Whirlpool service problems...NYT Sunday

[luxflairguy]

Here's a re-print of the NYT Haggler acticle on Sunday

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/y...-customer-service-problem.html?pagewanted=all

 

[whirlcool]

Amazing, just amazing.

I probably would have taken the microwave back to the store where I bought it from, set it on the counter and told the people "here is this POS I bought from you" and walked out the door. No disposal fee. What are they going to do? Chase after you carrying that microwave and try to force you to take it back?

As for the $216.95, I probably would have filed a claim against the store in small claims court.

 

[arbilab]

Another detail that subtly appears is, this model is so chronically faulty the entire stock of replacement parts has been exhausted. Unknown whether that means just that depot, city, state, the whole US, or the whole world.

Whirlpool doesn't make microwaves, they label them. AFAIK, the US doesn't. My (apartment) 2001 Whirlpool says "made in Korea", which may be true. I doubt Korea actually makes them any more. They contract it to you-know-who.

I doubt WP actually "makes" anything here. At most they assemble them. Dell for example, who must be able technically to say "made in US" in order to sell to DOD, only loads software here into Chinese machines. Somehow that qualifies as "made".

My wave still works, despite its wonky firmware. Festooned with useless cycle buttons, it won't let you change power without cancelling and starting over. Thanks for nothing, Whirlstar. I mean Goldpool. [eyeroll]

 

[philr]

I don't get something: What's the $75 disposal fee?  Are there places where you can't just throw these things in the garbage? I mean, even those I see in the garbage often end being picked up by scrappers before the garbage truck arrives...