Sears
Microwave Quit Cooking at Under Three Years, $30 Diagnostic Fee

We purchased our Microwave oven from a Sears department store, in May of so it is not yet 3 years old. The salesman did not think a maintenance agreement was necessary, and neither did we, since our previous microwaves had lasted about 10 years each with no problems.

The model we bought, based on ratings in Consumer Reports, was #721.62259, and it worked fine until yesterday until it suddenly stopped cooking. It is still able to be programmed, though, and I can set the kitchen timer. It will do everything that it is supposed to do except cook.

My complaint is that there is only one warranted part, the magnatron, which is essentially the brains of the microwave. I do not know if the magnatron is the problem, but it will cost me $30 to find out, plus the gasoline to get to the service center. Even if the magnatron turns out to be the problem, which I doubt, I still would be charged the $30 diagnostic fee. The people on the phone were quite clear that if it is not the magnatron, the other parts necessary to fix it would add up to more than the thing is worth. Finally I talked to a man who quietly advised me to just "junk the thing."

Microwave ovens should last longer than 3 years, although Sears blamed the problem on government regulations. There must be some government regulation requiring companies to make inferior products that will wear out soon, thus stimulating the economy.

Anyway, I feel ripped-off, because I was used to the days when things were well-made, and you didn't have to pay a third of the cost of a new product just to find out what was wrong with the old one. No wonder we've become a throwaway society. I advise no one to buy Sears Kenmore microwave ovens, and I'm going to let Consumer Reports know about it, too.

Company: Sears
Country: USA
State: Ohio
City: Columbus
Address: 1400 Polaris Pkwy
Phone: 6147972095

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