Complain about a product or service

Hunter Fans

E. of Forest Hills, NY August 19, 2009

I purchased 4 Hunter ceiling fans from an eBay powerseller with a 99.9% positive feedback rating last August. They were installed by my contractor during a home renovation. Since it was winter, I did not use the fans until January, when the radiators were turned up too high (we can't control the heat in our building). The bedroom fan, which was equipped with the remote feature, did not respond to the handheld remote unit. Upon a phone call to Hunter, I ascertained that it was due to the receiver being totally absent in the fan. This meant the fan had been incorrectly packaged without a receiver, or else the contractor would have installed it. Hunter sent me a receiver, which an electrical engineer friend installed at great physical cost to himself (he wrenched his shoulder doing it). This receiver proved to be DEFECTIVE!

I called Hunter and they sent out another receiver. Because of all the delay in time between my calls and the shipping, etc., now more than a year had elapsed since the fan's purchase. Now, Hunter refuses to pay for the labor involved in installing the new receiver, and the cost of having an electrician do it is equal to the cost of the fan! Hunter claims that since "I didn't buy the fans from an authorized dealer", I am not entitled to reimbursement.

If they had not omitted the receiver from the fan's box in the first place, the contractor would have installed it and then, if the first receiver they sent out had not been defective, I still would have been within warranty and not have had to pay the enormous cost of an electrician. So, they will not reimburse me for the cost of the electrician because (1) I purchased the fans from someone who is not an authorized dealer, (2) the warranty period expired, and (3) their warranty (tossed out by the contractor with the box) supposedly states that only the MOTOR is under lifetime warranty, not an "accessory" which they consider the receiver to be. Gee, I thought that was an integral part of the fan. This absolutely stinks.

Tom of Austin, TX July 26, 2009

Complain, complain, complain. I bought a Hunter original ceiling fan in 1980. It has been in nearly constant use ever since because it has been in the living room and then bedroom of my house. Only recently has it begun to make a periodic humming noise. Nearly 30 years of essentially constant use (running probably an average of 20 hours a day), lowering my need for air conditioning. I couldn't be happier.

I've never bought any other brand of ceiling fan and currently have about 10 of them (I have one non-Hunter but it came with the house). I have been very pleased with them and never had any problem with Hunter ceiling fans other than this one that wore out after 29 years.

If your fan fell from the ceiling, that was a bad installation. I use no remote controls, only the wall switch and the chain. Wireless remotes are a bit tricky, subject to interference from electrical items in each room, and a very different technology than a fan and motor. Don't judge one based on the other.

Brian of Temecula, CA July 24, 2009

I have called the 888-914-1114 number again, requested to talk to the Supervisor which they told me is name was Ron and he proceeded to tell me I'm not getting my money back because I had the 60 day trail period. He said he's just sending out another unit, and that I stopped June and July payments, which is only right when your company refuses to honor your own warranty,by replacing the defective unit. JamI then advised him the unit stopped working in 29 days, we paid for the extended warranty that insures that if the unit broke, we would get a new unit sent out and replaced the defective unit immediately, and this was never done. I requested my money back, and to stop debiting my account, but your company refused to do so, and we requested the unit returned at your cost because you refused to honor the extended warranty. JamI don't want your company to send out another unit, will never buy your product after this experience, and expect my refund and damages in a check by Monday , July 27, 2009. Consumer Affairs and other agencies have been contacted, and still your customer service department never responded.

Southern of Bradford, AR July 11, 2009

As a Hunter Fan Dealer, I am aware that most of these problems could be resolved by contacting the Hunter Fan Product Support Department. US PH: 888 830-1326 Canada PH: 866 268-1936 Please have the model number of your product or ceiling fan available when you call. If you do not know the model number of your fan, it is engraved on top of the motor housing.

Conrad of Moran , WY June 21, 2009

Purchased a top of the line Hunter Fan for 450.00. The remote controll has NEVER worked properly, now does not work at all. No responce form Hunter Fan.This was in 1994. All these years Hunter Fan Company has not fix the problem. Is there a consumer class action lawsuit Hunter Fan Company?

Martin of fredericksburg, VA June 18, 2009

I purchased a coronado fan simply because it was supposed to be the best.It was definately priced that way. After a year of steady use in my great room ,the motor started making grinding sounds just before it sparked and shorted out.Hunter replaced it with a lesser value Felini.

