- Report: #5614
Complaint Review: H.H. Gregg - Clarksville Nationwide
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
H.H. Gregg
2886 Wilma Rudolph Blvd. Clarksville, 37040 Nationwide, U.S.A.
Phone:
931.503.2603
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Business Rating:
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Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
HH Gregg, Appliance installation rip-off.
*Consumer Comment: Too far for no added safety
*Consumer Comment: Engineer Consultant
*Consumer Comment: Engineer Consultant
*Consumer Comment: Engineer Consultant
*Consumer Comment: Engineer Consultant
*Consumer Comment: outraged tech, newsflash the foil venting you all are referring to is duraflex
*UPDATE Employee: This is not a rip off
*Consumer Comment: YOU CHANGED MY MIND - Thank you!
*Consumer Comment: The company can't have it both ways, The company is dead wrong!
*Consumer Comment: Thank you for the Infomation
*Consumer Comment: Why you really need a non-flex dryer vent.
*Consumer Comment: Some common sense to the "industry standard" garbage
*Consumer Comment: Some common sense to the "industry standard" garbage
*Consumer Comment: Some common sense to the "industry standard" garbage
*Consumer Comment: Some common sense to the "industry standard" garbage
*Consumer Comment: please get on board for the class action law suit
On Friday the 29th of June,2001 a new Whirlpool dryer, a Roper electric was delivered and installed at my home. Fully payed for to include installation and hook up of vent hose and haul off of old dryer for an additional charge of 39.00 to deliver, install and haul off the old dryer.
When my wife purchased the dryer 2 days before ahe was asked to sign a document and innitial a space marked No to Metal vent installation* and the asteric indicated an additional charge which the salesman quoted verbally to be an additional $99.00.
Dean, her salesperson informed her that she could have it installed with a flexable vent hose. My wife opted to have the flexable hose.
After delivery and set up to include installing the Whirlpool "Roper" electric dryer and installing the "Foil" vent hose, as the delivery personnel were taking away the old dryer my wife began to read the owners manual. On page 6 of the owners manual she read where the manufacturer said, do not intall using a plaxtic or foil vent hose. By the time she found this information the delivery personnel were already gone.
My wife then called the store and questioned Dean, her sales person, as to why HH Gregg had installed the new dryer using a foil hose that the manufacturer plainly stated in the owners manual, not to use? He told her that she had innitialed a refusal form to not use the metal vent installation and agreed to have the foil hose installed instead, releasing HH Gregg of there liability. She disagreed with the salesman, but it more or less became a stand-off and she ended that phone call. Then she called me at my place of work.
I wrote down all the details to that point. I then called the HH Gregg store where she made her purchase located at 2886 Wilma Rudolph Blvd. here in Clarksville, Tn. I asked to speak to the manager, was informed he was not in. I asked to speak to whomever was in charge and was told that Mr. Bobby Williams the assistant manager would be with me shortly. I told Mr. Williams that I had a situation, created by him and his service staff that was not acceptable and his company, like mine, had people paid to take care of these situations and i fully expected him to take care of the situation at hand. I reinterated the senario that had taken place up to that point in time and asked him why did they have a policy to install an appliance in a consumers home in a manner which the manufacturer absolutely instructed the consumer not to do. He again reinterated the the liability was released from HH Gregg when my wife signed the Delivery Service form. I told him I did not agree and asked him to give me the 1-800 number for Whirlpool. He gave me their number and i told him I was going to call the manufacturer and see if there were any other options to resolve the situation. He said to me the easiest way to do that would be for me to put in an order for HH Gregg to come out and install the metal pipe. He said it really wasn't that big a deal. I informed him of my wifes fear of being in a house fire was much greater than he would ever know and he insisted i had nothing to worry about, that he had installed the exact same foil vent hose system on a dryer in his own mothers house and that HH Greg had probably installed 25,000 of them through out the country. He said he had only installed maybe 2 of the metal pipe exhaust hoses and that all the rest had been installed with the foil vent hose. I told him
I would let him know what whirlpool had to say and he said he really would be interested to hear what they said.
I then called Whirlpool and then the fire marshals office for Clarksville. Whirlpool representative named Doris at 1-800-253-1301 informed me that there is a flexable metal exhause vent hose, readily available at either "Lowes" or "Home Depot" and for me to please go and purchase one and remove the foil hose that HH Greg had installed. The use of the flexable metal hose was recommended by Whirlpool and they definitely do not want the consumer to use the Roper dryer, installed with either the plastic or foil vent hose. I asked why would they allow someone to sell their product when the seller as a regular practice were installing it in a manner not acceptable to the instructions of the manufacturer and in fact was in violation of a warning not to do so by Whirlpool. Doris said she wished HH Greg had not done what they had done but in the interest of my wifes and my safety she wished that i would get the proper hose and fix it myself.
When I called the fire marshall's office with my concerns he said that by all means to do what the manufacturer said and not to go with what the installer had done. I asked if he had ever inspected a fire in this area that had been cause d by a dryer vent hose and he said he could not swear it but that he might have seen one or two, but either way no matter. Do as the manufacturer had instructed.
After the Whirlpool representative's and the fire marshall's instructions, I decided to do exactly what they both said and purchased the proper hose at Lowe's for ten dollars vs. letting HH Gregg come out and cut another hole in my utility room wall and charge an additional $50.00 for something that was not necessary to properly install the new dryer.
