Nice rant, Tim! I agree completely.
I would also point out the price Dometic gets for a new refrigerator. Better part of $1,000.00? Since there is so little competition in this market, their profit margin is probably astronomical. A replacement heating element that would actually conform to Dometic’s own specs would cost them what? Maybe $20? Probably less since aftermarket elements retail for $30.
The way I see it, Dometic kept this problem hidden for years. If not for product safety laws, and the prospect of lawsuits due to folks injured or killed by their grossly defective products, I doubt they would be doing this recall at all.
I suggest that this defective heating element has been a windfall for Dometic. How many replacement cooling coils, or new refrigerators, have they sold because of it? How many more will they sell in the future because they are not replacing the out-of-spec heating element as part of the recall?
If, as appears to be the case, Dometic does not replace the defective heating element as part of the recall, I will spend my dollars elsewhere. I had a number of shoddy General Electric products in the late-60’s, early-70’s and have not bought anything made by GE in 35 years, not even a light bulb. I will vote with my pocketbook again if Dometic doesn’t do the right thing here.
Wayne
