DirectDriveDave
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- Joined
- Oct 11, 2011
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Well I mean come on, what do you expect from Lots of Grief?
Sears recalls 800,000 Kenmore Dehumidifiers After Fires
- Thread starter tomturbomatic
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dustin92
Well-known member
Here is the email I sent sears...
Here is the email I sent sears about our dehumidifier..
" We have a Kenmore Dehumidifier that is being recalled (model 580.53509300, serial 304TA04758), and I do not think your "remedy" to the recall is fair to customers. I know our dehumidifier cost far more than the $100 total we will be getting for "replacement", we bought the dehumidifier and it has worked well, but I think Sears should be covering complete replacement costs of the product, because had we not known about the recall, we would still be using the dehumidifier, which seemed to be working fine. They want us to scrap it, and then buy a new one at sears. TWO WORDS: Not Happening! We obviously have already stopped using it, because I am not about to risk burning our house down, or risk the lives of our family or pets, but we will most likely go without a dehumidifier because we simply cannot afford a new one. Even with the $75 gift card and $25 credit toward a new dehumidifier, we simply cannot afford to replace it. I think because of Kenmore's lack of quality that caused the recall, they should be AT LEAST covering full replacement costs, not to mention the danger the product posed to our home and family. I cannot count the number of times we left our pets at home with the dehumidifier running, what would have happened if it had caught fire? Or the number of nights we all went to sleep with it running? It was in the basement, so had it caught fire, it may have been too late to get out by the time we noticed upstairs. Fire will spread quickly in a 63 year old home. Even had something happened while we were out of town, we could have lost everything. I thank God that nothing did happen, although I had noticed a "hot" smell coming from the dehumidifier last week and it has been off since. What could have happened if I hadn't smelled it? Fire? Obviously possible- they have a recall out for a fire hazard. If Sears can't at least cover repairs or full replacement, I am absolutely done shopping in your stores and will tell everyone I know."
Will see what kind of response I get....
Here is the email I sent sears about our dehumidifier..
" We have a Kenmore Dehumidifier that is being recalled (model 580.53509300, serial 304TA04758), and I do not think your "remedy" to the recall is fair to customers. I know our dehumidifier cost far more than the $100 total we will be getting for "replacement", we bought the dehumidifier and it has worked well, but I think Sears should be covering complete replacement costs of the product, because had we not known about the recall, we would still be using the dehumidifier, which seemed to be working fine. They want us to scrap it, and then buy a new one at sears. TWO WORDS: Not Happening! We obviously have already stopped using it, because I am not about to risk burning our house down, or risk the lives of our family or pets, but we will most likely go without a dehumidifier because we simply cannot afford a new one. Even with the $75 gift card and $25 credit toward a new dehumidifier, we simply cannot afford to replace it. I think because of Kenmore's lack of quality that caused the recall, they should be AT LEAST covering full replacement costs, not to mention the danger the product posed to our home and family. I cannot count the number of times we left our pets at home with the dehumidifier running, what would have happened if it had caught fire? Or the number of nights we all went to sleep with it running? It was in the basement, so had it caught fire, it may have been too late to get out by the time we noticed upstairs. Fire will spread quickly in a 63 year old home. Even had something happened while we were out of town, we could have lost everything. I thank God that nothing did happen, although I had noticed a "hot" smell coming from the dehumidifier last week and it has been off since. What could have happened if I hadn't smelled it? Fire? Obviously possible- they have a recall out for a fire hazard. If Sears can't at least cover repairs or full replacement, I am absolutely done shopping in your stores and will tell everyone I know."
Will see what kind of response I get....
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Dustin:
"Will see what kind of response I get...."
If you get one at all, I will need to refer back to the "Sanitizing Underwear" thread for laundry tips!
"Will see what kind of response I get...."
If you get one at all, I will need to refer back to the "Sanitizing Underwear" thread for laundry tips!
dustin92
Well-known member
Yeah, me too. If I don't get a response, I'm considering putting the thing in the middle of the driveway and letting it run until it catches fire, then carrying it into sears.
Sears Dehumidifier Recall
Dustin and others if I had one of the effected units I would just take it BACK to Sears and ask for a new replacement machine or demand they FIX the defective one, if they will not budge go to your county courthouse and file a suit in small claims court for the cost of replacing the DH, Sears will usually give in when they get the paperwork from the county rather than sending an attorney to argue their side of the case, it may take a while but it will almost always works.
