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Fedders Complaint - Room Air Conditoner - Poor Quailty - Fraudulent Warranty - Air Conditioner
Air Conditioner - Complaint
Unfortunately for America, we live in an age where Government and Business can conduct fraud and theft without being held accountable. It is almost universal that manufacturers produces inferior products made with the cheapest materials and labor. This is then sold to the American public who then is at a total loss when trying to get the company to replace/repair the product. Consumer advocates and governmental agencies, who claim to be on the side of the consumer are impotent and incompetent at best. Companies, stores and businesses no longer care about the customer. You walk into Walmart, take an item to the register and you are confronted by a teenager who can not add, or he/she will inform you that they are closing their register because of a "break". Store employees count your change out, usually silently, to themselves and then just thrusts the money into your hand, where now you have to stand and recount the change. But it they are given a handful of change, they cry out "You expect me to count all that change?"
Recently we bought a Fedders room air conditioner (Model Number A3X05F2E-A / Serial No. CT 105216 085Y). Walmart (of Westminster, Carroll County, Maryland) did not have any in stock so we had to order it online through Walmart. We then had to go to the store and pick it up. This was an adventure all its own. Went to the back of the store where the item was to be picked up (at the counter where layaways used to be) and pushed the service button several times. Several employees came through and just kept on going until finally one of them was stopped and asked to help. We bought this at the end of March '08, but did not install it until the other night (May 27th). The little accordion style plastic curtain was to fit down through a series of metal tracks. It was so tight to start with and when trying to thread it through, the metal tracks just ripped the plastic curtain rendering it useless. We contacted Walmart and was kept on the phone for a half hour only to be told that they would not except it as a return since it was over 45 days since it was purchased. We bought it March 24, 2008 and called them about the problem on May 26 2008.
Next stop - placed a call to the number provided within the air conditioner, but was told that they no longer honor their warranty!!! But was told we could purchase the part for $18. 30 plus about $10.00 for shipping and handling. That is nearly $30.00 for a plastic part! The air conditioner itself was around $100.00. So we are paying nearly a third of the item's value (new).
This particular air conditioner is one of the most inferior designed products from a company that used to be proud of their name - Fedders. Of course, they don't care about you or me, they care only about how much they can steal from the economy. Unfortunately, craftsmanship, is a word that should be eliminated from our vocabulary, it certainly has been from practice! Customer satisfaction should also be done away with. Oh, yeah it already has - just visit your local Walmart!!!
Recently we bought a Fedders room air conditioner (Model Number A3X05F2E-A / Serial No. CT 105216 085Y). Walmart (of Westminster, Carroll County, Maryland) did not have any in stock so we had to order it online through Walmart. We then had to go to the store and pick it up. This was an adventure all its own. Went to the back of the store where the item was to be picked up (at the counter where layaways used to be) and pushed the service button several times. Several employees came through and just kept on going until finally one of them was stopped and asked to help. We bought this at the end of March '08, but did not install it until the other night (May 27th). The little accordion style plastic curtain was to fit down through a series of metal tracks. It was so tight to start with and when trying to thread it through, the metal tracks just ripped the plastic curtain rendering it useless. We contacted Walmart and was kept on the phone for a half hour only to be told that they would not except it as a return since it was over 45 days since it was purchased. We bought it March 24, 2008 and called them about the problem on May 26 2008.
Next stop - placed a call to the number provided within the air conditioner, but was told that they no longer honor their warranty!!! But was told we could purchase the part for $18. 30 plus about $10.00 for shipping and handling. That is nearly $30.00 for a plastic part! The air conditioner itself was around $100.00. So we are paying nearly a third of the item's value (new).
This particular air conditioner is one of the most inferior designed products from a company that used to be proud of their name - Fedders. Of course, they don't care about you or me, they care only about how much they can steal from the economy. Unfortunately, craftsmanship, is a word that should be eliminated from our vocabulary, it certainly has been from practice! Customer satisfaction should also be done away with. Oh, yeah it already has - just visit your local Walmart!!!
