Today was the weekly leadership luncheon, so I was out and about running errands. I was also trying to fix our LG washing machine that suddenly stopped working. “Life is not Good” when the washing machine doesn’t work? The digital technology on the control panel pointed to a drainage problem, and after consulting a repair video, I manually drained the drum and cleaned out the filter. I thought for sure that the house key lodged in there was the problem, but simply removing it did not resolve the issue. I felt I better call a service person, knowing that the Christmas and New Year holidays would present a challenge. Doesn’t that machine know what time of year it is?  Bah Humbug.

I had worked diligently last week to resolve a similar breakdown with my Apple Watch (See Posts #363 and #364). After a trip to the local retail outlet, I was discouraged about their suggestion that I buy a new watch, after only about 18 months of use. Of course, they only had a one-year warranty! To make a long story short, I found this solution unsatisfactory and went to AppleCare Customer Service for assistance. They were much more empathetic with my situation, and offered to repair the watch under extended warranty. I had just overnighted the watch to them yesterday, and only 24 hours later, during this busy holiday season, they notified me of its repair and return within two business days. This far exceeded my expectations and earns them a “Golden Apple” for excellence, saving me at least $250 in repairs.

On my list of life’s priorities, I would rather get a new watch over a new dryer, but what I’ve saved on the watch will instead by reinvested in the washer. I guess you could say it’s a “wash” from a cost standpoint, but not from the hassle perspective. At least I thankfully don’t have to pay to replace both of them, but I will have wasted a lot of valuable retirement time on dealing with phone calls, questions, waiting for appointments, and general stress in simply getting back to square one. It’s also a good thing that I’ve added that repair and replacement expense line to my budget.

Thank you Apple for caring about one of your customers. There was no chance for me to repair that watch on my own, let alone even take it apart. However, there was an instructional video showing exactly how to replace the drain pump , which most likely is the problem with the washer. I am not a particularly handy person, and could easily get myself in trouble by risking DIY. (See Post #107). Fortunately, an LG repairman is available later next week, and I will pay the piper. Hopefully, we won’t need a whole new washing machine, but by then I will once again be able to check the time on my wrist. Happy New Year – may it be filled with good health, good friends, and hassle-free travel, as opposed to frustration, repair and replacement.