Had a pretty bad experience with these folks looking at my expensive over the range microwave that stopped heating food. Called several places and $58 for the service call was the cheapest I could find, which is incredible. Appliance Service and Parts charged me $90 the month before for a service call, which is ludicrous.
Anyway, repair guy came out. Arrived somewhere in the middle of the several hour window I was provided. Didn't call before actually arriving, which is all too common unfortunately. Had to ask him to put on a mask (covid...) when I met him at the front door. Not a great start, but he did put one on. He said my microwave sensor was faulty and that it wasn't in stock at any of their parts suppliers. He said he would install it for free as part of the $58 diagnostic if we can find the part within 30 days. Cool! I asked him how much the part was. He said it will be about $250(!). He gave me the part number and I looked it up online after he left and it's a $20-30 part. Hmmmm.
Got a text a couple days later from their office saying they can't find the part but "would advise replacing at this time" (replacing the part? the entire microwave? unclear). I texted her the name of a business online who I could buy it from and then have Century Parts install it and did not get an answer from that text. That was Friday.
On Monday, I called them and pretty sure I talked to the same person, but possibly not because she didn't recall the text message thread and had to look me up. I asked about having them install the part for the original $58 if I buy the part and it arrives within 30 days. She waffled and said yes if it doesn't take very long to install, then said no actually I will have to pay for labor because sometimes it takes a while to install, then said she would check with the installer. Why is this not a clearcut answer based on their company policy?
I got a call back saying they want ANOTHER $125 for labor on top of the original $58 for the 20 minutes he was here diagnosing the issue. I declined and said I'd get someone else to install it or do it myself. She emailed me a PDF of the repair person's estimate and it showed the $125, the $58, and $40 for the part, bringing the total to $225. In the email, she mentioned my "dishwasher" (the broken appliance here is a microwave).
Maybe this was a fluke and normally they are amazing, but I was disappointed by all the miscommunications, especially when I ask if the installation will be included in the initial price and I'm told "yes" and then he says the part is $250 but then I find out later that he was adding together the price of the initial visit plus the cost of the part plus another $125 for the repair. This is all they do every day as the main function of their business, so I can't see how something so basic becomes so convoluted...and expensive. I won't be contacting Century Appliance for any future repair needs. read more