In February of 2007 my wife and I purchased a GE Microwave model # JES1288. By December of 2007 the microwave was making a loud buzzing sound, sparking and flaming in the area that contains the magnetron. I called GE and they sent out a serviceman who replaced the unit. By December of 2008 the replacement unit begin to do exactly the same thing.
I contacted GE again and they said that the first service call available would be January 16, 2009. I spoke to a GE spokesman again on the 15th who confirmed the appointment. The repairman called on the way over to state that the call was not a warranty repair (first I heard of this) and the charge would be $185.00. I informed him that no one had told me that and I would not pay it.
He came anyway, looked at the microwave and contacted someone from customer "relations" who got me on the phone and offered me a $50.00 good will coupon. She then instructed the repairman to charge me 85.00 for the service call. I told them both I would not pay. He left without repairing the microwave. I have looked at the internet and found that their microwaves have this same problem frequently. Check out consumeraffairs.com to see more.
This should be a factory recall issue instead of a "try to make the customer pay for our bad design issue."
Larry
Fort Worth, Texas
U.S.A.