We purchased this GE Profile Side by Side refrigerator. $1,617.30
This GE Profile Dishwasher, $429.30
This GE Profile SpaceSave Microwave $412.20
And this Gas Range $1,798.20
AND MANY MANY OTHER ITEMS that day totaling just over $14,000.
Fast Forward 4 years and 2 more children later........Today May 20,2011
We are storing our food on the back porch in the 20 year old refrigerator that came with our single wide trailer. Our stainless steel refrigerator looks beautiful next to our handcrafted Maple cabinetry, BUT there's water dripping from the ice maker, the ice cream has melted all down the inside grates covering everything inside (which has also thawed, and therefore ruined everything else in the freezer). Top of the refirgerator keeps the food cool at best and the crisper drawers have frozen every vegetable and fruit solid! Not just ice crystals on the outside...but frozen solid...apples and oranges like balls of ice, heads of lettuce like bowling balls! We've contemplated putting the ice cream in the crisper and the milk in the freezer... All in all I'd say we've lost $300-$400 worth of food in the unit. It wouldn't be nearly as frustrating if it had just quit...but we'll defrost the freezer coils tomorrow and it will work again for a month or two and then BAM! out of nowhere water will drip from the freezer and our carrots and celery will be like the wooden "play food" at the children's museum. GRRRR.
Having a craving for leftovers or some microwave popcorn? Bummer...our microwave stops heating...just turns itself off, like a kindergartener at 3:30, after about 3 minutes of heating on high. Couldn't reheat leftovers if we tried. I'm remembering how my grandmother used to reheat dinner on the top of the stove and in the oven...Which I think was an ingenious way to reheat supper IN 1955!!!!!!
Finally, our dishwasher~ My wonderful husband the plumber replaced a leaking sump this winter from the inner workings of the dishwasher...it had just rotted a hole through the plastic pipe...now the seal on the outside of of the door is leaking. With a family of 6, we'd spend all night doing dishes (like my grandma did) if we didn't use our dishwasher. We just put a towel down and mop up the water...
So, I'm now on a mission to get GE and Lowes to stand behind their 4 year old products. Follow me through this journey as a Small Town Girl takes on Corporate America.
I commend you for having the courage and determination to stand up for yourself and your family. I am behind you in this journey and may you get the full refund that you deserve. I will check in periodically to see how this unfolds. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteShelly Kulkoski
I truly believe that many things are not built as well as they used to be. Why can't something energy efficient and convenient also be well built? I have a GE Spacemaker combination microwave and convection oven. I've had to replace the door once and from what I understand reading other folks comments may have to again. With my luck they will stop making the replacement part. Go get 'em!
ReplyDeleteInteresting, we had almost the same problem with really expensive Kitchenaid fridge and stove. The 2000.00 fridge froze all my vegetables, lights didnt work within the first week etc.
ReplyDeleteThe 1900.00 stoves cleaning cycle would no longer work after 2 years, Id used it maybe 4x.
The good news for you...while it might take a while and a lot of frustration (they sent out repair people 7x over a one year period) I had to just keep calling saying um nope your latest fix didnt work...in the end they replaced my stove, not the fridge, but they did fix the fridge.
Keep bugging them until they replace or repair the appliances, and, be sure to send a registered letter to Lowes head quarters, even though it will likely be GE that takes care of this for you, I would definitely send a letter to Lowes, and never step foot in their store again.
Good luck!
I'll boycott both GE and Lowes until they come up with an acceptable solution to this ridiculous mess! I have a 55 year old refrigerator and 35 year old washer/dryer that all work beautifully. Seems like the price goes up and the quality goes down these days. I'll be back daily to see what they are doing. Would like to follow you, but that button doesn't seem to be there!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you! I know the feeling after having our new stove and washer both fail way sooner than they should have. The stove was fixed under warranty and has stayed functional, but after six or seven service calls, my Whirlpool Cabrio still works only when it's in the mood.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it interesting how we're pounded all day long with reminders to be green and reduce and recycle and then told it's perfectly reasonable to replace our appliances every year or two?
This is an outrage! I've lived in my house built in 1978 and the Frigidaire wall oven and Jenn Aire cooktop are still working just fine. That's over 33 years!!!!!! And, just what you would hope for in well-made appliances. I did replace the original Kitchenaid dishwasher 7 years ago, so it only lasted 26 years. Keep sending registered letters to both Lowes and GE and ask your local TV consumer reporter for some help. That kind of "advertising" might get some action.
ReplyDeleteKay in NJ