Service please

This week our oven decided that heating to the selected temperature is optional.

Now, this is not just any oven, but one of those super fancy models that people spent a lot of money on before the economy and housing prices fell through the floor.

So we called the local appliance store that just recently started selling our fancy brand of stove. They spend a fair amount of money advertising that their service separates them from the national chains.

Here's about how the conversation went...

"Hello, I'd like to have someone come out and look at our oven. It's not working right."

"Did you buy it here?"

"No."

"Then we can't help you."

"But you sell that brand and you're the only service center in our area."

"If you didn't buy it here, we can't help you."

"You didn't sell this brand when we moved here."

"Sorry."

"So when we remodel our kitchen next year and put in a new refrigerator and dishwasher we should take our business elsewhere?"

"I guess."

"Okay, then. Goodbye."

We called back and asked for the manager who apologized profusely, said no, it wasn't their policy that they only serviced appliances they sold and set an appointment at time that was convenient for us.

He's lucky we did. Most people would have moved on and found someone else to do the work.

Now we're really wondering whether that's the best place to buy appliances when we eventually do remodel the kitchen.

Another reminder that all the advertising in the world is wasted if you don't know who's answering the phone.