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The BorD files, episode 4:

Skip the rest of this rant.  I will save you the time.  The moral of this
story is, never ever buy used appliances.  If you already knew this, you
are smarter than me.  If you want more details, read on kind reader.

Let us go back in time.  I bought a house.  Dumb kid, first house, needs a
stove.  What do I know?  I go to an outfit called AAApliances for Less.
Stupid name, I should have known better.  But, they had a cheap gas stove,
they threw in a microwave, it has worked fine for years.  When the time
came for more appliances, I figured, they have a stupid name, but they
treated me right the last time, and they have good deals.  (They must be
under new management, cause they didn't treat me right this time around.)

I had a fridge from 1952 in my house.  It was there when I moved in, and
it worked fine, so I did not worry about it.  (I don't know for SURE that
it was that old, but I wouldn't be surprised.)  The freezer finally gave
up the ghost, and it was time to replace it.  Who was the first company I
thought of?  You guessed it.  The place I had gone when I first moved
into my house.  I felt they had treated me right the first time around,
why not go there again?

I went over there, looked at the prices on the new fridges, they were
a bit high.  They had a large selection of used stuff.  I figured, I
have bought used cars, they have worked out for me, why not a fridge?
Dumb logic, but at the time it made perfect sense.

Why not indeed.  I paid $398 for a 22.5 cubic inch monster.  It was a bear
to get into the house, the butt-crack-showing dentist-needing tooth-decay 
having shower-wanting delivery guy scratched and dinged the wall and the
fridge, but what the heck.  The refrigeration problem was solved.  Hardly.
This experience would not be typed up if the problem were solved...

A very short time after getting this new beast, the new fridge stopped
working.  We were still under warranty, they came out, fixed the problem.
We had to throw out some food, but we were good to go.  

Until the next time.  And the next time.  Each time, they came out,
'fixed' the problem, we lost some food, and went on our merry way.  This
last time was the final straw.  Four service calls in 6 months seems
excessive to me.

They offered to give me a loaner fridge while they 'fixed' this lemon.  I
would have none of it.  I told them that enough was enough, I was tired of
seeing this fridge getting 'fixed' only to break in a few weeks.  I wasn't
going to have them ding up my house getting it out, 'fix' it, ding things
up bringing it back, hassling with delivery guy schedules, moving food
back and forth, etc.  What a pain.

I went to the store, and told them to take back the fridge, I would buy a
new one and pay the difference.  They counter offered, told me they would
let me have full store credit on another used appliance, or I could have
50% credit on a new appliance.  I told them to blow it out their ear, I
went to another company, and I bought a new one.

The question is, what to do now?  They don't really have anything used
that I am interested in.  I only get 50% credit on something new, and
nothing new can be had for $200.  I do NOT plan on using that credit and
giving them a dime more.  I suppose I could exchange the fridge and sell
the 'new' one I get, but for all I know I am selling another lemon to
some poor bastard.

So, it is time to contact the BBB, post this rant to my web site and
usenet, and see what if anything happens.

Now let us contrast this with the right way to do business and keep
customers.  I bought an air mattress from Popular Outdoor (I am getting
too old to camp without an air mattress.  The ones from Coleman are pretty
good) a year ago.  I used it once.  I took it out so we could go camping
again, and it had a slow leak.  

I took it to the store, no receipt, and they gave me store credit no
questions asked.  I will be loyal to Popular for the rest of my life.
AAApliances for Less?  They are less all right.  Don't expect to see me at
their store again, even after we get this mess resolved.

UPDATE:

I did follow through with the better business bureau.  They sent my complaint
to the business, and the business did not answer.  I have this huge fridge on
my porch, and I would like to get rid of it.  On the other hand, if I can get
this problem resolved, then that would be fine.  

I called the BBB, they called the business, the business faxed their response
to the BBB, and the BBB mailed it to me.  I have 10 days to reply.  What did
the letter say?  That they would be happy to give me 50% store credit on a 
new appliance.  Not good enough.  I want either:

a) a full refund
b) full credit toward a new appliance

They sold me a used piece of crap that did not work properly from the get go.
Sadly, I figure I will end up getting screwed when all is said and done.

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE:

I was right.  The BBB was useless.  They decided that the company's original
offer was fair, and they will note that there is an unhappy customer out
there (me).  This is a pretty meaningless gesture, and the net result is that
I am out the money, I had an ugly fridge on my porch forever, and some lucky
charity will receive this monster.  (the fridge)

Of course, this means, some guy is going to go buy this fridge at a thrift
store, and end up with the same problems I had.  Hopefully he will send me his
url, and I can link to him when he types up HIS rant.

Once again, for the slow learners out there (you know who you are), DO NOT buy
used appliances, and DO NOT buy from AAAppliances for less.

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