Vinotemp... read the whole thread

[replicant_argent]

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

Losing customers like this for the sake of a few dollars (screws plus shipping) makes zero sense in this economic climate.

I actually think the real cost here is sense/cents. It should be a no-brainer for the CS rep to say, "I will gladly mail you what you need, I will try to do it free of charge, but if I can't, it might cost 3 dollars max!.
Attempting to charge 10 dollars shipping is shoving a finger in your face, and not the one that says you are #1 for being kind enough to purchase their product. No matter where you purchased it from.

[GrtndpwrflOZ]

It blows when things don't go your way. I hate it.

2 words



HOME DEPOT

[markem]

I know that you've gone through a lot and I feel your pain. My advice is this:

Get someone to take the screws out of their vinotemp and head to a local fastener supplier. Have them buy you some screws and send them to you.

In the end, you get some BOTL bonding that the screws you need. Seems like a winning strategy to me.

[Lexxxus]

How was I supposed to know this identical unit was not a "genuine" VT? No mention was ever made of "grey market" VT's in any of my research. After first accusing me of buying an "illegal counterfeit" the woman at VT then relented and told me the unit was probably purchased from the same factory and someone placed an Vinotemp emblem on it. While the photo is not good the emblem is a "raised" or "domed" acrylic piece that looks very authentic. I'm guessing this unit came off the very same assembly line right down to the emblem.

Anyhow, they got my $12US for 2 simple screws so I guess I'm a bona fide VT customer now!

I've beat this dead horse long enough and you've heard the last of it from me.

What I would do to get screwed....

[Hot Stuff x]

Your (knockoff?) vinotemp looks pretty good without the handle...just sayin'...

[blugill]

As long as it keeps humidity and temp I'd be thrilled with the purchase!
That's what is important right?

[Lexxxus]

The earlier VT's looked 100% identical... The newer ones with the digital read-out are different. Even Houlio in ther service dept sadi "Oh yeah, the one with the curved handle mounts... They made this one a few years ago.

[md4958]

now heres the $200 question.. does it work?

So Vinotemp is not a manufacturer of wine cellars, just a marketer?

[Lexxxus]

OK this is my last post... really.

Vinotemp had the VT28 manufactured offshore and the same unit may have been sold under an different name. This happens all the time in the appliance business. Maytag washers are also sold under the name Kenmore, Whirlpool are sold under the name Viking etc etc.

From what I gather, the fellow I bought it from bought the remaining stock from a local retailer. That person (according to VT) somehow purchased them factory-direct. They claim that the VT logo was illegally or fraudulently put on the unit. I don't beleive that for a second. My guess is that it shipped just like I got it with logo affixed. But that remains speculation on my part'

It looks identical in every way to the earlier VT28 (perhaps the fact the factory was selling them elsewhere was the reason they went to a new design)

I also hear that the older unit was more reliable. I've heard the newer digital unit was more prone to failure but that could simply be rhetoric.

Anyone else have an older unit like this? Mine is 3-4 years old (I gather)

And yes it works like a champ.

[SeanGAR]

Originally Posted by Lexxxus

They claim that the VT logo was illegally or fraudulently put on the unit. I don't beleive that for a second. My guess is that it shipped just like I got it with logo affixed. But that remains speculation on my part'

My money would be on an overrun that somebody got their hands on.

Vinotemp orders 5000, the company makes 5500, the other 500 are not purchased by Vinotemp and the company in China dumps them to some schmuck who passes them off as Vinotemp.

They are not Vinotemp of course because that would only be a product sold by them, but the items would be absolutely identical. It would be a trademark violation to sell these products with Vinotemp's name on them ... but they won't stop unless sued.

I can see why vinotemp would feel abused here. HOWEVER, If I was in customer service, I would spell this out ... BUT ... tell the customer .. look, we take care of our customers and will send you screws gratis as a good will gesture. Please check with us for authorized retailers in the future as we can't provide warranty repairs for this unit. Win win ... spend a couple of bucks sending screws and perhaps gain a future customer. What they did, although understandable at one level, was to piss off a potential future customer.

Smart? I think not.

[Texan in Mexico]

While I appreciate that you shared this with us, I have definately learned something about appliance manufacturing, and I commend your tenacious nature in holding, who you thought was responsable, responsable.

What didn't you just hit the local hardware store and leave it at that?

Again, an amusing and educational story but it sounds like your blood pressure might have spiked up during the whole process.

[lostark374]

sorry to keep kicking this thread but does anyone else see a resemblance of the unit in this thread and the edgestar 28 btl

now could it be possible that in fact these edgestars are actually the early vinotemps? just being marketed under "edgestar"

i know chase is going to start making shelves and trays. and these are very good looking (not as nice as current vino's IMHO) can anyone that has an early vinotemp confirm this?

[MikeyC]

Originally Posted by ThreeSheets

So Vinotemp is not a manufacturer of wine cellars, just a marketer?

What company actually manufuctures their own products these days? Nike doesn't make shoes for instance. They just design and market them.