# Kone (the elevator company) deserves a bad rap on the internet **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 2, 2020, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kone-the-elevator-company-deserves-a-bad-rap-on-the-internet/848836 "2020-03-02T23:50:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kone-the-elevator-company-deserves-a-bad-rap-on-the-internet/848836/21 "2020-03-04T14:49:30Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Elevators, huh. What, you’re too good for a dumbwaiter? FWIW, dumbwaiters come under elevator safety laws as well, at least in Massachusetts. The fraternity I lived in (brownstone built in the 1800s) had a dumbwaiter, and when it broke (due to rampant stupidity), no one would touch it except elevator companies. Every company who looked at it said they’d basically have to rebuild it from scratch to bring it up to current safety codes at a mid 6 figure cost. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kone-the-elevator-company-deserves-a-bad-rap-on-the-internet/848836/22 "2020-03-04T15:42:54Z")
Dumbwaiters are interesting in the use of the antiquated term “dumb” to mean unable to speak. There’s a very large animal shelter in Denver, CO called[The Denver Dumb Friends League](https://www.ddfl.org/), another strange sounding name. And now back to your regular programming. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kone-the-elevator-company-deserves-a-bad-rap-on-the-internet/848836/23 "2020-03-04T19:49:54Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I would be shocked if such a law existed also (and of course no one is saying it does), but it also seems odd that a building owner is required to have a maintenance contract - if your elevator is broken, it seems like you could call a company that would be happy to come out if you have the money to pay them. You might have to wait behind contracted customers, but then you might wait anyway, depending on how well staffed your contracted company is (and if it is a bad day/week for elevators). It’s actually a code requirement. Mandatory Maintenance ([PDF](https://www.elevatorworld.com/pdf/ContentCenter/Mandatory_Maintenance.pdf)) There are people who never take their cars for scheduled oil changes and prefer to wait until something breaks. That’s their own decision. Users of public transportation expect the transportation company to take better care of their buses, etc. The building owner has a similar responsibility as the public transportation company, which includes maintenance of the building (lighting, for example) and the elevator. A private elevator in someone’s own home? Similar to a car owner. They only hurt themselves. But even that’s changing. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kone-the-elevator-company-deserves-a-bad-rap-on-the-internet/848836/24 "2020-03-04T20:51:44Z")
All elevator maintenance repair companies are terrible, but Kone is definitely at the top of the heap. Signed, Facilities guy with a current Kone maintenance contract (working on RFP for upcoming end of contract). ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2020, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kone-the-elevator-company-deserves-a-bad-rap-on-the-internet/848836/25 "2020-03-05T23:00:39Z")
Well, damn. Our bookkeeper just found our contract with Kone, and it is hideous. It was signed in 2004, and lasts for 5-year periods, automatically renewing each time unless we give them something like 3 months notice. They have the right to terminate at any time and to raise their rates every year. We are threatened with legal action if we terminate outside the conditions noted. Seems terrible that this sort of thing is even legal. Fuck Kone. ETA: we are going to consult a friendly attorney and see if he can get us out of the contract (assuming Otis or Schindler or someone offers us a better deal). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kone-the-elevator-company-deserves-a-bad-rap-on-the-internet/848836.md?page=1)