Home warranty issue

Gary Fowler · Jun 6, 2018

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 · Jun 6, 2018

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 · Jun 6, 2018

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 · Jun 6, 2018

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 · Jun 6, 2018

Lineman North Florida said:
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 · Jun 6, 2018

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 · Jun 6, 2018

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 · Jun 6, 2018

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 · Jun 6, 2018

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.