Now that it’s ending, you thought you were done hearing about the Cash for Clunkers program, didn’t you? Not yet. Coming soon will be a state-administered, federally-funded program providing rebates to consumers who buy Energy Star appliances. Check out Consumer Reports for a preview.
appliances
Kenmore Fridge Doubles As Easy-Bake Oven, Saves Valuable Space In Kitchen
By 8.13.09
It’s good to have an Easy-Bake Oven around for those times when you want to serve a tiny, partially baked cake-like product to your parents or little sister. The last thing you want, though, is another appliance cluttering the counter. Kenmore has solved that problem with a built-in fridge model with light bulbs that stay on even when the door is shut—and explode when you try to unscrew them! Okay, the exploding glass part is maybe not so convenient.
Sears Finally Delivers Air Conditioner, Follows With Barrage Of Phone Calls
By 8.7.09
Remember Eric, Fleur, and their epic air conditioner ordeal? When we last spoke to them, they were AC-less, hot, cranky, and reaching out to the Internets for help. Now they have their air conditioners, but only after a stunning show of disorganized solicitousness on the part of Sears.
Yet Another Company Learns The Difference Between Amazon Reviews And Ads
By 7.10.09
Instead of paying outsiders to give their products fake positive reviews on Amazon product pages like Belkin and other companies, DeLonghi cut out the middleman. Their communications manager, Tara Carpenter, simply went on Amazon and gave a variety of DeLonghi products five-star rave reviews herself.
Sears: Lose Your Job, Keep Your Purchase, Forget The Debt
By 6.29.09
Acknowledging that skittish consumers are still unwilling to buy big-ticket items, Sears tomorrow plans to unveil a bold new guarantee: if you lose your job after charging a purchase worth $399 or more to your Sears card, the retailer will credit 1/12th of the purchase price to your account for each month you are unemployed. If you stay jobless for one year, the debt is entirely forgiven, and the appliance is yours to keep.
Ask The Consumerists: These Flowers Just Need To Chill
By 6.11.09
Billy’s wife owns a small flower shop near Austin, Texas. The shop’s floral cooler broke down recently. They can’t afford a new one, and can’t find a used one for sale in the area. A misunderstanding when taking out an insurance policy means that the business’s insurance won’t cover the cooler malfunction.
Maytag Refers You To Sears Repair, Then Claims Sears Repair Isn't Authorized
By 6.4.09
Consumer affairs columnist (and my former colleague) Dan Higgins stumbled upon a well-guarded secret—the real reason the Maytag repairman has nothing to do. It isn’t because the appliances are so reliable. No, apparently it’s because Maytag dispatches Sears repairmen to make warranty repairs, then refuses to reimburse customers because Sears isn’t an authorized repair provider. At least that’s what happened to this nice elderly lady.
Use Your Dishwasher Properly
By 5.24.09
Listen parents, we told you all those years that cleaning the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher was silly and duplicative, and now we have the Times telling us we were right! Ha! Pre-rinsing dishes is “actually triple bad” according a “senior dishwasher design engineer,” because dishwasher detergent exists to attack food, and when it doesn’t find any, it instead attacks your glasses. It also wastes electricity and water. And that’s not the only mistake most people make. Inside, the Times’ tips for keeping your dishwasher happy…
LG Refrigerator Causes Flash Floods, Mini-Glaciers
By 5.4.09
Jason’s refrigerator wouldn’t work correctly, no matter how many times it was repaired. Eventually, Best Buy had to intervene. Yes, that Best Buy.
By 2.24.09
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Hollywood Depictions Of Dishwasher Loading VS Reality Consumer Reports compares dishwasher-loading techniques depicted in Rachel Getting Married to their own test results. Aww. [CR]
Best Buy Assembles Washer/Dryer Outside, Delivers It To Your Neighbor
By 1.20.09
John ordered a washer and a dryer from Best Buy. First, he says Best Buy showed up early for the delivery, so naturally, John wasn’t home. Then they assembled the pedestals for the washer and dryer on some gravel in front of his house, damaging them. After that, they left the appliances with his neighbor.
Woman Barricades Repairman Until He Fixes Her Washer
By 1.20.09
A British woman locked a repairman in her washer room and said she wouldn’t let him out until he fixed her washer.
By 11.19.08
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There’s a George Foreman fryer now, people. It promises to “knock out” 55% of the fat by spinning your food. “Patented Smart Spin™ Technology lets you spin out the fat for up to 2 minutes with low or high speed setting.” You may begin posting your Arrested Development “cornballer” jokes in the comments at this time. [George Foreman]
Americans Stop Buying Appliances… Except For Freezers
By 10.27.08
Consumer Reports says that despite an overall downturn in appliance purchases, one category is up 13% from last year. Freezers!
This !@#$% KitchenAid Refrigerator Won't Stop !@$% Beeping!
By 10.4.08
Beep… Beep… Beep… That’s all Robin’s new KitchenAid fridge does. For the past two months, nothing but !@#$ beeping. Sears claims that they replaced every circuit board in the fridge, and that Robin’s only choice is to wait another beeping month for a replacement unit. Think that might drive you a little crazy? Try reading Robin’s letter…
Sears Offer To Mail Customer Missing Key To Floor Model Snowblower
By 9.6.08
Aaron visited Sears to pick up a new Craftsman snowblower he bought for 10% off on Sears.com, but the store only had one floor model in stock. Aaron agreed to take the unit after staff assured him that it came with a warranty, manuals, and all the things normally bundled with new snowblowers. Of course, Sears couldn’t find either the manual or the keys. A salesman promised that “Ray from Lawn & Garden” would mail the key whenever he returned, an offer Aaron refused. The salesman then offered a key from another snowblower, promising “the keys are basically universal.” That key didn’t work because, as a different associate later discovered, the unit was missing its electric start socket.
Consumer Reports: Kenmore Vacuum Sucks In A Good Way, Dirt Devil Just Sucks
By 9.3.08
Consumer Reports’ vacuum cleaner test results are in and there’s bad news for Dirt Devil. Their pretty “Kone” vacuum poses a safety risk.
