The $70 Piece of Plastic to Fix My Microwave

Posted on February 18, 2010 by Dan

Broken Part

After getting home yesterday from being out I was informed that the door on our 18 month old microwave would not open. It is a built-in microwave so replacing it was not as easy as running to Walmart and buying another one. Since I knew it was out of warranty I decided to crack it open to see if I could fix it.

inside I found that the part that is in between the button that you push to open the door and the door “claw” was broken. I tried several different combinations of pins and tie straps and got it partially working but I knew it wouldn’t last long.

This morning the wife and I drove to Home Depot, Lowes, Ikea, and a local appliance dealer and nobody had anything even similar to what we had in stock. They could order the same unit or something similar but prices started at the $250′s and went up from there. The soonest that anyone could get one in was 2 weeks. I looked online and I could get one in a week.

New Part: $65

In a stroke of guinness I called a local appliance parts dealer to see if they could order the broken part. To my amazement they had the part in stock. The only catch was it was $65! SIXTY FIVE DOLLARS for a piece of plastic that I am sure cost a whopping $0.15 to make. I swallowed my pride and went and paid $65 for the official piece of plastic from Whirlpool.

The good news is that the part has a lifetime warranty so if it breaks again I am not out any more money. The other plus side to this is that I am only out $65 as opposed to to $250+ for a new microwave. The last piece of good news is that we now have a working microwave and thus everyone is happy.

I tell you, I have felt ripped off before but I think this tops the cake. Thanks Whirlpool, you really know how to stick it the consumer. I have to tell you, I don’t think I will be buying another product from you again .