Whirlpool not honoring my warranty UPDATE- THEY'RE PAYING!!

[kaytieeldr]

Last week our 13-month old Sharp microwave

If you don't mind, which model number was this? I've been considering a new microwave - either a specific Sharp or a specific Kenmore. Rather not risk buying anything with even ONE record of catching fire!

 

[smkiya]

For those interested......the local news just called me and one of the Call 4 Action reporters wants to get involved in my problem.......All of my jumping up and down this week complaining to everybody I know (even you guys ) is paying off. They want all my documentation and than they are going to call Whirlpool and see what they have to say...what did Ricky Ricardo used to say, Lucy you got some 'splaining to do.

It is so the principal of the thing now. We can't keep letting companies treat us as consumers like dirt.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[gracie1]

Do you guys that have warranties with whirlpool always call them directly?? I have all whirlpools but when I get them serviced and repaired I never call whirlpool. I just call my normal appliance guy who has whirlpool and many other companies as his rep. I checked with him about whether he stopped doing warranty repairs or anything for whirlpool and he said no, their still paying him.

As for the compressor, that seems off that it blew again! I wonder if there is more of a problem with the wiring or something that is shorting out the compressors. They normally last a long time.

 

[tinkarooni]

OP here, to the PP who is calling her repair guy directly. If he is an authorized repair guy I assume that he is filing the warranty claim for you.

I don't know what Whirlpool is doing for others but I am assuming that they are going ahead and fixing fridges under warranty. The problem here is that they made me a deal to replace, not that they have offered to even repair it again, I wouldn't let them anyway.

As far as the condensor, the repair guy Whirlpool sent here twice told me the condensors they replace with are aftermarket foreign made parts and often are a problem. Apparantly he was right.

So I had to buy a new fridge. I had no choice 6 days before Christmas and no resolution in sight. I sent a letter to Whirlpool, faxed and certified return receipt requested advising them that because they refused to replace the unit I was forced to mitigate my damages and purchase a new fridge. I am now demanding the reimbursement of my costs to purchase the original unit. I think the problem could have been that they don't have the firdge to give me, but they didn't even offer to repair it. Not that I would have let them anyway.

For everybody else, this is horrible. that appliances have become so disposable that a microwave lasts a year and my $900 fridge didn't last three years. I'm turning into my grandma, they just don;t make things like they used to. And as American consumers we continue to take it.

In the meantime my kids think they are going to be on the evening news.

 

[CherylA]

Tinkarooni, I read through your thread and I just want to tell you how informed and pulled together you are. You know your facts, you've done your research and you come off as quite an intelligent person. Often when I read these threads the OP is unsure of themselves and all of the threads questioning their claims rile them. Not you, and you managed to post everything politely and not make the thread into a shouting match. I really hope your issue gets resolved. Kuddos for going after what is right!

 

[dseth]

Tinkarooni, I read through your thread and I just want to tell you how informed and pulled together you are. You know your facts, you've done your research and you come off as quite an intelligent person. Often when I read these threads the OP is unsure of themselves and all of the threads questioning their claims rile them. Not you, and you managed to post everything politely and not make the thread into a shouting match. I really hope your issue gets resolved. Kuddos for going after what is right!

I couldn't agree more! Hope all works out well for you!

 

[tinkarooni]

Tinkarooni, I read through your thread and I just want to tell you how informed and pulled together you are. You know your facts, you've done your research and you come off as quite an intelligent person. Often when I read these threads the OP is unsure of themselves and all of the threads questioning their claims rile them. Not you, and you managed to post everything politely and not make the thread into a shouting match. I really hope your issue gets resolved. Kuddos for going after what is right!

Oh my gosh, thanks so much. Such nice things you said and made my day. Cross your fingers for me.....and don't forget to pass on my story. Nobody should have to fight like this. Shame on Whirlpool's executives.

 

[Lucille1963]

Hey Tink-

Thanks for sharing your story. We have 6 apartments full of appliances, you can be sure that when they break, they won't be replaced with Whirlpools!

 

[kfeuer]

If you don't mind, which model number was this? I've been considering a new microwave - either a specific Sharp or a specific Kenmore. Rather not risk buying anything with even ONE record of catching fire!

It was a Sharp R-410L and we got it at either Home Depot or Lowe's, can't remember which.

This thread has gotten me inspired, I'm going to write Sharp a strongly worded letter of complaint. It probably won't do any good, but it would make me feel better! What makes the whole thing more maddening is that we're about to have to sell our house and move into an apartment at which point we won't even need a microwave, so it was doubly annoying to have to buy another one right now.

 

[tinkarooni]

Hey Tink-

Thanks for sharing your story. We have 6 apartments full of appliances, you can be sure that when they break, they won't be replaced with Whirlpools!

YooHoo....Whirlpool people are you listening? And she told two friends and she told two friends and so on and so on.

Are you ready to pay me what you promised me yet?

All joking aside Lucille1963 I'm glad to hear it. This really stinks and I wouldn't wish this fight on anyone.

