"Chemiker" > wrote in message
...
> Surprise!
>
> Some Sunbeam branded products are not (1) made, (2) distributed, nor
> (3) supported by Sunbeam (AKA Jarden Consumer etc.). Sunbeam compact
> refrigerators (apparently sold *only* by and through Circuit City)
> are
> made in China by companies unknown (compare Haier series), but
> *distributed* by HLC Appliances, AKA Petters Worldwide and other
> companies with similar names, all part of the Petters Group) , which
> company is now in a world of hurt.
>
> AFAIC from AP and other sources, the following seem to be true:
>
> Sunbeam licensed its logo to Petters (and others) to sell products.
> "In the expectation that they would adhere to the same high
> standards,
> yada yada yada."
>
> One of these companies, Petters Worldwide (google search OK here)
> holds a small company called HLO Appliances, which manufactures(?)
> and
> distributes and warrantees these products. All defunct.
>
> Petters has been blown to the feds and some current and former execs
> have already agreed to guilty pleas on a variety of charges. Think
> fraud here, and money laundering, OOJ wire fraud, and so on. Fed
> stuff...
>
> Tom Petters, Founder and the CEO, resigned in late September, AIR.
> Then he was arrested. Maybe Oct 3. The resignation was after a
> surprise FBI raid and seizure of records, as I get it. He has been
> confined in Illinois w/o bail pending trial, even though Petters is
> headquartered in Minnetonka Minnesota. Petters' assets have been
> frozen, per AP (go Drudge archive)
>
> Petters' holding Sun Country Airlines has gone Ch. 11.
>
> Jarden/Sunbeam says they are trying to contact the "manufacturer"
> of
> the refrigerators (presumably over disconnected telephone lines, and
> BTW the Petters website is down) to work out a resolution to the
> problem. They admit to no responsibility for problems relating to
> these Sunbeam products because they don't *own* them. (BTW: see also
> Sunbeam Watercoolers, which they don't *own* either).
>
> Buy Sunbeam at your own risk. I bought one, it is not good. Can't
> reach Petters or HLC. Phones down, website dead, emails bounce or go
> unanswered. Sunbeam? "Oh, I apologize, but that's not one of our
> products..."
>
> Circuit City? Perhaps the only retail seller of these items? "It's
> out
> of my hands, but maybe if I partner with my manager we can determine
> what can be done.... " This from their Corporate offices.
>
> FWIW: This model, 4.5 cu ft, seems to be quite similar to the Haier
> 4.6, AKA Kenmore. FWIW2: I bought a replacement (sob) from Circuit
> City under the Haier logo. Circuit City then, after delivery,
> informs
> me they (Surprise!) have now discontinued Haier refrigerators. I
> guess I got the last one. Oh, Yeah... they still sell Sunbeams...
>
> Caveat emptor, foodies! Buy good stuff from reliable firms.
>
> A-
>
Note that Tom Petters is currently having some legal problems.... to
put it mildly.