On a related note, the last Made in The USA DHs that WP built and sold under the Sears and WP names about 10-15 years ago also had a HUGE [ one or two million units ] recall for fires, on this recall they provided a rework kit for most models and a few models were just replaced.
Fires are nothing new on electrical appliances where too much plastic [ or other combustible materials are used, ever wounder how many houses were burned down by those cool old wooden cabinet TVs and console Stereos ? ] is used in areas where a part that overheats can cause the plastic housing to catch fire. If products were better designed to minimize the possibility of fires we would see far fewer recalls.
Dustin and others if I had one of the effected units I would just take it BACK to Sears and ask for a new replacement machine or demand they FIX the defective one, if they will not budge go to your county courthouse and file a suit in small claims court for the cost of replacing the DH, Sears will usually give in when they get the paperwork from the county rather than sending an attorney to argue their side of the case, it may take a while but it will almost always works.
On a related note, the last Made in The USA DHs that WP built and sold under the Sears and WP names about 10-15 years ago also had a HUGE [ one or two million units ] recall for fires, on this recall they provided a rework kit for most models and a few models were just replaced.
Fires are nothing new on electrical appliances where too much plastic [ or other combustible materials are used, ever wounder how many houses were burned down by those cool old wooden cabinet TVs and console Stereos ? ] is used in areas where a part that overheats can cause the plastic housing to catch fire. If products were better designed to minimize the possibility of fires we would see far fewer recalls.
Fascinating article
Thanks Phil. I think this is related to all of the big independent department stores joining Federated and then all becoming Macys, all selling the same crap. Going to a different store used to be an adventure because of the chance to see new things. Now they are all the same. Malls got that way too, all the same stores.
Thanks Phil. I think this is related to all of the big independent department stores joining Federated and then all becoming Macys, all selling the same crap. Going to a different store used to be an adventure because of the chance to see new things. Now they are all the same. Malls got that way too, all the same stores.
Fires in older wood cabinet TV's and Hi-fis weren't so much of a problem-the cabinets were designed so the parts inside got adequate cooling.And these devices from that era used tubes which ran hotter than SS designs.The plastic just seemed to be more flammable than the wood-or as the plastic burned-it melted and dripped burning plastic onto other surfaces-wood didn't do this.Fires in that early equipment were pretty rare-becuase the devices were better designed.And their fuses or breakers opened before things got too hot.When you look into a wood cabinet electronic device-the space inside was large so heat could be disappated-and the tubes or hot parts were far away from the wood parts.Vent holes on back panels were used.Some early cabinets didn't even have back covers-so heat got out easily.The pix tube cup on wood cabinet sets prevented folks from putting them too close to the wall-and for stereos-most folks didn't put them too against the wall.Only a few in of clearence was enough.
Our first dehumidifier was a Westinghouse that was purchased about '59 or '60 from Swallen's on Wooster Pk. I remember going there with my parents to get it, and seeing all the appliances in the showroom.
This DH was all metal except the control knob. It had no problems until sometime in the early 70's when we heard a pop, and a puff of smoke came out of it. The control had gone bad, so I went to the Westinghouse parts place and got a new control, and the thing ran for several more years until the fan motor went out. My parents went back to Swallen's and got another Westinghouse which we had until the late 80's, when it stopped working, due most likely to lightning striking the power lines nearby.
This DH was all metal except the control knob. It had no problems until sometime in the early 70's when we heard a pop, and a puff of smoke came out of it. The control had gone bad, so I went to the Westinghouse parts place and got a new control, and the thing ran for several more years until the fan motor went out. My parents went back to Swallen's and got another Westinghouse which we had until the late 80's, when it stopped working, due most likely to lightning striking the power lines nearby.
rinso
Well-known member
Sears Recall: Ooopsie Doodle! 
Makes me wish I still had the 30+-year-old Kenmore dehumidifier my brother-in-law gave me, of which it took more than 1,000 visits to my parents' furnace room in their basement before I noticed--realized!--that it was missing!
-- Dave
-- Dave
dustin92
Well-known member
Better hold on to your undies...I got a reply....
I got a reply to the email I sent Sears a few days ago...
" Dear Dustin Kauffman,
Thank you for contacting Sears. We are always interested in hearing from our customers. Please accept our apology for any inconvenience you may have encountered with the dehumidifier.
The amount provided by the recall is the most we can offer for this situation. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Once again, thank you for contacting us. Let us know if you have further questions.
Thank you for shopping at Sears. We appreciate your business.
Sincerely,
Maria L. Sears Holdings Corporation"
Not Impressed at all, I think I'm just going to carry it into sears and tell them to replace it.
