Dear Aga People
Our Aga has gone out. It needs a new part. I'm very cross, not because it's gone wrong (things go wrong all the time) but because you make things both expensive and very difficult. My anger has been building up for some years, hence this list of accumulated complaints.
1. When we inherited this Aga, eighteen years ago, we were told we needed special pots and pans. We don't. That's absolute b******s. My old pans were and still are just fine.
2. I was encouraged to go on a special course, because I'd need it in order to cook on an Aga. That, too was b******s. The Aga is a simple beast. It has a hot oven and a cool one, and ditto the two plates. Using it is child's play.
3. The nice man from the gas board said he could fit the spare part in five minutes, but you won't let him. It has to be fitted by a special Aga person, at great expense. The Aga person no doubt has an Aga degree.
4. The Aga girl I spoke to on the phone was rude. When she told me they'd need a photo of the Aga before she could send the part (a photo? Has the world gone mad?), and I (reasonably) asked why they needed it, she said "we just do". That was rude. I'm not a child.
5. The bit that's gone wrong is tiny, and no doubt would be cheap. But oh no. We have to buy the entire unit at the cost of about £500. £500! I could buy a new washing machine for that.
In conclusion, you Aga people need to get real. Being precious about an ancient iron cooker, which has to be the simplest of designs, one step up from a camp fire, is ridiculous. Get off your high horses and stop being ridiculous.
Yours etc.
Find a Corgi gas fitter. He should be able to fix it. Most people I know with one also have a normal modern cooker as well.
ReplyDeleteAdrian, we have a lovely Aga man who we've finally managed to get hold of. He gets fed up with the Aga people,too, although he's worked with Agas for fifty years. He's found a second hand part 😀
DeleteWe have an AGA shop in Harpenden ! It has recently extended into the shop next door! I wondered how they were making so much money....now I know ! ( I have never had one/used one , it would take up my whole kitchen ! )
ReplyDeleteFrances, the trouble with Agas is that once you've had one, no other cooker will do. It's just the Aga people who are such a pain.
DeleteGlad I don't have an Aga, Frances! Hope you've sent that list to them.
ReplyDeleteRosemary, I can't be bothered! Nothing I do is going to change them. They were ever thus. Sigh.
DeleteThe man who services our Aga used to work for them, but set up on his own years ago. In over 30 years, I've never had a bill like that, it's bemusing. And I have Aga pans (which are useful because they stack in the oven in use) but I use ordinary pans too.
ReplyDeleteI suggest you look for an independent Aga service person.
Z, we've tracked down our very busy (and lovely) Aga man, but the part is still very expensive.
DeleteHave a great day.
ReplyDeleteIn case you have not done it yet, you should really send that letter to the Aga people.
ReplyDeleteMeike, I think it would be a waste of time, sadly.
DeletePublicity like this is the best anti-dote to Aga. Lewis was Rayburn territory. I don't think there were any expensive parts on our Rayburn (RIP long ago).
ReplyDeleteGraham, I've never been sure of the difference between Agas and Rayburns. Is there one?
DeleteRayburns are rural. Aga's are County.
DeleteI thought that, with an Aga, the emphasis was on cooking and, with a Rayburn, it was on heating. I think the cooking range as a "statement" is a fairly recent thing.
DeleteI rather thought the whole point of an Aga was that it was supposed to be very simple - in use and design. If the manufacturers are making it complicated and difficult, there seems no point in owning one.
ReplyDelete