Total Nightmare
I purchased a dishwasher in 2021 with a 5-year warranty from EPIC, and by early 2022 the door developed a leak. After nearly a dozen visits from B&S through mid-2023, in Nov EPIC agreed to replace the machine. After getting fed up with B&S, I decided to lose several hundred dollars rather than get a new appliance and deal with them any further. I offer these points to potential customers to know what you’ll be facing, and for anyone already stuck with them some tips on how to deal with them.
Incorrect from the Beginning: We wanted a GE Profile refrigerator and a Kitchenaid dishwasher. Instead, they ordered and charged us for a GE Profile refrigerator and dishwasher. I didn’t see the mistake until the appliance was delivered and installed. I let it go at the time, but I should have made them take it back and provide the dishwasher we originally selected.
Inconvenient Service Appts: Based on our zip code, which is the same as the store’s, we were almost always given 10-2, and were told there was no way to request a different service window. And no service appts are done on the weekends.
No 30-minute heads up before Appts: Despite what they say, you only have 10 minutes before they arrive at your house. If you planned to drive home from work when the tech calls to say they are on the way, no luck. We tried that once, had the tech call repeatedly when we said we were on our way, then be rude to us when we arrived 25 minutes after our “30 minute heads-up call.” He acted put out and stayed all of two minutes.
No Communication with You--or Themselves: I had 2 (!!) appts cancelled and no one thought to tell me. Once was after I had called the afternoon before to confirm the appts for the next day. At around 4pm they said yes, the appt is set. The next day, I’m waiting at home, and no one shows up, no one calls me. I call B&S towards the end of the service window, and they had mistakenly cancelled my appt because they thought I hadn’t paid the deductible for the service call, when I had. After they couldn’t explain why they confirmed then cancelled my appt without calling me, suddenly—they COULD do a Saturday service appt. The second time was the delivery of the new dishwasher. It turned out that the last dishwasher they had was damaged, so they cancelled the appt. The delivery department didn’t tell the salesperson, and no one certainly thought to tell me, the customer.
No SOP by the Repairmen: It is clear the repairmen don’t follow an SOP when diagnosing a problem. Each repairman thought there was something wrong with the door, until one came out with a clear plastic door to see what actually happens when the dishwasher ran. Turned out, it wasn’t the door causing the problem at all, but the arm holding the top tray popping out of place against the door.
They Misrepresent/Lie/Don’t Understand the Warranty: I was told by B&S I could not get a cash refund under the service contract. Wrong. And it isn’t even B&S’s call on whether to give a cash refund or to replace the appliance – it’s EPIC’s call. Read the No Lemon Amendment to your service contract. Don’t expect the repairman to decide when your appliance meets that threshold. Talk to someone in the service department, or even better – call EPIC directly.
No Copy of Warranty: Despite asking repeatedly for a copy of my warranty, I never got one by email or mail. You can set up an account and download your contract directly by searching "centricity consumer portal account login"
On the EPIC Warranty: EPIC was easier to deal with and at least gave correct information about the terms of the warranty. Once EPIC decided to replace the dishwasher, B&S told me I had $949 to put towards a new appliance, which was the original purchase price. However, I only received 2/3 of that as a cash refund, because the ACTUAL cost EPIC would have paid B&S was 2/3 of the original price. This is the negotiated price between two big retailers, and it seems to be what you’re stuck with as the customer. But I’d rather take less money than a new appliance from B&S.
17 December 2023
Unprompted review