Consumerist: General Electric

Super Bowl Ads From Cash4Gold And GE: Where Are They Now?

Laura Northrup — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:00:21 EDT

Sure, Super Bowl ads are a great way to generate a lot of buzz for your company or product. But how do you fare in the long term? Consumer Reports Home took a look at two stars of Super Ad Bowl 2009: Cash4Gold and General Electric.

Here at Consumerist, we can tell you a lot about Cash4Gold. But the smart grid technology advertised by GE has fared a lot better...due to federal stimulus money.

About $4.5 billion in federal stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is being doled out by the U.S. Department of Energy to help utilities turn the existing power grid into a smart network. This modernization is designed to enable two-way communication between utilities and consumers.provide safer, more-efficient management of the electric grid, and save you money.

One might call it Cash4Current. No?

A tale of two Super Bowl ads: GE's smart grid and Cash4Gold

GE Promises Free Inspection And Repair, Then Charges You, Then Threatens To Send You To Collections

Alex Chasick — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:25:43 EDT

Reader Zack is frustrated with General Electric because they offered to inspect and repair his washing machine as a courtesy, then after they came by they stuck him with the bill. Now they're threatening to send him to a collection agency.

Zack writes:

OK, I'll try and make this a quick summary. I called GE with a problem with my 11 week out of warranty washer machine on August 4th. Long story short, I get forwarded to customer relations, who tells me that as a courtesy a technician will be sent out the following week, on the 11th. I get immediately suspicious and ask that he will in fact fix the washer, as I thought this might just be a courtesy diagnostic to tell me the true cost of repair. No, she said that it would be a full repair.

A week later, on the 11th, a technician comes and immediately determines that the motor and lid switch need replacing. He says that there is no courtesy credit to my account, and calls in to confirm that yes, they will not repair the washer for less than $175. I decline, it is a $400 washer give or take and I don't want to throw good money after bad. I talk to customer service with the technician there to confirm that the previous weeks technician did not in fact fill out the correct form to give me the free repair. I am informed those forms can no longer be filled out. So be it, I am where I was last week, no big deal.

The problem comes as the technician leaves. He tells me that I will be charged $99 for the visit. To make it clear, the first time out of several phone calls and speaking to several people I am informed of the charge is as the guy is leaving. I tell him to leave the property immediately, and he does.

I call GE, and they say that they will not remove the charge. I never would have consented to it, it was said that this would be a courtesy call for which I expected there would be no charge at all. They have already threatened to send this to collections. One representative said it doesn't matter if I was not informed of the charge as, and I quote this, "I should have been aware of the service charge already." I will be filing complaints to the BBB and NY Consumer Protection Board, but is there anything else I can do to not have to pay $99 to get my credit out in the clear?

We'd suggest getting in touch with someone higher up at GE to see if they can resolve this.

(Photo: silent (e))

2.5 Million GE Potentially Flammable Dishwashers Recalled

Meg Marco — Thu, 17 May 2007 11:26:27 EDT

A plague of burning dishwashers sounds like something that would happen after the 6th seal has been opened, but no. It's real and it's happening now. You may have a dishwasher in your very home that is, at this very second, thinking about lighting itself on fire. From the CPSC:

GE has received 191 reports of overheated wiring including 56 reports of property damage. There were 12 reports of fires that escaped the dishwasher. Fire damage was limited to the dishwasher or the adjacent area. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves a huge number of dishwashers, so you'll want to check this list to see if your GE dishwasher is part of the recall. If it is: "stop using the recalled dishwashers and contact General Electric for a free repair, a $150 rebate towards the purchase of a new GE dishwasher, or a $300 rebate towards the purchase of a new GE Profile or GE Monogram dishwasher."

You can call them at (877) 607-6395 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday.to let them know all the ways they've disappointed you. Or, if you're more passive, you can visit their website: www.geappliances.com. —MEGHANN MARCO

General Electric Recalls Dishwashers Due to Fire Hazard [CPSC]

Home Depot Touts Crappy GE SmartWater Boiler As "High Efficiency"

Ben Popken — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 18:37:26 EST

Home Depot markets the GE SmartWater water heaters as "high efficiency." But when you read the government energy guide on the side, it turns out the boiler is inefficient for its class.

When questioned why they chose to market it this way, a Home Depot rep said the heater was considered "high efficiency" because, "it's the highest efficiency Home Depot sells."

Don't believe the hype! Check the energy guide on the side before purchasing boilers and other large appliances. — BEN POPKEN

Home Depot's hot air [Stay Free!]

Plates Don't Fit GE Triton Eterna Dishwasher

Ben Popken — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 16:23:41 EST

Michele is pissed. Her plates won't fit into her GE Triton Eterna dishwasher.

"I am so frustrated I practically throw the dishes into it," she writes.

She contacted GE. They seemed concerned and understanding. GE even sent her a new dishwasher rack, though it was the same size.

In recent phonecalls, GE told Michele that standard plate size is 8".

Michele's plates are 10". Today she went to Bed Bath and Beyond and measured plates. Michele couldn't find any 8" plate. Most of the plates she found were just under 11".

They say that a good way to control your weight is to use a smaller plate. Maybe GE is just trying to do its part to help America's obesity epidemic.

If you don't want GE's help, avoid model # EDW2060F0155.