Less than 6 months has past and the replacement sounds like an airplane with all the humming. Hunter fans will not replace this one.The warranty does not cover the replacement.

Save yourself some money and headaches by another brand. They said they hadn't received the defect back after I spent an additional 26.00 to return it.

Paul of Beavercreek, OH June 1, 2009

There are major issues with Hunter Ceiling Fan Remote controls. I reviewed Amazon ratings before purchasing, and was shocked to find nearly total condemnation of these remotes. My model is 27186 (45). Because the pull chains controlling the fan speeds are awkward to use on the Hunter globe designs, I needed to buy a remote. Explained: Unless you pull these at the exact angle, the chain snaps. My wife is short, and even I have to kneel on the bed, and hold the globe, to use it without problems. I purchased my remote at Lowes, with identical results. Dip switches were set properly. The light comes on in the middle of the night repeatedly. It is costly to install these remotes, and then you need to pay again to take them down. This is simple technology. I cannot believe that Hunter is selling these remotes to its customers. Need to recall these remotes, and sell workable ones. I did not contact Hunter.

Scott of Houston, TX July 24, 2007

While playing in the game room of our house in Houston, TX, my wife and 10 month old baby had just gotten up from the middle of the room (less than 60 seconds) when the Hunter ceiling fan fell from the ceiling, crashing and sending debris and glass everywhere. The fan, which is less than 2 years old, fell directly on the toy my daughter was playing with moments before. From my research, the average ceiling fan weighs 50 pounds and to determine the impact one could multiply that 50 pounds by our 10 feet high ceiling and determine that it hit with a force equivalent to 500 pounds. Fortunately, they had just moved to the couch, no one was hurt, but they were in the room. The thoughts that our family has had are horrible considering what could have been.

I immediately called the professional electrician who installed the fan, he came out and determined that it was installed correctly and could verify this by the wear and condition of the thread marks on the components of the fan. We then called Hunter who is sending us a new fan and stated that any other items (toys, laptop, etc) that were impacted by the fall could be reviewed for reimbursement. A ceiling fan, especially fairly new, is not an item that is acceptable to malfunction resulting in detachment from the base causing it to fall.

The hood of the fan was still attached to the ceiling and there is no logical explanation other than manufacturer negligence that this could occur. We have pictures and footage of the fan afterwards. If for no other reason than the discomfort and horrible thoughts we will always have under a fan and letting others know to check their fans on a regular basis, we fell the need to file this report.

Jean of Olean, NY July 5, 2007

We purchsed on 5/6/07 an indoor/outdoor fan, Rustic bronze with light model 23775-Item 190608; together with the recommended remote control unit (it was for a bedroom,) unit# 27148. We had a certified electrician come to install the fan and remote unit. After a total of three hours, the electrician concluded that there was no way the remote unit would fit as per the instructions. We paid for the extra time he took to try to install this and I immediately wrote a letter to the Customer Service Manager as the whole purpose of the new fan and ceiling light was so that we could have a remote. I explained in my letter the situation, gave proof of purchase and proof of payment for the electrician and told the CSR Manager that we had returned the remote unit. I asked for reimbursement for the ceiling fan and labor for the electrician. I also had to call their customer service twice as the ceiling light globe which is encased permanently in a metal cage, was cracked.

Twice I received the glass globe only (?! and that was after giving the model # and explaining that it was permanently encased in a metal cage.) I received a letter back from the manager stating that he had taken both the fan and the remote unit and installed them so it wasn't their fault and it was our problem as he had done it. He never offered to send someone to my home to verify, never asked for an affidavit from our electrician, never offered any construtive solutions to this problem. We have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and that is the only way I received a new lighting unit. But the company has not offered any solution whatsover to the other part of this complaint.

Chris of Forney, TX February 24, 2006

I purchased a 99 ceiling fan at Sam's and less than 2 years later the remote transmitter for it stopped working. I looked into purchasing a new remote. Just the handheld remote for the fan costs 30. This is an exceptional price for a new remote transmitter considering the fan itself cost 99. Hunter Fans needs to think about lowering their parts prices.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use

Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.

Company Response Welcome If complaints about your company appear on our site, we welcome your response. Please see the Response Form for more information.

For more information, see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice.  ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof. 

Copyright © 2003-2009 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc.  All Rights Reserved.    The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission.