NC Penguin

I have a three year old Kenmore (from Sears) microwave. It's not fancy. It cost about $90.00 new.

About a week ago, the internal light in the microwave went out and I thought it would be simple task of unscrewing a panel, retrieving the bulb and buying a replacement that I could put in myself.

Unfortunately, that's not what Sears has in mind.

I can't access the bulb from inside the microwave. The only way to the bulb is via the back of the microwave and the back panel is held in with really odd shaped screws (star shaped).

A call to Sears Customer Service revealed that I need to bring the Kenmore microwave into a Sears Parts and Repairs Center to have the bulb replaced.

Cost?

The nearest Parts and Repairs Center doesn't have the bulb in stock so I can order it and have it delivered to my home address-

$12.99 (bulb) + Shipping, Handling & tax = $20.30

Then, once I have the bulb, it's $47.99 (plus tax I think) for the labor to have a guy put the bulb in.

Total = $68.29!!

Bearing in mind the microwave is three years old and cost $90.00 originally, I'm considering buying a replacement and giving away the old one.

What would you do in my situation?




NC Penguin

syllk

Only cook during the day?

Wintersong

Get a torch and shine it onto the glass microwave door to illuminate your food as it revolves?

Seriously - do you really need the light? Doesn't the thing work just as well without it?

AdobePinon

It's a feature, not a bug. (ActiveXtract$) Did you try setting the clock back by a year or two?

Do without the light, buy yourself a brand spankin' new radar range, or spend $89.99 for the necessary screwdriver, or $89.98 for an alternative tool to extract the screws.

krizzy

Junk it......if you take it in for repair........something else will go wrong in a few weeks and cost you more...its sods law........

Ray

Had the same problem with a Toshiba microwave in the Uk ..many years ago
£1.50 for the bulb ..£20.00 to come out and fit ... Toshiba would not sell the bulb by itself..

Bob

Live without the light, they stick these tamper proof screws in normally for a reason...though it's probably to get you with after sales care

anotherlimey

Stop being so cheap and buy a new one

USBound

The strange looking screw you're seeing is called a T-drive, go to your local electronics store (possibly hardware store) and ask.

Normally they use either a T-10 or a T-15. They'll cost you about $3 each. The bulb is likely to be stock and cost around the same.

good luck...

bored-silly

I think these smaller appliances are like cell phones now - use 'em till they break and buy a new one. It costs more to repair than replace them. My old cell phone battery died and cingular would not sell me a new battery so I had to buy a new phone! I was peed off because I couldn't transfer some great photos I had on the old phone onto the computer because I could not recharge the old battery. Cingular suggested I try and buy a battery on Ebay!!!

Sarah

Aren't tools and stuff guaranteed for life from Sears? Isn't this a tool for preparing tasty meals?
Chuck it down the stairs and tell them its broke and you need a new one.

Bob

they've stopped doing that after to many people getting old cheap tools from yard sales and taking them back for replacements because there broke, and them ebaying them....

Sarah

What?! Thats what I planned to do! Bastards!

fatbrit

Drill the screw heads, pop the back off, change the bulb, put the back back on, fasten with standard self-tapers. Job's a good 'un.

Lion in Winter

This explains why you now break your microwaves so you can get the new stainless steel kind.

How's the polishing coming along?