MENARDS Cheated Us Out of $80 on a Refrigerator Purchase in July, 2024 Antigo Wisconsin

I am the author of the negative report on Menards in Antigo, Wisconsin.  I know this site is mainly to report negative experiences with companies and other entities. However, after 3 months of struggling with a bad refrigerator, they sold me, back in July, 2024, which went bad in mid- January, 2025,  I am happy to report, that the Store Manager, Kevin B. worked with Whirlpool to replace the refrigerator back on April 11, 2025 with the same model.  So far, the replacement refrigerator is working just fine.

True, I was not happy with Menards for the refrigerator, the $80 overchage, and the very rude and unprofessional front end manager, BUT 3 CHEERS FOR THE STORE MANAGER.

I am a firm believer in giving credit where credit is due.  I want to now give MENARDS A 5 STAR REVIEW, NOW THAT THE MATTER HAS BE RESOLVED.

I am also grateful to the rip off report website for allowing people to report truthful negative experiences.  Perhaps this site, and the 2 original reports I wrote, lead  Menards to see how upsetting this experience was to me.  Perhaps they read the reports, and it helped them to resolve the matter for me.

AGAIN, 3 CHEERS TO MENARDS AND I DO RECOMMEND PEOPLE SHOP AT THEIR HOME IMPROVEMENT STORES THROUGHOUT THE MID-WEST AND OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE USA.

Signed,

Barbara - a Now Happy Customer.

I am the author of the original report I wrote about Menards, in Antigo, Wisconsin, back in august, 2024.  At the time, Menards had cheated me out of $80 by selling me a 4 door refrigerator advertised at the Lowest Price during a 4th of July Sale.  The Big Sale Price, at the time, was shown to be $ 1,678.  In fact the salesman told me it WAS THE BEST PRICE SALE EVENT.  That turned out NOT to be true.  If you read the original report, I explained that on August 2, 2024, I walked into Menards and found a NEW SALE PRICE OF $ 1,598.  That is $80 lower than BEST SALE PRICE MENARDS CLAIMED WHAT I PAID WAS.  

I had gone on the Whirlpool website and found that $ 1,678 is the SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE AND NOT A SALE PRICE AT ALL.  This was confirmed by a Whirlpool Customer Service Rep I spoke to by telephone.

From reading the original report, you can plainly see that I have spent countless hours of time trying to get Menards to refund me $80 or give me store credit. DESPITE BEING A GOOD CUSTOMER, THEY REFUSED.

Also, I had to deal with a horrible front end female manager, who was extremely unprofessional to say the least.

Letters written to their Customer Service AKA Guest Services fell on deaf ears.  In fact a Letter I wrote to John Menard JR, the President and CEO, never went to him, but ONLY GOES TO THIS WOMAN NAMED BRENDA GARRETT.

From dealing with her, SHE IS THE GATEKEEPER FOR MENARDS, WHOSE JOB IT IS TO DENY, DENY AND DENY AGAIN, ANY AND ALL COMPLAINTS.

NOTHING GETS PAST HER, FOLKS!  You can well imagine my great frustration.

This is why I advise people, NEVER TO BUY A REFRIGERATOR OR MAJOR APPLIANCE FROM MENARDS.  You are better off going to the Local Appliance Dealer - who services what they sell.  Even Home Depot and Lowes gives better customer service.

It is too bad that Menards is the only game in town for me.  I would take my business to other retailers, like Home Depot and Lowes, but - alas, there is only Menards.

THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE and THAT IS THE REASON FOR THIS UPDATE:

The refrigerator, cost me around $ 2,200 when you consider cost of unit, sales tax. delivery and the 5 year extended warranty.  All this money went to Menards in good faith.  One would think I should get better treatment, but not with Menards.

Here is the update.  The refrigerator was running fine, from July 19, 2024 through January 20, 2025 - just 6 months of usage.

Then loud knocking sounds began coming from the refrigerator, getting louder and longer by the minute and going on for hours.  The problem keep getting much worse.

On January 27, 2025, I called the Allstate/Square Trade for a repair, since they are responsible for the 5 year extended warranty.  They told me that, for the first 12 months, it is Whirlpool who handles the warranty.  They only take over from year 2-5.

Calling Whirlpool is a time consuming and frustrating experience.  Long wait times to speak to someone, rude and not knowledgeable customer services reps.  Finally I did get a repair order and a Wisconsin company about 2 hours away from me was assigned to come February 17, 2025.

3 weeks of waiting with the refrigerator making more and more noises which are disturbing to live with.

Well the company came out on 2/17/25 and the technician discovered 6 PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED INCLUDING A CONTROL PANEL.

When he took out the back panel, alot of ice was building up on the lower left side coils.  NOT GOOD AT ALL.  You see, I never had the icemaker installed as I did not need it, so it is not the icemaker causing these problems.