Since I was in the area of the HH Gregg store I decide to go by and get a copy of the Delivery Service form that my wife had signed, supposedly agreeing to have it installed with the foil vent hose. She indeed had signed it and it was marked foil vent hose, but she doesn't remember any conversation using the words foil vent hose and her innetials were only by the space where "No" was marked and not next to the line marked foil vent hose and clamps. Mr, williams was hesitant to give me a copy of this signed form at first and was more interested in letting me know that in his words, he had "squared the situation with my wife by reinbursing her for the materials that i had just purchased at Lowes". He wanted to know if i had spoken to her since he and i had spoken the first time on the phone. I said no! I also informed him that we were not square because i had a problem with HH Gregg installing electrical dryers in the consumers home with a hose that the manufacturer said definitely not to use. Then having you the consumer unknowlingly sign away your warenty rights by innetialing a form that said you were agreeing to have it installed with the foil vent hose and saying no to the "Metal vent installation", which would either cost you $99.00 as per Mr. Dean Wilson the sales person, or $50.00 as per the form and the assistant manaqger. Nothing on this form by the way mentions anything about Whirlpool warning the consumer not to install the dryer in this manner. I pointed that out to Mr. Williams and he again wanted to be sure I saw the copy of the reinbursement he had given my wife for the "Pig Tail". I said excuse me, we are not talking about the pig tail, we are talking about the vent hose.
He gave me a copy of the cash back receipt. Then I asked him for a copy of the Delivery Service form my wife had signed and he said he would have to make a phone call to get permission to release a copy to me. I reminded him while he was on the phone with another HH Gregg employee, I presume, that I felt as though I had a right to a copy of anything HH Greg had my wife sign. The party on the other end of the phone presumably gave his/her permission for Mr. Williams to give me a copy of the form my wife had signed. He asked me why I wanted it and I said again that I thought they should give a copy of everything that the consumer has to sign to the consumer.
When Mr. Williams brought out the copy of the Delivery service form, he again said to me that we were completely square now, and wasn't I happy and I again told him that as far as I was concerned he was simply doing his job and that i had no beef with him. My concern about the company policy was with HH Gregg in general and nor him or the local store policy if it indeed was the company policy nationally. I said good bye and left.
I am not seeking any money for their decision to improperly install my dryer. The $39.00 service and delivery charge was warrented by their delivery of the new dryer to my home and the pick up and disposal of the old dryer. What I am trying to accomplish is the avoidance of any other consumer having to suffer the totally thoughtless decision on the part of HH Gregg in general to ignore a warning label installed on the back of the dryers they are installing. The act of relieving them selves of the liability of potentially one life being lost due to a fire caused by their total arrogance in this regard is totally deplorable. My wife, in HH Gregg's openion gave up our right to a safe envitonment in our own home with a simple signature and innitials. I cannot believe that on this same form it is noted that H.H. Gregg CANNOT be responsible for any damage to property during removal of old products. By this statement it appears to me that they are more conserned with damage to inadimant objects than they are conserned with the safety and welfare of the consumers who purchase their products.
The next morning i got up and went down to remove the foil vent hose and to install the flexable metal hose purchased by myself the night before at Lowes. Upon stepping behind my new dryer purchased from HH Gregg, the first thing i noticed was a sticker approximately 2 by 5-6 inches that read: Warning do not install with plastic or foil vent hose. May cause death or fire. I was in total shock. Right there before my eyes was a warning from Whirlpool telling me in the form of a warning, what not to do and this is exactly what HH Gregg has done in as many as 25,000 homes, knowingly against the recommendations of the manufacturer.
When my wife purchased the dryer 2 days before ahe was asked to sign a document and innitial a space marked No to Metal vent installation* and the asteric indicated an additional charge which the salesman quoted verbally to be an additional $99.00.
Dean, her salesperson informed her that she could have it installed with a flexable vent hose. My wife opted to have the flexable hose.
After delivery and set up to include installing the Whirlpool "Roper" electric dryer and installing the "Foil" vent hose, as the delivery personnel were taking away the old dryer my wife began to read the owners manual. On page 6 of the owners manual she read where the manufacturer said, do not intall using a plaxtic or foil vent hose. By the time she found this information the delivery personnel were already gone.
My wife then called the store and questioned Dean, her sales person, as to why HH Gregg had installed the new dryer using a foil hose that the manufacturer plainly stated in the owners manual, not to use? He told her that she had innitialed a refusal form to not use the metal vent installation and agreed to have the foil hose installed instead, releasing HH Gregg of there liability. She disagreed with the salesman, but it more or less became a stand-off and she ended that phone call. Then she called me at my place of work.
I wrote down all the details to that point. I then called the HH Gregg store where she made her purchase located at 2886 Wilma Rudolph Blvd. here in Clarksville, Tn. I asked to speak to the manager, was informed he was not in. I asked to speak to whomever was in charge and was told that Mr. Bobby Williams the assistant manager would be with me shortly. I told Mr. Williams that I had a situation, created by him and his service staff that was not acceptable and his company, like mine, had people paid to take care of these situations and i fully expected him to take care of the situation at hand. I reinterated the senario that had taken place up to that point in time and asked him why did they have a policy to install an appliance in a consumers home in a manner which the manufacturer absolutely instructed the consumer not to do. He again reinterated the the liability was released from HH Gregg when my wife signed the Delivery Service form. I told him I did not agree and asked him to give me the 1-800 number for Whirlpool. He gave me their number and i told him I was going to call the manufacturer and see if there were any other options to resolve the situation. He said to me the easiest way to do that would be for me to put in an order for HH Gregg to come out and install the metal pipe. He said it really wasn't that big a deal. I informed him of my wifes fear of being in a house fire was much greater than he would ever know and he insisted i had nothing to worry about, that he had installed the exact same foil vent hose system on a dryer in his own mothers house and that HH Greg had probably installed 25,000 of them through out the country. He said he had only installed maybe 2 of the metal pipe exhaust hoses and that all the rest had been installed with the foil vent hose. I told him
I would let him know what whirlpool had to say and he said he really would be interested to hear what they said.
