Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Barker's Appliance, Inc's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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  Barker's Appliance, Inc

  1875 Philadelphia St Indiana, PA 15701

• 

  Barker's Appliance, Inc

  105 Wray Plan Rd Kittanning, PA 16201-3617

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/08/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Purchased from Barkers Appliance, an Electrolux Dryer. After having it fixed numerous times over the course of one year, it now does not dry clothes and the condensation from the dryer running for a long period of time is now leaking water. Now the condensation (water) is trickling water down through my ceiling from the dryer vent, which is routed through my second floor and out of the roof. This only happens when the dryer is running. Otherwise it is dry. The rudest Service Manager at Barkers who obviously does not know how to deal with people, is telling me that it is the vent. We have had the vent professionally cleaned and even took a step farther as to have the plumbers look at it and it is the dryer. Unfortunately, Barkers appliance wont do anything to either fix it or replace it and the genius Service Managers answer is to get a vent bucket. Why didnt I think of that.?? of course Im a woman and dont know anything about dryers right? Which was how I was made to feel. Ive had two other dryers in the 20 some years that weve been in this house and have had not one issue with either of those dryers. It is only until I bought this piece of c*** Electrolux from Barkers. PLEASE do not buy anything at Barkers Appliance in ******* or Kittanning they are not willing to go the extra mile and the service manager is rude and condescending.

  Business Response

  Date: 01/08/2025

  We understand the customers frustration that her dryer has a problem. While there have been some prior service tickets on this dryer, this is the first complaint of a leak. All other service problems have been taken care of throughout the dryers life. 
  

  When our technician arrived at the house, it was determined that the source of the leak was not the dryer, but as the customer stated, the leak was being caused by condensation from an excessively long dryer vent in an unheated area of the house. 
  

  The only fix to this is to have a new vent solution installed. This is not something Barkers Appliance does. The customer will need to hire a contractor to complete this. The dryer is not the problem. 
  

  The customer did not feel this diagnosis was correct. She cussed out the technician we sent, asked him to leave, and has treated the rest of our employees in an unacceptable way. 
  

  The vent bucket solution was an attempt to prove the diagnosis. It is not a permanent fix, but a temporary bypass to her problem vent. If the vent bucket fixes the issues, it proves the dryer is not the problem. We even offered to pay for the vent bucket, and installation of it, at no cost to the customer. 
  

  She has made it clear she has no intention of trying to solve the problem. She just wants a new dryer. This dryer has been in the customers home for almost a year, and a replacement or refund is not an option at this point. (Unless the manufacturer deems it)

  At this point, there is simply nothing else our company can do. The customer needs to call someone else. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/09/2025

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.] 

  First and foremost, I did not ask a technician (*****) to leave my house when he came out to investigate the dryer.  I did show him video footage of the leak from the vent and from the front of the dryer, leaking from the access door to open the dryer.  I did show ***** the vent system through the attic, which was also leaking in two places.That statement (that I asked him to leave) is simply not true.  ***** the Service Manager, who I spoke to on the phone the day that ***** was here, (***** (Service Manager) was not at the residence to view the attic or the leak when the dryer was running) first told me that it must be cold air coming in from the vent.  Which I disagreed with since I had, two dryers prior without any condensation coming through the vent.  It has only been since I had purchased the Electrolux Dryer from ******** when we started having numerous issues with the dryer.  I  did disagree with the Service Manager ***** over the phone.  For someone who did not come to the house to look at the problem personally, please explain to me how one can make a diagnosis to what is happening, and just going by word of mouth? On 1-8-2025, I had to call the Kittanning store for someone to answer my call.  ***** the Service Manager was not at all helpful and wanted to argue with me that the vent was the problem.  The vent had been professionally cleaned and free from any blockage.  I have also had plumbers come to the residence to see if they can tell me with 100% certainty, that the vent is not to blame.  It still didn't explain why it was taking so long for the dryer to dry clothes (over 2 hours).  Yes, I was irrate and did cuss ***** out, only after he wanted to be a smart alick about the problem.  He did mention a vent bucket, which I found to be unaccetable.  He did not indicate or communicate what the vent bucket was for, which was to help diagnosis the problem.  I have always been courteous to the tech's when they are at the house.  Again, I did cuss out the Service Manager over the telephone, but not in person.  There was nothing ***** could fix on the visit, since he called *****(Service Manager).  He is only the middle man and he isn't the source of the problem.  I have absoultely no issue with *****, and again never asked him to leave.  *****, the owner did give a me courtesy call today 1/9/2025, first thing this am.  The new solution to the problem is that we part ways as customers, and not fix the problem, because the tech's don't want to deal with me.  As they pride themselves on servicing what they sell, there service manager ***** certainly does not know how to speak with customers.  Instead of sympathizing or seeing what else he could do for a solution, he simply decided to take a dig at me on the phone to say, Oh and by the way, I talked to the owner and we aren't going to do anything for you.  Not a good way to communicate or handle customers.  I was responding to how ***** was treating me over the phone, and while I did not have one of my better moments, I was upset at how I was being spoken to, as a woman and a consumer.
  
