Stove Restoration
Anyone around do appliance restoration? I have a Chambers stove that I’d like to get a second opinion on before I hook it up and have it burn the joint down. I’ve searched here and know who NOT to go to.
Anyone around do appliance restoration? I have a Chambers stove that I’d like to get a second opinion on before I hook it up and have it burn the joint down.
I’ve searched here and know who NOT to go to.
My work speaks for itself. My business has continued to grow steadily over the last ten years because I make people happy. You can’t please everyone.
For those of you who want the truth, here is my work and here is an explanation with proof of what transpired with her. She is a blatant liar.
Here are before an after videos of some of my work, as well as an instructional video I did for a client who couldn’t come to my shop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REdRvgx7QQs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL0z4ZDV3iU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij_Tfy-WDJA
Here is a link to my testimonials. You can’t make this stuff up. My clients are busy working and don’t have time to write a testimonial. They made the time because they appreciated what I did for them. Read them for yourself and then decide am I a crook or is she mentally unstable?
http://stovelady.com/testimonials.php
Her story is inconsistent. First she said her plumber was reluctant to touch the stove. In fact, she lied to me and told me that a specific valve was leaking, according to her plumber. I told her to have me check the entire range. She didn’t want to pay for that so she told me to fix only that valve. I charged her to rebuild that specific valve. Then we spent an hour or so talking about life in general. Before leaving I told her I thought I smelled gas. She thought it may be from us working in the kitchen so she said to wait and see.
When she called the next morning I told her I would come back and check the entire range. I am in Westchester County, about 45 minutes to an hour from her. She agreed to pay me to come back the following day. Then she found a local guy who worked alone and for himself who did the job for $75. (I was happy for her.) Had she let me search the entire stove for the leak instead of lying and saying the plumber already found the leak, she wouldn’t have wasted my time and her money. Here is her posting stating that the plumber didn’t want to touch the stove. Funny, I am just seeing that posting today.
HER POST THAT PROVES SHE LIED ABOUT THE PLUMBER:
And there are other postings that say that she still needs work on the stove.
If the guy fixed her stove for $75, why is she still looking for service?
HERE IS THAT POST: http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forum/archives/2007/06/vintage_stove_r.php
TEXT FROM THE POST:
http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forum/archives/2008/09/someone_to_rest.php#comments
By Brooklynista on September 1, 2008 2:21 PM
Unless your vintage stove is a Chambers, my suggestion to you is to stay away from Belgrove Appliance at all costs. In fact, even if you do own a Chambers, don’t bring your business to Belgrove. I had an awful experience with Ms. Belgrove’s attempted repair of gas leaks on my antique stove. After giving her $250– including $125 just for the visit — and another $125 to putter around on a vintage range she knew nothing about, the stove was still leaking gas after she left. She then promised to come back and actually fix the problem but she never did. What a waste of time and money! In the end, I found a veteran appliance tech who was at least able to make the stove safe and usable (although not completely repaired; it’s really in need of restoration, not repair). He shook his head over Belgrove’s claimed fix, undid her so-called “repair” and charged me only $75 — stating that techs like Belgrove gave the whole appliance repair field a bad name. If you want to know more about this, contact me at my user name at gmail.com
By Brooklynista on September 1, 2008 8:49 PM
Sorry! I meant at yahoo.com
Vintage Stove Repair
Categories: Appliances
This question has been asked before, but I’m asking again:
Does anyone know any local, credible repair person for vintage stoves? Mine is nearly 85 years of age and needs gas valve replacements. They just don’t make ’em like this anymore and it seems the best experts in the old stove repair and restoration business are all located far away in places like Georgia, Texas and Michigan. If anyone has leads to local old appliance repair people, other than Belgrove Appliance (you don’t want to go there!), such an info share would be much appreciated.
