Panasonic Vacuum from Silverdale Viking and Sewing in Silverdale, Washington - poor service experience

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on August 10, 2002:

From:

RE: Panasonic Vacuum from Silverdale Viking and Sewing in Silverdale, Washington - poor service experience

Two years ago I bought a brand new and expensive vacuum cleaner from Ray at Silverdale Viking Sewing & Vacuum. Thinking I would get great service from a small business, I shelled out over $400 for a Panasonic Vacuum with his word on having no problems fixing anything on this vacuum. He reassured me telling me Dirt Devil etc. were not good products and this vacuum would last me 10+ years.

He also wrote on my receipt that he would extend my warranty for two years. After three months of owning this vacuum a small plastic piece broke off where the cord recoils. Little pieces flew to the ground. I brought it in and he said he would fix it and call me when it was done. Five days went by and my carpet was filthy and I went back to the store in Silverdale, WA.

He had not fixed it, saying he was waiting for a new part. I took my vacuum home leaving him with the little part that broke off; watching him tape the little piece to my service slip. He had not ventured to tell me he was even going to need a new part. So I wasted another day in town. I called about every month and he said he hadn’t received the part, or another time the wrong part came in. On the phone and in person, he blamed Panasonic for being slow.

I went in about another six months and he was agitated (embarrassed) and he still didn’t have the part. My cord is now stripped from it scrapping against an unprotected piece of sharp plastic. I refuse to use a vacuum cleaner in this condition. I called and called with no positive results. He was not helpful in the least bit and blew me off each time I called.

He has my money. I tried to return the whole vacuum the first couple of times I went into the store, but he assured me he was getting the part, so I caved. I never heard from him and I don’t know if I had left my vacuum there for months if it would have been fixed. There is no such thing as “Rent-A-Vacuum” so I needed my vacuum, keeping it there for over a week is too long.

Since this disappointing encounter with the Silverdale Viking and Sewing store I have donated the vacuum to charity, because the sucking power stinks and yes, I changed the belts, and I don’t want to get electrocuted. I am very disappointed in his lack of honor. I am a small business owner and I always stand by my work. Ray if you are too busy, hire someone to help you. Bad business will eventually become no business. Rebecca Parker