Service experience in San Fran/Bay: Wolf,BlueStar,American Range

10 years ago

I've read so many conflicting reviews for these ranges that I've decided:

1) Any of them should meet our needs for cooking
2) Cost for either product is within budget (looking at 36" range)
3) Service experience will probably be the deciding factor for me

That said, if you live in San Francisco or the bay area and have had experience getting service & support for range products from these companies, let's say within the last 2 years, please let me know positive or negative, how that went. If you care to share who did the actual service, that would be great too.

Thanks in advance...
-Bob

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Comments (13)

59 Dodge
10 years ago
Be sure to read the threads about porcelain problems, BOB.

Not even "good service", may "save the day" if you have porcelain problems, (especially for a range), alto the ovens can be a pita too to get porcelain problems corrected.

Gary
bober
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks Gary - seems to me there is NO or little consensus that porcelain problems have been admitted by or resolved by any of these or other companies, so it's a bit of a crap shoot. I could be wrong. Please do correct me based on what you've learned, and or if you have any recommendations for minimizing that problem, even if purchasing some other pro style 36" range. I still could do a rangetop but I imagine the porcelain problem still exists if I buy a single or double oven.

I am flexible in what I buy as I think many products will suit my cooking needs. I will need to purchase something within the next 2 months.
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No,fori, the Dealer doesn't have a hand in service. The dealer just displays,sells and delivers the range. I bought my Bluestar from a small appliance store in Oakland,(Reed's), but there are many good retailers around here. The important thing is the distributor, as mentioned above, in our area that's Golden West... They are important because they are responsible for the service contracts.. and they seem to me to be very good. You can call them and ask them questions, and they are the folks who connect you to a "repair service firm". They (the distributor) will want to know where you bought your new range, because they're only responsible for the ranges that went through them. If you buy a range over the internet, then you will have a different, and not local, distributor to handle your problems and they may not know who's good in your area. Gourmet Appliance is one of the firms that Golden West uses. I don't think they even sell stuff, but are only a high end repair company. Their business card lists Thermador, Gagganau, DCS, Viking, Wolf, etc. etc. If you want their opinion of Bluestar as far as repairs go, you can call them their number is (650)212-6100. When I got their number from Golden West, I was told that if they couldn't come out fast enough, that I should call the Distributor back and they would connect me to another firm for the repair. This makes me think that Golden West probably uses several different repair services in our area.
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59 Dodge
10 years ago
I would really do separates.

Why?

Wekick has a range, and unfortunately the thing is "Totalled", unless they are willing to "Fork out some serious Dough", and then apparently there is "little or no warranty" on the replacement porcelain.

See the post that claims the "New Wolf Warranty" is only 60 days on the porcelain, ~~~~~~unless~~~~~(read the fine print) LOL!

I would rather take the loss, (if I had to), on a single oven, than on a range.

I did do a search for Porcelain problems Electrolux Ovens, and have not, (so far), found any recent problems, and Elux never had as serious problem with it as their "Well Known Competitor", but I will keep searching, in case I missed one or 2. Of the ovens Elux replaced, we never heard of any further problems, but of course the "Wheel Was Not Squeaky", anymore , so some of the posters just "Dropped off GW"!!!

I can not recommend an Elux cooktop, as I've not bothered to read reviews on them, and reviews of them are pretty scarce here in GW, ~~~~~I would go with one that you see more reviews on,. plus you mention "Pro Style", so that leaves Capital, Blue Star and American, and I'm not sure all of them are available as Rangetops and/or cooktops,
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Fori
10 years ago
Bob, have you seen an AR on display anywhere? I went to our local(ish) dealer (Atherton App.) who didn't have one on the floor because they don't sell many. Well DUH! Of course you don't!

Anyway, I'll bump this thread because I'm curious!
bober
Original Author
10 years ago
fori,

a couple of months ago I saw one at Cherin's on Valencia St, in SF.
Fori
10 years ago
Thanks Bob!
malabacat_gw
10 years ago
There is an AR on display at Friedman's Appliance in Pleasant Hill.
orangerhymes
10 years ago
Box Appliance services Sub Zero/Wolf products in most of the Bay Area. They know Sub Zero/Wolf products very well because that is all they service.

However, they are pretty busy so sometimes it takes a while to get an appointment. However, if it is something urgent (like a refrigerator not cooling), they'll move their schedule around to fit you in sooner.
Fori
10 years ago
I'm not Bob, but thanks for all the info, all!
bober
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks. Would love to hear about Blue Star & AR. I don't know anyone who has either but a few that have Wolf products. I like what I hear about the BS range & AR (although a bit more apprehensive) though and would love to hear something about their service in the bay area.
bober
Original Author
10 years ago
back to thinking BS 36" range. Anyone know anything about their service in San Francisco or bay area?
Fori
10 years ago
If nobody has experienced their service, that means they don't break...right? :D
bober
Original Author
10 years ago
or not many people own them :-)

Service experience in San Fran/Bay: Wolf,BlueStar,American Range

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Service experience in San Fran/Bay: Wolf,BlueStar,American Range

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