On May 30, I purchased a $2,500 LG-manufactured, Kenmore refrigerator from my local Sears in Reading, PA. I selected it over competing models for two reasons:
* My wife liked it
* It was promoted as Energy Star compliant and listed on the Energy Star website, meaning it meets the U.S. Federal Government's Energy Star standard, uses significantly less energy, costs less to operate, and produces less global warming pollution than comparable models.
On February 10, I received a letter from Sears explaining that I had been misled. My refrigerator does not meet the Energy Star standard.in fact, according to Consumer Reports, it actually uses twice as much electricity as I was told when I purchased it.
LG's Public Offer
Neither Sears nor LG has offered an apology for misleading me or others.instead, LG and Sears are offering:
1. To replace a component in the refrigerator to "improve" its energy performance, but not enough to actually meet the Energy Star standard, which is why I originally purchased it.
2. To send me a check for $71 to cover the additional energy costs I have incurred since I purchased the machine. They have not explained how this was calculated.
3. To send me additional checks over the life of the refrigerator to cover the additional costs, which they have not explained how they will calculate.
The Problem
Unfortunately, their offer is completely insufficient. It fails to address a few significant issues:
1. LG lied to consumers
2. Sears did not verify LG's claims and so aided and abetted the LG deception
3. It does not address the additional global warming pollution that resulted from consumers, including me, buying this particular refrigerator for the express purpose of generating less global warming pollution than comparable models.
My Simple Request
This webpage and the accompanying blog will help track my efforts to accomplish a few very simple objectives. Here is what I want:
1. My money back so I can go purchase a refrigerator that makes my wife happy and actually meets the Energy Star requirements.
2. A meaningful, scientifically valid, offer to offset the resulting greenhouse gas pollution the refrigerator (including efforts to fix it) generated since I purchased it.
3. A meaningful apology from LG. (Note: I do not want "we are sorry if you feel misled...")
4. A meaningful apology from Sears. (Note: I do not want "we are sorry if you feel misled...")
5. An explanation of how the $71 was calculated.
6. An explanation of what the replacement component is and *proof* that it will actually improve energy performance.
7. All other affected consumers to be given the same offer I receive.
FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS — www.lgfridgefury.org
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