I then called Whirlpool and then the fire marshals office for Clarksville. Whirlpool representative named Doris at 1-800-253-1301 informed me that there is a flexable metal exhause vent hose, readily available at either "Lowes" or "Home Depot" and for me to please go and purchase one and remove the foil hose that HH Greg had installed. The use of the flexable metal hose was recommended by Whirlpool and they definitely do not want the consumer to use the Roper dryer, installed with either the plastic or foil vent hose. I asked why would they allow someone to sell their product when the seller as a regular practice were installing it in a manner not acceptable to the instructions of the manufacturer and in fact was in violation of a warning not to do so by Whirlpool. Doris said she wished HH Greg had not done what they had done but in the interest of my wifes and my safety she wished that i would get the proper hose and fix it myself.
When I called the fire marshall's office with my concerns he said that by all means to do what the manufacturer said and not to go with what the installer had done. I asked if he had ever inspected a fire in this area that had been cause d by a dryer vent hose and he said he could not swear it but that he might have seen one or two, but either way no matter. Do as the manufacturer had instructed.
After the Whirlpool representative's and the fire marshall's instructions, I decided to do exactly what they both said and purchased the proper hose at Lowe's for ten dollars vs. letting HH Gregg come out and cut another hole in my utility room wall and charge an additional $50.00 for something that was not necessary to properly install the new dryer.
Since I was in the area of the HH Gregg store I decide to go by and get a copy of the Delivery Service form that my wife had signed, supposedly agreeing to have it installed with the foil vent hose. She indeed had signed it and it was marked foil vent hose, but she doesn't remember any conversation using the words foil vent hose and her innetials were only by the space where "No" was marked and not next to the line marked foil vent hose and clamps. Mr, williams was hesitant to give me a copy of this signed form at first and was more interested in letting me know that in his words, he had "squared the situation with my wife by reinbursing her for the materials that i had just purchased at Lowes". He wanted to know if i had spoken to her since he and i had spoken the first time on the phone. I said no! I also informed him that we were not square because i had a problem with HH Gregg installing electrical dryers in the consumers home with a hose that the manufacturer said definitely not to use. Then having you the consumer unknowlingly sign away your warenty rights by innetialing a form that said you were agreeing to have it installed with the foil vent hose and saying no to the "Metal vent installation", which would either cost you $99.00 as per Mr. Dean Wilson the sales person, or $50.00 as per the form and the assistant manaqger. Nothing on this form by the way mentions anything about Whirlpool warning the consumer not to install the dryer in this manner. I pointed that out to Mr. Williams and he again wanted to be sure I saw the copy of the reinbursement he had given my wife for the "Pig Tail". I said excuse me, we are not talking about the pig tail, we are talking about the vent hose.
He gave me a copy of the cash back receipt. Then I asked him for a copy of the Delivery Service form my wife had signed and he said he would have to make a phone call to get permission to release a copy to me. I reminded him while he was on the phone with another HH Gregg employee, I presume, that I felt as though I had a right to a copy of anything HH Greg had my wife sign. The party on the other end of the phone presumably gave his/her permission for Mr. Williams to give me a copy of the form my wife had signed. He asked me why I wanted it and I said again that I thought they should give a copy of everything that the consumer has to sign to the consumer.
When Mr. Williams brought out the copy of the Delivery service form, he again said to me that we were completely square now, and wasn't I happy and I again told him that as far as I was concerned he was simply doing his job and that i had no beef with him. My concern about the company policy was with HH Gregg in general and nor him or the local store policy if it indeed was the company policy nationally. I said good bye and left.
I am not seeking any money for their decision to improperly install my dryer. The $39.00 service and delivery charge was warrented by their delivery of the new dryer to my home and the pick up and disposal of the old dryer. What I am trying to accomplish is the avoidance of any other consumer having to suffer the totally thoughtless decision on the part of HH Gregg in general to ignore a warning label installed on the back of the dryers they are installing. The act of relieving them selves of the liability of potentially one life being lost due to a fire caused by their total arrogance in this regard is totally deplorable. My wife, in HH Gregg's openion gave up our right to a safe envitonment in our own home with a simple signature and innitials. I cannot believe that on this same form it is noted that H.H. Gregg CANNOT be responsible for any damage to property during removal of old products. By this statement it appears to me that they are more conserned with damage to inadimant objects than they are conserned with the safety and welfare of the consumers who purchase their products.
The next morning i got up and went down to remove the foil vent hose and to install the flexable metal hose purchased by myself the night before at Lowes. Upon stepping behind my new dryer purchased from HH Gregg, the first thing i noticed was a sticker approximately 2 by 5-6 inches that read: Warning do not install with plastic or foil vent hose. May cause death or fire. I was in total shock. Right there before my eyes was a warning from Whirlpool telling me in the form of a warning, what not to do and this is exactly what HH Gregg has done in as many as 25,000 homes, knowingly against the recommendations of the manufacturer.
16 Updates & Rebuttals
Cathy
Ft. Wayne,Indiana,
U.S.A.
please get on board for the class action law suit
#2Consumer Comment
Tue, June 03, 2008
Seriously, even though it seems like a pain in the a*s, and by now u have overcome the injustice of getting screwed over the dryer situation....please ck. out the upcoming law suit u may collect $ from. I read your complaint and believe u have a right to participate. Normally i wouldn't give a d**n, but all the folks like me that had to put up w/ this crap should be compensated. INCLUDING YOU, WHOEVER U ARE.
