Poor GE Appliance Customer Service and Quality

[classiclincoln]

Very long story short; stay away from GE appliances unless you expect not to get good customer service. Last year we spent over $3,500 for a GE microwave and oven. First set of came in damaged, easy fix on the microwave. Took 7 service calls for them to try to fix the range, only to find out it was unrepairable (appeared to have been dropped and the oven frame was bent). Gave us a second range, which also came in damaged (also appeared to have been dropped). Second one was reparable, but all totaled, took 9 service calls. Had TONS of problems with scheduling and delivery of replacement appliances, and after we complained to GE, the sent us $100. Sent a letter to the CEO, and the same customer service person (executive service? - wife handled it) sent us another $200. So, we'll never buy another GE appliance and if you do, hope you don't have any warranty problems!

 

[Luanne]

We had the same issue of poor customer service with LG. Bought a refrigerator some years back. The thing leaked from the time it was installed. We'd call and we kept being told what "we" had to do. We finally got Home Depot (who we'd bought it from) involved. They picked it up and they ordered us the refrigerator we replaced it with, which happened to be a GE.

 

[vacationhopeful]

My aunt's GE PROFILE kitchen - all the appliances, top of the line ... including convection oven & microwave/convention rangehood, refrigerator, dishwasher .... stainless steel --- all with extended warrenties, started to died 28 days after the 5 year warrenty expired.

As Gomer used to say "Surprise, Surprise, Surprise".

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

We did a big house remodel, involving a new kitchen with beautiful new GE refrigerator. Less than one year after installation we came home to a water leak from the unit. There was a poorly designed part that literally fell apart. GE service person came out and fixed it under warranty.

When I called first thing I mentioned was that we had a new GE refrigerator, less than a year old, and the cold water unit was leaking. As soon as I said that he described the situation exactly. It was a known problem and virtually every GE unit that had that design had a failing unit.

But there were a two things that forever soured me on ever buying another GE unit.

First. Talking to the repairman, after GE knew there was a problem they didn't bother to do anything with units that had been manufactured with the defective unit. No recall, No advice to reps. They just let the units be sold and deal with the failures as they happened.

Second. We registered our products with GE using the mail-in card that came with the unit. We got correspondence from them acknowledging our registration. (I had a photocopy of our registration, and a return mailer from GE confirm our registration.) So they knew we were out there, they knew we had bought one of their defective units, they had our name and address. But they never bothered to notify us that our unit had a problem and was destined to fail.

 

[am1]

Recently I have been having bad luck with certain companies. Airlines, hotel discount websites,

For me it seems that you may as well try to get in touch with the powers at be and not waste your time with the people that answer the phone.

Companies will spend $100's of dollars to get you as a client but then will turn you off for life at the drop of the hat.

 

[Talent312]

Poor service is endemic these days.

I have an AT&T land line. Yeah, I know. I was without service for 2 weeks.
First, their automaton had me to determine if it was in-house or their line.
Then, for unknown to me, cancelled my repair order without any notice.
5 days later, I found a way to get to a human, who said it'd take 5 days.

When the guy came out, he took 3 days to fix it, but not before...
Cutting my Cox Cable line. "No, we didn't. You need to call Cox."
Called Cox: "Yes, they did." BTW, Cox fixed it in less than 2 hours

 

[Passepartout]

Longtime problems. Do a TUG search. GE seems to have forgotten how to make quality appliances. Only cheaper ones that won't last until the warranty expires.

Jim

 

[MuranoJo]

I've heard most appliances today are cr*p compared to those 20 years ago, and I've also heard at least part of it is due to the new energy guidelines which tend to burn out the motors & parts faster.

We have a GE side-by-side refrigerator/freezer which was installed with the house almost 21 years ago. So far, no real problems, knock on wood. Only issues we've had have been wear & tear on things like refrigerator shelves and bins. (Dishwasher installer a few years back said to hang onto this unit as they were really built well.)

