Policies, Terms & Conditions….
Sales Policy:
It is our policy that we do not sell any of our inventory items in “as is” unrestored conditions. All units are priced to be inclusive of our full restoration process.
Full Restoration Policy:
During a Full Restoration, it is our policy to restore the appliance to as close to its original cosmetic and mechanical condition as possible. This requires full disassembly of the appliance, addressing all cosmetic and mechanical components inside and out, and rebuilding the appliance from the ground up. The Restoration Process page of our website describes this process in further detail. This restoration process may include replacement of original electrical wiring, insulation and/or some/all mechanical components, but is done in a manner that does not compromise the unit’s original cosmetic integrity. In addition, it is our policy not to retro fit an appliance with non-original features or to attempt to improve upon the original manufacturer’s design. Example #1: gas stoves will not be modified to have electronic ignition systems. [Gas stoves will be fit with an oven safety system (not electrical) to meet gas code requirements unless otherwise instructed by the client. Early 1920s and 1930s gas stoves that originally did not feature an oven thermostat will be fit with one, unless otherwise instructed by the client. These two features are important for safe daily use and can be integrated into each stove without compromising any original design features.] Example #2: Refrigerators will not be modified to have automatic defrost systems where this was not an original design.
Mechanical Only Restoration Policy:
During a Mechanical Only (MO) Restoration, only the mechanical systems (i.e. refrigeration system for refrigerators, electrical system for electric stoves, and gas system for gas stoves) are addressed as follows:
Gas stoves: Rebuild fuel rail, rebuild/install thermostat and commercial grade safety valve, clean burners, leak test gas system, calibrate oven(s) and surface burners, set for natural or LP gas.
Electric stoves:
Pre-WWII stoves – remove all electrical components and fit new components to the stove along with new wiring.
Post-WWII stoves – check all wiring and replace any damaged or questionable wires, check switches and rebuild/replace where necessary, check thermostat and rebuild/replace where necessary, calibrate oven temperature, check all electrical features for proper operation
Refrigerators: At this time we no longer offer a Mechanical Only service for any type for refrigerators from any period of time. Due to our overwhelming commitment to full restoration projects, we simply do not have the space, time or manpower to accommodate repairs. If your refrigerator is in need of a door gasket, cold control, start/run relay, etc., we will be happy to provide you with installation tips, instructions and advice on how to “Do It Yourself.”
Terms & Conditions:
Purchasing & Refunds: When purchasing and appliance from the inventory of AntiqueAppliances.com, the unit is priced to be inclusive of the full restoration process. In order to secure an item from our inventory and have the unit slated for restoration, we require a 40% deposit, calculated from the total unit price. Example: If a stove is priced at $7,500.00, the required deposit will be $3,000.00 (40%). Deposits can be made by personal or business check; we also accept Mastercard, Visa, Discover and American Express. In addition, we do offer online payment transfers via the Internet Paypal system. And of course we will gladly accept good old “green” cash. Once you select an item from our inventory and your deposit has been paid, the item is tagged for you and removed from our inventory of items that are available and marketed for sale. The unit you select now belongs to you. If you decide, for any reason, to cancel your order with AntiqueAppliances.com, your deposit is not refundable. Your deposit will be retained by our company to compensate for opportunities we may have passed up to sell the item to other interested parties. A further 40% deposit will be required the month we are scheduled to start restoration, leaving a 20% balance due upon completion. If you already own a vintage appliance and want to have the unit placed on our restoration calendar, we require a $500.00 deposit for each item. This deposit can be made in any of the manners described above. Because the item you are placing on our restoration calendar already belongs to you, should you decide to cancel your restoration reservation, your deposit of $500 is completely refundable up until the point we begin restoration. In order to cancel a restoration reservation for an item you already own, you must submit a written request of the cancellation in order to receive your refund. Your written request provides documentation for our file records of the request and who the request was made by. A further 40% deposit based off of our total estimate will be required the month we are scheduled to start restoration. Once we begin restoration, the $500 and 40% payments are nonrefundable.
Replacing/Repairing Damaged and/or Missing Parts: Given the nature of our small industry, original parts can be difficult if not impossible to locate for vintage stoves and refrigerators. Replica parts are equally as scarce if they are mass produced at all. While we will do our best to repair or replace damaged and/or missing parts, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to find original/replica, model specific parts for your vintage appliance. For most projects with damaged parts, the parts can be repaired and refinished. The concern for replacing parts is greatest when key parts, such as range burners, grates, doors, clock assemblies, etc. and refrigerator interior shelving components are missing entirely. Our process for addressing damaged and missing parts is as follows:
- Repair and refinish damaged parts. In the case of structural parts (e.g. brackets, sheet metal walls, etc.), this may mean fabricating new parts from comparable, modern materials. Fabrication may extend to machining new component parts such as handles, hinge components, etc. Cast molding is often an option if two identical parts are present, but one is damaged.
- If parts cannot be repaired and refinished in a structurally and aesthetically suitable manner, original, period and manufacturer specific parts are sourced from models we have scrapped out. This is also the first option for parts that are missing.
- If we cannot locate such parts in our inventory, we will reach out to other restorers and industry resources for original and/or replica parts.
