Other People's Experiences with Amana or Maytag
Appliances and Service
My own personal review of Amana (Maytag) refrigerator is here. What follows is from my inbox in 2004 on other people's experiences with either Amana or Maytag appliances (they're the same company). They are listed by date for each email and people's names have been removed to protect their privacy. Newer experiences about Maytag and Amana appliances are here.
December 26, 2004
I also wish I had read about Amana before purchasing. Ours went through 3 compressors, all the gaskets were faulty, and the ice maker quit. We finally just told them to haul it away, and bought a Whirlpool. I will NEVER buy ANYTHING Amana or Maytag !!!
Lori C.
Rockwall TX
December 15, 2004
I saw your post.
I think I have the exact problem as you. Its been over a week and I am
still without a refrigerator I think mine was built in 2003 as well.
It took a week for them to come out with a new compressor then that
evening after it was "fixed" it broke again.
I am waiting today for a call (7 am - 5 pm) to see if they can fix it
again.
Do you recall what was the second problem on yours that got fixed as it
seems I will have to educate the service staff on mine as well.
-Al
November 16, 2004
My son's story is exactly the same with an attitude from amana service desk of "oh well take it or leave it that's all I can do for you" and there are no supervisors to speak with, how convenient. The service man told my son that the refrig has a freon leak and will eventually have to be replace but amana told him to fill freon. He said they will just try to wear you down and hope you go away.So now we "leave it" and do not buy amana or maytag products. Wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole. Had a similiar problem with maytags great new neptune washer, ruined 1,000's of $$ of clothes they just didn't care. Fought for 2 months to get money back after 2 years of service calls and missed appts. Dealer said it was the first time he every saw a customer get their money back from maytag. He said they usually just wear you down until you give up. My son is pretty good at getting results, but as they hope he just doesn't have the time to spend on "HOLD" anymore. Customer service in America, I am sorry to say is dead. A few other companies no better than maytag, for your information: Tiger computer is the worst no satisfaction at all. Thomasville furniture gallerys. Check this out and make sure you ask before you buy. Delivery is done on a two day basis. They give you two days in a row that delivery may happen. They call you the night before to let you know what day, if you can't be there they charge you a delivery fee for loading the truck. So now should I take off work the first day or the second day or should I just tell my boss I will let him know the night before, yea right! Again terrible customer service, lost me forever! Thermador oven cost over $3000 and we can't cook a twenty pound turkey because racks bend and turkey and pan come sliding out at you. Instruction book says up to a 25lb turkey is ok. Company could care less, this is very dangerous so check it out before you buy. Wish there was a serious site that a company would go to any lengths not to be listed on. Consumers need to get serious and make those big guys pay for their wrongs, stop buying their products and tell everyone you can about it!
Thanks,
Bob
November 5, 2004
My amana side- by- side was purchased in feb. 2002. Well, lo and behold, the repairman just left. I had to pay 150.00. Not bad for a 2 year old refrigerator. Do you think they rig it to go down as soon as the full warranty runs out? In my opinion, for as much as they cost, they should last quite awhile. It took 4 days to get a repairman out. I e-mailed twice to complain, but never got a response either time. Must be too busy with all the other complaints. Thank god my experience wasn't as bad as yours. I've already contacted everyone I know and told them to go Whirpool or GE. I will never buy an Amana or Maytag product again. Wish I would have seen a site like yours before I bought it.
Thanks,
Susan C.
October 15, 2004
I happened upon your article as I was searching the web for refrigerator comparisons. We are searching for a 2nd refrig for our basement as our TWO YEAR old Amana isn't working (most likely a compressor problem). When I read your article I felt like I was re-reading the letter I just mailed off to the CEO of Maytag. It is uncanny - right down to the computer that didn't notify the technician to come to my house in the first place! And amazing that they still don't seem to get how to provide good customer service.
Alan
September 21, 2004
Hello! I purchased my side by side on June 23, 2002. The compressor went out on the thing about t9/9/04. I lost 3/4 of what was in the freezer and about 1/2 in the fridge. My husband was out of town, of course, when this happened. So I was up at 1am trying to move things to my freezer in the garage. I got up at 7am to call "Amana" and I was on hold for 20 minutes just to get to talk to someone. They said that it is covered under warranty and the soonest they could get someone over to FIX it was 9/17/04. I told them that was NOT going to work since I have 3 children and I need somewhere to put milk and food for these kids. She managed to get someone over to look at it that day, 9/10. As you stated, they got here and said, "Yep, your compressors out. We need to replace it with a few other things." I was like ok go get it. He said that we have to set up another call to get the parts and replace them. He got off the phone and said the earliest he could get back was 9/20. That's 10 days later!
I asked him what I was going do now that I have to wait another 10 days to get it fixed. He told me to find someone that has a spare fridge to use. I asked him he had one and he said, "Who has a spare fridge just hanging around?" So I had to go out and buy a little fridge from Sams Club with money I didn't have, but Sams has a 100% money back guarantee. So it is going back now that the Amana is working.
My home owners insurance is paying me for the items I lost due to the failure. But they are going after Amana for the money as well.
