Aug 10, 2009 07:41 PM
15635 Views
(Updated Aug 10, 2009 07:46 PM)
I purchased the IFB Elite 5kg back in Jan 07. Things were pretty much good back then. The wash cycle did a pretty decent job to the clothes like any other washing machine should do. Let's come to the point how the IFB service centres cheat their customers.
1) When the IFB technician came for installation of the machine, he started bragging about some stupid powder that increases the life time of the drum by washing off the deposits left by the detergent. He also made it quite clear that if the drum starts getting rusted, IFB will not provide warranty for the drum. And since I was not aware of such things earlier, I bought that junk for 1500 bucks. This product is sold as'IFB Limo'. Please avoid buying this powder. It's utter nonsense.
2) I also came to know that IFB does not provide warranty for the rubber and plastic parts. If something goes wrong with these parts, you have to pay from your own pocket.
3) This IFB joker also started telling me of the extended warranty service they have once the normal warranty gets over and was forcing me to buy it. It was 1800 two years back. I plainly told him that I will wait till the warranty gets over and then decide what to do. Till you pay everything is good. Once the problem starts no one bothers about the extended warranty service you paid for. It's better you do not go for this service. I hear the charges are double for the spares and they will try to convince you that these parts are not covered in their service warranty. So its better that you avoid this and take the machine to the local mechanic instead.
4) Last month, thats July09, 5 months after my warranty got over, the door hinge of the front loader broke. This part is supposed to be of iron and it has to last much beyond the life of the machine. Well, called up customer support who said some one would come within 24 hours. I also told them the exact nature of the problem and to also send a spare door with the technician. The clown arrives the next day empty handed and tells me that he would be back in 2 days with the spares. He also takes the broken part with him. Next he tells me that since I do not have a service contract, they would charge 340 bucks for every visit he makes. That means he just comes to your house the first time and charge 340 bucks and then again 340 bucks when he gets the spares.What the hell is this I ask? So for one call, you end up paying 680 bucks? He then tells me to go for a 1 year service contract of 2000 bucks to avoid paying these charges. With no option, I tell him to first get the spare and then I will decide. His two days turn to two weeks and I still dont have the spare. I then decide to take things in my own hands and begin searcing for the spare in the markets of Mumbai. I went to 4 different IFB service centers of Mumbai at Vashi, Chembur, Dadar and Andheri and all of them tell me that there is shortage of spare parts. I am frustrated. After 4 days of searching, I finally get the part at a local dealer and I fixed the machine myself. Its been a whole month and there's still no sign of the IFB technician. IFB is known of not having spares for their machines.
I will not recommend this machine as the after sales service sucks big time. They are out to eat your money. I have made up my mind to go for a LG or Samsung next time as these machines are easily repairable and their spares are easily available too.
Hope this review helps prospective buyers of washing machines.
