Customer Service.......Where did it go?!

[firemanjj82]

I have had a long day today running around trying to find a part for my dryer that is only 5 years old. The part is for a Maytag, who is now owned by Whirlpool. The part is the temperature switch, which is necessary for the operation of the dryer's heat. It's only 20 dollars, but is not available......anywhere.......until January 2012. I talked to Maytag customer service. First operator was nice, supervisor basically told me to pound sand and wait 6 months or buy a new dryer. Home Depot, where I bought it, stepped up and is offering a sizeable discount on any model. I appreciate their customer service, but it shouldn't be necessary. Why can't people own up to their lack of quality and do what they can to make it right. Not give me default, "that's all we can do" answers. I know I'm just one person complaining at this exact moment, but they haven't heard the last of me. For the record, I am done with all of Whirlpool: Maytag, Kitchen Aide, and Jenn-Air. (sorry for the long rant)

[quackaholic1]

There is a place in Tyler called u-fix-it. It has been around for years and years and they have always had what I needed when I went in. You might give them a call, I know they take credit cards. Maybe he has it.

[firemanjj82]

I'll give it a shot. Thanks.

[Marion]

There's a place off of Plano Rd a couple of miles North of 635 called Adam the Answer Man. I've used them many times and most of the time they have the part in stock. Here's their info, (214) 553-9335 11620 Plano Rd, Dallas, TX 75243.

[rtread]

I have had a long day today running around trying to find a part for my dryer that is only 5 years old. The part is for a Maytag, who is now owned by Whirlpool. The part is the temperature switch, which is necessary for the operation of the dryer's heat. It's only 20 dollars, but is not available......anywhere.......until January 2012. I talked to Maytag customer service. First operator was nice, supervisor basically told me to pound sand and wait 6 months or buy a new dryer. Home Depot, where I bought it, stepped up and is offering a sizeable discount on any model. I appreciate their customer service, but it shouldn't be necessary. Why can't people own up to their lack of quality and do what they can to make it right. Not give me default, "that's all we can do" answers. I know I'm just one person complaining at this exact moment, but they haven't heard the last of me. For the record, I am done with all of Whirlpool: Maytag, Kitchen Aide, and Jenn-Air. (sorry for the long rant)

Go to some appliance repair forums and tell your story. Then email the links to these forums to the nice Maytag customer service rep. Works wonders!

(The answer to your question on where customer service went is one of my pet peeves. Companies are going broke due to lousy customer service and can't figure out why. I don't have a simple answer other than it went the direction a lot of other things went as we were able to spend more and have more. We'll never see customer service like some of us remember years ago)

[dustoffer]

Sales is where profit comes from in their minds--not customer service. So if they can't keep you going with parts, they figure you'll have to buy a new one. One of the first places to feel the corporate knife is the CS folks.

[Cam-Mac]

Customer Service is having drinks with the Dodo Bird.

They're both extinct.

[SmTx]

CS is gone because companies pay people minimum wage to take calls all day and the workers do just enough to not get fired. They have to investment in the company so they simply don't care. I see it happen everyday.

[Passthrough]

Why can't people own up to their lack of quality and do what they can to make it right.

Typical...seems to run in line with this country's administration

[firemanjj82]

Typical...seems to run in line with this country's administration

Pretty accurate observation there.

[Tommyh]

the bottom dollar is where the CS went, and appliances aren't built to last any longer. Every model has a roll over and die date, so parts arent meant to be over produced, keeping money in parts inventory at a minimum. thats why its cheaper to replace than repair now on just about everything!

[Landrover]

Customer Service is having drinks with the Dodo Bird.

They're both extinct.

Classic right there. Sometimes I wonder what the heck is goin on.

[cehorn]

Is your model still carried at Home Depot? If so and nobody will help you I would go buy a new one. When you get it home swap, out the parts and get yours working and then return the new one with the broken part installed. It may not be the right way to handle it but the way you are being treated isn't right either and your problem will be solved.

[Mike D]

PM MA Elite on here. He may be able to help.

[jpbruni]

All appliances are now so mass produced that they are no longer serviceable with parts

LG, Maytag, Sony and most other brands appliances are unable to stock and carry replacement parts for their products. Robotic production and mass-retailing have killed the serviceabilty of most products.

I have a water cooler that had an instant hot water dispenser, it went out, I was told it was not serviceable.

I have a $2500 Sony Flatscreen TV that has a module that went out that is bascically molded to the screen. Sony told me it cannot be fixed. It is sitting on my floor in my bedroom ready for the dumpster

I threw a Maytag Neptune Washer in the trash after fixing it myself twice ($550 quote for a little .10 cent diode that burned out). Then the little pump on the bottom started spewing water, no part available. I jerry- rigged it and fixed it myself. Then another part on the board fried. I threw it in the trash and will NEVER buy another Maytag product.

I have a 20 year old Kenmore washer now that I got FOR FREE that is still working perfectly. Live and learn I guess

J.P.