Comments:
Posted by madconsumer on 2008-06-01:
this is one reason i will not buy a fedder appliance. the quality is everything short of okay.
the replacement curtain can be found at any home depot. or use rigid foam to plug the hole. it will provide better insulation, as well as be easier to install.
the replacement curtain can be found at any home depot. or use rigid foam to plug the hole. it will provide better insulation, as well as be easier to install.
Posted by Ponie on 2008-06-01:
'...products made with the cheapest materials and labor...' Isn't this just smart business sense? If I were a business owner, I certainly wouldn't pay more for component parts just to disprove your statement. If you want a cheap price, you get a cheaper product.
As far as not attempting a return prior to expiration of Wal*Mart's return policy, you're to blame for that mistake. OK--now you'll say who uses an a/c in March? All the 'experts' state that even in the dead of winter, you should occasionally run each a/c system you have..be it central, in your car, or in a window. I have two a/c's in my apartment--one in-wall, and one vertical in a window. I turn each one on for just a few minutes at least once a month, and also the one in my car.
Your political rant holds no credence. Take madconsumer's suggestion and buy a replacement part locally, but then you'd have nothing to complain about in a two page letter. It will keep your BP in check. BTW, I thought Fedder's went out of business. They closed their stores in my area a few years ago. Although it may be just local.
As far as not attempting a return prior to expiration of Wal*Mart's return policy, you're to blame for that mistake. OK--now you'll say who uses an a/c in March? All the 'experts' state that even in the dead of winter, you should occasionally run each a/c system you have..be it central, in your car, or in a window. I have two a/c's in my apartment--one in-wall, and one vertical in a window. I turn each one on for just a few minutes at least once a month, and also the one in my car.
Your political rant holds no credence. Take madconsumer's suggestion and buy a replacement part locally, but then you'd have nothing to complain about in a two page letter. It will keep your BP in check. BTW, I thought Fedder's went out of business. They closed their stores in my area a few years ago. Although it may be just local.
Posted by Ghost of Doc J on 2008-06-01:
I have a GE window unit similar to this that I use to cool my little home workshop. The plastic accordian part on mine broke too. I simply cut some heavy plastic (as used for windows) and taped it up. I might not like it if it were in my den or dining room...but it got the job done. Total cost: about 25-cents.
Posted by Trixta on 2008-06-01:
You bought one of the cheapest air conditioners available from the leader in low-cost retailing. Then didn't check the item for function until almost two months later. This is not the government's fault. Don't buy bottom of the line merchandise, and don't expect excellent customer service from WalMart, and you'll be less frustrated.
Posted by Slimjim on 2008-06-01:
The average cost of even a small air conditioner is twice what you paid for yours. Clearly this is an entry level model and at $100, practically disposable. I'm not justifying that the part should be expected to rip, but to make such a stand on American pride and quality, it would have more clout had you bought a real A/C in an average price range.
Posted by Ghost of Doc J on 2008-06-01:
I agree, Slim. I also wonder if $100 is all the poster could afford for a/c. Then, to cough up another 1/3 of the purchase price to repair something they never got to use? I gotta give them credit for buying the thing in the 'off season' in an attempt to save a few bucks. Not sure what part the 'gubmint' played in this, though.
Posted by Slimjim on 2008-06-01:
I agree, why are consumer advocates and the white house being blamed because the poster ripped the accordion filler panel? I remember when I sold A/C's years ago the low models, then about $300, came with 2 pieces of thin particle board the owner need to cut to fill the open sides. Like you said, the best advise here is just make your own filler and enjoy the fact the unit actually cools a room for a hundred bucks. Heck, upper end room fans cost more than that.
Posted by Rick_Shaw on 2008-06-01:
I really don't have any adviCe on this one.
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