500 - used terms like "flange" bla bla bla) I decided to pull out my Disney Visa and he went nuts!

He's a DVC owner and wants a Visa bad but his wife won't let him have one. We talked "Disney" for about 15 minutes (hope he doesn't charge me for that). It was great, because DH says I'm "scary" about Disney and I don't discuss it too much with him. He's just glad when we're at the parks and he can follow me around!

 

[mom2boys]

Yeah - I think you have to use the Sears card to get the 0%. I don't have or want a sears card. Personal policy is no store cards. It just gets too hard to manage credit cards from every store in town on top of major cards. .

I'm amazed you let a non Disney person in your house!

I was desperate. The guy we used for years is just too old to do the work anymore. The last guy I called was scary. I swear he must have just been paroled - I was not comfortable alone in the house with him. His repair "truck" was a 1980's station wagon - no sign, no nothing.

But.... no air conditioning????

It's not as bad as it sounds. We live on a mountain & get a lot of shade. Plus we do have window units. The biggest drawback is the humidity. Besides, I don't have to tell you all what I could do with $3,000.

Hopefully DH can fix it for the cost of parts. We are under the gun because DS2 has his 1st Communion next weekend & we will be hosting an after Mass gathering. Won't be good to have a wet fridge & spoiled food.

 

[jfulcer]

Now that you know that is the only problem, getting the gaskets (I assume they are the gaskets that seal the door when it closes) replaced is easy. If your DH can install window insulation, he should be able to do that. $150 labor seems kinda steep.

Good luck!

 

[Tiggeroo]

sears has a parts department. If your fridge is from sears (maybe even if it isn't) you call them. Tell them what you are looking for. They will have it delivered to your house.

 

[Boo'sMom]

find a good used appliance place, or a moving sale...and still go to WDW...

 

[DVC-Don]

I had a Culligan repair tech trash WDW. Seems he lived near it for 3 years and went on and on. I told myself the next time the water conditioner acts up, I'm getting a new one, not Culligan.