About 2 ½ years ago, I bought a GE Gas Range. A while back, it started turning itself on and off. At any given moment, we might hear it start clicking and go on, or walk by it and notice that it is warm. I figured out that it was the thermostat that needed to be replaced and I’ve been trying to get a replacement part through geappliances.com. I went to the web site, typed in my model number, found the right part and ordered it ($42.00). It shows up 2 days later. But it’s not the right part.
Not even close.
So I call them up, arrange for the wrong part to be picked up and the right one to be sent. Two days later, another part shows up – same as the last one.
I call again. I ask if since I bought my oven has the part been changed? The woman on the phone says that there was an “alternate part number”. So we arrange for part #2 to be picked up, get my account credited, and have part #3 sent ($62.00).
Two days later – part #3 is on my doorstep. So is part #2. Of course, #3 is a very slight variation of #2 – still not even close to what I need.
I finally get smart and read the part number on the broken thermostat, along with it’s manufacturer and model number. I call GE. After going through all of the by now usual crap of – pick up/credit, etc., I explain to them that they have changed the part that they use, but given it the same old serial number. Is there a way to look up and see if they have a Prodigy TR/86 thermostat? No. I talked to 5 different people in 4 different departments. Apparently not one person at GE has the capacity to look up a part by any means other than the part number or the model number of the appliance.
Their suggestion was that I arrange a service call. Naturally, a service call costs $70 for the guy to even show up. Parts and labor are extra. And I guarantee it would end up being 2 visits because he would show up the first time with part #1.
Or I could always drop $400 on a new oven.