Samantha
St.louisville,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Some common sense to the "industry standard" garbage
#3Consumer Comment
Mon, November 08, 2004
First of all I would like to state that I am shocked at the total lack of concern the "experts" seem to be giving to this matter and the way they seem to want to brush this matter off like all those who have expressed their concern in these posting are "dumb and uniformed" people. Let me tell you something, we (the consumers/lay people...) are the ones who pay your salary! And we have a right to expect the utmost from you. I am by no means an expert on appliances, I am however an R.N. and a business owner, and also happen to be a single parent. Through having no other choice I have had to educate myself in things like appliance repair, plumbing, minor auto care/maint., ... as many times I didn't have the money to pay a repair person. So I am by no means an uneducated person. Being such I would expect to defer to a "qualified" tech/installation/sales person with a purchase of a new appliance. I feel your comparison to the car safety features to be totally rediculous! We are not talking about a car here! But if you want to make that comparison fine- then let me ask why can't they just put all the safety stuff on the cars and not make it an "option"? We all know antilock brakes at first were an option, they are now industry standard. We are talking about a major appliance installed in a home where a fire could occur and death could result as a result of the consumer not being fully informed and given the choice by the "qualified" person! And THAT is totally unacceptable to me!!!! And the fact that you further try to blame it on consumer negligence if they don't clean out the lint trap!! Oh please give me a break!!!! I would like to take this one step further in pointing out that I currently live in a mobile home on my purchased property until such time as I can build a house. Now I have two children and am a single parent- I shall remind you. Now, knowing how fast fires can spread in a mobile home wouldn't you think it would be far safer to install the manufacturer stated rigid exhaust pipe? And another thing, don't give me that stuff about it being the consumers' fault if a fire starts like it would ONLY happen if they didn't clean out the lint trap!!! I clean my lint trap EVERY time I use my dryer. And let me tell you I just had to spend over an hour yesterday, as a matter of fact, tearing my dryer from the lint trap clear to the rear exhaust apart to get it cleaned out properly!!! There was so much stuff built up in the exhaust chamber/pipes inside the machine that I had turned a load of clothes on 3 times and they still weren't dry!! Thought at first maybe the heating element went out. Now keep in mind that I clean my lint trap each and every time! So this is stuff that due to a bad manufacturer lint trap design, was able to keep getting past the lint trap, or falling out of the lint trap each time it is removed. The problem with this particular lint trap is that it is placed vertically, if it were placed horizontally this could be avoided. Or if it were more of a basket shape that would work too, but it isn't. It's just a vertical panel that slides down in. Had I been more informed when I purchased my new washer/dryer I wouldn't have bought the one I did. And I do blame this on the maker!! They have been building appliances for how long now? So they should know better. Now, knowing that I am aware of the problem, if I don't tear it apart and clean it out regularly and a fire starts due to this problem then I would say you might partly say it was my fault. However I found it out quite by accident because I couldn't afford to call a repair guy and decided to tear into it myself. But the average person might not. And again it comes down to faulty design and there is no set amount of time for this to build up. Knowing this I also don't ever leave the dryer run when I am not home and never when I go to bed. I would also like to say that we have an HH Greg in our area. I have been there about 4 times since it opened up, and I must say prior to reading this had already decided I would not shop there anymore. Pitty again as I am now in the market for a new frig. This is due to a total lack of respect/customer service on their part EACH AND EVERY time I have walked into the store. Each time I went there to buy an appliance I walked around that store for a good 30 minutes, and not one single person came up to ask me if I needed any assistance!!!! They repeatedly ignored me to walk up to someone who may have been dressed nicer, or was younger and prettier, or maybe they thought had more money... Someone finally asked me if they could help as I was leaving!!! I said politely "Oh no I'm sorry but you can't now, your too late! I'm going down to Best Buy. What a pitty the commissions they lost. Another point I would like to make here is that as an R.N. I am held to a very high standard of care according to what is considered reasonable & customary/prudent/the industry standard. If I did not provide this then then my butt could be yanked into a court of law and sued just as doctors are sued for malpractice. Granted it can vary from state to state as to those standards, BUT... it was quite awhile ago now when the minimum accepted standards were put forth and the national standards for the NCLEX (which is the state licensing board exam we take) were decided apon. What this means is that if we are licensed in one state, we are basically licensed in all 50 states. If you move you simply have to apply for your license to be transferred to the new state. And it is almost always granted. This is because they know you have met those national standards no matter what state you were originally licensed in. So, my point with it is this, why do we not have the same nationwide standards for the appliance industry? It's really not hard to do. I personally would not have a problem with paying the higher installation fee if it equals a safer standard for my home and my children!! And I doubt if you fully informed people and asked them do you want to save $50.00 bucks and go with cheaper one- and risk a fire- or spend it and be safer? I doubt they would choose the cheaper one!!! Thank you for your time.
