Doors rust
Complaint
Tim Koehler
Country: United States
Our Maytag refrigerator was about a year old when we noticed rust on the edge of the stainless steel doors. I called Maytag and they were nice enough to replace the doors even though the warranty had expired by their standards. Keep in mind, the warranty starts when you purchase the product, not when you install it. We ordered our appliances from Lowe's well in advance of our kitchen remodel so we would have them when we needed them. The time our appliances sat in Lowe's warehouse used up 2 months of our warranty.
Now, the new stainless steel doors are rusting and they are refusing to do any thing about it. Should stainless steel rust? Maytag doesn't seem to care whether their product performs the way they should. It's all about the warrany. Once the warranty lapses, they could care less whether their product blows up—that's the customers problem. Whatever happened to building a quality product that lasted and customers bought for generations? Obviously, that's a thing of the past.
My goal in writing this is to make consumers aware of appliance warranties. When I spoke to Lucas, a Maytag customer service supervisor, he informed me their products offered no warranty on the finish of the product. So, according to Lucas, the finish on your brand new Maytag appliance could flake off like dandruff and it's your problem regardless whether it's a manufacturing defect or not.
Remember: Buyer beware!
Now, the new stainless steel doors are rusting and they are refusing to do any thing about it. Should stainless steel rust? Maytag doesn't seem to care whether their product performs the way they should. It's all about the warrany. Once the warranty lapses, they could care less whether their product blows up—that's the customers problem. Whatever happened to building a quality product that lasted and customers bought for generations? Obviously, that's a thing of the past.
My goal in writing this is to make consumers aware of appliance warranties. When I spoke to Lucas, a Maytag customer service supervisor, he informed me their products offered no warranty on the finish of the product. So, according to Lucas, the finish on your brand new Maytag appliance could flake off like dandruff and it's your problem regardless whether it's a manufacturing defect or not.
Remember: Buyer beware!
Comments
I have tried to get help with no results
Oh wait, I thought stainless did not rust. Our pots and pans are 50 years old and have yet to show one tick of a spot.
Used a magnet to make sure it was iron, not knowing if Maytag merely advertised stainless steel and we got something unknown.
Contacted Maytag at 800_344_1274. Josh was great, but supervisor seemed less than forthright the way she hesitated to answer my questions. Just found this website following the call. Will come back in two weeks or so if the polish doesn't work.
Now , a month later, there are rust spots on all 3 doors. In a few short years, I will own a very expensive piece of garbage.
Also for those who want to do a class action or have one investigated to see if it can be a class action suit you can go to topclassactions.com
Put to start a class action. They will investigate it and anyone whose had this problem can be part of the class action. Sounds like you all have a good case as this isn't cosmetic when you have several hundred complaints. Afterall the few here are only a tip of the iceburg I'm sure. Knowing Maytag they'll settle out of court and agree to a settlement as that's how most of these cases are settled. I've been part of a few class action cases on shoes I've purchased over time. Also I subscribe free of charge to this website to see what class actions are being investigated or settled.You'd be surprised on how many products I've purchased over the years that have come to class actions that I wasn't even notified about and now are settled and closed and I lost out on.
Seems companies no longer take pride in making a quality product as much as they like making "cute" or "fashionable" products that are disposable after a few years. Not me . I buy quality not quantity and expect things to last for generations . Don't mind spending the extra bucks as there's a saying "the cheap comes out expensive". But what I'm also learning these days after reading things on here is that "the expensive also comes out expensive"
After burning some rice and noticing a brownish blemish on the stainless steel, I (following the manual to the letter), gently applied a wet rag with Bon Ami to the area and soon realized I was removing the finish. At first Maytag asked all sorts of questions (e.g. where purchased, model number, age of appliance)..After having been able to successfully provide them with this information, another representative contacted me about my Best Buy warranty..I conveyed to them that I had a 3 year warranty for the appliance, but it'd expired..
That was it for Maytag-- their reply was [and I'm paraphrasing here, but I'd be more impressed if they'd used the following words- as it'd be more honest than legal jargon]: You're sh*t out of luck. Not our problem.
I replied saying I would understand this response if say, the oven stopped working, a dial fell off, etc...
But the manual for care specifically instructed the user to use a specific brand name product----and it failed..that's not the same as wear and tear.
I definitely recommend avoiding Maytag, but I fear that all brands in its class (and their products) are cheaply made...and company responses to complaints are likely very similar. My rec? Avoid stainless steel unless you can afford quality brands..
They gave me several reasons as to why I was not maintaining my new appliance correctly, and that it could be my home environment causing it to rust! ( what the heck does that even mean ?! )
I was mad enough with their what sounded like " standard" answer - but I was more upset with how rude their customer service was. I printed the transcript and later called the number directly - to no avail ! Same standard response -"cosmetic issue" they are not responsible. I will NEVER purchase another Maytag product again! (I actually liked my refrigerator - but NEVER want to deal with Maytag again!
......I am pleased to say - I took the transcript into the appliance store where I bought the refrigerator (Orvilles), not only were they appauled at what they read -and what I was told by Maytag - they agreed to replace the refrigerator with another of my choice !
Orvilles - A+ , Maytag - F ,
...I would suggest to anyone thinking of buying stainless steel appliances of any kind to do your research BEFORE you commit- (AKA- Buyer Beware!)
If they are then it is Maytag's responsibility to fix this problem. You all spent a lot of money on these appliances you need to get some satisfaction from Maytag and not get a message that it is cosmetic. How would they like to was their clothing in
Maybe a lot of you need to get in touch with the Consumer Protection Agency
http://www.cpsc.gov/
The sad thing is the only way these companies will fix problems is once the Federal Government takes them to task.
People in the South had to do this with the Drywall coming from China after Katina.
The more people that complain the higher the probability they will do something about it.