Article by Confessions of a Mom: You’ve heard it said “to be part of the solution, not part of the problem” right? Well, I strive to keep a positive attitude and always be part of the solution. That’s why I want to share my story with you.

Since purchasing our corn stove a couple months ago, we have fallen in love with it.

The other day, I noticed it was making an unusual noise. Up until this point, it has been silent. Curious as to what was causing the noise, I let my common sense kick in. I knew something wasn’t right. Since I’ve only owned the stove a short time and haven’t had any problems, I knew my problem-solving skills were limited. Or were they? I decided to shut it off.

“What in the world,” I pondered. Since they key moving part is the auger, I had a hunch the noise I was hearing had to do with that. Then I remembered the online forum. I went to my computer, pulled up the site, and typed “squeak and auger” into the search bar. And that’s where the magic happened…

In front of me were multiple conversation threads discussing similar issues and solutions.  From what I read, I was fairly certain something was caught in my auger, such as a pebble. I was glad that I did my part by shutting down the appliance and not causing any further damage. The best part? The forum is absolutely free.

I was able to contact technical support with intelligent, specific questions and receive help in getting everything running smoothly again. I was willing to pay for help if that’s what it took. Thanks to the forum I knew my problem had nothing to do with the appliance or the manufacturer. It really wasn’t my fault. It wasn’t anybody’s fault.

It’s part of life. Then I wondered how many people are quick to call somebody, anybody and complain. Do people take the time to collect themselves, learn, and be respectful? I believe that to get frustrated or accusatory is not part of the solution. Instead, I learned from this experience.

So why did I write this article?

When I turn on the news, it’s filled with negative stories. I don’t have too go far on Twitter or Facebook to find somebody grumbling about something. There is no shortage of people willing to share their terrible experience with a product, service, brand, or company. I believe we have a duty as consumers to tell positive experiences. Thank you for your wonderful and patient customer service, American Energy Systems.