Samantha
St.louisville,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Some common sense to the "industry standard" garbage
#4Consumer Comment
Mon, November 08, 2004
First of all I would like to state that I am shocked at the total lack of concern the "experts" seem to be giving to this matter and the way they seem to want to brush this matter off like all those who have expressed their concern in these posting are "dumb and uniformed" people. Let me tell you something, we (the consumers/lay people...) are the ones who pay your salary! And we have a right to expect the utmost from you. I am by no means an expert on appliances, I am however an R.N. and a business owner, and also happen to be a single parent. Through having no other choice I have had to educate myself in things like appliance repair, plumbing, minor auto care/maint., ... as many times I didn't have the money to pay a repair person. So I am by no means an uneducated person. Being such I would expect to defer to a "qualified" tech/installation/sales person with a purchase of a new appliance. I feel your comparison to the car safety features to be totally rediculous! We are not talking about a car here! But if you want to make that comparison fine- then let me ask why can't they just put all the safety stuff on the cars and not make it an "option"? We all know antilock brakes at first were an option, they are now industry standard. We are talking about a major appliance installed in a home where a fire could occur and death could result as a result of the consumer not being fully informed and given the choice by the "qualified" person! And THAT is totally unacceptable to me!!!! And the fact that you further try to blame it on consumer negligence if they don't clean out the lint trap!! Oh please give me a break!!!! I would like to take this one step further in pointing out that I currently live in a mobile home on my purchased property until such time as I can build a house. Now I have two children and am a single parent- I shall remind you. Now, knowing how fast fires can spread in a mobile home wouldn't you think it would be far safer to install the manufacturer stated rigid exhaust pipe? And another thing, don't give me that stuff about it being the consumers' fault if a fire starts like it would ONLY happen if they didn't clean out the lint trap!!! I clean my lint trap EVERY time I use my dryer. And let me tell you I just had to spend over an hour yesterday, as a matter of fact, tearing my dryer from the lint trap clear to the rear exhaust apart to get it cleaned out properly!!! There was so much stuff built up in the exhaust chamber/pipes inside the machine that I had turned a load of clothes on 3 times and they still weren't dry!! Thought at first maybe the heating element went out. Now keep in mind that I clean my lint trap each and every time! So this is stuff that due to a bad manufacturer lint trap design, was able to keep getting past the lint trap, or falling out of the lint trap each time it is removed. The problem with this particular lint trap is that it is placed vertically, if it were placed horizontally this could be avoided. Or if it were more of a basket shape that would work too, but it isn't. It's just a vertical panel that slides down in. Had I been more informed when I purchased my new washer/dryer I wouldn't have bought the one I did. And I do blame this on the maker!! They have been building appliances for how long now? So they should know better. Now, knowing that I am aware of the problem, if I don't tear it apart and clean it out regularly and a fire starts due to this problem then I would say you might partly say it was my fault. However I found it out quite by accident because I couldn't afford to call a repair guy and decided to tear into it myself. But the average person might not. And again it comes down to faulty design and there is no set amount of time for this to build up. Knowing this I also don't ever leave the dryer run when I am not home and never when I go to bed. I would also like to say that we have an HH Greg in our area. I have been there about 4 times since it opened up, and I must say prior to reading this had already decided I would not shop there anymore. Pitty again as I am now in the market for a new frig. This is due to a total lack of respect/customer service on their part EACH AND EVERY time I have walked into the store. Each time I went there to buy an appliance I walked around that store for a good 30 minutes, and not one single person came up to ask me if I needed any assistance!!!! They repeatedly ignored me to walk up to someone who may have been dressed nicer, or was younger and prettier, or maybe they thought had more money... Someone finally asked me if they could help as I was leaving!!! I said politely "Oh no I'm sorry but you can't now, your too late! I'm going down to Best Buy. What a pitty the commissions they lost. Another point I would like to make here is that as an R.N. I am held to a very high standard of care according to what is considered reasonable & customary/prudent/the industry standard. If I did not provide this then then my butt could be yanked into a court of law and sued just as doctors are sued for malpractice. Granted it can vary from state to state as to those standards, BUT... it was quite awhile ago now when the minimum accepted standards were put forth and the national standards for the NCLEX (which is the state licensing board exam we take) were decided apon. What this means is that if we are licensed in one state, we are basically licensed in all 50 states. If you move you simply have to apply for your license to be transferred to the new state. And it is almost always granted. This is because they know you have met those national standards no matter what state you were originally licensed in. So, my point with it is this, why do we not have the same nationwide standards for the appliance industry? It's really not hard to do. I personally would not have a problem with paying the higher installation fee if it equals a safer standard for my home and my children!! And I doubt if you fully informed people and asked them do you want to save $50.00 bucks and go with cheaper one- and risk a fire- or spend it and be safer? I doubt they would choose the cheaper one!!! Thank you for your time.
Samantha
St.louisville,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Some common sense to the "industry standard" garbage
#5Consumer Comment
Mon, November 08, 2004
First of all I would like to state that I am shocked at the total lack of concern the "experts" seem to be giving to this matter and the way they seem to want to brush this matter off like all those who have expressed their concern in these posting are "dumb and uniformed" people. Let me tell you something, we (the consumers/lay people...) are the ones who pay your salary! And we have a right to expect the utmost from you. I am by no means an expert on appliances, I am however an R.N. and a business owner, and also happen to be a single parent. Through having no other choice I have had to educate myself in things like appliance repair, plumbing, minor auto care/maint., ... as many times I didn't have the money to pay a repair person. So I am by no means an uneducated person. Being such I would expect to defer to a "qualified" tech/installation/sales person with a purchase of a new appliance. I feel your comparison to the car safety features to be totally rediculous! We are not talking about a car here! But if you want to make that comparison fine- then let me ask why can't they just put all the safety stuff on the cars and not make it an "option"? We all know antilock brakes