- Report: #8649
Complaint Review: Sears and Authorized Installer A.L.A.P. - North Hollywood California
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Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Sears and Authorized Installer A.L.A.P.
7729 Varna Ave North Hollywood, 91605 California, U.S.A.
Phone:
800-444-8865
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
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Sears Water Heater Installation Scam *Consumer Comment
My wife and I purchased a water heater from Sears, after a great deal of research on the quality of the Kenmore unit. Sears, who we have had good experience with in the past listed the unit we were interested in for $419.
They then informed me that installation was going to be $241. While this sounded high, we decided it would be best to have them install it as they would be the best to install their own unit.
When the unit arrived today, the installer informed us that we needed a special valve that would cost $214, and additional piping that would run $145. Also additional charges would be no more that $80.
I had him stop his work, and called our plumber who told me his quote for the job including the "Special" part was about $150. I called the installers office and told them of my findings, they said they had every right to charge what they did, as every company has the right to charge what they wish.
Furthermore, they informed me that if I did not have the unit installed by their technician, they would report me to the building and safety, who would send out an inspector that would certainly fine me in excess of $1000.
I then confronted the guy from Sears, and got him to admit that any plumber could install the unit for about $100. The special valve, retailed for about $50. Also, he says that this is just a part of the game, and 99% of the people just pay it, as they have little choice at that point.
He apologized to me, canceled all the charges, and left. My plumber showed and did the job as quoted. I am taking the time to hopefully save the other 99% of consumers who may fall for such a scam.
They then informed me that installation was going to be $241. While this sounded high, we decided it would be best to have them install it as they would be the best to install their own unit.
When the unit arrived today, the installer informed us that we needed a special valve that would cost $214, and additional piping that would run $145. Also additional charges would be no more that $80.
I had him stop his work, and called our plumber who told me his quote for the job including the "Special" part was about $150. I called the installers office and told them of my findings, they said they had every right to charge what they did, as every company has the right to charge what they wish.
Furthermore, they informed me that if I did not have the unit installed by their technician, they would report me to the building and safety, who would send out an inspector that would certainly fine me in excess of $1000.
I then confronted the guy from Sears, and got him to admit that any plumber could install the unit for about $100. The special valve, retailed for about $50. Also, he says that this is just a part of the game, and 99% of the people just pay it, as they have little choice at that point.
He apologized to me, canceled all the charges, and left. My plumber showed and did the job as quoted. I am taking the time to hopefully save the other 99% of consumers who may fall for such a scam.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Most legitimate, reliable service contractors have more business than they can handle.
#20
Sat, January 26, 2002
They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report: Their email: [email protected] Their name: Adolph Their relationship to the company: Consumer Suggestion Rebuttal: Interesting report.....sort of parallels my experience with Sears endorsed installers and contractors, and Sears policies on same. Prior to my retirement I owned a small service business and was contacted two or three times by Sears to become part of their "family" of service providers. The conditions were:[1]Discount my normal charges to Sears [2]Sears was to mark up my services ABOVE my normal price [3]I was to absorb any customer charge-backs or payment disputes between Sears and the customer (which they supplied). Needless to say, this wasn't of even remote interest to me. Four years ago I requested bids on resheeting and reroofing my house and shop. Just for yucks I requested a bid from the "local" Sears endorsed roofing contractor. (Local?...the contractor was from a city 55 miles distant) The salesman showed up, wrote up an estimate paying only cursory attention to the extensive, definite plans I had drawn up to suit my expectations. His bid was OVER TWICE the amount of the next highest bid! When I quizzed him about the wide discrepency in bid amounts he stated that his higher bids were usually accepted for two reasons: [1] Many people solicited a bid ONLY from Sears (and) [2]They were able to put it on their Sears card so it "didn't make any difference" anyway. Most legitimate, reliable service contractors have more business than they can handle. (That was my case) It's my considereed opinion that many Sears endorsed contractors are on the fringes of desirability (IE quality) and not competitively priced, and not able to sustain their business without the helping hand of Sears reaching deeper into the customer's pockets. That's just my opinion, but an opinion I feel is well supported by the forgoing dialogue.
