My wife and I purchased a new Maytag washer and dryer from Best Buy in Vestal last week. This is the tale of my rather poor experience.

The opening of our local Best Buy was eagerly anticipated by yours truly after Circuit City went bust last year. The new store had been open all of two weeks when we visited for the first time, a week ago Saturday night. I did price comparison shopping online between Best Buy and Lowes before we went to the store, and found that Best Buy’s prices were significantly lower than Lowes for the same exact appliances (in our case, a Maytag washer and dryer).

When we arrived at Best Buy and I was finally able to talk with the applicance salesperson (they were still pretty busy, lots of people visiting since the doors opened two weeks prior), I told him the models we wanted. When they appeared on the screen, the prices were higher than I recalled from the website and I said so. The salesperson went online and did a “price match” with their own website. It seems Best Buy guarantees they will match any competitor’s price–in this case their own website being the “competitor” with the bricks and mortar store. I’m happy I mentioned the web price because I would have paid a combined $75 more for the pair had I not mentioned the web price.

In making our purchase, I was careful to confirm that the people delivering would a) haul the old washer and dryer away, and b) the people delivering would fully install both the washer and dryer. An admission: I am Mr. Unhandy around the house and nothing frustrates me more than attempting to do things with my hands that I am not good at. I do not install washers and dryers. The salesperson confirmed they would haul away and do the install for me, so I paid cash via my debit card (Dave Ramsey would be proud), and we set the delivery date for Friday, Oct. 16th.

The delivery men came on the appointed day, a pair of them. Very nice lads–I have no quarrels with them as people–they were pleasant to deal with and quite willing to do what I asked. But, they were not equipped to do the install for me. They lacked most of the tools they needed, forcing me to scramble and find tools they could use. And they simply were not trained with knowledge to do the install. One of the tasks is attaching the 220 volt power cord to the dryer. They had to get out the instructions, and then “guess” as to which leads went on which contacts. Scary. I stood well clear when it was finally plugged in for testing.

Another thing was reading the instructions on how to properly rig the water hose that goes from the washer to the wall drain. Instead of reading, they guessed (wrongly) how it should be hooked up. I had to rework it after they were gone–after I read the manual.

They didn’t have a level with them and weren’t going to level the washer machine! Only when I found my level and insisted we get it leveled did it happen. And so it went.

Finally, the straw that broke the camel’s back. The air hose that hooks to the back of the dryer and vents to the outside was fitted exactly for the old dryer, but the new dryer has its hole in a different location. The hose will not stretch to fit. Meaning they left without it being connected. They did not have any parts with them in ancticipation that this sort of thing happens, which I’m confident often does. So with the dryer still pulled out from the wall and not installed, I went to Lowes and purchased a piece of flexible hose, and struggled for the best part of an hour to get it connected. During the installation process I had to ban all family members from the work area as a precaution–in case I exploded! I hope it’s connected properly now–but it’s likely going to need someone else to look at it to be sure, so I don’t burn down the bloody house!

I’m sure some reading this who know me personally are smiling or laughing. Go ahead and have a chuckle! I don’t mind. But I assure you, for me it was no laughing matter.

Bottom line: I will not purchase another appliance from Best Buy in Vestal–and that includes a flat panel TV we’re planning to purchase as a family Christmas present this year. If you can do the installation yourself, and if you’re careful to fully research prices online first, you may be OK purchasing at Best Buy. But if you’re unhandy as I am, steer well clear of Best Buy in Vestal. You’re better off paying more at someplace like our local Olum’s and having it installed correctly rather than chance a poor installation like I experienced.

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