 

[parkers*momma]

Here's the update. After speaking to the folks at Lowes and Sears it seems that a company by the name of WC Woods has filed bankruptcy. This company manufacturers fridges and freezers for Whirlpool. So Whirlpool has not declared bankruptcy, which makes this whole thing more despicable.

The executive offices told me specifically that they will not honor my warranty because of the bankruptcy. Tell your friends and family. Shame on this company for selling me and lots of other people a lot of garbage. Google Whirlpool and warranty and you'll find lots of other people with this problem and even a class action suit filed in 2007 for just this sort of thing.....wish I had known.

I am also pleased to report that when we were in Lowes we saw a very nice older couple picking out a fridge, they were looking at a Whirlpool, hmmmm, they bought a Samsung.....wonder what changed their minds could it have been something I said?

Yesterday in our local Paper (I live 10 miles from WC Woods) it was confirmed that Whirlpool bought WC Woods and are starting to bring employees already. Whirlpool also bought all the remaining parts and appliances from the company in Canada...but they didn't buy the buildings there.

Back to reading the thread.

 

[tinkarooni]

It was a Sharp R-410L and we got it at either Home Depot or Lowe's, can't remember which.

This thread has gotten me inspired, I'm going to write Sharp a strongly worded letter of complaint. It probably won't do any good, but it would make me feel better! What makes the whole thing more maddening is that we're about to have to sell our house and move into an apartment at which point we won't even need a microwave, so it was doubly annoying to have to buy another one right now.

You go. Hey maybe it won't get you your money back but they should know their product died prematurely and you won't buy from them again. If we don't start standing up to these companies they'll continue to build things that explode (or catch fire) days after the warranty expires. It is not out of line to expect a normal life span from an appliance. Heck, my grandfather still has one of those avocado green fridges in his garage for his beer. That fridge must be older than me. I'm not asking for a fridge to hand down to my children's children but three years is outrageous. I agree with you that one year for a microwave is out of line too.

Also, it will make you feel better. Right now I feel fab, and I haven't received anything back yet....not even a light at the end of the tunnel yet. I may be one little Mom fighting a big old corporate giant....but I've helped to inform some consumers and that makes me feel better.

 

[tinkarooni]

I haven't had a chance to read the entire thread yet, but I wanted to let you know that WC Woods didn't file bankrupcy. A Canadian company bought WC Woods the beginning of the year...they are the ones who filed bankrupcy. I live 10 miles From WC Woods and I can share that the employees basically showed up one morning about 3 weeks ago to no job.

Yesterday in our local Paper it was confirmed that Whirlpool bought WC Woods and are starting to bring employees already. Whirlpool also bought all the remaining parts and appliances from the company in Canada...but they didn't by the buildings there.

Back to reading the thread.

I wish the best to all of these employees who lost their jobs.....I have to wonder why this company filed bankruptcy when they were making appliances for Whirlpool who supposedly has 53% of the American market?

 

[parkers*momma]

I wish the best to all of these employees who lost their jobs.....I have to wonder why this company filed bankruptcy when they were making appliances for Whirlpool who supposedly has 53% of the American market?

We (the community) haven't a clue. It's sad because up to the point of shutting the plant down the employees were actually working full shifts with some over time here and there. Our community has taken a HUGE hit in the past couple years...we lost Philips who was our largest employer, New Millinium, and now WC Woods with scores of smaller factories in between.

 

[Lucille1963]

Heck, my grandfather still has one of those avocado green fridges in his garage for his beer. That fridge must be older than me.

I can beat that! We have a turquoise fridge from the 1950's that still works!!

 

[parkers*momma]

Here's the local article if it will help you:

http://putnamsentinel.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=6387

 

[tinkarooni]

Here's the local article if it will help you:

http://putnamsentinel.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=6387

Thank you.

 

[tinkarooni]

I can beat that! We have a turquoise fridge from the 1950's that still works!!

Hmmmm, that sounds like a pretty reliable appliance....any chance you're looking to sell it?

 

[Lucille1963]

Hmmmm, that sounds like a pretty reliable appliance....any chance you're looking to sell it?

Sorry, its so darn old it has turned into a family heirloom! My sister and I fought over it....and then it wouldn't fit in either of our kitchens! They made them wider and sturdier back then!

I just told DH your story. He was absolutely dumbfounded!

 

[dzorn]

Keep us posted! Good for you for fighting!

Last week our 13-month old Sharp microwave started making a weird noise, then something behind the soft cover caught fire. We took off the cover to make sure something hadn't splattered onto it to make it catch fire, and when we tried to run it again more flames. We now have a 40-pound paperweight sitting in our garage since the warranty had just ended We paid over $100 for that stupid microwave, and there's no way it should have only lasted 13 months. And yet, it's obviously not worth trying to repair it. The company's not obligated to go anything, so we're left holding the bag while my DH is laid off. It stinks!

Anyway OP, good for you for not letting them get away with treating you like this. And if if makes you feel any better, we're about to buy a new range before putting our house on the market and you can bet it won't be Whirlpool!

I would suggest you file a complaint at

http://www.cpsc.gov/

They really need to know about appliances catching fire.

Denise in MI