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

[KirstenB]

Ugghh, Whirlpool!! A few years ago, we bought a side by side Whirlpool Gold fridge. It was highly rated in Consumer Reports. We've had 2 circuit boards replaced on it, $200 each time. OP I feel your pain!!

 

[msmayor]

Ugghh, Whirlpool!! A few years ago, we bought a side by side Whirlpool Gold fridge. It was highly rated in Consumer Reports. We've had 2 circuit boards replaced on it, $200 each time. OP I feel your pain!!

This is where, in my mind, appliances have gone too far beyond their intended need. Circuit boards? For a fridge? Too many electronic and computerized gimmicks...too many things to break.

We bought all Whirlpool appliances 14 years ago when we moved in to our new house. I wanted no part of anything that remotely resembled computer controls. No digital displays, no touch-screen or button controls. Dials on my washer and dryer. Simpler to fix.

No ice-maker for the fridge. I know the recipe to make it myself, and ice trays are easy to replace at the dollar store. Ice makers can be one of the first things to leak/break and quite frankly I didn't want the hassle. We don't need water through the fridge door; the faucet works just fine.

We had to replace the washer two years ago, so it lasted 12. Bought another Whirlpool. Everything else is still going strong (knock-wood).

 

[rynosmom]

Our washer just went over the weekend and I work for a company were we get a corp discount on Whirlpool. Thanks to this board I will not even consider getting the washer from them.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You mentioned in one of your previous posts that Lowe's has offered to honor the warranty. Why aren't you accepting their offer?

Not sure, but I think it's because at this point the OP doesn't want the refrigerator repaired (too bad there isn't a Lemon Law for major appliances like there is for cars), she expects Whirlpool to honor their promise to replace it.

 

[msmayor]

Not sure, but I think it's because at this point the OP doesn't want the refrigerator repaired (too bad there isn't a Lemon Law for major appliances like there is for cars), she expects Whirlpool to honor their promise to replace it.

Possible...but quite frankly I'd rather let Lowe's attempt the repair for free before sinking $1,000+ into a new one. The busted one may ultimately end up getting replaced anyway if the case is pressed, and then you're out the $$ for the new one.

Based on the letter the OP posted, seems they would be pretty free to replace it with another one of theirs and under no obligation to pay you to replace it on your own. If you say "No, I don't want another one of yours, send me a check for the one I bought" they could simply point back to the letter and say "We said we would replace...now you don't want our replacement...so you're on your own."

 

[simba20]

It's long, but here's one way to solve your fridge problems....
http://dooce.com/2009/08/28/containing-capital-letter-or-two

 

[dodukes]

Thanks for this warning. I am looking into buying a house next year and well most of the ones i have looked at and the current one that is most appealing has no appliances, guess what company will get NONE of my business no matter how cheap they are (major budget here..lol).....

 

[tinkarooni]

Possible...but quite frankly I'd rather let Lowe's attempt the repair for free before sinking $1,000+ into a new one. The busted one may ultimately end up getting replaced anyway if the case is pressed, and then you're out the $$ for the new one.

Based on the letter the OP posted, seems they would be pretty free to replace it with another one of theirs and under no obligation to pay you to replace it on your own. If you say "No, I don't want another one of yours, send me a check for the one I bought" they could simply point back to the letter and say "We said we would replace...now you don't want our replacement...so you're on your own."

Hi guys OP here. We won't repair the fridge again for several reasons, the biggest one being of course that it has now broken down three times. Each time it breaks I go a couple of weeks without a fridge while Whirlpool and repair sorts it out. Than my DH has to get somebody to come over and help him move the fridge out to the garage because they have to tear off the back and weld a new compressor on and than DH has to get somebody to come back over and help him move it back in. Whirlpool service people will not move the fridge or put it back, than of course there is the spoiled food each time. Our biggest concern this time though is that last Friday my DD got a terrible stomach bug, throwing up, dry heaving no fever. Was it something she ate out of that fridge, seemed cold hard to tell, wasn't sure if it was dieing or not than on Sunday Kaput. Quite honestly that's as far as I will be pushed.

Lowes is supposed to get back to me but if they are only willing to repair I am not interested but will share this info with you all because Lowes has no obligation to do anything for me and when a company actually deserves it I am willing to sing their praises.

We did go ahead and buy a new fridge because honestly we just can't wait around anymore. DH asked Whirlpool to fax over a written answer to our request to make good on their letter and promise to replace. So far they haven't, I need a fridge and they already told me no. If they replace it as they should I will take it, Dh says he'll use it for beer. Trying to keep a sense of humor about the whole thing because I don't see a fridge coming my way anytime soon.

 

[tinkarooni]

Hmmm, the Whirlpool rep is starting to back pedal now. She said yesterday, "It's not that Whirlpool is refusing to help you we just can't help you now." To which I asked how long a family of four with no refrigerator two weeks before Christmas should wait for them to make up their mind. Than I got the same old song and dance....we'd like to help you but our hands are tied.

Honestly, what is with all this "help talk" like she's doing me a big favor instead of living up to their contractual obligations.

She called again late in the day and left a message but when I called her back she was gone, let's see what she says now.

Thanks to everybodies ideas, I spent all day working on some of them. Have filed complaints with BBB, Michigan State Attorney General, got in on a class action suit against Whirlpool and will be trying that twitter thing if all else fails. That article somebody posted was a hoot.