I got a reply to the email I sent Sears a few days ago...
" Dear Dustin Kauffman,
Thank you for contacting Sears. We are always interested in hearing from our customers. Please accept our apology for any inconvenience you may have encountered with the dehumidifier.
The amount provided by the recall is the most we can offer for this situation. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Once again, thank you for contacting us. Let us know if you have further questions.
Thank you for shopping at Sears. We appreciate your business.
Sincerely,
Maria L. Sears Holdings Corporation"
Not Impressed at all, I think I'm just going to carry it into sears and tell them to replace it.
Dustin,
For me, it would be worth the $140 loss to not have to go into a Sears store. I understand your hurt feelings, but these dehumidifiers were built between 2003-2005. It's not right to expect them to hand everyone a full refund.
Sears isn't the same quality company of the past. No offense, but by the age in your profile, you weren't even born when they sold good stuff. Sadly, we live in a disposable society.
For me, it would be worth the $140 loss to not have to go into a Sears store. I understand your hurt feelings, but these dehumidifiers were built between 2003-2005. It's not right to expect them to hand everyone a full refund.
Sears isn't the same quality company of the past. No offense, but by the age in your profile, you weren't even born when they sold good stuff. Sadly, we live in a disposable society.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
FEH!
"The amount provided by the recall is the most we can offer for this situation."
Sorry, Maria. This is not the most you can offer, it's the most you will offer.
I personally think this country needs a "Make Them Whole" law, where corporations must stand fully responsible for poor design and substandard quality caused by the race for profit at any cost. I once had to eat a car over a Ford design flaw that they would not fix, and for which there was no fix.
"Making whole" is a legal concept that provides for restoring the plaintiff to the condition they would be in had they not had a particular misfortune - the defendant has to FULLY refund or repair or whatever it takes to get things to the point they would have been otherwise.
If corporations had to make consumers whole again under these circumstances, they'd be very much more cautious and conservative about what they put on the market, and about who produced it.
"The amount provided by the recall is the most we can offer for this situation."
Sorry, Maria. This is not the most you can offer, it's the most you will offer.
I personally think this country needs a "Make Them Whole" law, where corporations must stand fully responsible for poor design and substandard quality caused by the race for profit at any cost. I once had to eat a car over a Ford design flaw that they would not fix, and for which there was no fix.
"Making whole" is a legal concept that provides for restoring the plaintiff to the condition they would be in had they not had a particular misfortune - the defendant has to FULLY refund or repair or whatever it takes to get things to the point they would have been otherwise.
If corporations had to make consumers whole again under these circumstances, they'd be very much more cautious and conservative about what they put on the market, and about who produced it.
Sandy,
I get your point, but it's a well known fact that 1927-31 GE monitor tops have issues. Should I go after GE for producing an inferior product?
Your desire to hold companies accountable is assuming the company willfully made an inferior product. It's not just that one company is cutting costs, they all are. Again, are you willing to pay the price for a quality designed and produced product? We all want something that will last forever for a low cost.
I get your point, but it's a well known fact that 1927-31 GE monitor tops have issues. Should I go after GE for producing an inferior product?
Your desire to hold companies accountable is assuming the company willfully made an inferior product. It's not just that one company is cutting costs, they all are. Again, are you willing to pay the price for a quality designed and produced product? We all want something that will last forever for a low cost.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Travis:
Yes, I am willing to pay more for quality.
There should certainly be a time limit on the sort of consumer protection I mentioned, but as matters stand, there is none whatever, which is ridiculous at best and highly damaging to consumers at worst. Corporations are thumbing their noses at consumers who purchased products in good faith.
One especially egregious example was the 2.7 liter Chrysler Corporation engine used in many Dodge Intrepids. The oil passages were too narrow, leading to under-lubrication of the engine and total engine failure, typically not long after the 60,000 mile mark. Chrysler disallowed warranty claims, calling it "lack of maintenance" (even in at least one case where the consumer could prove that every speck of recommended maintenance had been performed absolutely on time, by the Chrysler dealer who sold him the car). Many people suffered this failure while still paying for their cars. The cure? Total engine replacement, at a cost of thousands. Resale on Intrepids became abysmal; no used car dealer wanted them if they had the 2.7 liter.
I hear you that no company should be liable forever, but they should certainly be accountable for at least as long as the term of loans they themselves write!
Yes, I am willing to pay more for quality.
There should certainly be a time limit on the sort of consumer protection I mentioned, but as matters stand, there is none whatever, which is ridiculous at best and highly damaging to consumers at worst. Corporations are thumbing their noses at consumers who purchased products in good faith.
