- Report: #137427
Complaint Review: Sears Roebuck & Co. Repair Services - Honolulu Hawaii
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Sears Roebuck & Co. Repair Services
2886 Paa St. Honolulu, 96819 Hawaii, U.S.A.
Phone:
800-469-4663
Web:
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Sears Roebuck & Co. Repair Services Ripoff Charge for Sears Kenmore Calypso Wash Machine Repair Part Honolulu Hawaii
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: we were told that if we used parts purchased locally rather than through the Sears "system", we should charge double
*Consumer Comment: I BOUGHT THIS SAME WASHER AND IT DOESNT WORK NOW!!
*Consumer Comment: I BOUGHT THIS SAME WASHER AND IT DOESNT WORK NOW!!
*Consumer Comment: I BOUGHT THIS SAME WASHER AND IT DOESNT WORK NOW!!
*Consumer Comment: I BOUGHT THIS SAME WASHER AND IT DOESNT WORK NOW!!
I purchased a Sears Kenmore Elite Calypso Wash Machine in June 2001. It stopped working in December 2004 and it was out of warranty, so I called Sears for service. I had no problem scheduling the repair or with the two technicians who came to my home. The first technician diagnosed the problem and informed me that a part had failed that Sears calls the Control Panel and that this part would have to be replaced.
![Ripoffreport Report Image]()
![Ripoffreport Report Image]()
Here's the ripoff: The part known as the Control Panel cost me $417.62 plus tax (labor was extra). I will try to attach a photo of this part. It is a piece of sheet metal with two layers of stick-on components: one layer is a stick-on printed circuit board containing 35 LED's and 18 membrane switches; the other layer is a stick-on decorative cover to view the LED's & operate the membrane switches. The Control Panel also contains a digital display of time remaining in the cycle and a flexible connector. There are no active electronic components in this part except maybe the countdown timer.
I worked for many years for a large corporation that manufactures electronic devices, so I am aware of actual costs for parts like this. I am also aware of normal markups for repair parts. The cost to Whirlpool (the actual manufacturer) is in the range of $25 to $50 and a normal 3x to 4x service markup would put the customer price for this part in the range of $75 to $200. I suspect that Whirlpool marks it up with a full markup when it sells it to Sears and then Sears hits it with another full markup before it gets to the customer.
The Sears Customer Relations phone number that I was given was disconnected. I finally made it through the phone maze and received a callback from a woman in the Sears Customer Relations Department. Essentially, her response was "If the Technician was not surprised by the cost of this part, it must be OK because we (Sears) are very diligent about setting our prices." I told her that one of the Sears technicians had advised me to scrap this wash machine and buy one with manual controls because of the ridiculously high prices for repair parts. He was professional and I don't want to get him in trouble because of his statement. This didn't seem to phase her and she refused to do any more investigation about the cost of this part.
If anyone from Sears reads this, be aware that I have roughly 300 people in my e-mail address book and I have informed all of them about the ripoff cost of this part as well as the "tough luck" attitude of the Sears Customer Relations Department. I will soon be buying a refrigerator, dishwasher & lawn mower and I assure you that Sears will not even be considered for my business. Maybe some of the 300 on my list will also be buying appliances from other companies - one can only hope that I steered them away from Sears.
Tom
Kailua, Hawaii
U.S.A.
Here's the ripoff: The part known as the Control Panel cost me $417.62 plus tax (labor was extra). I will try to attach a photo of this part. It is a piece of sheet metal with two layers of stick-on components: one layer is a stick-on printed circuit board containing 35 LED's and 18 membrane switches; the other layer is a stick-on decorative cover to view the LED's & operate the membrane switches. The Control Panel also contains a digital display of time remaining in the cycle and a flexible connector. There are no active electronic components in this part except maybe the countdown timer.
I worked for many years for a large corporation that manufactures electronic devices, so I am aware of actual costs for parts like this. I am also aware of normal markups for repair parts. The cost to Whirlpool (the actual manufacturer) is in the range of $25 to $50 and a normal 3x to 4x service markup would put the customer price for this part in the range of $75 to $200. I suspect that Whirlpool marks it up with a full markup when it sells it to Sears and then Sears hits it with another full markup before it gets to the customer.
