In the Cold...

IN THE COLD
 
I bought my wood pellet stove in 2009,
from the local monopoly in wood stoves.
It was the year after oil and gasoline reached
$4 a gallon,  for the Busch-Cheney family
that makes money from oil to profit from.
 
In 2012 after Hurricane Sandy hit, 
I learned pellet stoves may not be
the best thing for warmth in late
October when your stove runs on electric.
 
I pay $150 a year to get the stove cleaned,
and $300 every other year
to fix some part of the stove.
 
Fine, things break down,  but when it
takes 4-8 weeks for a repair person to
show up in the winter,  that is a long
time the first floor stays C O L D.
It can be the difference between having
running water or frozen pipes in the garage.
 
I call the place where I bought the
pellet stove to make an appointment.
They say Doug can be there in 6 weeks.
I suggest they hire another repair person.
The owner says, “we don’t need another
repair person.”

Doug looks like the character "Benny,"
the mentally challenged character on the
tv show  "L.A. Law"   (1986-1994).  
Maybe it is Benny working on my stove.
 
So you tell me Doug can service 2-3 stoves
a day, but you sold enough units to people in
town that they have to wait 4-6 weeks for service.
Have Doug get an apprentice, and you will
soon have a second repair person.
 
We don’t need another repair person.
You know,  people will be upset with your
lack of caring,  and find other repair service.

SILENCE.
 
The next time I call Doug for a cleaning, 
he does not return my call.
I call a second time, 
he does not return my call.
I find another company for service.
 
Doug stops by my home 2 ½ months later,
“Hey, do you want your stove cleaned?”
I say,  “Give me your number.”
I never call him back.
 
The following winter, 
on a cold, cold silent day,
I drove past
West Milford Wood Stoves Store
and on a posted sign it said,
OUT OF BUSINESS.