One especially egregious example was the 2.7 liter Chrysler Corporation engine used in many Dodge Intrepids. The oil passages were too narrow, leading to under-lubrication of the engine and total engine failure, typically not long after the 60,000 mile mark. Chrysler disallowed warranty claims, calling it "lack of maintenance" (even in at least one case where the consumer could prove that every speck of recommended maintenance had been performed absolutely on time, by the Chrysler dealer who sold him the car). Many people suffered this failure while still paying for their cars. The cure? Total engine replacement, at a cost of thousands. Resale on Intrepids became abysmal; no used car dealer wanted them if they had the 2.7 liter.
I hear you that no company should be liable forever, but they should certainly be accountable for at least as long as the term of loans they themselves write!
Sandy:
I understand your point. In the case of Chrysler, numerous consumers would have sued. I really don't want the government involved in forcing manufacturers to replace items for a certain lifespan.
My original point was that if you had bought a dehumidifier in 2003 and it was recalled this year, you shouldn't expect to get that dehumidifier replaced. That 10 year lifespan was well in excess of whatever warranty that the item had.
If you want to force manufacturers to build a better product, then push them for a longer warranty. Quality products generally have longer warranties.
In regard to paying for a better product, I would expect the item to cost triple (or more) than what China offers. We consumers have voted for cheaper goods for decades. This problem won't correct itself any faster than it was created. This is my main reason for going to whatever lengths to repair a vintage item over replacing it with a new piece of crap.
I understand your point. In the case of Chrysler, numerous consumers would have sued. I really don't want the government involved in forcing manufacturers to replace items for a certain lifespan.
My original point was that if you had bought a dehumidifier in 2003 and it was recalled this year, you shouldn't expect to get that dehumidifier replaced. That 10 year lifespan was well in excess of whatever warranty that the item had.
If you want to force manufacturers to build a better product, then push them for a longer warranty. Quality products generally have longer warranties.
In regard to paying for a better product, I would expect the item to cost triple (or more) than what China offers. We consumers have voted for cheaper goods for decades. This problem won't correct itself any faster than it was created. This is my main reason for going to whatever lengths to repair a vintage item over replacing it with a new piece of crap.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Travis:
"I really don't want the government involved in forcing manufacturers to replace items for a certain lifespan."
On that point, I'm afraid we will just have to agree to disagree.
"I really don't want the government involved in forcing manufacturers to replace items for a certain lifespan."
On that point, I'm afraid we will just have to agree to disagree.
My Kenmores not included
I received the postcard announcing the recall a couple weeks ago. I have two Kenmore dehumidifiers that look like the ones pictured on the card, and purchased during the time frame specified. Finally had time to check them today, and found my model numbers were not those affected by the recall.
The one with the touch controls worked the last time it was connected, but the one with a dial stopped working shortly after the one-year warranty ran out. I remember smoke came out of it, then the fan no longer ran, even though the compressor did. Since out of warranty, the cost of the part (fan motor) was more than a new machine. I sure was hoping it was one of those recalled!
I'm keeping the defunct one anyway in case the recall is expanded to include it.
I received the postcard announcing the recall a couple weeks ago. I have two Kenmore dehumidifiers that look like the ones pictured on the card, and purchased during the time frame specified. Finally had time to check them today, and found my model numbers were not those affected by the recall.
The one with the touch controls worked the last time it was connected, but the one with a dial stopped working shortly after the one-year warranty ran out. I remember smoke came out of it, then the fan no longer ran, even though the compressor did. Since out of warranty, the cost of the part (fan motor) was more than a new machine. I sure was hoping it was one of those recalled!
I'm keeping the defunct one anyway in case the recall is expanded to include it.
dustin92
Well-known member
Well, we went and bought a new one today, a Soleus Air (powered by Gree) 30 pint at Menards (not sears!) We ended up paying $138 for it, minus a 11% mail in rebate, which will be like $122 or so. So far I'm impressed. It makes no more noise than a box fan, and the compressor is nearly silent. It has a 1 year warranty, and we bought the 1 year extended warranty, so we are guaranteed at least two years out of it. I have it hooked up to a hose into the floor drain, and it nearly has a steady stream running out of it. We have been running the old kenmore (supervised of course!) along with the new one until the basement dries out (it was starting to mildew), but I just came upstairs and turned the old one off. Will see how quickly it shuts off (have set it to 40% humidity, it started at 75 percent and was already down to 55%.
