AAA Forklifts Parts & Service

I purchased a $3000 commercial oven from Business Equipment World aka Southern Surplus in August. This was to be shipped overseas and they were inform of such. In the beginning the transaction went well. They sent me a video of the oven operating and they delivered to my freight forwarder on time. Upon arrival, the oven was put into dry storage until our kitchen was complete. Up to this point the oven was stored on the pallet it was shipped on and strapped down as it was shipped. It was never plugged in. In early November we connected the oven. The oven has a touch screen. The video they originally sent me was only a short several minute video. When the oven is first powered on the screen does indeed work as depicted on the video they sent me. The problem arises when you actually "USE" the oven and run it for an extended period of time. The touch screen no longer works and you can't even turn the oven off. I sent BEW a video of the malfunction that clearly showed the problem and the same asset tag number that they shipped to me (proving it was the same oven). I worked with the oven manufacturer and determined the touch screen was bad. The part is $1500.00, `1/2 the cost of the oven. I contacted BEW and explained the situation. Even though that the 120V Gas oven was strapped to the pallet in storage and not plugged in, I did recognize that some time had past since the sale. This coupled with the fact that you have to actually use the oven for some time before the problem begins lead me to believe that BEW simply missed this in their testing - an honest mistake anyone could have made. However this is where the honest part ends. I offered to split the cost of the part with them as the oven was guaranteed working. They made excuse after excuse and did not stand behind their equipment. They hid behind some 30 day policy that is not listed on my invoice. After several phone calls and emails they clearly know they shipped me a broken oven and yet they refuse to even split the cost of the repair with me.

I recommend you do not do business with Business Equipment World / Southern Surplus. If there is a problem after the sale they will look for any reason to not spend any money to make things right and leave the customer holding the bag. Now I am faced with initiating legal action against them to recover my money and compel them to stand behind their promises. I find this to be an extremely dishonest company.