Home warranty issue

[Gary Fowler]

We have a home warranty policy that will fix or replace just about all the appliances in the house. The over the range microwave quit working. Took 5 days to get a serviceman to come look at it (Friday). Magnatron, transformer, diode, thermostat and capacitor all had to be ordered and serviceman was to return 7 days later to install the parts. The transformer didn't come in in time so service was cancelled (part came in about 4:30 PM Friday) so service was again scheduled for 7 days (19 DAYS OF DOWNTIME) later. Apparently they only come to Bismarck area on Fridays. So service man was to come again now about 3 weeks into the downtime. I wanted to go visit my brother in law who had open heart surgery so I wasn't at home when the service man came Friday. He couldn't take down the microwave from above the range by himself so now a technician came today (Wed now 24 days )to install the parts after I took down the microwave for them.
So, he puts all the new parts in and the magnetron was damaged during shipment and shorted when he tested it. NOW, we wait another 7 days for the second magnetron to get here from the parts warehouse. IF everything works when this latest part is installed it will be 31 days to fix a microwave. So far almost $200 in parts have been replaced. I got the Kenmore microwave on clearance for $99 4 years ago.
The technician said the insurance policy is that they will spend about 3 times the value of the appliance before replacing it. No wonder Sears is losing money, however the technician said that his repair division of Sears is making $Millions each year.

SURE GLAD IT ISNT SOMETHING LIKE THE HVAC UNIT THAT WENT DOWN.

 

[Gary Fowler]

This just hasn't been my day so far. Yesterday I went to Autozone to get a purge valve (fuel tank) for the wife's Bravada. I got up early this morning to get a jump on the heat, got the old one off after a bit of a struggle and it looked nothing like the part that I was sold yesterday. Back to the parts store for a replacement. Found out that my car uses a combo canister/purge valve combo which is not in stock, have to order it, will be in at 1pm (maybe). So now I am 88 miles into getting this part and still have to make another 44 mile round trip to get the part, 134 miles to get a piece of plastic which by the way is ridiculously priced at $48 at Autozone. I should have ordered it online for as little as $16. Several versions of this selling from as little as $16 to as much a $35 and all look the same with original Delco part numbers.

 

[Bird]

Gary, Sears has worked on our kitchen range (glass top), the ice maker in the refrigerator, a window unit A/C, and our washing machine. Never had a complaint until recently when they sent a contractor instead of a Sears employee, and the contractor had no idea what he was doing and eventually left without fixing anything. Unfortunately, I'm afraid it's only going to get worse.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Most of the time such as is the case with your microwave it is just better for you to replace it, and as far as the fact that 1 serviceman couldn't get it down , he didn't want to or he could have, there seems to be a lot of that in the service industry these days.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Most of the time such as is the case with your microwave it is just better for you to replace it, and as far as the fact that 1 serviceman couldn't get it down , he didn't want to or he could have, there seems to be a lot of that in the service industry these days.

As a mid fifties guy with a few to many pounds having installed these I suspect your correct on the lack of desire. Also probably some issues with being allowed to get away with that kind of work ethic.

 

[Thomas]

Most of todays appliances are flip of coin,buy the extra insurance $$$'s deal w/down time also time lost from work plus phone calls,or cross your fingers hope it will last for number years,we found this out about 3 years ago being nickel and dime to death with washer and stove were about 10 years old...those 2 items went to the dump.

 

[kcflhrc]

I installed my over the range microwave all by myself. The guy was just lazy. Home warranties are at best a crap shoot. If I can give any advice stay away from Samsung Appliances. Stick with GE or LG.

 

[Paddy]

when we built a new home, we bought a kitchen "set" and bought the warranty. at one month to go, the induction cook top blew.
They did the same as your case, many tries, parts arriving that were damaged. Finally after nearly 2 months, they gave up and agreed to either replace or "refund". Lucky us, the negotiated price was "buy the set and get the cook top at half price!"

So instead of replacing, they gave us what we paid. Half what it would cost to replace. It is in the contract....
We complained and the store met us half way.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

I won't deal with an appliance warranty unless it's an in store replacement policy. It's not worth the hassle to me. Fix it myself or replace it myself.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I find these warrantys to be a waste of money for the consumer, and almost 100% profit for the company selling them....

 

[oosik]

I don't know what those home warrantee policies cost but so far I've replaced the microwave, refrigerator and hot water heater. That's around $1200 in the 36 years I've been here. I do all the work myself. Designed the house for easy access to all appliances.

Its just a whole lot easier, for me, to go in to "the big city" - pick up a new appliance - bring it home and install it myself. No waiting, no parts to order, no ignorant service techs - and most of all - - NO BS.

