When we recently upgraded our gas range stove, we ran into a plethora of problems. In fact, there were so many of them that we refer to the whole affair as Stovegate. The initial problem was that our tenant's gas stove had broken down, so we needed to replace it. During Stovegate, we learned how to deal efficiently with everything from contractors to big box stores.
The plan was to replace our own stove and give the tenant the one we had in our place. That would involve unplugging the gas stove, brining it upstairs, and plugging it back in as well as installing our new stove. The first problem we encountered was that the certified handymen from Best Buy told us that our old gas stove didn't fit up the stairs and just left us with two stoves in our kitchen. We were surprised and had to verify this by ourselves. After measuring it and ensuring that we had the right numbers, we realized that if the stair railing were removed, getting the stove up would be no problem.
Then, the whole rigmarole started once again. We phoned Best Buy's customer service to get the handymen back to do the job that they were paid to do. For some reason, they wouldn't bring it up. Instead, we paid a neighborly contractor $50 to bring the stove up. Best Buy still owed us a gas range install, so we waited for their handyman to come. Once again, they failed to do what they were required to do. In the end, we used the same contractor to hook up the gas stove.
The gas range install service by Best Buy costs $140 per stove. We had paid this amount without getting any of it done by Best Buy. We haggled with them and got a gift card for the full amount of this install. To be honest, we expected more from them but it was a valuable lesson on how to deal with big box stores and contractors.
5 Tips For Affordable Appliance Installation:
1. If you can do it yourself, go ahead. If you can't, rely on professionals.
2. Always rely on contractors that you trust.
3. If service isn't rendered as promised, complain and ask for your money back.
4. If you get good service from a contractor, consider using him/her repeatedly.
5. If you offer contractors work during the winter, they will give you good prices. The winter is traditionally their off-season.
(Image: Flickr member Ilovebutter licensed for use under Creative Commons, Flickr member Cafemama licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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I'm not surprised by this story. Why is it that nobody is ever surprised.
I just bought an open box HDTV from Walmart. I called in the morning and said I would be by in the evening to get it. I was told it would be all packed up waiting when I got there. I came in the evening and it wasn't packed up. They had the box but all the styrofoam had been thrown away. The not-so-intelligent employee asked me what I wanted him to do about it. I told him that he should go down to their office supplies aisle and get some bubble wrap. He said that his managers wouldn't allow it. He didn't even ask. Why is he asking me what to do about a problem if he can't do it? I had already bartered and got a $30 universal remote thrown in since they had somehow misplaced the original remote as well.
Long story short, it got very poorly packaged up, and I didn't help one bit. This employee was rude and condescending to other customers while we were there and I'm not going to shell out $1000+ for a TV that I have to help package myself. Oh . . . the big box store.
Services from Best Buy are NEVER a good idea. I have found them to be completely lacking in effort and quality.
as a best buy employee i see two things wrong with this. the installers are not allowed to move appliance through out the house, they will only take away and recycle the same type of appliance they brought. for example stove for stove. so that part was ok on their part, the problem was that the sales associate at the store should have specified that they wouldn't bring the stove upstairs (the reason they don't do this is so they aren't responsible for broken belongings (also there is a terms and conditions paper you are supposed to presented with and you sign and the associate signs and it is documented)), the other problem i see is you should have gotten your full money back, not a gift card. Since i currently lead my appliance department and used to lead customer service....you should go back and get your money back, not a gift card
I'm not a fan of Best Buy, either. Years ago, I purchased my third laptop from Best Buy, and we purchased the extended warranty plan with it, since I had a great extended warranty through Circuit City for my old laptop.
Not the case.
Geek Squad actually managed to lose my laptop in their service center for two weeks. Then, when it got returned to me, it malfunctioned as soon as I turned it on because their service people had plugged in something backwards.
I sent it back, and after a MONTH I got told that my laptop was beyond repair...but they couldn't give me a new one until something or other was done with it. I asked for my hard drive back because I hadn't gotten a chance to fully back it up and was told that was no problem.
Another few weeks go by, and I finally get my new laptop compliments of Best Buy, only it's nowhere near the same size as my old one.
As for my hard drive? Never saw it.
I will NEVER set foot in a Best Buy again. I purchased several appliances from them for a recent kitchen renovation and the entire process was a nightmare (damaged goods, failing to show up for a scheduled delivery - more than once!, rude customer service representatives, nonsensical delivery charges). Plus ridiculous rules and caveats like the one's you've mentioned. Home Depot was a dream however.
Wow, thank you so much for this - I have been debating using Best Buy for a service this week but now...no thank you.
I highly recommend Sears for appliances---they have a system set up to deal with this, if you want an appliance moved (ie your own) it costs more, especially moving on stairs but they will do it. What you most likely signed up for was haul away and installation----yes they will move the one stove and install the new one in the same place, but this does not include installing two stoves or moving one stove from place to place. In fact, I don't think I know of anyone who would have installed both stoves for you. I don't think that your expectations are in line with the services that are available. Hiring a handyman is the right call on this.
My dad just bought a laptop there and they said they asked if he wanted them to install the software it would take about an hour. He said ok (he like to look around at the mall) He came back and took his computer home all to discover it wasn't his or what he paid for; it was Trisha's very much nicer laptop. (The laptop said "hello Trisha" when he turned it on) He just figured this was a sheer goof up and went to get his laptop, what a guy! Somehow the papers were all mixed up and Best Buy did not want to admit they completely effed up so they said free upgrade and enjoy! Knowing they would have to give Trisha a new laptop. Idiots!
I bought an open box gas range from Lowes and they told me that they couldn't install it due to liability reasons on returned items. In the end, I hired a handyman (who turned out to be fantastic) and saved about $70 on the installation.
The stove works wonderfully. The only downside being that the gas pipe is too high for modern stoves, so the stove sticks out about 3 in from the wall. Not a big deal to me and I plan to hire a gas plumber to lower it when I do other remodel-y things to my kitchen.
I also recommend Sears. They are super knowledgeable, I heard they have to pass tests on the stuff they sell. I don't know if that's true, but they do know their stuff and their install has always been great. Also you should have some kind of handyman on your contact list, they might be pricier but if you keep using them they will give you a deal and if you ask they will show you how to fix things yourself, which can save you money.
We have had good luck with Sears recently for a number of appliances (bank owned condos we are buying don't tend to have appliances in them :) ).
Best Buy...not so much- so bad, in fact, we will not be buying appliances from them again.
2 of 3 appliances had missing or not working parts (1 of which involved water then going all over the floor twice), had to have multiple service calls, and were not installed correctly- still waiting on one to be fixed properly. Distribution center also did not have the item we paid for (ordered a month early), and told us to ask the store for a part that was missing on another item(which the store doesn't carry and which should have come with the appliance to begin with). Service people have also failed to show up. Huge timesuck not worth the very small amount that may have been saved on the appliances.
I'm not surprised that a big box store - or any store - would not install a product that wasn't purchased new from the store. Why would they? What would their liability be if it malfunctioned or some parts were no longer available? It just doesn't make good business sense.
On the other hand, I'd expect top notch service from anyone I purchased a new product from.
Try using the 1-888-we-gas-4u Team. They run a network of independent contractors in North America.
And besides you HAVE to be a licensed gas fitter to install any gas appliance.
There is great risk there. And these contractors install products of other businesses. In some cases they have products being sold, on others they will just come for installation no problem.
Local Gas Fitter Company is better than any chain store in my opinion.
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