The problem is that they get away with doing this to me today, you tomorrow and some other poor schmuck yesterday. It's just not right.

 

[tinkarooni]

Here's the update folks. Just talked to Whirlpool, not only will they not do anything here....they will not put that in writing. I was just told that any dealings with them will be over the phone only. They will not deny my claim in writing or put anything further in writing about this matter. Sleezy and underhanded and not willing to commit it to writing. As much as many of you want to believe this isn't true, trust me it is. Who can believe that a company would treat it's customers this way.

 

[tinkarooni]

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.

 

[andrews_dad]

This is getting GOOD!

You go! Take them DOWN hard! HAHAHA.

 

[PinballFamily]

Good girl, tinkarooni! Hope you can get some satisfaction now and that all works out for you!

 

[Heidict]

Yeah!! Good for you. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[mscoachung]

Not that this will help you in any way but it may give you a little more insight. I do hope you get your problem resolved to your satidfaction. It's a crappy thing to happen just before Christmas.
WC Woods, one of the suppliers of Whirlpool brand refrigerators, was in full mode on Friday, December 4. Management had appointments the following week for renovations in their plant. On Monay, December 7th, they declared bankruptcy and closed the doors and laid off everyone including upper management with no notice to anyone. I 'm telling you this because Whirlpool's hands may very well be tied at the moment and they were unaware this supplier was going to do this. They are possibly working throught the legal ramifications due to it.
As I said, I hope your issue is resolved but I feel for all those workers who got axed with no notice at all. It was a small town too, that being the largest business.

 

[tinkarooni]

Not that this will help you in any way but it may give you a little more insight. I do hope you get your problem resolved to your satidfaction. It's a crappy thing to happen just before Christmas.
WC Woods, one of the suppliers of Whirlpool brand refrigerators, was in full mode on Friday, December 4. Management had appointments the following week for renovations in their plant. On Monay, December 7th, they declared bankruptcy and closed the doors and laid off everyone including upper management with no notice to anyone. I 'm telling you this because Whirlpool's hands may very well be tied at the moment and they were unaware this supplier was going to do this. They are possibly working throught the legal ramifications due to it.
As I said, I hope your issue is resolved but I feel for all those workers who got axed with no notice at all. It was a small town too, that being the largest business.

Thank you for the info. I did know that WC Woods has filed bankruptcy but I didn't know that it had happened December 4. So if only my fridge had died a couple of weeks earlier I may not be in the mess I am.

I too feel bad for the employees of WC Woods and even the employees of Whirlpool whose company I have been complaining about for a week. It's not any of their faults. I personally don't want anyone to lose their jobs, however, they too are hardworking Americans just like my family, none of us should be treated the way this corporation is treating us. It's about time that companies realize that they can't keep treating their consumers like dirt and have us coming back for more. The bankruptcy of WC Woods doesn't have anything to do with a written promise, guarantee, contract even, that I have directly with Whirlpool.

Again thanks for the info, this does give me some more insight. I just can't let this go....and won't. Thanks for the words of encouragement guys.

 

[marshwiggle]

Not that this will help you in any way but it may give you a little more insight. I do hope you get your problem resolved to your satidfaction. It's a crappy thing to happen just before Christmas.
WC Woods, one of the suppliers of Whirlpool brand refrigerators, was in full mode on Friday, December 4. Management had appointments the following week for renovations in their plant. On Monay, December 7th, they declared bankruptcy and closed the doors and laid off everyone including upper management with no notice to anyone. I 'm telling you this because Whirlpool's hands may very well be tied at the moment and they were unaware this supplier was going to do this. They are possibly working throught the legal ramifications due to it.
As I said, I hope your issue is resolved but I feel for all those workers who got axed with no notice at all. It was a small town too, that being the largest business.

Not to stray too far off the topic (although it seems OP is handling things just fine short of consulting a lawyer) but the above info doesn't seem to be quite right (or implies a much greater faith in the efficiency of our court systems and Canada's than I hold ). A quick news search yielded that WC Wood has been in bankruptcy since May, however the PP might be referring to the 12/8 acquisition of WC Wood assets by Whirlpool.

EDIT: Actually it appears one of the Ca factories was shut down with little/ no warning in November.

Hope things work out for the OP.

 

[kfeuer]

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!

 

[mscoachung]

OT again. Sorry, got more info from DH. We were scheduled to go in and do the new retrofit of the plant. It was around Nov. 18th that they released all employees because their buyout fell thru. We were to get our contract in December and got the call they closed. He doesn't know anything about WP buying the assets but if I find out I'll let you know. That means they may have the inventory now so hopefully you'll get your new fridge?
BTW, We don't work at WP. We are contractors for their plants along with several other companies. Have been for 30 years. If you own an appliance, our systems painted it.

 

[Thumper_Man]

I work for our State's Attorney General's Office. Here we have a consumer division that deals with situations like these. If you state AG's has one, I suggest filing a complaint with them. This way, if Whirlpool is indeed filing bankruptcy, you will be one of the first in line to get any compensation due to you. Make copies of all the documentation you have and submit this along with your complaint.

Do Not take Lowes up on their offer to have it fixed. I know it is a major burden, but this will give recourse to Whirlpool to not honor their agreement. Having it fixed by a 3rd party will void the warranty and agreement, and you will not be compensated once the bankruptcy court has granted their request.