- If original parts cannot be sourced through other entities during the project’s restoration, comparable period specific parts may be modified and used as a substitute with the client’s approval.
- If all of the above steps have been tried and failed, the appliance would be restored without such parts. If such parts are crucial to the functionality of the appliance, (e.g. an oven door that is unique and missing) the probability of repair/replacement is assessed upon providing the initial project estimate. We along with the client will then weigh the suitability of the project as a restoration candidate before the project is slotted for restoration work.
Project Estimates: The estimated cost to restore a vintage appliance, which a client already owns, is provided based off of photos submitted by that client and/or our personal first-hand inspection of the appliance. Please know that this is an estimate and because of changes in industry costs or unexpected conditions experienced during restoration, this estimate can change at any time. Should the estimate change, we will notify you in as timely a manner as possible. Estimates on painted refrigerators and prices for fully restored refrigerators purchased from our inventory assume restoration back to the original color, namely white, unless otherwise discussed and agreed upon. Color change options for painted refrigerators are available via the submission of a color sample(s) by the client, which we will custom match to. Additional charges will apply for custom color jobs. A 40% payment of the total costs on the project when we begin restoration. This payment is to help ensure that your project moves through our restoration process in as timely a manner as possible. This payment is nonrefundable. Should you opt for a porcelain color change on a stove project, we will request an additional payment for the color change charge along with the above 40% at the project start.
Estimated Start Dates: Upon deposit receipt your project will be assigned an estimated start date (MM/YR). This is the approximate time that we plan to begin the restoration work on your project given our current operating timeframe. Because projects may be booked out as far as 24+ months, we cannot predict events (e.g. natural disasters, industry changes, etc.) in the future that may delay projects. We will contact each client the month we are scheduled to begin restoration work to provide an update on the schedule. Feel free to contact our office at any time prior to or during the restoration process to receive any updated scheduling information available. Do know that each project we restore deserves our full care and attention and our goal of quality restoration is primary. Should a delay occur, we will do our best to work with your own schedule.
Project Completion & Account Settlement: Once restoration on your antique appliance is complete, the balance for the project is due. For items purchased from our inventory, this amount should be 20% of the total purchase price unless additional payments have been made at your leisure. Should you not be ready to take delivery of the item upon its completion, we will gladly store the item free of charge for a maximum of 30 days after which a $25 per month storage fee will apply. Please note that the balance of the project will be due when you are notified by our office that it has been completed. Payment for account balance can be made by any of the methods listed in the above section.
Storage of Projects Prior to Start Dates: Because of our lengthy waiting list and our limited storage ability, we will begin charging a monthly storage fee of $25 per appliance for projects sent to us prior to the start date noted on your confirmation letter. Please note that this fee applies only to projects already belonging to clients and does not apply to items purchased from our inventory. This $25 fee will not apply for the month prior to the said start date. Not additional storage charges will apply should we not be able to start the project during the said month. For storage times in excess of one month prior to the start date, a valid credit card will be kept on file and the payment processed at the beginning of each month. Storage fee payment records will be kept in the project file, and a final storage fee receipt will be supplied when the project is shipped/picked up.
Shipping or Delivery of Completed Projects: The cost for shipment or delivery of completed projects is not included in the original price of the item. Further, as shipping costs vary depending on the size and weight of the appliance as well as the destination zip code, cost for shipment and/or delivery will only be calculated when projects are complete. For further information on shipping, please visit our “Shipping” information page.
Warranty: All of our restored antique appliances carry a 6 month warranty on workmanship. In addition, if there are any new parts installed on the appliance, these parts are warranted for one full year. (Example: Gas stoves are fitted with new commercial grade oven safety valves. These valves are considered new parts and are covered for one full year from the date of appliance installation.) Should your antique appliance require service during the first 6 months, we request that you contact your local appliance service company to determine what repair or adjustment might be necessary.We will gladly work with your servicer to correct any deficiencies and provide any necessary parts. It will be the customer’s responsibility to settle any and all charges presented by a local servicer. A copy of the repair bill must be submitted to AntiqueAppliances.com for reimbursement. Repairs determined to be caused by shipment damage or user abuse are not covered by our warranty and reimbursement will not qualify. Qualification of warranty covered work is based off of the report date, not the estimated or known date of part failure or incident.
Damage Report: If an item is received damaged as a result of shipping and/or delivery, notation of the damage must be made at the time of receipt and must be so noted on the shipper’s bill of laden. Failure to note or report damage at the time of receipt/delivery may result in the inability to have repairs of said damages made with charges for such repairs being absorbed by the shipping agent. AntiqueAppliances.com will always ship a restored antique appliance with full insurance coverage in the amount the unit was purchased for or restored for whichever applies. If a shipper’s bill of laden is signed with no notation of damage, the item is considered to be free and clear of defect and is considered by the shipping agent to be in good condition. If damage is discovered later, the shipping agent will present the signed document indicating it was received in good condition and the insurance coverage for such damages will not apply. Please note, this requires the customer receiving the appliance to remove all shipping wrap and packaging and inspect the appliance at the time of delivery.Any alterations or amendments to these policies should they apply will be noted in each client’s specific file folder when they are discussed with that client.