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In December of last year a Carrier Infinity HVAC system was installed in my home. I purchased the system through Sears Home Improvement. The purchase was made to replace a supposedly high energy efficient York HVAC I had purchased and had installed in my home in June of 2010. The York system replaced a 10 year old Trane HVAC system installed in my home when it was built in 2000. The Trane system was beginning to cost me money in repairs and I wanted to replace it with a "High Energy Efficient" system. I received a number of quotes before purchasing the new system. The York and Sears Carrier Infinity were included in the quotes.

The York system was installed in June of 2010. I began immediately getting extremely high energy bills. My complaints to the contractor about the York system were dismissed simply because the temperature was "hot". I went through a lot of discussions with the contractor and the distributor; they tried to explain the energy use by using "cooling degree days" to justify the excessive usage. I immediately found numerous errors in their calculations and even pointed out that using their method, in May of 2010 we had a 25% increase in cooling degree days yet I used 5% less energy than the year before. When I then pointed out that this was the month before the York unit was installed the distributor agreed to refund my purchase if I returned the unit to him. I had to take the contractor to small claims court to obtain a ruling in my favor to recoup some of the money I paid him. I ended up losing $2,000.

When I called John Higgins, Sears Sales representative to have the York unit replaced with the Carrier Infinity system, I told him the whole story of what had happened with the York and why I wanted it replaced (the York Unit was too costly to operate). I was assured this wouldn't happen with the Carrier Infinity. Mr. Higgins even told me the he believed one reason the York was not working efficiently was that the York Unit was installed with a 5 ton coil and a 3.5 ton heat pump. According to Mr. Higgins, the difference in size of the heat pump and coil was not compatible. Mr. Higgins also, told me I did not have a variable speed motor and that the air cleaner installed was the same he had in his home. Mr. Higgins told me where I could buy filters for the air cleaner at a reasonable price.

When the Carrier unit was installed in December everything seemed fine. It was a very cold and wet winter and I didn't pay much attention to the gas bills. We had switched the Trane unit to emergency heat (using only gas and no heat pump) in the winter so I didn't really see how I could compare energy costs with previous years.

In May when the temperatures rose and we switched to air conditioning our problems started. As the temperatures rose into the 90s we had trouble keeping the house cool. I had the thermostat set at 75 degrees but the house would get no cooler than 80 or 81 very uncomfortable degrees. The only way to get the house cooler was to set the thermostat as low as 69 degrees and then the house would only cool to about 78 degrees. I called to get service. I was referred to Mike Steinmeyer, Production Manager. Mr. Steinmeyer contacted Ray Stuck, the installing contractor to check it out and Mr. Stuck said everything was fine. Additional inspections were made by Eric Smart, a Carrier Dealer and HVAC contractor. Through all of this, Mr. Steinmeyer's excuse to me was "it's hot".

I informed all involved that I had never had problems cooling my home before and this was unacceptable. My energy costs were higher than with the inefficient "high energy efficient" York system the Carrier replaced and both much higher than the 10 year old Trane unit with a leaky coil. I complained and complained. Mr. Smart told me of a customer he had that has a very large home he installed two Carrier Infinity units and the customer told him he saw a $70 decrease in his bill for July, even though "we knew this July was hotter than last July". Mr. Smart went on to tell me he needed to be careful about what he said because he was Sears number one installer and he didn't want to jeopardize the business he gets from Sears.

When it became evident no corrective measures were going to be taken I sent a letter to Mr. Lou D'Ambrosio, President & CEO of Sears Holding. Mr. D'Ambrosio, who I am sure did not see the letter, passed the letter to "Blue Ribbon" Customer Service Rep. DePesh Shaw. (I am not sure of spelling). I had a discussion with Mr. Shaw to explain what went on. (I want to make it clear it is very difficult to contact Mr. Shaw, you have to call a toll free number and then listen to 3 minute recording because they do not answer the phone. The recording is the most unprofessional I have ever heard. Try it for yourself, 1-88*-266-**** ext 63.) Mr. Shaw supposedly investigated. The last time I spoke with him was on a Thursday or Friday and he said he would have a response for me Monday. When I didn't hear anything I called again on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday leaving my cell number. I got home late Friday evening to a message on my answering machine from Mr. Shaw stating he had spoken to Mr. Steinmeyer and he, Mr. Shaw, was satisfied and was closing the case. I didn't realize we were all trying to satisfy Mr. Shaw. I, being the customer that paid $11,000 , thought I was the one who needed to be satisfied.

I contacted Carrier and a customer service representative told me it was not their problem. She said since I bought the unit through Sears it was Sears' problem to fix. When I pointed out this is a Carrier Product and asked if she didn't think Carrier would be concerned she said again it wasn't Carriers' problem. When I stated, "I guess Carrier doesn't care if their products work or not", she didn't seem to care one way or the other, continuing to say it wasn't their problem.

Now I am stuck with a non energy efficient Carrier Infinity System that cost me $3,000 more (not including the $2,000 I lost) than the inefficient York system it replaced and all Mike Steinmeyer and Sears seems to want to do about it is basically laugh in my face and tell me how dumb I was to believe what John Higgins told me.

John Higgins, Mike Steinmeyer and Michelle Compston are nothing but liars.

Monetary Loss: $11.

Location: Kansas City, Missouri

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Guest

I HAVE A YORK SYSTEM, HIGH BILLS, FOUND IT WAS HEATING AND TRYING TO COOL AT SAME TIME. BE CAREFULL.