The noise was coming from the fan blade getting damaged by the large amount of ice build up.  He cleaned the unit from the ice by using a hair dryer.  

Also he told me that THE DEFROSTER IS NOT WORKING AND THAT IS WHAT IS CAUSING THE ICE BUILD UP.

FOLKS, IMAGINE THIS!  6 NEW PARTS NEEDED FOR ONLY A 6 MONTH OLD REFRIGERATOR THAT WAS NOT CHEAP TO BUY.  THIS INCLUDES THE CONTROL PANEL.

Now comes the WAITING GAME FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN.  As of this day MARCH 20, 2025 - A BIT OVER 2 MONTHS SINCE THE TECHNICIAN CAME, NOT ALL THE PARTS HAVE COME IN.  4 ARE STILL BACK ORDERED!!!

Right now, the refrigerator is not working properly and not defrosting.  The very cold to the touch I feel on the back of the refrigerator leads me to believe that more ice and frost is building up.  Only a matter of time before the fan bladee starts up with the LOUD KNOCKING SONG!

MENARDS IS NO HELP AT ALL.  I spoke to another Front End Manager, Assistant Manager and Store Manager.  I asked them to replace the refrigerator.  The response is WE CANNOT REPLACE IT WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM WHIRLPOOL, which I  know they will not give.

I even wrote again to Menards Customer Serive in Eau, Claire, Wisconsin, and GUESS WHAT!  I GOT THIS BRENDA GARRETT AGAIN, TELLING ME TO JUST WORK WITH WHIRLPOOL.

THIS WOMAN IS THE GATEKEEPER.  SHE REFUSES ANY HELP FROM MENARDS AND TAKES NO RESPONSIBLITY FOR MY PROBLEM AND FRUSTRATION.

I GUESS THAT MENARDS HIRED HER, TO MAKE SURE ALL CLAIMS AND PROBLEMS ARE IMMEDIATELY DENIED.  My guess, is that she worked for Insurance Companies, and is well versed in the ART OF DENIAL.

FOLKS, HERE IS THE MAKE AND MODEL NUMBER OF THIS REFRIGERATOR, AND I ADVISE YOU CONSUMERS OUT THERE NOT TO BUY THIS MODEL

MODEL # WRQA59CNKZ

You certainly would not want to have the same problems as I am having.  

Buy a GE, or Sub Zero, Viking if you can afford them.  

I will keep this review updated and let you know the final outcome.

However, these problems should not be happening in a fairly expensive refrigerator in only 6 months of usage now going on 8 months.

I have seen many complaints against both Menards, and Whirlpool on Better Business Bureau and Consumer Affairs Websites.  All customers are not happy with the continual run around they are getting

SHAME ON MENARDS FOR REFUSING TO HELP ME.  SHAME ON WHIRLPOOL FOR NOT MAKING THEIR REFRIGERATORS WITH BETTER PARTS MADE IN THE USA INSTEAD OF CHINA.

Thank you for listening to my story.  If there is anyone out there, who would like to help me to get resolution and a replacement refrigerator, please reply.

Only helpful and constructive replies are warranted

Barbara

My name is Daisy, and I have twice posted on this rip off report website.  I have noticed that this person calling himself, Flint, has been making it his business to attack certain report of posters on this website.

I, myself, have been a victim of this FLINT. who I firmly believe is a crazy person.  I had written up a report on the Platte Injury Law Firm in Casper, WY, and immediately got attacked by this FLINT.   My report included the name of the neurologist, I had a major problem with, when I sought help from this law firm, who failed me in a big way. Since this Flint is NOT associated with the law firm I wrote up, I have no idea, other than Flint needs to have serious mental health counseling, why he would attack my post.

Now, I see, he has been also attacking this person named Barbara, who wrote up a report on MENARDS.  All she did was to write up her unhappy experience with Menards about a refrigerator she bought and Menards being unwilling to help her and give customer service that is expected.

I am very unhappy that this Rip Off Report website choses to allow some idiot, like Flint to attack posters.

I thought this website was supposed to be about people, who have had bad experiences with companies, to be able to tell their story.  Especially if they were not able to find help from the company or other legal means.

IT THINK FLINT SHOULD GO AWAY, AND STOP HARRASSING PEOPLE.  

Remember is is good to help people and bad to cyber bully them.  Look in the Mirror, Flint! Which one are you?

Signed

Daisy

another victim of FLINT.

On September 5, 2024, I wrote up a truthful report on the bad experience I had with Menards and the false "sale pricing" of the refrigerator I purchased.

Menards does not have a good record for customer service, as shown from other reports on Consumer Affairs and other online venues.  Also my own personal experience. They do not give their managers the power to resolve a problem.  (Like Lowes and Home Depot do) One can only write or fax a complaint.