at first were an option, they are now industry standard. We are talking about a major appliance installed in a home where a fire could occur and death could result as a result of the consumer not being fully informed and given the choice by the "qualified" person! And THAT is totally unacceptable to me!!!! And the fact that you further try to blame it on consumer negligence if they don't clean out the lint trap!! Oh please give me a break!!!! I would like to take this one step further in pointing out that I currently live in a mobile home on my purchased property until such time as I can build a house. Now I have two children and am a single parent- I shall remind you. Now, knowing how fast fires can spread in a mobile home wouldn't you think it would be far safer to install the manufacturer stated rigid exhaust pipe? And another thing, don't give me that stuff about it being the consumers' fault if a fire starts like it would ONLY happen if they didn't clean out the lint trap!!! I clean my lint trap EVERY time I use my dryer. And let me tell you I just had to spend over an hour yesterday, as a matter of fact, tearing my dryer from the lint trap clear to the rear exhaust apart to get it cleaned out properly!!! There was so much stuff built up in the exhaust chamber/pipes inside the machine that I had turned a load of clothes on 3 times and they still weren't dry!! Thought at first maybe the heating element went out. Now keep in mind that I clean my lint trap each and every time! So this is stuff that due to a bad manufacturer lint trap design, was able to keep getting past the lint trap, or falling out of the lint trap each time it is removed. The problem with this particular lint trap is that it is placed vertically, if it were placed horizontally this could be avoided. Or if it were more of a basket shape that would work too, but it isn't. It's just a vertical panel that slides down in. Had I been more informed when I purchased my new washer/dryer I wouldn't have bought the one I did. And I do blame this on the maker!! They have been building appliances for how long now? So they should know better. Now, knowing that I am aware of the problem, if I don't tear it apart and clean it out regularly and a fire starts due to this problem then I would say you might partly say it was my fault. However I found it out quite by accident because I couldn't afford to call a repair guy and decided to tear into it myself. But the average person might not. And again it comes down to faulty design and there is no set amount of time for this to build up. Knowing this I also don't ever leave the dryer run when I am not home and never when I go to bed. I would also like to say that we have an HH Greg in our area. I have been there about 4 times since it opened up, and I must say prior to reading this had already decided I would not shop there anymore. Pitty again as I am now in the market for a new frig. This is due to a total lack of respect/customer service on their part EACH AND EVERY time I have walked into the store. Each time I went there to buy an appliance I walked around that store for a good 30 minutes, and not one single person came up to ask me if I needed any assistance!!!! They repeatedly ignored me to walk up to someone who may have been dressed nicer, or was younger and prettier, or maybe they thought had more money... Someone finally asked me if they could help as I was leaving!!! I said politely "Oh no I'm sorry but you can't now, your too late! I'm going down to Best Buy. What a pitty the commissions they lost. Another point I would like to make here is that as an R.N. I am held to a very high standard of care according to what is considered reasonable & customary/prudent/the industry standard. If I did not provide this then then my butt could be yanked into a court of law and sued just as doctors are sued for malpractice. Granted it can vary from state to state as to those standards, BUT... it was quite awhile ago now when the minimum accepted standards were put forth and the national standards for the NCLEX (which is the state licensing board exam we take) were decided apon. What this means is that if we are licensed in one state, we are basically licensed in all 50 states. If you move you simply have to apply for your license to be transferred to the new state. And it is almost always granted. This is because they know you have met those national standards no matter what state you were originally licensed in. So, my point with it is this, why do we not have the same nationwide standards for the appliance industry? It's really not hard to do. I personally would not have a problem with paying the higher installation fee if it equals a safer standard for my home and my children!! And I doubt if you fully informed people and asked them do you want to save $50.00 bucks and go with cheaper one- and risk a fire- or spend it and be safer? I doubt they would choose the cheaper one!!! Thank you for your time.
Samantha
St.louisville,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Some common sense to the "industry standard" garbage
#6Consumer Comment
Mon, November 08, 2004
First of all I would like to state that I am shocked at the total lack of concern the "experts" seem to be giving to this matter and the way they seem to want to brush this matter off like all those who have expressed their concern in these posting are "dumb and uniformed" people. Let me tell you something, we (the consumers/lay people...) are the ones who pay your salary! And we have a right to expect the utmost from you. I am by no means an expert on appliances, I am however an R.N. and a business owner, and also happen to be a single parent. Through having no other choice I have had to educate myself in things like appliance repair, plumbing, minor auto care/maint., ... as many times I didn't have the money to pay a repair person. So I am by no means an uneducated person. Being such I would expect to defer to a "qualified" tech/installation/sales person with a purchase of a new appliance. I feel your comparison to the car safety features to be totally rediculous! We are not talking about a car here! But if you want to make that comparison fine- then let me ask why can't they just put all the safety stuff on the cars and not make it an "option"? We all know antilock brakes at first were an option, they are now industry standard. We are talking about a major appliance installed in a home where a fire could occur and death could result as a result of the consumer not being fully informed and given the choice by the "qualified" person! And THAT is totally unacceptable to me!!!! And the fact that you further try to blame it on consumer negligence if they don't clean out the lint trap!! Oh please give me a break!!!! I would like to take this one step further in pointing out that I currently live in a mobile home on my purchased property until such time as I can build a house. Now I have two children and am a single parent- I shall remind you. Now, knowing how fast fires can spread in a mobile home wouldn't you think it would be far safer to install the manufacturer stated rigid exhaust pipe? And another thing, don't give me that stuff about it being the consumers' fault if a fire starts like it would ONLY happen if they didn't clean out the lint trap!!! I clean my lint trap EVERY time I use my dryer. And let me tell you I just had to spend over an hour yesterday, as a matter of fact, tearing my dryer from the lint trap clear to the rear exhaust apart to get it cleaned out properly!!! There was so much stuff built up in the exhaust chamber/pipes inside the machine that I had turned a load of clothes on 3 times and