New Even-more-final status:

On 2012-01-21 20:16:08 +0000, gtr said:

> After waiting three days for somebody to talk "to their manager", they
> have agreed to install a new glass top. I pay the installation $80,
> which I'm told is "labor at cost".

I carped about paying for labor when he acquised to replacing the top,
and he was quick to turn from professional to edgy, so I backed off.
At least I was getting the glass top--I figured I was ahead in the game.

> The switch--the initial reason for the call--will be another $325 to replace.
>
> What the hell, I'll pay the $80 to get my cooktop back. Y'all have
> generally spooked me off the gas stove; the rationale being the heat in
> an air-conditioned home, and the fact that I'd have to replace the vent
> which has a troubled motor and hasn't been run in 10 years.

So the the glass top was broken by UPS on it's way from NY to CA. So
broken that UPS threw the package away completely. That must have been
picture-worthy. The applicance repari compnay they called me to tell
me it would be another week while they tried to get one from elsewhere,
though somewhat differnt in color. At this point I said, "Okay, but I'm
not paying any labor costs!" He was quick to back off this time.. "No
problem," he said.

Hooray! For my $130 service charge I'll only be without a cooktop from
4 to 6 weeks (an estimate) and then have it back with the switch still
broken. I must be living in paradise!

More exciting episodes as the story unrolls...
--
I do not feel obligated to believe that the same God who has endowed us
with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forego their use.
-- Galileo