craigdailypress.com

To the Editor:

I have lived here in Craig for more than a year now, and have been encouraged by friends and family to buy locally. I have done so when remodeling my home and purchasing major appliances.

I have been very happy until I made my latest purchase, a new refrigerator that I bought from a local merchant. They delivered my new fridge, unpacked it from the crate in my driveway, installed it and went about their business.

That's when the problems started.

First, the icemaker was not working properly; it was less than 24 hours old at this point. So they came back out the next day and said they would have to order the part, and that they would call when it was in. A week later we called them back, only to have the repairman come out and say there was nothing wrong and leave. So I called back yet again at which time they came out and put in a new icemaker.

Now, on to the other problems.

The fridge would not go lower than 40 degrees, and the extra ice feature would not work. So again I called asking if the three-week-old frig could just be sent back as a "lemon." I did not receive a call back as promised so I went to the store. The owner informed me that all new things break. That I was expecting too much for a new appliance to just work. Then he informed me that the fridge was not broken and the only reason he replaced the icemaker was to make the old woman happy (the old woman being my mom).

He then proceeded to inform me that he did not have to fix my frig, and that I could try to call the manufacturer but they would be worthless (I might add that they were not worthless).

His final statement was he would order a new thermostat, and then he asked "did you want your frig fixed or not?"

I asked him if he treated all of customers this way, he said "Yes, if they came in with an attitude." I did not realize going to a store where you had just spent $1,000 for a new appliance and asking for it to be repaired was considered "having an attitude."

Thankfully, the manufacturer found an honest repair company to fix my brand new fridge.

The brand new frig, which is truly broken and in need of a new door that vents to the frig from the freezer. So, thank you to Mr. Appliance. You have been great and your customer service is outstanding.

Diane Lee

Craig