They do not call back.  They do not have a phone number to reach Customer Service or any other management personnel.

All they did was send me 2 form letter not discussing the nature of my complaint.

From this, I will NEVER BUY ANOTHER APPLIANCE FROM MENARDS.

It is good that an ACE Hardware is opening up in my town.  Too bad there is no Lowes nor Home Depot as the town is not large enough to support more than 1 Super Home Center.

That should be the end of this for consumers out there.  Also an opportunity for Menards to respond.

YET ALL I GET IS THIS IDIOT NAMED "FLINT" WHO HAS NOTHING BETTER TO DO IN HIS LIFE THAN TO ATTACK MY ADS AND SOME ADS OF OTHER POSTERS ON THIS SITE.

I am sure he has nothing to do with Menards. I have some idea who he might be.  I ask anyone out there, FLINT has attacked your post, speak up.

This is being reported to the rip off report management.

FLINT IS NOTHING BUT A PARASITE WHO SOMEHOW LIKES TO HARM PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN HARMED BY A COMPANAY, AND  TO ABUSE THE RIGHTS OF THIS WEBSITE.

IT MUST STOP NOW.  However, I want this FLINT to know that I will match each and every word of his, with a rebuttal of my own.  

It is ashame that stupid people like FLINT (not his read name of course) does not have a life, and should get one.

That is all.  Rip Off Management now being informed.

Barbara as I Stand By My Reply.

 I'm sure there are lawyers falling over themselves to take this case that's hypothetically worth $80, and in reality precisely nothing. What is your claim, that you thought the sale was better than it really was? How does that translate to damages? And guess what: items that are about to be discontinued are usually sold at lower and lower prices until inventory is depleted. That's called a clearance sale. They are then replaced with newer models. You don't get to come back to the store months after you bought something and demand they honor the clearance price. That's why it's a clearance sale -- they only have a small number of units and once they are gone, they are gone. You need to get a life and find something more important to gripe about.

So here it is folks.  On September 5, 2024, I take the time to write up a truthful and honest report on Menards not resolving the problem with the refrigerator price fixing, and the rude Lower Level Manager.  Instead of getting some resolution from Menards, I get a very nasty and downright rude rebuttal from some sick individual calling themselves FLINT.  Funny, how that rebuttal (which is nothing more than an attack) is written September 6, - the very next day. - like this FLINT, has nothing better to do in his useless life that to follow posters of reports on their negative experiences with companies.

Also, Flint has now taken to calling me A TYPICAL KAREN.  I have no idea whom he is taking about.

Then, September 7, I take the time to write up an UPDATE to Flint's upsetting comment, to explain further my story.  I thought it would let go at that, but I was wrong.  Now September 8 - the very next day, there is a comment from someone calling themselves IRV - maybe even the same person or someone with a split personality attacking me because  I bought a 5 year extended warranty.

Let me explain to IRV:

The Whirlpool refrigerator only has a 1 year limited warranty.  This 5 Year Warranty from Allstate has better coverages that begin at year 2 and last through the end of year 5.

Frankly, I do not know what is wrong with these 2 people, and why their comments, which do nothing to resolve my problem with Menards - are even written here.

My only guess, is that they have taken to FOLLOW this site with the objective to cyber stalk and bully those who write reports on companies.

Again, I must explain so these 2 ? people understand that the rip off report is a site where people, who have been cheated or ripped off by a company have a forum to write out their experiences.

IT IS NOT FOR PEOPLE TO CYBER BULLY OR ABUSE ANY AUTHORS.  AGAIN, IF YOU CANNOT HELP THE AUTHOR OR HAVE A HELPFUL SUGGESTION, SAY NOTHING AT ALL!!!  SIMPLE AS THAT.

There are other websites out there for consumer comments, but some do not want to post anything negative.  Such negative comments are Ghosted.  Also, there are limits on the number of words one can write.

That is why the Rip off Report is popular and useful, because they do actually print what you say that is truthful and your own experience - good or bad.

Now, I only want to hear from the following:

Menards themselves with a resolution to this problem

An attorney who can help me.

An investigative reporter who wants to do an article.

Anyone, who has also has a bad experience with Menards that is similar to mine.

Anyone who truly wants to HELP AND NOT ABUSE THIS WEBSITE.

Hope I have made myself very clear.

Again, I stand my my report and say Shame on Menards for not resolving my problem.  Shame on Menards for allowing their employee to treat me in a shabby manner.

That is all.

Barbara

It seem might suspicious to me that someone out there, who does not know about our problem with Menards and and the Price Issue of the Refrigerator we bought to be so concerned about our truthful report as to reply NOT in a constructive way, but in a mean tempered way.

Seem like this is personal.  This person calls himself, FLINT, but I do not think this is a real name.

