Oct 24, 2009 02:19 PM
15284 Views
(Updated Oct 30, 2009 12:52 PM)
Disclaimer: This review is for a different model than mentioned in the category. I don't understand why mouthshut doesn't let me create a product category.
I own a Hitachi Refrigerator R-S31SVND (366 ltrs.). The fridge stopped cooling a few days ago. I called up the customer care on 7th of October 2009 and registered a complaint (096091000922). I was told an engineer would come to check the unit soon.
After repeated calls daily to the Mathura Road office in Delhi and the toll free call centre no., an engineer (Mr. Joshi) finally checked the unit after 6 days on the 13th of October. He told me that the refrigerant (R600a) needs to be refilled (colloquially, gas). He promised that it would be done the same day. But it didn't happen. On 16th of October 2009 two untrained, novice technicians from a franchisee of Hitachi arrived with an open, semi-filled can of the refrigerant (unlike other fridges, this refrigerant comes in the form of a can like a deo and not like a gas cylinder).
I protested and told them that since the refrigerant is so costly (Rs. 4, 000!), I need to see a new can brought here and opened up in front of me. They made me talk to their Boss (Mr. Ajay) who informed me that it was the one and only can available in Delhi. I called up Ms. Sonal at the Mathura Road office and she told me that it would take 5-6 days to procure a new can and we should make do with the one with the untrained technicians. Later, she again called me and told that in fact, the refrigerant has been transferred from a big cylinder to the small can and it was as good as new (which any sane person knows, is a blatant lie).
It's been more than a fortnight and I am still without a fridge. That too in the festive season.
I bought a Hitachi at twice the price of a Samsung or an LG but am utterly appalled and disgusted by the way the company treats its customers. I did not opt for 'Japanese technology' to be mentally tortured and abused. There's still no hope of the unit being repaired any soon. I have pledged not to advice anyone for buying a Hitachi.
UPDATE: The refrigerant was finally brought and filled in by the inexperienced technicians of DIZITEK on 26th of October. DIZITEK is a service franchise of Hitachi and a very bad one at that.
Please refrain from buying a Hitachi refrigerator. It's like keeping a white elephant as a pet.
