LG refrigerator warranty scandal: Difference between revisions

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~~=='''LG Linear Compressor Refrigerator Failures & Arbitration'''==~~

A pattern of early refrigerator failures saw attempts by LG Electronics to prevent consumer lawsuits using forced arbitration practices, regarding their lack of warranty coverage for failed fridges.

~~Here we'll go over a systematic~~ pattern of early refrigerator failures & attempts by LG Electronics to prevent consumer lawsuits regarding their lack of warranty coverage for failed fridges ~~through contested arbitration practices~~.

==Overview==

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===Cost to Consumers===

While LG's warranty covers the compressor part itself, consumers ~~report~~ large financial ~~impact~~:

While LG's warranty covers the compressor part itself, however consumers reported large financial impacts due to:

*Labor costs averaging $1,000 per repair despite part coverage<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1b3d8yr/comment/ksrtouv/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button Reddit discussion r/technology, January 2024: "I've had two LG fridge compressors go bad. They cover the part but not the labor and I've spent more than $1000 installing new compressors into them"]</ref>

*Extended periods without functioning refrigeration while awaiting repairs<ref>NBC Bay Area interview with Frank Rodriguez, February 27, 2024</ref>

*~~Some consumers forced to~~ purchase replacement units after multiple failed repairs

*The purchase of replacement units after multiple failed repairs

==Arbitration Controversy==

In 2024, LG ~~attempted~~ to prevent a class action lawsuit by citing arbitration notices that appeared in three locations:

In 2024, LG sought to prevent a class action lawsuit, citing arbitration notices that appeared in three locations:

#On the product box

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===Legal Issues with Notice===

~~Several~~ issues ~~make~~ LG's arbitration ~~notice strategy legally questionable~~:

Commentators highlighted several issues with LG's arbitration notices:

*Delivery people routinely remove refrigerators from boxes before bringing them into homes so that they can fit through the door, preventing customers from seeing box notices<ref>NBC Bay Area investigation found that "nobody they talked to saw the box. The delivery guys typically took the box off before even bringing it inside."</ref>

*Internal notices and manual contents are only accessible '''''after''''' purchase completion<ref>Attorney Azar Mouzari statement to NBC Bay Area: "Consumers don't have access to an owner's manual until after they've made the purchase."</ref>

*Legal precedent from similar cases (such as Samsung's smartphone box arbitration notices) ~~suggests~~ post-purchase notices may not be enforceable<ref>Professor Anna Han, Santa Clara University School of Law, NBC Bay Area interview, February 27, 2024</ref>

*Legal precedent from similar cases (such as Samsung's smartphone box arbitration notices) suggested that post-purchase notices may not be enforceable<ref>Professor Anna Han, Santa Clara University School of Law, NBC Bay Area interview, February 27, 2024</ref>

Professor Anna Han of Santa Clara University School of Law notes that proper notice requires both sides to "knowingly agree not to sue," questioning whether notices unseen until after purchase can constitute valid agreement.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-=='''LG Linear Compressor Refrigerator Failures & Arbitration'''==
+A pattern of early refrigerator failures saw attempts by LG Electronics to prevent consumer lawsuits using forced arbitration practices, regarding their lack of warranty coverage for failed fridges.
-Here we'll go over a systematic pattern of early refrigerator failures & attempts by LG Electronics to prevent consumer lawsuits regarding their lack of warranty coverage for failed fridges through contested arbitration practices.
 ==Overview==
@@ Line 14: / Line 13: @@
 ===Cost to Consumers===
-While LG's warranty covers the compressor part itself, consumers report large financial impact:
+While LG's warranty covers the compressor part itself, however consumers reported large financial impacts due to:
 *Labor costs averaging $1,000 per repair despite part coverage<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1b3d8yr/comment/ksrtouv/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button Reddit discussion r/technology, January 2024: "I've had two LG fridge compressors go bad. They cover the part but not the labor and I've spent more than $1000 installing new compressors into them"]</ref>
 *Extended periods without functioning refrigeration while awaiting repairs<ref>NBC Bay Area interview with Frank Rodriguez, February 27, 2024</ref>
-*Some consumers forced to purchase replacement units after multiple failed repairs
+*The purchase of replacement units after multiple failed repairs
 ==Arbitration Controversy==
-In 2024, LG attempted to prevent a class action lawsuit by citing arbitration notices that appeared in three locations:
+In 2024, LG sought to prevent a class action lawsuit, citing arbitration notices that appeared in three locations:
 #On the product box
@@ Line 28: / Line 27: @@
 ===Legal Issues with Notice===
-Several issues make LG's arbitration notice strategy legally questionable:
+Commentators highlighted several issues with LG's arbitration notices:
 *Delivery people routinely remove refrigerators from boxes before bringing them into homes so that they can fit through the door, preventing customers from seeing box notices<ref>NBC Bay Area investigation found that "nobody they talked to saw the box. The delivery guys typically took the box off before even bringing it inside."</ref>
 *Internal notices and manual contents are only accessible '''''after''''' purchase completion<ref>Attorney Azar Mouzari statement to NBC Bay Area: "Consumers don't have access to an owner's manual until after they've made the purchase."</ref>
-*Legal precedent from similar cases (such as Samsung's smartphone box arbitration notices) suggests post-purchase notices may not be enforceable<ref>Professor Anna Han, Santa Clara University School of Law, NBC Bay Area interview, February 27, 2024</ref>
+*Legal precedent from similar cases (such as Samsung's smartphone box arbitration notices) suggested that post-purchase notices may not be enforceable<ref>Professor Anna Han, Santa Clara University School of Law, NBC Bay Area interview, February 27, 2024</ref>
 Professor Anna Han of Santa Clara University School of Law notes that proper notice requires both sides to "knowingly agree not to sue," questioning whether notices unseen until after purchase can constitute valid agreement.