From the content of the rebuttal, it seems to me that this MIGHT be the lower level manager, that I also complained about.  The one, who treated me so horribly on the phone and hung up, NOT allowing me to speak to the Assistant Manager again, when I could not get anyone in Guest Services to reply.

This rebuttal is much too personal to be a stranger named, FLINT.  It has to be someone much closer to the situation.

I am going to re- complain to Menards Personel to see who this person might be.

May I remind everyone here, that this RIP OFF REPORT WEBSITE, is for people who have been harmed by companies or other people.  It might be the best hope to have their truthful story addressed.

It is clear that Menards cheated us out of $80 by falsely pretending that the refrigerator's Everyday Low Price was $ 2,599, when clearly it was not.  My research proves this.

This is when Menards claimed that the Sale Price of $ 1,678 was the Best Price for the 4th of July sale.

Their own advertising, online, which I have a copy states:

"SAVE BIG before it is too late!  This Sale Price ends in

3 Days, 12 hours and 2 minutes."

" YOU SAVE $1,105.58 AFTER SALE PRICE AND MAIL IN REBATE"

(This online statement by Menards was dated July 7, 2024, and the Sale was to end at end of day July 10, 2024. As I stated, that $ 1,678 never went to $ 2,599 after July 10, 2024)

Today the refrigerator is still sale priced at $ 1,598 when I first saw it on August 2, 2024.

The only similar refrigerator, that is $ 2,599 is a GE MODEL that is 5 cubic feet bigger and had door handles.  GE is a higher end company than Whirlpool.

Now back to FLINT.  I have written several reports on companies in the past couple of years on this website, and YES, there has been someone calling himself FLINT, who has misused this website to attack my truthful reports.

I have also seen Flint's name on reports written by other authors.  

Maybe Flint is a person with nothing better to do than to attack authors of reports.  Maybe it is someone I knew from the past.  Maybe, it is the Lower Level Manager at Menards. I will investigate.

I have 1 thing to say to this FLINT - MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.  UNLESS THE REPORT IS ABOUT YOU PERSONALLY - UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE TO SAY, - SAY NOTHING AND MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

My report is a truthful experience.  I stand by it 100% and am still trying to resolve the situation.

If this Flint tries to attack me again, with hateful remarks, I will match him rebuttal for rebuttal.

Too bad it comes to that.

I have read reports here, on this site and other sites, and if I wanted to reply, I always tried to say things to help the person who has been ripped off.

TO FLINT:  UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING HELPFUL TO SAY, DO NOT SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.

This website, should not allow personal attacks that do not help people with this problems.

FROM THIS EXPERIENCE WITH MENARDS I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER APPLIANCE FROM THEM EVER!

I WILL GO TO THE LOCAL APPLIANCE STORE TO GET A FAIR DEAL.

Also, if any attorney out there, wants to contact me about this matter, please do so via this website.  Also I would welcome anyone from Consumer Protection in Wisconsin to contact me.

Signed,

Barbara. 

 I just had THIS conversation a few days ago and when I speak with clients and others where this is applicable, I most definitely bring up this sorry matter. As a sidebar, over the years FLINT has been RIGHT ON TARGET with his/her responses, has shown very intelligent insight and has been out right exceedingly impressive with the intelligence of his/her writing and let me add, unlike far too many people who attempt to "write", Flint's writing has been exemplary in clarity, punctuation, grammar and sentence structure. I would no doubt expect all that to continue! Of course, as you may suspect, I'm leading up to a "however"! Unfortunately this sick, sorry, circling-the-drain society loves to hang onto trends which are entirely inappropriate. One of them is the disrespectful use of the name "Karen". I have no known relatives or friends by that name but once in a while come across a lady named "Karen" and always express my disgust with the "trendy" action of dragging a good name some mother and or father provided thru the septic tank of the current society. The name "Karen" has nothing to do with the complaint of this poster and to address the name "Karen" in some sorry derogatory way is just plain inappropriate despite what is promulgated on talk radio.. The other subject at hand is this complaining about $80. I had to re-read this complaint to see if that was a typo and it wasn't. To the OP (Original Poster), have you ever read the general fallacy of buying these so-called "protection plans"? You have a WARRANTY for this thing. How much did you pay for this useless plan and yes it is useless even if a problem happens after the warranty runs out! Did you pay more than $80 for this plan? Guess what? You wasted your money. How about you writing a complaint about THAT???

 You are a typical Karen. You didn't bother doing any research or shopping around, and you think you can just harass store employees until they give into your badgering, even though you are clearly in the wrong. Obviously, the price appeared like a good deal to you, so you bought it. August 2nd is about a month after July 6th, so how does the 14 day policy become relevant? And what does the delivery date have to do with anything? You knew how much the fridge was when you bought it. Finally, most items become cheaper when they are on close out. That is probably what is happening to this model. I am sure it was originally sold for $2600, or at least that was the MSRP.