"Steve B" wrote in message
...
Yesterday, our large Whirlpool self cleaning oven quit working. That is,
the electronic panel on it went black, and the latch that holds it shut
during cleaning engaged partially. We can still open it with a fork, but
the oven or clock or electronics won't work.

Call the guy. $80 for someone to come out and tell us what's wrong.

Needs two fuses, the guy says. About $20 per, and another $60 for the
service call. He doesn't fix things, just gives estimates.

Today, the guy comes and says it will be $275 MORE to fix the thing. We
say we'll get back to him when he faxes us a written bid. No intention of
getting back to him.

The friggin thing can be replaced for $600. They want $355 to fix this.

Anyone got any suggestions? I think I can pull the unit and check the
obvious fuses.

Geez, these guys make my heart surgeon look like a minimum wage worker.

Steve


Real appliance parts stores, and often public libraries have repair books
which deal with specific brands & models of appliances. I'd find one, or get
ready to shell out the cash to a repair person. My only other suggestion
would be to open the yellow pages and look for a locally owned appliance
store which has a repair & parts department. I recently had a drainage
problem with my dishwasher. I went to one of these stores to buy the service
manual. The parts guy asked what was wrong, showed me a $7.00 plastic valve,
and said the odds were 90% it would fix the problem. It did. He also spun
the computer screen around and showed me exactly where it went. I called
back the next day and asked his boss where the guy usually went for lunch,
and got him a $20.00 gift certificate.