White Goods

Now, I am completely aware that this post may come across as first world problems, but I want you to hear me out.

A month ago, (remember that, it’s vital to this story) I bought a brand-new front loader washing machine. All by myself. Even at my age, I will tell you, you don’t do it very often (that is to say ‘buy-a new White good).

My last white goods purchase I shared the expense with a boyfriend and when he left, I told him I had to buy him out (of his share) and he told me, I could just keep it. He also left me his fridge, telling you not only do the end of relationships come down to ‘who gets the white goods’ but also how guilty he must have felt. Yes, he should feel very guilty (Another day) and so you don’t think I’m super wealthy, I didn’t have a sudden influx of excess cash, I actually had to replace my top loader washing machine, because it was a bit rubbish (having been donated to me about three years ago, by a not for profit) that was leaking, but also because living in an apartment now, means less indoor space for putting up drying racks, no clothes line (but again racks on the balcony) but lastly, I will now need to use a dryer at some point and it will need to sit ON TOP OF THE FRONT LOADER WASHING MACHINE.

I will definitely be struggling to breathe for the next few months, while I survive on 2-minute noddles and food from my freezer.

As per usual, I digress.

Anyway, it took a few weeks to notice, however the machine has had a leak under the front. I had a little touchy-feely of the tap at the wall, a little damp. So, I call the retailer, who from new onwards will be called ‘Retailer’. The woman who answers, suggests I call the company that made it (let’s call them WASHER). While on hold and going through the oral system so the person who answers knows which washer I’m calling about. I get an ‘outgoing’ message informing me the washer is at the responsibility of the Retailer since 2014.

A person answers reiterating the above point, but using the term that the Retailer “OWNS” the machine (WASHER). Are you getting that I’ve so far paid a great deal of money to rent a brand-new washing machine, that no one wants to own responsibility for a leak, even another number for the Retailer. So I rang again, this time a lovely gentleman told me he would refer me to a local repairer (yes, furthermore known as a ….. no wait….. Fixer) Got this? Retailer/Washer/Fixer.

I was asked if I had paid for a Premium Install? A what? Oh yeah, there was once a time (I’m in that sweet spot where I’m old enough to recall an era of Customer Service and young enough to care to tell people when they are not doing a good job in a polite but constructive way)

I was informed, I would hear from the ‘fixer’ within 24 – 48-hour deadline to update me. And if the ‘fixer’ needed to get parts they would order those before contacting me.

I was contacted by the ‘Retailer’ within the 48-hour deadline to update me. Remember those days when you pay for delivery and would just hook it all up because they were nice and you weren’t lugged with a price tag on ‘nice?

Call me crazy, but it’s been a week and I’m very concerned if ‘parts’ need replacing after only a month, why can’t they take the brand new (a month old) front loader away and give me another?

You know that’s rhetorical, so don’t answer that.