Draft Tower vs. Shank Thru Door?

[Philip1993]

I've got to believe that you misunderstand his intentions. If he has a warrentee issue with his fridge they will likely give him grief about the hole in the door or top whether that had anything to do with the problem or not. However if he mods just the door instead of the top of the fridge he can return the failing fridge body for repair/replacement without the repair facility being the wiser. And he can get the fridge repaired under warentee as the manufacture allows for

I too think the OP was discussing a normal compressor failure within the warranty period. But listen your own words; "without the repair facility being the wiser" Sorry, but the phrases "without the repair facility being the wiser" and "repaired under warranty as the manufacture allows for" can not coexist.

Bottom line, if you had to deceive them it is wrong.

 

[Philip1993]

If he returns a fridge that is unmodified, then the warranty is intact. There is no way around that, it's legal and that's the end of it. And morally, there is nothing wrong with returning the fridge if it malfunctions due to problems not caused by modifications.

Please explain how a fridge that has been drilled and had it door replaced with a door scuttled from another fridge is "unmodified".

As for the legality, that's up to the manufacturer. So why don't you afford them the opportunity to make that decision by telling them the TRUTH? If as you say, it's moral and covered under warranty, there should be no need to deceive them.

 

[maxr]

Funkenjaeger,
Thanks for the link! I'm really pleased that the shanks fit without even removing the molded plastic inner door. This will let me use the 4" stainless shanks from NB.

max

 

[mr x]

Please explain how a fridge that has been drilled and had it door replaced with a door scuttled from another fridge is "unmodified".

As for legal, that's up to the manufacturer. Why don't you afford them the opportunity to make that decision by telling the TRUTH?

I was building on the example of the OP taking a new door and putting it on a fridge with a failed compressor. Now it is unmodified (it is OEM equipment in perfect condition) and the warranty is still valid; and the legality is not defined by corporations, it is defined by the government in any case.

I have paint protection warranty on my car. Can you imagine them not honoring a defect on the hood because I had the quarter panel replaced?

 

[sause]

If he returns a fridge that is unmodified, then the warranty is intact. There is no way around that, it's legal and that's the end of it. And morally, there is nothing wrong with returning the fridge if it malfunctions due to problems not caused by modifications.

Knowing that they most likely won't repair a unit that has been modified. He buys a new fridge switch the doors and sends the old fridge with the new door to get his money back is stealing. He's getting a new fridge for free. Now if they were smart and check the SN on the unit and the box and see that they don't match good bye money and hello fraud.

 

[mr x]

So basically, you are making the case that you cannot replace any part for any reason and still have a valid warranty.

And he is not getting a new fridge for free, he is getting his fridge repaired under warranty.

 

[Bobby_M]

I love these ethics debates here. Good stuff.

The OP actually said "I can buy another, swap doors, and return the original one". This says nothing about warranty and it's a common scam. It's usually done as way to extend your warranty indefinately as long as they still make the same model.

 

[Philip1993]

So basically, you are making the case that you cannot replace any part for any reason and still have a valid warranty.

No. I am making the case that you cannot have a valid warranty unless such replacement is allowed within the terms of the warranty. And if you have to lie to the manufacturer to make them believe that

Now it is unmodified (it is OEM equipment in perfect condition)

No, it is not unmodified. It has had parts replaced. The fact that they are OEM parts does not make it unmodified.

and the warranty is still valid; and the legality is not defined by corporations, it is defined by the government in any case.

A warranty is a written contract between you and the manufacturer. In that contract they offering to provide something of value (a replacement) in return for certain considerations on your part. One of those considerations is (typically) that the unit not be modified or altered in any way. If the contract contains such language and you do modify the unit (even if it looks identical, you have breached the contract and the manufacturer is perfectly within their rights not to honor their commitment to replace the unit.

As for legality, it's simple contract law. If you feel that you have fulfilled your part of the contract, and they have not, you can sue them in an effort to have the judge force them to honor the contract. But that brings us back to square one again. Unless you deceive the judge, she/he will rule that you have modified the unit and that the manufacturer was withing their rights to nullify the warranty

The bottom line is that unless you can exercise the warranty by telling the truth, it's neither moral or ethical.

 

[BlindLemonLars]

So basically, you are making the case that you cannot replace any part for any reason and still have a valid warranty.

And he is not getting a new fridge for free, he is getting his fridge repaired under warranty.

The OP never mentioned the word "repaired." The word he used was "returned."

His plan is to do an end run around his voided warranty, by buying another fridge, swapping doors and returning his OUT OF WARRANTY fridge for a refund, under false pretenses. It's slimy and dishonest, no way around it.

Punching holes in the fridge voids the warranty, the purchaser knows that going into the deal. If he doesn't like those terms, he shouldn't buy it...not just figure out a way to defraud the store.

 

[Paulinuke]

I believe the magnusson moss act states that for the manufacturer to void your waranty they have to show that your modification caused the failure or the need for repair/replacement. With this in mind your warranty would still be intact with a hole in the fridge for a tower if the compressor was the failed part. However, convincing the customer service personel of this would be another thing entirely and I dont think a mini fridge is worth lawyer fees.

Paul

edit- i just saw that he intended to return it, thats different than having warranty work done

 

[olllllo]

The OP has his question answered and has been largely silent on his hypothetical "broken" fridge.

Based on our small sample size, the votes fall on the sketchy size.

Don't post questionable ethical behavior unless you are inviting debate.
That would make you a troll.

You know what's really unethical??? Buying the fridge from Best Buy returning it and then re-buying it as an open box item.

That type of behavior is posted all of the time on computer forums, we ain't that kind of place.