;
  • Report:  #327474

Complaint Review: Lowe's Home Improvement Center - Woodbridge Virginia

Reported By:
- Woodbridge, Virginia,
Submitted:
Updated:

Lowe's Home Improvement Center
13720 Smoketown Rd Woodbridge, 22192 Virginia, U.S.A.
Phone:
703-586.4000
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good? What's this?
I bought a Char-Broil Gas Grill, new in the box in December, 2006 from Lowe's. Being that it was Winter, and I needed help in assembling the grill, I left it in my garage until Spring. I'll file on Char-broil as well, since tyhey are the source of the problem.

In March of 2007, I decided to assemble my new grill. STILL in the box, still in my garage. I took all the parts out, and laid them out to assemble. Turns out I was missing a part, but that is not the problem.

I put the firebox together and assembled the base. I had my daughter, home from college, help me put the firebox on the base. It was then we discovered that the sides of the firebox were BOTH bent and out of plumb, so the box did not fit on the base. I forced them to fit, and thought that was that. But NO.... Remember this was new, in a BOX with no apparent damage, and all the packing material was accounted for, and the parts were packaged securely in the box.

Anyway, I assembled the lid, and found out that the lid did not close flush, because the firebox was so off-kilter. The warming rack they give you would not fit under the lid. which wouldn't close properly because the firebox was off-kilter. I decided to see if this grill would work in any way shape or form, so I finished the assembly and hooked up the lp tank to the hose assembly. I fired up the grill and got only a small flame out of the burners. I checked the troubleshooting guide and saw that the problem could be operator error, so I followed their instruction on how to turn the know the correct way and speed, and got the same result. I tried it again, and again, never got anything but a small flame. I closed the lid, as well as possible, and left the burners burning. After 4 hours, it only got to 250-degrees! FOUR HOURS.

I called Lowe's during this ordeal, and was told that unless I had the receipt (I didn't, it was a gift from my mother and she didn't keep the receipt) I was on my own, and should call Char-Broil. I spoke with the Store Manager whose name I don't recall (Dennis, I think?) and he told me the same thing: "There is nothing I can do for you" I asked "Nothing you CAN do or nothing you WILL do?" "Both" came the reply. Thanks, guys!

I called Char-Broil, and they were somewhat more helpful, but CHARGED me for the shipping for the damaged parts, which apparently were damaged by THEIR people before shipping. As I went along replacing parts and found I needed more parts. Char-broil DID send more parts, and I was able to replace the original parts--except that I am missing the heat shield, and the lid is still not closing correctly. It is now more than a year later, and I have a grill, thanks to Lowe's and Char-Broil, that is gathering dust in my garage. I can't use it, and I REALLY want to! My trusty-dusty Webber Charcoal Grill is on it's last legs (I grill all the time...)

I sent a letter, registered mail, to the President and CEO of Charbroil and did not receive the courtesy of an acknowledgement/ response. Watch for my Char-Broil saga in the complaint I'll file on them next.

Steve

Woodbridge, Virginia

U.S.A.


3 Updates & Rebuttals

Andrew_87

Huntsville,
Alabama,
U.S.A.
Lowe's

#2UPDATE Employee

Fri, July 18, 2008

All Lowe's have the same return policy. Lowe's allows returns if you have a driver's license. There is no excuse for them to reject the return if it hasn't been over 90 days. Lowe's Home Improvement does not in anyway approve of bad customer service. Giving this man his money back wouldnt have hurt the company. The manager saying no is just bad customer service on his part. To the consumer who complained- I strongly suggest you contact Lowe's through their website and file a complaint. https://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=custSvcStoreFeedback&topic=customerService WOW! customer service is what keeps us ahead of the game (Home Depot). Losing a customer and others (word of mouth) is not worth it just because of a grill that is spit money to Lowe's. I know at my store you could of returned it with no problem. I am sorry that you had bad experience. In the future it that happends just return it at another store.


Denise_8705

Ontario,
California,
U.S.A.
That's why there is a strict return policy

#3UPDATE Employee

Tue, July 15, 2008

As a current Lowe's Employee. I see firsthand the issues that customer's bring to customer service. The majority of the time I am able to address the issues that are brought to my attention. I would just like to respond to the consumer. Lowe's has a 90 day return policy for merchandise sold. Any merchandise that was sold after the 90 days has to go through the Store Manager to get approved. Unfortunately, not all store managers are the same, and I know that if this was done at my store, the manager would have simply refunded you your money back and sold you a new one. With so many Lowe's stores opening up nationwide, you could have simply called a different store to see if you would be able to return it there. I apologize for the mistreatment you received at this specific store, and I hope that you have found a suitable solution to your problem. Remember, not all stores are the same, and I hope your experience at that Lowe's does not prevent you from continuing to purchase your home improvement needs from Lowe's.


Steve

Woodbridge,
Virginia,
U.S.A.
Lowe's Has No Response

#4Author of original report

Sat, July 05, 2008

Sadly, Lowe's chose not to respond to this posting. Char-Broil DID and I am happy with the result. While I still shop at Lowe's, I will not buy anything from them which has a price-tag over $25.00. For those purchases I go to ACE or Home Depot. For the day-to-day things, Lowe's is more convenient to dash in and out, but for the bigger ticket items? Lowe's will never see that money from me. Friends don't let Friends buy big ticket items from Lowe's.

Reports & Rebuttal
Respond to this report!
Also a victim?
Repair Your Reputation!
//