Beth in Minnesota
August 4, 2004
Oh, boy...
I wished I'd have read your rant before I bought my Amana fridge on 9/5/02. My compressor died today, 8/3/04. Had it diagnosed by a commercial refrigerator repairman who couldn't fix it & wasn't Amana authorized for residences anyhow. So now I'm out $88 for the confirmation & still have a broken fridge. I just finished an angry email - albeit shorter than yours - to Amana/Maytag online. I doubt they'll respond with anything positive but I feel so darn helpless. I had to do something. I'm frustrated & angry - just as you were when this happened to you.
Bastards...
July 29, 2004
We were just about to purchase a Maytag side by side 26.6 refrigerator. We have been looking for 3 days and thought we looked at every model on the market. Were leaning on a Maytag because of theMaytag name. Sure glad I decided to check the Internet for opinions on Maytag. Our next choice was either a GE or Samsung. Guess we will go with one of those. Thanks for the warning on Maytag.
July 27, 2004
I bought a new Maytag cooktop and had it installed this month. After I cooked on it for the first time, I removed the drip pans to clean it. The rims where the drip pans fit were peppered with chips--some as large as my fingernail. Under the knobs were chips. I tried getting a replacement cooktop from the owner of the store, the national customer service line, and the CEO of Maytag. Their answer is that Maytag is warrantied from the minute it is installed, and they will only repair. They weren't even apologetic about the damage. I don't know if whatever caused the severe chipping has affected the electrical parts or not. I only know that I paid for a new cooktop in pristene condition, and I got a junkyard product. I suppose that I was expected to take the thing apart before I used it the first time and check to see if it was damaged. I have waited for two weeks to get the part to repair the chipped top, but I have heard nothing. This is my last purchase from "dependable Maytag".
July 23, 2004
Add another ex-buyer of Maytag products. I have an even better story on that subject. Service is horrible with these people, and the techs. need training. They have been sitting around far too long waiting for those calls like in the old commercials. My problem is still going on. Its been since the first week in July.
July 14, 2004
Well I had an experience with Amana/Maytag that was similar to yours in certain aspects (incompetence and double billing) and in addition to their incompetence my wood floor is now water damaged because they poured two quarts of water into the back of the freezer to defrost it and didn't bother to drain the drainage pan. It leaked under the refrigerator and into the wood for hours before I knew what was happening. They then wanted to charge me for an extra service call because they considered the leaking to be a separate issue. No one would even acknowledge that there was a connection. I contacted one of the repair guys from the previous day to try to get him to come out and he told me he'd have to charge me. But he then quickly told me how to drain the pan myself so at least I could stop the problem, but unfortunately not before my floor was damaged. I think he only told me how to fix it (not their normal policy) because he knew that they were responsible for the problem and didn’t want me to create a bigger problem. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to make the connection between pouring two quarts of water into the freezer fan and an overflowing water pan soon after they leave.
Anyway, they suck, my floor is ruined and I'll tell anyone who will listen not to buy Maytag or Amana.
Thanks for posting your article.
July 6, 2004
Hi from Phil in Marietta, Ga. I just went through the same customer "no"service department at Amana regarding a 5 year old, $900.00 electric smooth top stove. In my case the clock failed, which of course controls the oven and broiler. The cost of the part is $220 and the labor to install about $100. The manager at the customer noservice dept agreed with me that a top of the line stove should last for more than 5 years, but she sullenly stated that there was nothing she could do since the stove was out of warranty. My request for at least some discount for the part fell on deaf ears. There was nothing she could do she said. I also told her that I was through with Amana and Maytag. I also told her that I was in the kitchen cabinet business and often suggested appliances to my customers, and that in the future I would make sure to tell my customers that as far as I was concerned, Maytag and Amana were junk.
June 15, 2004
I don't know whether to laugh or cry after reading your story. Sounds much like mine.
My 15 yr Amana had several small annoying problems and I called them to have it fixed. The first guy was afraid to screw in the lightbulb because he was afraid to get "electrocuted" (a 10 watt bulb, mind you). Without looking at anything decides its the compressor.
Like you, I have to go through the rigmarole to get ANOTHER repairman out there, making this very clear to them to not send Pete and why, and that I want my Amana rediagnosed and repaired by another service man. I find out after waiting from 7a-1p and still no repairman that they are sending the same repairman, Pete. So they call Pete on the phone who tells them he has my parts and is ready to put them in. So much for communication.
So I have to cancel my appointment and reschedule for the soonest appointment - a week later. the new guy comes out, takes apart my door and sees it's some wires that are the problem....only the parts are no longer available and he can't fix it. Leaves me with a refrig full of newly bought food and no working frig. Dead as a door nail. Tells me it's company policy that he can't jimmy with it to get me working and I can pick up a side-by-side all day long anywhere for $800. (I'll go out right now and get one! sure.) But wait! he gets it to turn on if he holds the electric wires just so.
So all day the thing clicks on, clicks off, buzzes, no working door controls, but will go on if you wiggle the wires just so or lay on the floor holding them. So my husband and I search all day to find this non-existing manufactured part. No luck.
