Baumatic BR22/8A Review

Overall Rating

None worth mentioning

Poor build quality
Cheap plastic components
Unreliable
Poor service team

This is my second review on a Baumatic appliance, the other one is not very complimentary either. Two out of six appliances in a new installation were faulty!! I'd also like to add that I'd never felt strongly enough about anything to write a review until I moved into a flat with Baumatic appliances!!!

So the story starts. On the day of moving we went to the Baumatic BR22/8A fridge to check that it was switched on so we could get some shopping. On opening the door I was greeted with a burst of nice warm air, actually almost hot air. I checked all the manuals, as best as I could considering that they are poorly translated and confusing. Nope, no mentions of a cooking function. After switching off and resetting everything the appliance started to emit a loud and not very pleasing buzzing sound.

A call to the 'Platinum' service department and after being put on hold and having to listen to a load of marketing nonsense about the quality and excellence of their products, I was given an appointment in 2 weeks time. The phone diagnosis was that it would just need re-gassing.

The next day I received a phone call from a Baumatic engineer telling me he was just down the road and would be there in 10 minutes. Slightly confused I quizzed him about his location. He was in Nottingham... I live in Basingstoke (160 miles away)! Later that day I received another phone call from the 'Platinum' department; this time informing me that the only person who could re-gas would not be able to come until 3 days after the original appointment, but I was guaranteed that I would be the first a.m. appointment.

2 weeks, 3 days, a morning and most of the afternoon passed. At 4pm the engineer phoned for directions and eventually arrived. 10 seconds of visual inspection revealed that the compressor needed replacing, a part that he didn't carry and that would have to be ordered. Reasonably livid I phoned the 'platinum' service again. By the time I'd listened to all of the marketing rubbish again I was raging! A word of advice to Baumatic, people call the service line because their appliance has broken, generally they are unhappy people, taunting them with rubbish about Baumatic's 'commitment to quality' is a good way to make them really unhappy, even angry! A good bit of complaining and I got them to book the next appointment before they had ordered and received the replacement part. Great, another two weeks to wait!

Two days before the appointment I received a call. The part was now in stock and I could arrange another appointment. I THINK NOT... I calmly informed the lady that I would be seeing the engineer in two days not two weeks. 'Oh yes sir, sorry, a mistake on the system,' came the reply. The engineer came, fitted a new compressor, left three very nice deep scratches on the brand new wooden floor and left.

Three days later the fridge started to make some vibration noises, alerting us to the fact that the compressor was continually running. Further inspection revealed that the freezer was not all that cold. Unluckily for Baumatic, I know how a fridge works, well should work anyway. Hold on, the compressor hasn't been installed properly, two of the pipes are connected the wrong way around!! An incredible amount of complaining and explaining and Baumatic have agreed to supply a replacement appliance. I write this as I am waiting for a call to arrange delivery.

Members' Comments onedsgood's Review

• Hildebbie on 26th May 2009

  DITTO DITTO DITTO
  The fridge door filltings broke within 1 month, the freezer plastic drawer fronts within 2 weeks. Then the door milk tray fell off breaking the fridge door.
  The fridge was 'hot' inside and pools of water condensation in veg trays at bottom. I even bought TWO fridge thermomemters to prove I was right!
  Engineer came when unit appliance was two weeksd old, said needed re -gassing.
  Had to wait for another engineer. He came 4 months later. Said 'defrost' switch had been wired up to permanently defrost, that was why it was like a heater at back. He made phone calls for wiring and fixed it.
  Still the same and over phone said would send compressor. ONE YEAR LATER after many phone calls I gave up. six months passed and tried again. Engineer arrived who said problem was my doing as not enough airway at top as stated in manuel. WHAT manuel. I NEVER had one, so had to pay £5 for a photocopy.
  Two years later the original compressor ordered turned up along with another two days later.
  Just so depressed. If they wouldn't replace my faulty fridge I wanted anew door.
  LUCKILY I had kept my old fridge freezer and was still using that.
  Eventually another engineer turned up AFTER my free parts and labour had ran out.
  a new door fitted and engineer kindly re-ordered new door shelf fittings free of charge. Said Baumatic fridges were not built to store milk cartons!!!
  Guess what......the fridge door tray broke that same evening after i fitted it.
  SO even though I phoned Baumatic the day I had my new fridge freezer fitted, complaining it didn't work properly, I STILL have the same problem, still like a heater at back and am going to have to buy ANOTHER.
  BAUMATIC did NOT want to help me at all. They used delaying tactics until the appliance was out of guarantee.