On March 23, 2010, a service repairman came to my home to take a look at my Whirlpool Refrigerator that was no longer cold. After inspection, he told me that I needed to replace the starter. He said he didn't have the exact part number, but he had something better that would work. He said it was going to cost $245.00 for the part and $55.00 for labor. It seemed steep, but I accepted due to the fact my family and I were going on three days without a refrigerator. The repairman finished the job inside of 15 minutes.
After he left, I looked on line for the parts that I thought he replaced. Starters cost around $50.00. This concerned me. Before I assumed the repairman took advantage of my ignorance and anxiousness to repair the refrigerator, I called Airflow Appliance Repair to ask them about the charge. I talked to an operator who said that a manager would get back to me the next day.
The next day Danny Zusman ( the manager) and I talked. He told me that I agreed to the contract and authorized the repairman to do the work. I told him regardless of what I authorized, now, after doing some research, I have found that the repairman charged me approximately $200.00 more than other retailers. Danny's reply was that I should have looked and compared prices before hiring Airflow Appliance to do the work. I told him regardless of what I should have done, now that I have found that starters run around $50.00, and that his repairman charged me $250.00, I wanted to talk to him directly to see what could be done before I give him and his company bad press. Again, he repeated himself and stated that I should have done comparison shopping. He said that when you shop for a car or TV prices margins vary between businesses. I told him that I didn't care about the price differences for anything else but what I was charged for a starter. I asked him how much do they cost them at wholesale. He declined to answer that. He told me prices vary and added that starters run from $10.00 all the way up to $300.00. I told him that for the life of me I did not see anything out there for $300.00. I added that if he could send me a link on line that proved what he was saying as true, I'd give him $1000.00. He said that he didn't have time. ""It would take you two minutes of your time, "" I said! ""Obviously you know of a place that retails starters for $300.00. You mean to tell me that two minutes isn't worth $1000.00 to you?! You must be a millionaire if that's the case. Are you a millionaire,"" I asked? He didn't respond to that, but at some point in the conversation he told me that the service repairman only charged me $55.00 when they usually charge $150 and also that I wasn't charged any tax. I guess that labor rate fluctuates according to how much they feel they can gouge the customer. I asked if he had a boss. He said that he did. I told him if I was his boss I'd fire him. I asked Danny, who is identified as the ""manager,"" if I could contact his boss. He said, ""I am as high as it goes."" ""You're as high as it goes, "" I asked? ""I'm as high as it goes,"" he repeated. ""That's right, you are high,"" I retorted. I told him that I'd find out who his boss was and that he should have a nice rest of his day, while he could. We then both said good bye and hung up.
Throughout the conversation/argument, Mr. Danny Zusman acted like this was my fault. I signed the contract, hired the repairman after I was told how much it was going to cost, and paid the money. He's right. I am at fault for assuming him and his associates practiced fair and honest business. Huge mistake.
I found a place that sells the exact part that the repairman used on my refrigerator. It's called a Relay Overload Start Capacitor Combination/3 n' 1 Start made by Supco and sold at Johnston Supply in Long Beach, CA for $13.00!
Cons: That's what they are, cons!
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