I purchased a Samsung washing machine in 2022. On August 24 the washer stopped spinning. I called Samsung. I was told the washer was out of warranty and I would need to have someone over to diagnose the issue. They said nothing about the fact the machine carries a 10-year direct-drive motor warranty, nor did they at any time mention that in order to take advantage of that warranty I would have to go through the one and only third party company they work with in my geographic area. Since none of that information was indicated, I reached out to a different company for several reasons: - I researched the company Samsung provided my information to. They have HUNDREDS of terrible customer reviews with a wide range of complaints (quality, service, communication, timelines, pricing). - Their fee just to come out was $215 and that didn't include any repair work nor any assurance they would be able to assist with repairing my machine, which was unnerving since they aren't Samsung employees.
The technician I had over assessed the situation and determined based on what he observed the direct drive motor wasn't functioning properly. He was the one to point out the 10-year manufacturer's direct-drive motor warranty. I reached out to Samsung to share this information and file a warranty claim. Samsung finally acknowledged the 10-year motor warranty, but it was only then they indicated they would not honor the warranty unless it was through their third-party company.
Samsung has highly unethical and clearly inadequate business practices: - they mislead customers regarding warranty coverage. - they do not specify certain terms up front. - their insistence customers use ONE AND ONLY third-party company creates a situation that allows buyers to be taken advantage of. Without any other option or competition, this company sets prices that discourage or prohibit customers from making warranty claims they are rightfully entitled to. It also creates a system where quality clearly falls dramatically (as evidenced by hundreds of customer reviews).
I have spent two WEEKS on the phone trying to sort this out with Samsung. They continually "close my ticket" without resolution and NEVER returned any of my calls after my case was (supposedly) escalated to management. No return calls from them, either.
I now have an appliance that shouldn't even be halfway through it's lifespan that Samsung will not repair unless I pay as much or more to a third party company than it would cost to buy a brand new washer. AND they won't even call a long term loyal customer back.
My sincere hope is that someone will intervene to expand on RIGHT TO REPAIR laws to prevent companies, such as Samsung, from taking advantage of customers.