  Regards,
  
  **** ****

  Business Response

  Date: 01/09/2025

  There is nothing else to be done at this time. The customer has been advised to call the manufacturer directly, or to call another service provider for support. They were not charged anything for our visits, nor will they be. The customers actions dictated us to take appropriate action in removing them from our service list. The customer has asked for a refund of the extended warranty that they purchased for this dryer, because we will no longer be visiting the customer's home. This has been done. Ck.# ***** in the amount of $190.79 has been issued and is scheduled to be picked up from our Indiana location tomorrow, 1/10/25. We also agreed to provide a dryer vent bucket at no charge, so the customer can try to bypass their vent to definitely prove (or disprove) that the vent is the issue.

  If the dry times improve with the vent bucket installed, then the issue is due to their vent installation, and needs to be dealt with by a qualified contractor who performs that work. If the long dry time problem does not go away after the vent bucket is properly installed, then the problem must be in the dryer and was missed by our technicians. In that case, the customer should contact a servicer or the manufacturer directly to get the problem resolved. No further communication is required for or by ******** Appliances, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/07/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  ****** appliance made a service call on my four year old dishwasher that wasn't cleaning on the bottom rack. I was told it was the pump and it was over $400 to repair. I paid for the service call, and was told that if I bought a dishwasher there I would get $50 of the service call toward a new dishwasher. I decided to try to recoup some of the expensive service call and I placed an order for a dishwasher on 11/15/24. I picked up the dishwasher at 10:30 a.m. on 11/27/24.Upon running the dishwasher - the dishwasher made the entire downstairs smell of the detergent. I tried running a second and third time with the same results. The wash time on is approximately 4 hours on normal cycle with sani rinse and dry. I contacted ****** Appliance on Saturday, 11/30. I did not receive a call on Monday, so I left a second message. Tues. I received a return call from a gentleman at their other location whom I have never met. The gentleman said it must have been due to improper installation. All of these were functioning without any smell issue for the last 15 years. He then said that he would not return a perfect dishwasher. I said it isn't because the seal doesn't keep the smell of the detergent from filling my house and putting my family's health at risk. He was stead fast in his refusal to allow the dishwasher to be returned. I tried to call and speak to the gentleman who sold me the unit and left a message but he will not take the call, and will not return my call. He had the gentleman I do not know (*****) return the call to say that he will be handling it. He is steadfast in that it was due to installation, that 'if it is not leaking water it is not leaking smell', and that I would have to pay for a service call to show as he is sure that it is improperly installed, that he will not take the return. Attached is a photo of the seal - there is no pleating

  Business Response

  Date: 12/07/2024

  Some of the customers statement is true and some is fabrication. We did indeed run a service call on the customers original dishwasher. The diagnosis was a bad pump and the total quote would have been over $400 and not worth the repair on a unit that age. She was only charged a diagnostic service call charge of $129 and $50 was then refunded when she bought the new dishwasher. Its important to separate these two events, as the service (and the amount she paid toward it) has nothing to do with the new dishwasher purchase. 
  

  The customer purchased the new dishwasher and decided to not opt for professional installation. (Shes watched several ******* videos and there is only 3 connections to install the dishwasher). She picked the unit up from one of our locations and after she ran the first load, felt like the unit made her home smell. She feels the seal is not keeping the chemical smell of detergent in the dishwasher. 
  

  We have 4 service technicians at Barkers Appliances****** When this issue was brought to our attention, all 4 technicians were asked individually what they thought was the cause. ALL 4 had the same response. The most likely cause was improper installation. No dishwashers are air tight. If they were, there would not be air movement during the drying cycle. 
  