GE Lethargic In Aiding Fiery Dishwasher Recall

Ben Popken — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 19:08:20 EDT

Doug just wants his dishwasher to burn his house down. He adds an expletive before house in his letter, but this is a family blog, after all. The CPSC sent Doug a letter telling him to contact GE as he had a dishwasher affected by the recall. One case of the dishwasher catching on fire and causing minor property damage was reported, but GE didn't seem to care much, submitting Doug to a byzantine maze of rotting phone trees and callous reps. It was only after Doug lied to the phone tree was he able to get traction on his issue.

He also sent us the CPSC letter, click on it to expand, which includes his notes he took as he proceeded through the six maddening calls, which gave us a schadenfreude chuckle inside in our blackened heart. Read his letter inside.

Doug writes:

I have had a wonderful time this AM trying to get GE to take care of a little problem with my dishwasher that could burn my fucking house down. It only took six phone calls to find out I would have to wait for the part to be shipped to me and a local shop is supposedly going to contact me to install the new part.

Attached is the CPSC letter regarding the small flaw that could burn my fucking house down. Starting early today, I called the GE 800 number provided, I danced through a number of menus narrowing down the model is question. I of course had to repeat all of this when I actually got a human on the line. Dee was friendly enough but she told me that there is no GE service center in my area (Boise, ID) so I would have to call another number "that opens in half an hour" to get a local authorized center to perform the work. Turns out Dee was wrong about both the number and time of opening (an hour and a half later) but I guess she has to go with what they give her.

My frustration at this second number being closed could have been abated by the GE "Cutting Edge" automated service call system. If cutting edge means that music runs over the menus and the computer could not understand my inputs, then cutting edge it is. I rolled the dice and hit the "0" ending up in a call queue, which my computerized friend told me of a wait of no more than five minutes, which ended up being about ten.

Paola who eventually answered was the low point. After reciting my basic info, it became obvious that they had all for the info in their database... well about me at least. Paola seemed willfully ignorant of the 75 Thousand dishwashers affected by this recall. She then proceeded to grill me about the service contract she could tell from her database I did not have. No contract, no service. WTF? So I gently advised her that I had a letter from the United States Government telling me GE would fix this little problem that could burn my fucking house down. She the informed me that it is actually Consumer Relations that handles out of warranty-no service contract-recall issues and would transfer me, and she promptly hung up on me.

I took a deep breath, wandered around my desk muttering about GE, hopeful that Paola would recognize here error and call me back since she had confirmed my phone number moments before. No such luck. After taking a few to compose myself, since I had wasted about 30 minutes on this I called back and tried the automated system again. The computer told me that there was no one in my area to service me and hung up on me. Shit.

Trying yet again, sixth call (and seriously considering going out an just buying another damn dishwasher) I managed to fool that old computer by using the "already have a service scheduled" prompt. I was lucky to get William who, unlike Paola, was clear on the situation. He managed to transfer me to Customer Relations successfully but he had given me the direct number as well, just in case.

10 minutes on hold, 15, 20... Lenice in Customer Relations picked up, and I go through my spiel again, Lenice just needs phone, model and serial number. I am told for the umpteenth time that GE has no service in my area and the local authorized dealer is... wait for it... The Moth Shop? Lenice informs me she will forward my request to The Moth Shop, but the replacement part will be shipped to me since 'They don't like to get the parts". "They" being independent service centers. So now I wait for parts and moths.

Over an hour of my time wasted and I still have no idea when my dishwasher will not burn my fucking house down (sorry, just love writing that). Is it really so impossible to A. Have humans answer the goddamn phone and B. Have the people on the phone know WTF they are doing? Because I'd really like to know.

Best,

What Cleans Cats Better, Front or Top-Load Washers?

popkin — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 11:33:35 EST

"We've heard of people inviting their friends over to see their new washer and dryer. Who would have ever thought of that happening?" says Steven Peterson, General Electric's marketing manager for clothes care.

For those whom sleek styling isn t the only selling point, which washer is best for washing your cat? Big chunky chart after the jump.

Which washer you buy depends on your needs, budget and whether you cravenly covet the approval of others through your home appliances. Here's a handy comparison shopping chart.

FRONT-LOADERS

Pros:
Large capacity, up to 4 cubic feet or 20 pounds.
Removes more water from clothes, requiring less drying time.
Gentler on clothing.
Uses less water and electricity, costing less to run.
Dryer can be stacked on top to save space.
Quieter.
Great if whoever does your wash has a nice butt.

Cons:
Costs more, typically $800 to $1,800.
Pulling clothes out can be hard on the back. Pedestals sold to raise them cost extra, about $150 each.
Requires special detergent.
Longer cycles, up to two hours.
Harder to get a cat inside.

TOP-LOADERS

No-Agitator Top-Loaders

Pros:
More room for bulky items such as comforters and pillows.
Uses less water and electricity than conventional top-loads.
Removes more water, cutting drying time.
Fits 25% more blood-stained sheets.

Cons:
More expensive.
Fewer brands and models.
Reliability of some new technologies not established.
Might wrinkle clothes.
Might require special detergent.
Self-flagellators may miss having an agitator.

Conventional Top-Loaders

Pros:
Costs less initially, $300-$600.
Proven reliability.
More models available.
Uses regular detergent.
Shortest cycles.
Easier to get a cat into.

Cons:
Smaller capacity, 12 to 16 pounds.
Uses more water and electricity, costing more to operate.
Cannot be stacked.
Generally noisier.
None of your friends are going to come over for a "check out my conventional top-loader" party.

Check out the source article from for more, including Consumer Report's top rankings for individual models. Also, a few things to think ahead about when buying a washer. You don't want to get stuck with more washing capability than you have cats for.