After cleaning the bins for meats & veggies all these years and being frustrated with the gradual cracking & breaking on the slides at the top of the drawers, I finally noticed a label on one of them that said the plastic was built and warranted for a lifetime by the manufacturer, Lexan. Called the GE customer service and was told, yes, they would be replaced free of cost, even free shipping. One happy customer here. However, it was noted the replacement bins we received were of noticeably cheaper plastic.

The GE frig is the only appliance that hasn't been replaced since we've moved in, but we figure any time now. We've gone through 2 washers & dryers, 2 dishwashers, an oven and a stovetop since being here, and have since replaced all with Bosch units, which seem to be doing very well.

 

[vacationhopeful]

I've heard most appliances today are cr*p compared to those 20 years ago......

I just looked up my refrigerator which was left to me by a tenant (yes, FREE side by side Kenmore refrigerator).

Manufacturer's date is 10-1995. Model is COLDSPOT which is a side by side with thru the door ICE and Water dispenser.

Energy Efficient???? I have FREE electric - does NOT matter?

But I have moved it in and out of at least 4 houses - I got it at least 12+ years ago.

 

[ricoba]

I've heard most appliances today are cr*p compared to those 20 years ago, ....

We just bought a basic Maytag Fridge/Freezer, and sure it's working A OK for now, but I really do wonder for how long. It really just feels very cheaply made.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I've heard most appliances today are cr*p compared to those 20 years ago, and I've also heard at least part of it is due to the new energy guidelines which tend to burn out the motors & parts faster.

My parents had a Westinghouse refrigerator, which I believe they bought when they moved into the family home they bought in 1954 when I was three years old. It was the only refrigerator they owned until they replaced appliances sometime in the mid-1980's. I don't recall there ever being a single service call or repair.

 

[MuranoJo]

My parents had a Westinghouse refrigerator, which I believe they bought when they moved into the family home they bought in 1954 when I was three years old. It was the only refrigerator they owned until they replaced appliances sometime in the mid-1980's. I don't recall there ever being a single service call or repair.

Your post reminded me we actually have a 1977 Gibson back-up frig/freezer out in our garage which is still going strong. Holy cow, that's 36 years old! (Can anyone beat that record?) I'm sure it's a major energy drain, but just goes to prove they don't make 'em like they used to. From a web search, I believe Gibson was made by Frigidaire.

 

[PigsDad]

Your post reminded me we actually have a 1977 Gibson back-up frig/freezer out in our garage which is still going strong. Holy cow, that's 36 years old! (Can anyone beat that record?)

Yep, sure can. My parents have a Frigidaire chest freezer that they bought the first year they were married, and it is still running strong. They celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary this year!

We recently replaced our 24 year old Maytag washer and dryer. They were still running ok, but both needed service to the tune of about $400 so we finally decided to replace them. I'm guessing we will be lucky to get half that life out of the new set.

Kurt

 

[Passepartout]

DW informs me that our (her) old chest freezer was bought by husband #1 in 1980. No record, but like the Eveready Bunny it just keeps chugging along. Unknown brand, but I am sure that we wouldn't get 33 years out of a new one.

She won't get 33 years outta me either, so what else is new.

Jim

 

[shagnut]

I retired from Sears 10 yrs & Circuit City 15 yrs. I've always tried to steer my customers away from GE. The only appliance I would recommend is a GE free standing range, the rest is crap. Maytag used to be great before they sold out to Norge and started being built in Mexico. They used to be know for their only made in the USA. My Maytag rep was really upset when this happened.
Nothing is made like it used to and all refrigs are pushed to the limits with the governments orders to improve on energy efficiency. I'm almost scared to recommend anymore since even high end has problems. shaggy

 

[ScoopKona]

Go through my old posts. I will never, ever, ever purchase anything made by General Electric ever again. Never. Ever. Ever.

[censored] General Electric. [censored] them in their [censored] until [censored] freezes over.

Nothing but hate for General Electric.

 

[hefleycatz]

Just replaced our water heater which was original to the house built in '80. So we were on extremely borrowed time.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

 

[UWSurfer]

About all you can do these days is review consumer reports, weigh their recommendations and go out and get your best deal.

Looking for a side by side refridgerator last June we ended up with CR's top rated Samsung model which is also made in Mexico.

