BATH, Maine — For more than 80 years, Gediman’s Appliance has been a fixture and destination for customers in Bath and Lewiston. It’s had a shiny and clean reputation, until now.
Gediman’s shut its doors at both stores, leaving customers confused and angry. Up until two weeks ago, Gediman’s seemed like a great place to do business. It had an A rating with the Better Business Bureau, no complaints with the Attorney General’s Office, and it was voted “Best Appliance Store” in an online survey.
Now the doors are closed and thousands of dollars worth of appliances that customers paid for aren’t delivered.
“Our office has received a number of complaints in the past couple weeks about Gediman’s Appliance,” Martha Currier in the Attorney General’s Office said.
Currier said those complaints center around appliances customers paid for, but they never got. A sign on the door in Lewiston said they are gone to appliance training and will return Wednesday, Sept. 17, but the doors are still locked, delivery notices are stacking up and customers are frustrated.
“I went to Gediman’s because they were a locally owned business, and I like to shop locally. I hadn’t heard anything from them, and so I’m just getting here now, and I’m seeing it’s all dark inside,” customer Christopher Sewall said.
Our tip line has received several calls. One woman told CBS 13 she paid for $4,000 worth of appliances. Currier said her office already has five formal complaints.
“We’ll try to mediate with Gediman’s to see if we can get the money back or maybe if they have the appliances in stock, just get those delivered to folks,” Currier explained.
But Currier said they’re having trouble tracking down the business owners to find out what’s going on.
“At this point I don’t what’s going on that’s caused them to close their doors. Are they filing for bankruptcy? Has their been an illness in the family?” Currier asked.
CBS 13 visited and called the stores, but voice mail boxes at both stores are full, a home phone number is disconnected, and Facebook messages and emails haven’t yet been returned.
The Better Business Bureau now says Gediman’s Appliance is believed to be out of business.
The Attorney General’s Office wants to hear from customers to find out how many people are affected by the shutdown. Customers can also file a complaint for mediation or take the business to small claims court.
Customers can call the Consumer Information and Mediation Service at 1-800-436-2131 or email consumer.mediation@maine.gov.