My elderly fridge finally conked out a couple weeks ago. It had done so a few months before, and I found a good repairman (Shakespeare's Appliance Service) to fix it for modest cost. But Ivan Shakespeare had also warned me the compressor was living on borrowed time, and he said that I should simply buy a new fridge the next time I had a problem. So suddenly I needed a fridge.
Doris at Bloor Dovercourt, from S. America, was great: a good explainer, friendly yet low-keyed, the opposite of pushy. I found a small white model (14 cubic ft) from Inglis that looked nice, and the price was fine. "I'd like to buy it," I said, wondering how long it might take. (Remember, I'm now a guy with no fridge at all, it's 85 degrees F, and I'm figuring maybe a week for this process if I'm lucky.)
Doris said the Inglis was in stock, and could be delivered the next day! My, my, this certainly beats The Bay, where I had been earlier. How much would it cost to alter the door hinge, to open in the opposite direction? Oh, Doris said, we'll do that for free. OK, what do you charge for local delivery? Nothing, she said. Even if I live on the second floor? Not a problem, she said. And can you even dispose of my old refrigerator? Sure, we'll remove it. Wonderful, but how much will that cost? Nothing, said Doris. It's included in the purchase of your new fridge.
My God, I should buy appliances from this woman every week!
The next day, right on schedule, two friendly young deliverymen accomplished both the new-fridge delivery and old-fridge removal.They knew their stuff, kept measuring clearances, and tight as it was, they managed to heave two large appliances up and down a flight of stairs with no scratched walls or door jambs. I tipped them $20, wished them well, and wondered if I am a cheap tipper.
So why can't all retail stores in Toronto operate like this? And modest prices besides! I'm still marvelling...
- Approximate cost of services:
- $700.00