The next morning I call Maytag and tell him what Joe did and that I figured out it wasn't the wires but the plug and that I'm losing all my food. Can I talk to the new guy, Joe. No mam, there is no way you can call him. Can he call me? No mam, we are out of Iowa and can't reach the service department. It didn't occur to me until later that they had called Pete while he was on the phone. They refuse to help me in any way except to reschedule. I really can't wait a week.
I tell them about my food situation and how I now don't have a working refrigerator due to Service. They say "common sense should tell me not to expect a refrigerator working for 24 hrs. and it's written in our service manual and we are not responsible for lost food or clothes" Okay, that's when I get pissy and ask the girl if I'm supposed to have gained this knowledge through osmosis, or be born with it or should know it because I buy refrigerators yearly? Everything digressed from there and I got tired of being on hold when she left for "a minute" (actually more like 5 mins.) and hung up.
So next time I will buy a whirlpool and won't call Maytag for shit.
I'm out $130 for a newly broken frig., plus my food, plus several hours of wait time.
June 6, 2004
I also have an Amana (Maytag) side-by-side with a bad compressor.
It is however 8 yrs old.
Regardless, I agree that a product you spend so much money for is so poorly built.
June 1, 2004
Thanks for your essay about your Amana/Maytag experience. I've had a frighteningly similar experience over the last three days, and I was beginning to think I was insane. That still may prove true, but not about the dumb Maytag Service Center.
March 14, 2004
My Amana just went this morning, and this is the third time! Funny though, I've found Amana support to be more than helpful. The first time I call I complained that the frid was only 4 years old, they authorized a full free repair. It went again 2 years later and again, a full free repair. Now I have to call tomorrow and request another repair, but they've always backed up this product, at least for me. Anyway, I've about had it with it constantly failing, I'm sure they know they have a poorly designed frid and that's why they're repairing it for free.
February 28, 2004
I'm glad to see your story about Amana Refrigerator hell.
Mine is longer than yours, I'm afraid. In some ways, you
had a good experience!
First, though, let me tell you why I'm really writing.
I'm asking if you can give me, please, names and
addresses of people in Amana or Maytag to whom I should
write. So far I have only first names, and those don't
seem to be folks with any authority. So I need to figure
out who are people in charge there. I'd appreciate any
help you can offer.
My problem has been ongoing for a month, with a week in
the middle when my frig was almost working. One
difference from your experience is that when they say
they'll send a service person, they give me a date 1 1/2
weeks out! When I yell, I can often get that changed to
about 5 or 6 days out. But I'm jealous of your two days!
Anyhow, the first guy said "compressor". And he'd have
to get one from Tennessee (I'm in California). Turns out
Tennessee didn't HAVE a compressor...they're on
backorder. I found one locally and told them they had
to purchase that one and install it. Suddenly they found
one in Tennessee. So, out came a different repairman
with the compressor. His English was really poor, so we
didn't have in-depth discussions. But bottom line was
that my compressor was just fine, he said. He did
replace a couple smaller parts which were apparently
allowing freon to leak out and then he juiced my box with
freon. Took him more than 3 hours.
The frig did cool, but not as much as I thought it
should. I put up with it for a week, and now,
surprise...room temp inside the frig again. And so we
begin the revolving door again. The diagnostician is
coming on Tuesday, and I'm sure he'll want to charge me
another $129, which I will refuse to pay. Meantime, this
is now the second time I've had food spoil and have had
to throw it out.
My warranty is close to having expired, so I'm beginning
to think they're just stalling. That's one of the
reasons for documenting everything now and sending it to
the right places.
I'd really appreciate your advice!
February 21, 2004
Thank you so much for writing and posting your
information on the Internet. I have six high-end
Maytag appliances. Three of them have been disasters,
we have spent over six hundred dollars. Now our 2 1/2
year old $2000 refrigerator is broken. This is not
the first time it has broken. The first time (in this
session)they said it was the electric defrost, the
next they said it was the electric defrost and that
the factory is recc. putting in a mechanical one ($410
later). The next day it is again not working (all my
food has gone bad three times, the first being very
expensive). We go back and forth with service calls
and now tonight the service guy says to tap the
plastic top inside...it starts.
This is so insane. At this same time we have having
equally terrible service with the Yamaha dealer with
two brand new scooters.
Reading your story somehow makes me feel better.
Customer service has become so sad.
February 3, 2004
I too have an amana (name not worth capitalizing) refrigerator. It is six years old and I am going on my third compressor. The icemaker also has gone out. I agree that it is inconvenient to take off work, lose two days pay, and waste all that time. The worst part of it all that you didn’t mention is that we lost about $1800.00 in food over the three major breakdowns. The first repairman didn’t show up on the Wednesday he was scheduled to show up (scheduling problems) but then showed up on Saturday, diagnosed the problem, and ordered the part. I also had to reschedule an appointment to have the fridge repaired.
Oh by the way I have a maytag range and wash machine, which also failed within two years. Will I ever buy an amana or maytag again, I think not.
