Our LG double oven stove has been broken twice this year. In February, the bottom convection oven of the seven year old stove wouldn’t work and a local repairman determined a controller board was broken. Over $330.00 later the oven was repaired. Six months later, the repairman confirmed the same thing had happened. We were disgusted and talked about repairs or buying a new stove. My husband, not one to sit back and take anything without a discussion, called the company to explain the situation about the board having lasted only six months.
He spoke with the initial call centre person for the better part of an hour, then asked to speak to her supervisor. A stern sounding man reported that the board was only guaranteed for a month. How ridiculous is that! My husband kept his cool and referred to the man as sir, listening, then saying what he thought. The man finally offered my husband $200.00 which was not sufficient. After an hour and a half, he was told to call to speak to the same man in two days as the company would have a final determination. Of course my husband called back.
The full cost of the repair was covered. The repairman was surprised to receive a call from the company covering the total cost of the repair as well as the part. “That never happens,” he told us.
We asked him what he thought were the best appliances from the various brands he deals with and he named LG. If they are the best, how long do the worst appliances last these days? Obviously, the more functions on an appliance, the greater the chance of problems. My mother’s old stove only cooked and baked but it lasted for generations. However, that stove was a huge improvement from a wood stove.
To us, it was worth my husband’s time to have the total cost of the repair covered. How many people have the time or determination to do the same? Shouldn’t a company guarantee its parts for longer than a month? If not, the quality should be reflected in the price. Also, who knows why the company covered the cost? What magic words did the trick? Maybe it was my husband’s investment of time over two days or his attitude which brought the positive result? We will never know.
Meanwhile, the stove has been working well for the last month but the controller board is past its guaranteed date. We’ll see what happens.