I purchased a $2000 (top of the line) Amana side by side stainless steel refrigerator with filtered ice and water along with a five year extended warranty for an additional $900. I bought an Amana because I wanted a refrigerator that was going to last for many years... Was a little skeptical of purchasing an extended warranty for a product that was advertised as the best...
From day one the ice maker was sluggish. When I called the repair service I was told that it was normal and to give it 24 hours to harvest the ice. There are only two of us here during the day so we bought ice at the store to give the refrigerator more than enough time to produce. Still sluggish... We call the repair service again and get the same answers only this time they tell me to make sure that the "arm" is down on the ice maker that it won't produce ice if the arm is up... Duh... We already knew this fact.
The refrigerator starts making this buzzing noise. It states in the manual that this noise is "normal" well I sit here and work on my computer all day long and I listen to every sound is makes. This noise is NOT NORMAL. The repair service also tells me. That is a good refrigerator and the buzzing noise you are hearing is normal, well the refrigerator stops cooling and we try to salvage the food that is left. The repair man comes and tells me the compressor has gone out and needs to be replaced.
So he takes it and replaces the compressor. Then the ice maker. Then a relay switch. This does not include the service calls where nothing could be done, these are all different service calls. Scuff marks and dents are also occuring during transport. At this point I want the lemon out of my life and out of my house!
I tell Amana it is a lemon and I want a replacement. Amana tells me after many hours of calling and getting transferred to different departments. It seems that when they hear the word lemon they send you somewhere else they don't want to deal with it.
Anyway I finally get someone in the "Dependability Reliability" Ha! Department that said the same thing has to go out FOUR times before Amana will replace it. This is a joke! I asked her how in the heck am I supposed to get a replacement if something different goes out every time. I got upset and started doing my research.
I found every contact name and number that I could find at Amana and Maytag that had anything to do with appliances and refrigeration. I also found the CEO Mr. Ralph Hake and read his "nice" comments on how he feels about customer service. I was then in the process of trying to get in touch with Mr. Ralph Hake CEO of Amana and Maytag when I got through to a lady at 1-866-550-5136 She told me that if the refrigerator goes out again they will replace it... I am sitting here as I write this listening to the buzzing noises. It sounds like the compressor is trying to click on and then it sounds like metal clicking together. I am just waiting for the buzzing to stop so I can unload my food in my ready and waiting ice chests.
I will never as long as I live purchase another product that has the Amana or Maytag name on it. When I went to buy the refrigerator I went to the Maytag store. I wanted a good appliance that would last ror many years. You pay more you expect more. Now after purchasing a $2900 refrigerator I have to leave my meat and frozen goods in a 45 year old Sears ColdSpot freezer that has worked from day one! Paid a whopping $45 for it used. 30 years ago.
The lady at Amana told me they would replace it if it went out again... I included the lady's phone number in hopes that it may help someone else. She was probably just blowing me off and will give me more excuses when I do have to call.
If this lady cannot help me I plan to contact Mr. Ralph Hake CEO of Maytag and tell him my story. The big guys think they are untouchable. They are not. I also hope that by including this information that Mr. Ralph Hake may just stumble across this message. Hmmm maybe he will at least send his condolescences.
One lady at Amana told me there is some kind of lemon law but most people don't pursue it. All I ever wanted was a good refrigerator. Now I sit here and listen to the buzzing. Just waiting to go and find all of my food ruined yet again!!!
I cannot even sell this refrigerator to anyone in good conscience because I know it is a lemon. I don't fault the company for producing a lemon. It happens to everyone. I know that every product cannot be perfect but I do expect that when someone purchases a lemon that the company will in good faith replace it.
I have no trust now in any manufacturer. None of them can be trusted. Maybe I will go to the junk store and buy me a good refrigerator to match my 45 year old coldspot. Next time I make a major appliance purchase I will most definitely do my research. Not listening to the advertising but listening to consumers like me. The ones with the real experience.
Maytag gained my trust in advertising. They lost it in one sale. Lesson learned. Don't pay attention to advertising tactics. Do your research before you purchase. Just go ask your neighbor.
Suzanne
Columbus, Mississippi
U.S.A.
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