Thread by @Janniverse

Today's water heater drama update:

1) Called local @Lowes @LowesCares store & spoke to the Appliances guy I spoke to yesterday. (For some reason, they consider a water heater an appliance, not a plumbing thing.)

@Lowes @LowesCares 2) Guy said he hasn't heard back from the installer (who is an independently contracted plumber) yet. Said he'll call him again, but repeated that he can't process a return if he has no proof that the unit was returned.

BUT IT GETS BETTER.

@Lowes @LowesCares 3) THEN this absolute unit freaking has the gall to suggest that I just buy the replacement, then they'll send an installer, and it can get installed.

I'm not talking about a couple of bucks here. I'm talking about $900ish, installed.

@Lowes @LowesCares 4) I couldn't believe it. And told him so. I was like, "you're freaking insane if you think I'm going to trust you to get THAT installation right if you can't even get THIS one sorted out."

@Lowes @LowesCares 5) I told him that I don't care how he does it or whose fault it is; he needs to resolve this today or I'm complaining long and loud to anyone at Lowes who will listen, and I WILL NOT let up.

I've been more than patient, and it's totally biting me in the water tank.

@Lowes @LowesCares 6) BUT IT GETS EVEN BETTER.

I have the plumber's #. So I called him myself.

He picked up and HUNG UP ON ME IMMEDIATELY.

He didn't call back either, which you'd expect if it was a mistake.

He recognized my # and hung up.

@Lowes @LowesCares 7) He did this even though he and his kid (who came with on the aborted install last week; he's apparently training) remarked that they were glad I wasn't screaming about the aborted water heater install.

@Lowes @LowesCares 8) Said they've dealt with plenty of angry customers and that they're caught in the middle. I said it wasn't the plumber's fault that the heater didn't fit. Because it isn't.

@Lowes @LowesCares 9) But if what the local store guy at Lowes is saying is true, and the plumber never returned it and it's been riding around in his truck all week while the CORRECTLY SIZED ONE HAD BEEN AVAILABLE AT OUR LOCAL STORE, then that IS his fault.

@Lowes @LowesCares 10) But that's Lowes' problem -- if he's their contractor (which he is), they need to sort it.

They're not the only source of water heaters. If they don't sort this out TODAY, in taking my business elsewhere.

No one needs this kind of "customer service."

@Lowes @LowesCares Footnote: Here's the thread containing chapter 1 of this entire sorry debacle:

https://mobile.twitter.com/Janniverse/status/1029097694973894656

@Lowes @LowesCares 11) BALLAD OF A MISBEGOTTEN WATER HEATER: THE STORY CONTINUES

So Lowes guy calls & leaves a VM. Suddenly, he's found a way to "take care of me," and he's going to call their 2 installers and see who can get my heater installed this week.

@Lowes @LowesCares 12) Says he wants to try to get OG plumber out, but will resort to the other installer if that's not possible.

I'd prefer a new installer ATM as I'm now concerned about retaliation.

DO NOT FUCK WITH MY WATER HEATER

@Lowes @LowesCares 13) I try to call him back to tell him so. Rings so long I bounce back to the operator, who takes a message. I go about my business, b/c hey, I have shit to do, too.

@Lowes @LowesCares 14) I get a VM from an unfamiliar new #. It's the OG installer's office admin. She leaves a msg saying that Lowes f'd up (not the plumber) & the soonest they can get me in is FRIDAY. 😱😠

@Lowes @LowesCares 15) Rather than call her, I try to call Lowes again to ask if dude can call the other installer, as I'd already wanted to do. Still don't get through.

He could be very busy...or he could be avoiding talking to me on the phone.

@Lowes @LowesCares 16) He leaves another VM saying to expect a call from OG plumber & Friday.

I've tried to call him a few more times, but it always rings into oblivion. Is there no one else in that Appliances dept, or is he using caller ID to duck my calls? Who knows?

@Lowes @LowesCares I'm about to go there in person. Should prob leave my helmet on since without it, I'm hardly an imposing presence.

This is complete, grade-A bullshit.

@Lowes @LowesCares 18) TL;DR: If you're thinking of using Lowes for any time-critical installations where they & their contractors don't just stand around pointing fingers and leaving whiny, mealymouthed VMs like a bunch of bratty children,

DON'T.