they still weren't dry!! Thought at first maybe the heating element went out. Now keep in mind that I clean my lint trap each and every time! So this is stuff that due to a bad manufacturer lint trap design, was able to keep getting past the lint trap, or falling out of the lint trap each time it is removed. The problem with this particular lint trap is that it is placed vertically, if it were placed horizontally this could be avoided. Or if it were more of a basket shape that would work too, but it isn't. It's just a vertical panel that slides down in. Had I been more informed when I purchased my new washer/dryer I wouldn't have bought the one I did. And I do blame this on the maker!! They have been building appliances for how long now? So they should know better. Now, knowing that I am aware of the problem, if I don't tear it apart and clean it out regularly and a fire starts due to this problem then I would say you might partly say it was my fault. However I found it out quite by accident because I couldn't afford to call a repair guy and decided to tear into it myself. But the average person might not. And again it comes down to faulty design and there is no set amount of time for this to build up. Knowing this I also don't ever leave the dryer run when I am not home and never when I go to bed. I would also like to say that we have an HH Greg in our area. I have been there about 4 times since it opened up, and I must say prior to reading this had already decided I would not shop there anymore. Pitty again as I am now in the market for a new frig. This is due to a total lack of respect/customer service on their part EACH AND EVERY time I have walked into the store. Each time I went there to buy an appliance I walked around that store for a good 30 minutes, and not one single person came up to ask me if I needed any assistance!!!! They repeatedly ignored me to walk up to someone who may have been dressed nicer, or was younger and prettier, or maybe they thought had more money... Someone finally asked me if they could help as I was leaving!!! I said politely "Oh no I'm sorry but you can't now, your too late! I'm going down to Best Buy. What a pitty the commissions they lost. Another point I would like to make here is that as an R.N. I am held to a very high standard of care according to what is considered reasonable & customary/prudent/the industry standard. If I did not provide this then then my butt could be yanked into a court of law and sued just as doctors are sued for malpractice. Granted it can vary from state to state as to those standards, BUT... it was quite awhile ago now when the minimum accepted standards were put forth and the national standards for the NCLEX (which is the state licensing board exam we take) were decided apon. What this means is that if we are licensed in one state, we are basically licensed in all 50 states. If you move you simply have to apply for your license to be transferred to the new state. And it is almost always granted. This is because they know you have met those national standards no matter what state you were originally licensed in. So, my point with it is this, why do we not have the same nationwide standards for the appliance industry? It's really not hard to do. I personally would not have a problem with paying the higher installation fee if it equals a safer standard for my home and my children!! And I doubt if you fully informed people and asked them do you want to save $50.00 bucks and go with cheaper one- and risk a fire- or spend it and be safer? I doubt they would choose the cheaper one!!! Thank you for your time.
James
Micanopy,Florida,
U.S.A.
outraged tech, newsflash the foil venting you all are referring to is duraflex
#7Consumer Comment
Sun, December 14, 2003
I cant believe how youll are throwing this out of proportian im a certified aplliance tech in central florida for ten years i have repaired and installed thousands of washers dryers ect in several states first off this is how dryers are installed all over the usa newsflash the foil venting you all are referring to is duraflex which if somebody would have checked is fire resistant and has an amazing temp rating befor the 90s everybody used plastic now thats dangerous the one tech had it right the factory would rather see solid venting for reason of being crushed having been an insider in over 27 differnt manufactures classes and brands they put that in the book to cover there rear end and there are a min of 3 thermal cutoffs in the dryer to prevent fire i will bet you duraflex is in 90 percent of homes in usa that have dryers that is a fact fires are the result of neglance of the user if you want to be up in arms be that way for a good cause like how the dryer is vented 75 percent go to the roof thats wrong the manufacture states horizontal venting not vertical and a max of 35 feet 4inch diameter with every 90 degree bend taking off 8 foot now hamy home go against that were i live alot and if you ever built a wall you know it is less than 4 inches wide so they squezze the pipe in conclusion do and experiment try to burn tin foil if you want to laugh i use the same venting yall are talking about as a flume extension for my 50 gallon drum heater box wood i know its getto but it works and ive seen flame come out the end and the vent heid up
Eugene
Schenectady,New York,
U.S.A.
The company can't have it both ways, The company is dead wrong!
#8Consumer Comment
Fri, December 12, 2003
First it says that the cheaper foil tube is the standard and insists it installs it 99% of the time and it is perfectly safe. Yet they go on to say if you do not opt for the more expensive coil then you invalidate your warranty and their liability. Seems to me if the company sets the cheaper coil as their "standard," then the warranty has to match that "standard." I would never do business with a company that tries to weasel it's way out of their obligations to the customer by giving them a box to check and not fully explaining the ramifications. Please remember that most customers are laypeople with limited knowledge of what they are buying. It is up to the salespeople to explain everything in detail. They do this every day and should be held to a higher degree of standards than the customer. Clearly, the complaintant has every right to feel outraged.
Anthony
Warren,Oregon,
U.S.A.
Engineer Consultant
#9Consumer Comment
Sat, September 06, 2003
one point about the original statement is that the installig company fraudulanly obtained the wifes signature. teh from did not inform her of what she was giving up and allowed for her to understand what was occuring. this is what occurs in this country becsue so little gets reproted to authorities about the mis representation in these types of situation. what if teh dryer caught fire "what would while pool say" it was installed wrong. so teh owner is standing buy him self to fight the insureance battle for damages. i certianly woudl not do buisness with these people.
Anthony
Warren,Oregon,
U.S.A.
Engineer Consultant
#10Consumer Comment
Sat, September 06, 2003
one point about the original statement is that the installig company fraudulanly obtained the wifes signature. teh from did not inform her of what she was giving up and allowed for her to understand what was occuring. this is what occurs in this country becsue so little gets reproted to authorities about the mis representation in these types of situation. what if teh dryer caught fire "what would while pool say" it was installed wrong. so teh owner is standing buy him self to fight the insureance battle for damages. i certianly woudl not do buisness with these people.
Anthony
Warren,Oregon,
U.S.A.
