After months of complaining about this I finally wrote a nastygram to Whirlpool. They said I needed to call a "local service provider" and have them come check it out. No suggestions as to who the "local service provider" might be.
Bitter-Neumann. So I call them.
I get the old guy who always sits behind that little counter on the far side of the appliance floor.
"Birr-nuen..."
"Hello?"
"Yes? Can I help you?"
"I have a question about getting my fridge serviced."
Who knew I wouldn't be transferred to the "appropriate department" first? "And what is your question?"
"The ice maker spews ice chunks all over when dispensing. I actually think its just bad design, but the Whirlpool people wanted me to call and have it looked at." I feel like I am telling him about a rash I have.
"Ok. When did you buy it?"
"In January or February of this year."
Now here's where it gets ugly.
"What's the name it would be under?"
"Mollie M------......"
"Can you spell that?"
I do so.
"Now what's the first name?"
"Mollie."
"Would it be under your husband's name?"
Let's have a little aside here. First of all, I never said I was married. Second of all, is it so unlikely that I -- a GIRL -- bought my own fridge that he has to CLARIFY the name, as though I am too dumb to know what the phrase "name it would be under" means?
"It's in MY name, like I said."
"Oh you did, huh..... Well what was that again?"
"Mollie. *I* bought the fridge."
"Oh here it is. It's under 'Mollie'."
No way.
I remember some time ago a friend of mine getting a bill from her clinic in her HUSBAND'S name. HER insurance. HER appointment. HIS name. I was pretty sure that was annoying, but thought perhaps there was some sort of connection with his name somewhere in their system so I was willing to give the clinic the benefit of the doubt.
But a retail store? Do single women not need fridges? Or do they just need to hire a MAN to buy it for them?
I am, in NO WAY, a feminazi. But I am bothered by this because it is 2010, and if women can be president and fly to the moon, I'm pretty sure it shouldn't be so unexpected that they would be buying a fridge.
I'm better now.