The Sears Customer Relations phone number that I was given was disconnected. I finally made it through the phone maze and received a callback from a woman in the Sears Customer Relations Department. Essentially, her response was "If the Technician was not surprised by the cost of this part, it must be OK because we (Sears) are very diligent about setting our prices." I told her that one of the Sears technicians had advised me to scrap this wash machine and buy one with manual controls because of the ridiculously high prices for repair parts. He was professional and I don't want to get him in trouble because of his statement. This didn't seem to phase her and she refused to do any more investigation about the cost of this part.
If anyone from Sears reads this, be aware that I have roughly 300 people in my e-mail address book and I have informed all of them about the ripoff cost of this part as well as the "tough luck" attitude of the Sears Customer Relations Department. I will soon be buying a refrigerator, dishwasher & lawn mower and I assure you that Sears will not even be considered for my business. Maybe some of the 300 on my list will also be buying appliances from other companies - one can only hope that I steered them away from Sears.
Tom
Kailua, Hawaii
U.S.A.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
V
Rosemead,California,
U.S.A.
I BOUGHT THIS SAME WASHER AND IT DOESNT WORK NOW!!
#2Consumer Comment
Mon, May 30, 2005
I have this same washer and have had at least 7 techs attempt to fix it within the past 4 months. Pretty much all the major parts have been replaced and still it doesnt work correctly. Sears only seems to want to keep getting technicians out here to try to fix my machine. I have had 2 Techs tell me that these machines are TRASH and are way too delicate. I appreciate those 2 techs for being honest with me. I have contacted sears many times and they tell me they cant do anything for me. i am supposed to have Customer Relations contact me, once again, on Tuesday, May 31, to talk about the problem. Imma demand trhat they replace it with a new one
V
Rosemead,California,
U.S.A.
I BOUGHT THIS SAME WASHER AND IT DOESNT WORK NOW!!
#3Consumer Comment
Mon, May 30, 2005
I have this same washer and have had at least 7 techs attempt to fix it within the past 4 months. Pretty much all the major parts have been replaced and still it doesnt work correctly. Sears only seems to want to keep getting technicians out here to try to fix my machine. I have had 2 Techs tell me that these machines are TRASH and are way too delicate. I appreciate those 2 techs for being honest with me. I have contacted sears many times and they tell me they cant do anything for me. i am supposed to have Customer Relations contact me, once again, on Tuesday, May 31, to talk about the problem. Imma demand trhat they replace it with a new one
V
Rosemead,California,
U.S.A.
I BOUGHT THIS SAME WASHER AND IT DOESNT WORK NOW!!
#4Consumer Comment
Mon, May 30, 2005
I have this same washer and have had at least 7 techs attempt to fix it within the past 4 months. Pretty much all the major parts have been replaced and still it doesnt work correctly. Sears only seems to want to keep getting technicians out here to try to fix my machine. I have had 2 Techs tell me that these machines are TRASH and are way too delicate. I appreciate those 2 techs for being honest with me. I have contacted sears many times and they tell me they cant do anything for me. i am supposed to have Customer Relations contact me, once again, on Tuesday, May 31, to talk about the problem. Imma demand trhat they replace it with a new one
V
Rosemead,California,
U.S.A.
I BOUGHT THIS SAME WASHER AND IT DOESNT WORK NOW!!
#5Consumer Comment
Mon, May 30, 2005
I have this same washer and have had at least 7 techs attempt to fix it within the past 4 months. Pretty much all the major parts have been replaced and still it doesnt work correctly. Sears only seems to want to keep getting technicians out here to try to fix my machine. I have had 2 Techs tell me that these machines are TRASH and are way too delicate. I appreciate those 2 techs for being honest with me. I have contacted sears many times and they tell me they cant do anything for me. i am supposed to have Customer Relations contact me, once again, on Tuesday, May 31, to talk about the problem. Imma demand trhat they replace it with a new one
John
Moorpark,California,
U.S.A.
we were told that if we used parts purchased locally rather than through the Sears "system", we should charge double
#6UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, April 13, 2005
I used to be a Sears Appliance tech - we were told that if we used parts purchased locally rather than through the Sears "system", we should charge double what we paid for them. A quick check of a couple of parts websites same up with a price of about $180 for your control panel. Allowing for the cost of shipping to Hawaii, $200 is about right.