Engineer Consultant
#11Consumer Comment
Sat, September 06, 2003
one point about the original statement is that the installig company fraudulanly obtained the wifes signature. teh from did not inform her of what she was giving up and allowed for her to understand what was occuring. this is what occurs in this country becsue so little gets reproted to authorities about the mis representation in these types of situation. what if teh dryer caught fire "what would while pool say" it was installed wrong. so teh owner is standing buy him self to fight the insureance battle for damages. i certianly woudl not do buisness with these people.
Anthony
Warren,Oregon,
U.S.A.
Engineer Consultant
#12Consumer Comment
Sat, September 06, 2003
one point about the original statement is that the installig company fraudulanly obtained the wifes signature. teh from did not inform her of what she was giving up and allowed for her to understand what was occuring. this is what occurs in this country becsue so little gets reproted to authorities about the mis representation in these types of situation. what if teh dryer caught fire "what would while pool say" it was installed wrong. so teh owner is standing buy him self to fight the insureance battle for damages. i certianly woudl not do buisness with these people.
Richard
Atlanta,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Why you really need a non-flex dryer vent.
#13Consumer Comment
Tue, February 04, 2003
I actually work for a leading appliance manufacturer. I would just like to clarify that the reasoning for the warning from dryer manufacturers has to do with the fact that the plastic or foil hoses are usually installed in a manner that will allow them to sag or they will even be twisted or bent in many cases. These hoses may also become crushed at some point perhaps by something falling of the dryer. This does severally restrict the air flow out of the dryer and cqan dramatically increase drying time. It also allows any lint that they may escape the filter tho become trapped in the hose which can lead to fire.
John
Indianapolis,Indiana,
Too far for no added safety
#14Consumer Comment
Tue, November 19, 2002
I have been a home owner for 12 years. I am a college graduate with two engineering bachelors degrees. The HH Gregg people have installed every appliance in my houses that I have owned since 1993.
My dryer is a Whirlpool Dryer purchased from HH Gregg in 1994. My manual says to use the metal vent hose also. My dryer was installed with the foil hose. My dryer has ran with no complaints at all for 10 years.
I simply followed the directions of the service tech. and cleared the lint trap before each usage to prevent a fire. The hose does not cause a fire hazard it is just not as efficient.
Now the only problem with the foil hose is when you pull the dryer out to do the normal cleaning behind it, which should be done regardless of which hose is used, you must replace the foil hose if it is torn or has a hole.
LA'TONIA
COLUMBUS,Ohio,
YOU CHANGED MY MIND - Thank you!
#15Consumer Comment
Tue, November 12, 2002
I'm in the process of moving and was searching around on line for a new stove. I had wanted to purchase one from hh gregg. After reading the consumer report I changed my mind. Thank you for putting this information out.
Jackie
Akron,Ohio,
Thank you for the Infomation
#16Consumer Comment
Tue, June 25, 2002
I was going to be ordering a major appliance online and intended to use HH Gregg. I want to say thank you for warning me of the problems you had. I will join you, by not buying this or anything from HH Gregg. No, I will not throw this company into bankruptcy, but I also won't support them.
Lynn
Muncie,Indiana,
This is not a rip off
#17UPDATE Employee
Fri, April 12, 2002
HH Gregg followed proper procedures when installing the foil vent hose. The owners manuals are written for all states, using the toughest industry standards of all the states. Because one state requires metal hoses, the manuals all say use them: not because the foil hoses are dangerous, but because the manufacturer dosesn't know where the specific unit the manual goes with will be sold.
It was unfortunate that the store representative this customer spoke to hadn't been thoroughly informed of the correct reasons why thses foil hoses are installed, even though the manuals state use the others. The foil hoses are perfectly safe, so long as the owner follows proper precautions of removing lint from the lint traps. Howerver, it should be pointed out that if the consumer fails to clean out the lint from the screens, he resulting fires would occur REGARDLESS of which hose had been installed; it is the lint that catches fire, not the vent hose. No retailer, anywhere, can or should be held responsible for the failure of the consumer to properly maintain their purchase after the fact.
Moreover, the representative at Whirlpool failed to take into account that this installation took place in Clarksville, TN, where industry standard is the foil hose. All retailers use this foil hose when they install dryers. Most Whirlpool representatives know this. Apparently this one simply told the customer to do what the manual stated, rather than take a chance on advising a consumer,who might live in a state where the metal hoses are required, to ude industry standard.
Should this customer be concerned that his unit might catch fire, he would be better occupied making sure that lint does not build up in the lint trap, rather than insisting on a needless and expensive substitution of an industry standard installation for another that is only required in one state, and that more for its energy effeciency, than for its safety.
The salesman at HH Gregg was doing his job properly, when he offered the customer the foil hoses. HH Gregg doesn't charge extra for foil hoses, but because metal hoses are NOT required, or needed in the Mid-Western states, and because HH Gregg is not an authorized parts dealer, metal hoses would have to be ordered specially from the manufacturer, and therefore, there would be an extra charge.
Basically, to put it in very simple terms, the vent hoses can be likened to seat belts in new cars. Most states require lap and shoulder belts. If one state not only required lap and shoulder belts, but webbed harness, roll bars, crash helmets, rubber padding, and expanding foam to be released if the car should hit a pot hole at speeds over 2 miles per hour, the owners manuals would state that these things should be installed, regardless of which state the car was sold in. Most people would think these saftey procedures ridiculous, and be very happy to initial against the added expense of having them installed.
This customer seems to not understand- and to give him his due, he wasn't properly informed of the reasoning behind this - that HH Gregg was trying to save him the expense of having the webbed harness, roll bars, crash helmets, rubber padding, and expanding foam installed where it wasn't needed.