  So the only two logical conclusions that could be come to with the information provided is that 1) the smell is a normal operating smell or 2) the dishwasher is not installed correctly causing sewage/plumbing smell to seep into the home when the unit is running, and this smell is being mistaken for detergent by the customer. 

  In either case, the next step would be to run a service call on the new dishwasher. The new dishwasher is completely covered by a manufacturers warranty. However the manufacturers warranty does not cover installation mistakes. So when the customer was informed that charges COULD POSSIBLY arise if the cause was installation related, she was adamant that she wouldnt pay a dime. 
  

  Because of the likely outcome of non-payment, we had no choice but to avoid running the service call to identify the cause of the issue. Because of this, the unit does not qualify for a return. If the customer is so sure that the issue is not installation related, there would be no harm in us running the service call. And if an issue is identified, the unit would be repaired, not replaced, per the manufacturer warranty contract she entered into when she purchased this dishwasher.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 12/09/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

  The installation cost was not affordable, it was not that I did not want it installed. It would also have included a delivery fee.

  The reference to ******* is inaccurate- never had I ever referenced. 

  No matter my response or my experience with the machine,  there answer is determined and unwavering.  My statement is it is it produces a smell during the run time which is not an installation issue or it would not fill, run, and drain all of which it does perfectly.  It is the smell as a result of heat during the run process of the cleaning chemicals that is the issue. 

  I would appreciate the opportunity to return the unit as it is unusable due to health concerns from the strong chemical emissions for a refund.

  Regards,
  
  *** **********

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/15/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On 12 January 2024, I walked into Barkers Appliances looking for a new refrigerator. The employee that was helping me, Wade C****** was not very polite and seemed in a rush, especially when other customers came into the store. I wasn’t sure of the measurements of the space or my current refrigerator. After selecting one, I was told it would have to come from the warehouse and wouldn’t arrive at the store until 22 January 2024. This would put delivery time to on 24 January. I paid for the transaction and left the store.
  When I arrived home, I measured my current refrigerator it was smaller and would not work for me. When I called Barkers back and told them the situation. Mr. C****** said:
  I’m sure I can help!
  
  I see the order placed. It looks like your unit is set to arrive to us on tomorrow’s truck that’s arriving to us… so it is too late to cancel the order altogether.
  
  If you are looking for a different sized unit, we will “stock” the incoming piece and put on your store account, a credit for the full amount you paid.
  
  If you are not looking to place an order for a different unit, and are just trying to cancel altogether, there would be a 20% restocking fee to get the special ordered unit back to the manufacturer.
  
  I asked Mr. C****** didn’t call me above the early arrival of the refrigerator. He said it wasn’t the company policy to do so.
  
  I also asked why the restocking fee ($259.74) was going to be my responsibility when the product wasn’t even in my home. I told him I didn’t want store credit and wanted a full refund.
  
  Mr. C****** said he would mail out a check and it would take 5-7 business days. I asked if I can come to the store and pick it up. He said yes and that they open at 0830.

  Business Response

  Date: 01/17/2024

  The attachment the customer supplied conviently left out page 2, where she signed that she understood the refund/cancellation policy. (See attached)

  She states that she doesn't think it should be her responsibility for the restocking fee, as she has not received the unit from us.- It should have been her responsibility because it was already on its way. The unit needs to be restocked to the manufacturer, and that incurs fees. While her delivery was not scheduled until the following week, the delivery to us was already underway so that we would be able to get the unit to her as promised. This was a special order item.

  This is a classic example of some people are impossible to please. We gave multiple options to try and save the customer relationship. But none of the options were sufficient. So we did acquiesce to her request and refunded the whole amount via checks numbered 11231, and 11232. She picked both checks up yesterday, 1/16/24. So at this point, she has cost the business considerable money and lost time, has refused to live up to her side of the signed contract, has received a full refund, and still can not be satisfied. 

  Hopefully this shines some light on the situation and the character/lack of character of the customer in question.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/17/2024

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 
  
  
  
  Regards,
  
  
  
  ***** *******

   

  i only accepted the full refund response. Since the item in question had never been told that it be delivered early and that that the item never arrived at my home. I do not agree that I should have to pay a restocking fee. When I asked the employee why he didn’t call me of the earlier arrival date he told me it wasn’t there company policy. What would have happened if the company come to my home and I was at a medical appointment. Communication is a big key in any relationship. I went to the company on Tuesday, January 16th and accepted the refund in full. Said employee didn’t have knowledge of the transaction and still took an attitude towards me. I will not be going back.