Sears Stinks!
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This is a complaint against Sears for selling me a Kenmore Refrigerator, model # 106.73184302, with several design flaws in the icemaker. The address of the Sears Store is 1000 East 41^st, Hancock Mall, Austin, TX 78751. The refrigerator was purchased on 3/20/2004 and delivered on 4/10/2004 and has a manufacturer defect warranty of one year. I want Sears to repair their design flaws at no charge, replace the unit with a quality product, or refund my full purchase price.

My icemaker had been leaking water for a long time where it attaches to the back wall of the freezer. On September 20, 2006, I final called the Sear repairman to fix it. He took one look at it and told me all the units with a ½ round fill tube leaked. The fix was to install a full round fill tube over the ½ tube. The cost was $169 for the repair because it was out of warranty. He removed the icemaker to verify the problem and showed me the ½ round fill tube. I didn’t have the repair made because it just didn’t seem right.

I looked at the icemaker, after it was removed, and was horrified to see small plastic chips flaking loose from the ice cube tray. The ice cube tray is made of metal with a plastic coating and is used to hold the water until it freezes. As the plastic is on the outside of the ice cube after it is frozen, those little plastic chips are winding up in my drinks, as the cube starts to thaw. I consider this a major health hazard and some government agency needs to get involve to force Sear to recall the design flaw. The repairman indicated it happens on most units and Sears will only replace the ice cube tray once within the one year warranty period. I assume everyone with this unit, and maybe other units that Sears sells, is digesting plastic chips about 6-8 months after purchased.

I tried to discuss the icemaker design flaws with Mr. Woods, a manager at the Sears National Customer Relations Center, but he was rude, could care less, and hung up on me. He did inform me he owned the same unit and had his ½ round fill tube repaired within the warranty period at no charge. The one positive thing that came out of the conversation was that Mr. Woods is also digesting small plastic chips!

As to the one year warranty on the unit, I feel it should cover manufacturing defects such as a missing screw, bad seal, etc. Design flaws, such as the ones listed above, should be repaired for the life of the unit at no charge. No, I do not accept Sears warranty excuse!

Above the entrance to every Sears Store they use to display a sign that read - Satisfaction Guaranteed Or Your Moneyy Back. Sear use to sell quality product and is the why I purchased the refrigerator, current washing machine/dryer, craftsman tools, and other appliances. I guess it is just cheaper for Sears to now sell junk and hire a jerk, like Mr. Woods, to say tough luck!

I want Sears to repair their design flaws at no charge, replace the unit with a quality product, or refund my full purchase price.

Sincerely,