Julie R Kkr

Yes you are!!! Don’t do it or be prepared to find a good lawyer!

Vermell Xob

What was the end results of your ordeal with Sears? We are undergoing our own horror with the installation of a Heat pump AC install that was installed horribly.

They will not even look at the horrible job their subcontractors did .They promised products they did not give us and used old material, not new.& wrong material We had to get an attorney this week.

We are not wealthy by any means and this is a nightmare. We are in our 70's and I see this draining our small savings.

Julie R Kkr
reply icon Replying to comment of Vermell Xob

We are in the process of getting a lawyer also. Ship/sears is a nightmare! Please keep updates going!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Julie R Kkr

We finally ended our ordeal with Sears with aid of attorney. Not all we deserved but the major part was .

We are now tied to a nondisclosure agreement to never discuss our case . Without a lawyer , we would never have gotten anything.

Julie R Kkr
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1874166

Thank you

Julie R Kkr
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1874166

What did your lawyer specialize in? I’m only asking because I have talked to around 40 lawyers & no one will take our case! I need help & times running out

Julie R Kkr
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1874166

I need help finding a lawyer!

Guest

I got a quote for $8000 for a 3 ton 14 seer. I don't have central air, just heating in my 33 year old home.

The quote doesn't include replacement of air ducts but I was a little concerned when the sales person showed me a 2013 consumer report stating Sears AC units and furnace beat other leading competitors. I had another quote from a local HVAC company and they quoted $16000 with new air ducts.

I didn't realize air ducts cost so much. I am skeptical of all of these companies and their shady sales reps!!!

Guest

This confirms that I will be purchasing a Trane. Sorry for you loss, really. This sounds like a nightmare.

Guest

Thanks for posting your experience through Sears. I have seen other negative reviews & comments online regarding using them to install a new furnace or central air. I will be sure to steer clear!

Guest

I'm so sorry this happened to you. Thank you for posting it. We won't buy through Sears.

Guest

SEARS - THE BIGGEST SCAM ARTISTS I HAVE EVER COME ACROSS IN MY LIFE!!!!!!!!! AND I'M NO SPRING CHICKEN!!!!!

Leor Fhf

My nightmare started in Sep 2009, I researched got several quotes, and actually went with Sears for their assurance to stand by their system. The install was GOD AWFUL!. The install team SEARS selected was unqualified to install a HVAC system period. It took a year to force Sears to send the same inept team to my home to fix the terrible install. My electric bill tripled versus the old system from 1983. Their final response was to call my county back out for inspection (since they got the permit but never had it inspected to close the permit), they were to prove to me that it was installed to code. It FAILED the inspection as it was leaking Freon into my house, was not sealed properly in the return and several other areas (7 points of failure to be exact). After it was all said and done the county wanted the unit replaced total uninstall and re-install with new unit. Sears refused and patched what they could. Six months into the repair the original leak started again. I have now come out of pocket an additional 1865 dollars to have a real company come in and un-install the unit and re-install. Thanks SEARS, the original install was 6,199 plus 300 plus electric bills for two years, portable air conditioners 700 dollars. DO NOT USE SEARS HOME IMPROVEMENT FOR ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

And to the SEARS rep that is gonna read this my claim number is 942****, I expect a check for the $1,865 dollars I spent to correct your installers MISTAKES! I am seeking the support of the Attorney General for the State of Georgia again, remember the last time!

Thanks, Jennifer Sands

Guest

As a Bryant (sister company to Carrier) HVAC contractor, I can tell you that your problem is definitely the duct work. We never install the Infinity system without addressing the ductwork.

Have a contractor check your system for proper airflow. It may be as simple as upsizing your return. Unfortunately, 3rd party organizations like Sears will not address that when selling the equipment. They also often do not address electrical issues when selling the equipment.

With proper airflow, your system will work fine. Older D

Guest

Hi to let you know.. you didnt have problem with before because ductwork was right for your old system,, the Infinity, has to have the ductwork upsized, its right there in installation manual Carrier recommends to upsize ductwork, you wont get the right airflow,or static pressures.

thats why having problems.. Replace trunk line and return with next size up ductwork..

we had one do same thing, we upsized.. working great ever since.

David Rde
Sears Response

Dear Miclinks,

We would like to apologize for the continued frustration with this situation, and to ensure that it is properly addressed quickly. At your convenience, please contact my office via email at smsupport@searshc.com so we can help. In the email, please provide a contact phone number and the phone number the Home Improvement work was placed under (if different than the contact phone number) and we will call you directly. Also, in your email, please provide the screen name Miclinks you used to post on this site, for reference to your issue, and we do look forward to talking to you soon.

Thank you,

Brian S.

Senior Case Manager

Sears Social Media Support

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Sears Response

Mr. Brian S.,

I am in the market for a Carrier Infinity HVAC system and have even gotten a quote from SEARS, am I making a mistake????

Please respond

Pinakin

Julie R Kkr
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-674620

Yeah like you care about the woes sears/ship/subcontractors cause the public! We spent $16,000 only to have a generic HVAC put in ceiling standard ducts put in our floors, and ship wants us to sign a release!?! Get a lawyer dude cause this case worker won’t do anything for you!

David Rde
Sears Response

Dear Miclinks,

We are sorry to hear that you are not happy with the resolution provided, and I will forwarded this information to your case manager.

Thank you,

Brian S.

Social Media Moderator

Sears Social Media Support

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