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Don't Buy a Whirlpool Water Heater
Water Heater (Flame Guard) - Complaint
Review by capuckett on 2012-11-30
Rating: 
AMARILLO, TEXAS -- I bought a fairly expensive Whirlpool BFG 40 gallon tall water heater in 2003. It had a 12 year warranty. After thousands of couplers were replaced, I griped enough to where Whirlpool gave me an updated model in 2006.
Now I need parts for this piece of crap water heater, and the lazy technician at Whirlpool says that this is not my water heater. I read him the serial number and he says that my water heater actually belongs to a woman in another state.
He even suggested that I had stolen the unit. And he suggested that, "maybe you bought the water heater from a guy down the street, which is perfectly fine, but it is not under warranty."
I think that other customer in question is scamming Whirlpool and getting parts for free using a random bogus serial number--mine--or when Whirlpool turned over to GE someone in the typing pool screwed up the numbers.
To make matters worse the lazy technicial refused to connect me to a supervisor. He said I didn't have a supervisor issue. I said yes I do. I want to talk to a supervisor. He said NO..it's not going to happen. And I said "why not?" and he said..."because it's not your water heater."
I have emailed Whirlpool asking for a supervisor to call me back, but of course, they haven't. I am taking my complaints to the BBB. Other than sue Whirlpool, there is no recourse, except to warn you all...do not buy anything from Whirlpool.
Now I need parts for this piece of crap water heater, and the lazy technician at Whirlpool says that this is not my water heater. I read him the serial number and he says that my water heater actually belongs to a woman in another state.
He even suggested that I had stolen the unit. And he suggested that, "maybe you bought the water heater from a guy down the street, which is perfectly fine, but it is not under warranty."
I think that other customer in question is scamming Whirlpool and getting parts for free using a random bogus serial number--mine--or when Whirlpool turned over to GE someone in the typing pool screwed up the numbers.
To make matters worse the lazy technicial refused to connect me to a supervisor. He said I didn't have a supervisor issue. I said yes I do. I want to talk to a supervisor. He said NO..it's not going to happen. And I said "why not?" and he said..."because it's not your water heater."
I have emailed Whirlpool asking for a supervisor to call me back, but of course, they haven't. I am taking my complaints to the BBB. Other than sue Whirlpool, there is no recourse, except to warn you all...do not buy anything from Whirlpool.
Comments:
Posted by At Your Service on 2012-11-30:
Overall, I like many of Whirlpools products. I've never owned one of their water heaters however. I believe that their water heaters are actually produced by a company called American Water Heaters and the Whirlpool brand and logo are only licensed for the purpose of branding.
In any case, regardless of who owns the water heater, parts are readily available. You should be able to obtain them by contacting 1-(877)-817-6750. As a licencee of the product, Whirlpool, themselves, have very little to do with the process.
To clarify, you may have a very valid claim. However, don't assume that the warranty provided on any water heater is all encompassing -- they generally are not. This can especially be the case after an exchange was provided. In addition, warranty coverage on parts are generally not provided directly to a do-it-yourselfer.
To begin with, consider that the warranty on most of such products guarantee the tank but not all extraneous parts. These parts are generally covered under separate warranty coverage.
Secondly, when an agreement is made to exchange a product, the warranty coverage that I've been involved with never starts anew and rarely will continue as standard from the original purchase. Generally the exchange will also modify the conditions of warranty, shortening the length of coverage considerably. Like it or not, this is a consideration one should consider when an exchange of product takes place.
Finally, when parts are covered under warranty, the service of inspecting and exchanging said parts almost always has to be performed by someone authorized to do so by the manufacturer. Among other things, this is to limit liability of someone blowing up their home in the process of replacing said parts. Unfortunately, the labor for the service is, in many times, not covered under the parts warranty.
Best of luck and keep us updated.
In any case, regardless of who owns the water heater, parts are readily available. You should be able to obtain them by contacting 1-(877)-817-6750. As a licencee of the product, Whirlpool, themselves, have very little to do with the process.
To clarify, you may have a very valid claim. However, don't assume that the warranty provided on any water heater is all encompassing -- they generally are not. This can especially be the case after an exchange was provided. In addition, warranty coverage on parts are generally not provided directly to a do-it-yourselfer.
To begin with, consider that the warranty on most of such products guarantee the tank but not all extraneous parts. These parts are generally covered under separate warranty coverage.
Secondly, when an agreement is made to exchange a product, the warranty coverage that I've been involved with never starts anew and rarely will continue as standard from the original purchase. Generally the exchange will also modify the conditions of warranty, shortening the length of coverage considerably. Like it or not, this is a consideration one should consider when an exchange of product takes place.
Finally, when parts are covered under warranty, the service of inspecting and exchanging said parts almost always has to be performed by someone authorized to do so by the manufacturer. Among other things, this is to limit liability of someone blowing up their home in the process of replacing said parts. Unfortunately, the labor for the service is, in many times, not covered under the parts warranty.
Best of luck and keep us updated.
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