We also sock away $100/month in an emergency savings account for various household appliance repair & replacement.

 

[Elan]

When it comes to kitchen appliances, it seems that even the ultra expensive brands have quality/reliability issues. I've read enough reviews to form the opinion that major appliance reliability is largely a crapshoot.

 

[Passepartout]

When it comes to kitchen appliances, it seems that even the ultra expensive brands have quality/reliability issues. I've read enough reviews to form the opinion that major appliance reliability is largely a crapshoot.

Agreed. About all you can say re: buying new as opposed to taking someone's old-but still working fine- freebie is that the new one will look better at the junkyard, and cost less to operate than an old one.

 

[dougp26364]

When it comes to kitchen appliances, it seems that even the ultra expensive brands have quality/reliability issues. I've read enough reviews to form the opinion that major appliance reliability is largely a crapshoot.

Agreed. About all you can say re: buying new as opposed to taking someone's old-but still working fine- freebie is that the new one will look better at the junkyard, and cost less to operate than an old one.

I agree. I've come to the conclusion there are no reliable brands out there anymore. We built our house 15 years ago. The compressor in the Whirlpool side by side bit the dust at 4 years, 11 months and 4 days. Just a few days before the warranty expired on the compressor. The guy who replaced it told me they intentionally underpower the newer Fridges to get the Energy Star label. The second compressor lasted 10 years and we recently replaced the old Fridge because it was getting pretty loud.....plus, the kitchen had that 1980's retro look.

The Samsung that replaced it already has a fix-it ticket as the ice maker has a leak, which is causing the ice to fuse together in the ice basket. We bought the 5 year warranty because I just don't trust it to last. The sad part is, if it makes it 10 years I'll feel we've done well.

 

[Ridewithme38]

We remodeled our whole kitchen about 3-4 years ago with all jenn-air appliances. We've had to replace the door on the microwave, a handle on the fridge and our Dishwasher is completely dead now and we've had to replace 2 wine fridges(although i think that was our builders fault, not enough air space around the unit causing them to overheat). Not to mention a new Washer & Dryer during that same time frame in which the control panel completely died on the washer.

I read this post because we are having a new GE Dishwasher put in as a rush tomorrow, so we have a dishwasher for Thanksgiving! I hope it works better then the Jenn-air ones!

I agree, new appliances are crap!

 

[ricoba]

I agree. I've come to the conclusion there are no reliable brands out there anymore. .

Kind of sad isn't it.

Like I mentioned, we purchased a basic Maytag fridge, and it really feels cheaply made. Glad I bought the extended warranty.

Whereas our old faithful basic Frigidaire in the other house is still purring along after almost 20 years. I just don't feel the Maytag will even make it 10 years.

 

[heathpack]

We had a ridiculously good customer service experience with a $300 GE microwave of all things. Just a few months ago, our 2 year old microwave flashed a few flames while we were operating it. The flames immediately died out when we turned the microwave off. The whole "fire" lasted about 3 seconds.

We called the appliance store to inquire about buying a new one. The salesman speculated that it could be the magnetron and suggested we contact GE- it turns out the warranty on the magnetron is the longest of all the components.

When Mr. H called GE and told them the microwave caught fire, they also thought it was the magenetron. They were very very concerned about the reported fire. Unbelievably, they sent a repair guy to our house within a few days. Turns out it wasn't the magnetron, it was a tiny flake of metal on the interior wall of the oven. The repair guy speculated it was aluminum foil but we would never put that in the microwave so I'm not sure that was it.

No charge for the visit and they even sent us for free the plastic part in the microwave interior that had been charred by the flame. All that for a $300 microwave.

Mr. H suggests whenever a GE appliance breaks that you just call and tell 'em it caught on fire. That seems to get their attention.

H

 

[simpsontruckdriver]

In addition to - or instead of - an extended warranty, maybe get a homeowners warranty. The one I had services all appliances, water heater, HVAC, and plumbing, all for around $700 per year with a $60 deductible. When we first got it, our water heater died. Later that year, our HVAC system (not the fan outside) died. In those 2 years, almost $4500 in replacements, and we paid $760.

TS