 

[coobie]

I find these warrantys to be a waste of money for the consumer, and almost 100% profit for the company selling them....

++1 this

 

[TheMan419]

Only time they are good is in selling a house. Cost like $650. Buyer is covered for a year. So you don稚 have to hear them ***** if something goes wrong.

 

[rustyshakelford]

My mom was having issue with her fridge leaking everywhere. The freezer would freeze up and leave a puddle every single day. She called the home warranty company and they were out atleast 4 times. She called and complained every time because it was never fixed. The company finally bought her a brand new fridge after spending tons on parts for the old one. She’s happy and sings the praises especially with a pool. I’m thinking about getting one since the house is nearly 4 years old and pool stuff adds up quick

Brett

 

[buckeyefarmer]

They sometimes work out, but the extended warranty on my TV would have cost half the price of the TV.
My fridge lasted 20 yrs before it went, and was probably $400 new. Wonder what 20 yrs of warranty would have cost.

 

[newbury]

On the subject of microwaves and warranty -

Our household probably couldn't function WITHOUT a microwave. I'm about the only one that cooks full meals using the oven, slow cooker, range etc.
But even then I'll only do a full cook once or twice a week. Pop the leftovers in the freezer/fridge and reheat the rest of the week.

Since the microwave is so critical I try to keep a stock of the 1100W size. Right now I've 3 in Virginia and three or four in Mississippi. From about 1980 to 1990 we only had one, a bigger one. But when that died the rest of the family quit functioning. So instead of getting one big one (who cooks a 13 pound turkey in a microwave?) I got 2 small ones. Kept one in the "man cave" as a lightly used spare. A four or five years later the one in the kitchen died, swapped them out. Bought 2 more when they went on "Black Friday" type sale.

Kept that practice up and the family keeps on nuking. It seems I can always pick up a well reviewed model that usually sells for $100+ for about $60 or less. But not when one microwave dies, might have to wait a few months.

NEVER buy a warranty, they usually last about 5 or 6 years.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

Only time they are good is in selling a house. Cost like $650. Buyer is covered for a year. So you don稚 have to hear them ***** if something goes wrong.

Once the house is inspected and sold, the buyer has no recourse on the seller, unless the seller deceptively and purposely hid something. The buyer should hire a certified house inspector if they are worried.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Forget the extended warranties on anything, home warranties, all other such. Waste of money. Everything today is planned obsolensce and life spans are short. Now that almost everybody has this syuff, the manufacturers have to keep stuff failing to assure continued production.

One appliance repairman told me that if a new appliance gets past the 5 year mark you are home free. He said it was unreal what some people will pay to fix an old appliance; many time almost as much as buying a new one. His other advice; never let a serviceman open a refrigerant system, it guarantees a second failure. Like me, setup a emergency account that is only touched to replace versus repair. I keep $5K in there all the time. Never has failed me and no service hassels.

Ron

 

[TheMan419]

Once the house is inspected and sold, the buyer has no recourse on the seller, unless the seller deceptively and purposely hid something. The buyer should hire a certified house inspector if they are worried.

That is true, however it won't stop the buyer from trying to say you were deceptive and hid the fact the furnace was on its last legs or whatever. The $650 we paid for the house warranty when we sold was a good deal. Furnace went out a few months later. Buyer paid a $75 deductible and the furnace was replaced. No argument over if we knew something was wrong with the furnace or not.

Yes in that case I likely would have won if the seller had chosen to sue me. However I would have had the cost of a lawyer and the stress of dealing with the law suit.

 

[Oaktree]

Forget the extended warranties on anything, home warranties, all other such. Waste of money. Everything today is planned obsolensce and life spans are short. Now that almost everybody has this syuff, the manufacturers have to keep stuff failing to assure continued production.

One appliance repairman told me that if a new appliance gets past the 5 year mark you are home free. He said it was unreal what some people will pay to fix an old appliance; many time almost as much as buying a new one. His other advice; never let a serviceman open a refrigerant system, it guarantees a second failure.

Meh. Hack appliance repairmen have been saying that as far back as I remember. The biggest difference I can see is that now all timers are electronic instead of mechanical, possibly more prone to power surge damage. I've never had a refrigerant system fail, but I'd put that into the "major repair" category. My present refrigerator is a bit over 15 years old, and has never needed any repair. Dunno about the microwave...it was my wife's before we met, again still works fine. Come to think of it, I can't think of an appliance I've had where I didn't feel I got more than my money's worth.
Parts availability is the biggest potential roadblock for appliance repair. With the short product cycles we have today who knows if replacement parts will be available or for how long.

Agree with you on extended warrantees. Nothing but a profit center for the seller. If a given appliance was so unreliable that I needed one, I'd look for something else.