By anon at June 11, 2007 3:22 PM | Comments (10)
ANOTHER POST IN THE SAME THREAD:
By Anonymous on June 11, 2007 8:10 PM
Hi Rick and Chopper,
Thanks for this. I’m already familiar with TOAC and have had conversations with Mike from Monitortop. What I’m looking for is a local who is not afraid to replace the valves (if necessary) on my stove. In theory, this should be a really simple job. However, at this point, I’ve had a plumber and the person from Belgrove take a look. Both were reluctant to get involved because of unfamiliarity with this particular stove and the fact that its innards are rust-challenged. In the long run, I may have to disassemble it and ship it to an out-of-state restorer for major overhaul (to deal with refabrication of the rusted parts). But, in the meantime, I actually have found an oldtimer who will be stopping by tomorrow. Wish me luck!
I feel for her because she can’t afford to move the stove, because it is huge and on the second floor and the condition of the stove is unsanitary, in my opinion, and rusted beyond repair. I may not have been experienced when I looked at the stove in 2005/2006, but I am definitely experienced now.
I am going to warn all the contractors on this site to stay away from her. She wants services for FREE, and when she can’t intimidate you, she tries to slander your name.
She got angry with me and wanted me to return money she paid for me to rebuild the valve. When I refused to give her the money, she took me to the BBB. They heard both sides and agreed that I SATISFACTORILY answered her claim. Again, nobody has complained about me
Here are some before and after pictures for partial restorations. Copy and paste the link into your url.
http://picasaweb.google.com/StoveLady/BeforeAndAfterPhotosForWebsiteMostAreCleaningPartialRestoration#
And here are some full restoration before and after photos.
http://picasaweb.google.com/StoveLady/FullRestorationBeforeAndAfterPhotos#
And here is a link to the testimonials page.
http://www.belgroveappliance.com/testimonials.php
So many others can’t be mistaken. I give excellent customer service. Read about the client that I repaired his dryer over the weekend and wouldn’t take money from him. Read about the client in Georgia who came to us after having issues with somebody else. She did her research before choosing us and she was all the way in Georgia. There are many, may others. Just take a look at the photos and the comments.
My work speaks for itself.
This is the Stove Lady. Proud owner of Belgrove Appliance and I represent thousands of happy customers served by me over the last ten years.
The Broolynista person is trying to slander my name. Apparently she doesn’t have anything better to do. She gave me a good review in 2006 when we first met under the name Garden Gal (she also posted anonymously at another time). I was honest enough to tell her at the time I was not experienced enough to help her with her very rusted and unsanitary smooth top range. Here is the link and posting
http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forum/archives/2006/11/repair_help_for.php
By GardensGal on November 28, 2006 7:21 PM
Try Belgrove Appliance in Westchester. I approached them about restoring my old Smoothtop range. Although they couldn’t help me with that, they advised me that they specialize in Chambers Stoves. And, yes, they will travel to Brooklyn. Good luck!:
http://www.belgroveappliance.com
office (914) 664-5231 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (914) 664-5231
In addition, she was very happy when I called her each year to wish her happy birthday, but got angry when she couldn’t afford my services at a later date. Years later, she took the advice of an inexperienced person and spent money she didn’t need to spend, against my advice.
Some of her previous comments were removed from the site because they were slander, but since the web host can’t keep up with her and doesn’t want to get in the middle. That is probably why she posted something in 2010 so many years after her issue with me.
Why she has a vendetta against me is unknown, because all she was asked to pay for were my services, which she paid for. Because she later found somebody for less money, she felt like I should return the money she paid in the past for the services that were actually rendered. I have contacted my corporate attorney and will be pressing charges against her. Again the BBB didn’t see it her way.
The two women in Long Island did not make a complaint against me, their lawyer did because he was trying to take their money. He in fact, lied to them, and told them I sold their stove, which I would never do. When they didn’t have any more money to pay him, he dropped their case and left them high and dry. They sent me a personal letter, written by hand, a few months ago, apologizing for the misunderstanding and agreeing to pay for the stove plus my legal fees.
The confusion with the elderly ladies started because I did such a good job they didn’t recognize their stove. I always give 110% to my clients. I love what I do and I have pride in my work. I don’t do it for the money. I am blessed enough to not have to work for a living. I saved wisely in my 20’s. I do have to charge a fee because I have employees, insurance, rent, utilities, etc. and parts are very expensive.
Brooklynista is just bitter. I tried to help her, however the Stove Lady is only one person and I service the entire NY, NJ, CT tri-state area. I have even gone to PA to do jobs. I have to run a business and can’t give away my services for free.
She chose not to pay for my additional services so I didn’t service her. It is as simple as that. However, she wanted money back for the work I previously did when there was nothing wrong with it. We were friends before this point in time, which is not uncommon in my business.
It is not all about the money either. I have customers who can’t really afford the full range of services and I work with them.
We give the best service possible to everyone that crosses my path. I started personally repairing appliances so people wouldn’t get ripped off. You can’t please everyone, but I have tons of happy customers all over the country. I satisfied her complaint with the BBB and nobody has complained since. That is why I have an A+ rating with them. I have the same rating with other online consumer forums. I am not the cheapest company out there, but this is a luxury service and my work is guaranteed.
Please see my website and look at all of the glowing testimonials I received. I come highly recommended by people in and out of the industry; and everywhere in the country. When I put my name on a project, it has to be correct. See for yourself at http://www.stovelady.com.
That is why WCBS radio interviewed me. I was also asked to be on Martha Stewart radio (Everyday Food for Thought), which I was invited to be on because my client was so happy with the service I provided.
Other people in the industry refer people to me because I am the “Go To” person in NY. I have gotten really good at what I do because I LOVE what I do.
I couldn’t find a well regarded local outfit that did the extensive part-by-part restoration that a couple restorers offer in other parts of the country–see above comments re Stove Lady. However, call around to run of the mill appliance repair places that do stoves and ask them if they service stoves of your vintage. These things aren’t that complicated, it’s mostly a matter of getting replacement parts if needed that’s tricky. I went this route but was not satisfied with the work done on mine, which was probably at least partially due to the fact that I had my GC evaluate the work of the repair guy, which was a mistake because he didnt know what to look for. If you’re going to test it out make sure you know where the gas shutoff is, have a carbon monoxide alarm in the living areas of the house, get a fire extinguisher, and have a way to quickly ventilate the area. Things to look for to make sure the repair has been done properly:
*burners should auto-light when you turn the gas on if there’s a standing pilot.
*If you have to light the pilot (as is the case with my 1930s era ovens though not the stove burners), the burners should catch flame from the pilot (else explosion).
*gas burners should burn BLUE with no orange which signals incomplete combustion and carbon monoxide.
*oven temp should match temp marks on the knob–buy an oven thermometer to test.
Whatever you do, do NOT use Stovelady.com! That is the business of Carlita Belgrove, aka Belgrove Appliance. That woman is a total con artist masquerading as a vintage appliance tech. In truth she is very likely to waste your time and money as she did ours. Precisely because of her false representations and incompetence, we filed a complaint with the BBB against Belgrove Appliance a few years ago. Although that complaint was never satisfactorily resolved, the company now appears to have a superior rating with the BBB (i.e., no complaints filed). However, we’re also aware of a lawsuit that was filed only last year against Carlita Belgrove with the NYS Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection. As we understand it, charges were brought by two elderly women who alleged that Carlita Belgrove engaged in fraudulent business practices and theft of their property (their vintage stove). For your own peace of mind, we advise you to stay away from this woman and her businesses!
funny, MCM, that’s where I heard not to go!
I haven’t used them yet, but was going to use stovelady.com. They are in westchester, but they come to Brooklyn. They can either clean and repair the stove in place or take it back to westchester and do a full restoration.