My cooler's compressor gave out right before a big wedding order

It happened last Thursday afternoon, just as I was finishing up the last of the arrangements for a 200-guest wedding. The unit started making this awful grinding noise and then just stopped cooling. I had to scramble and rent a backup from a shop across town, which cost me $75 for the weekend. Has anyone else had a cooler fail at the worst possible time, and what brand did you switch to after?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_blair28d ago

Ugh, that's the absolute worst timing. That grinding noise is a heart-stopper for sure. I had a floral cooler quit on a Friday before Mother's Day, pure panic. The rental fee is just salt in the wound.

burns.richard29d ago

That exact sound is the worst feeling in the world. Had a big beverage cooler die on a holiday weekend once, lost a ton of product. The rental game is a lifesaver but it stings. Ended up going with a True brand unit after that. It was a bigger upfront cost, but the peace of mind has been worth it. Their service network is pretty solid too from my experience.

the_drew12d ago

Is there a special factory somewhere that trains these coolers to break at the worst possible time? It's like they check the calendar for a holiday and then decide to make that awful grinding noise. I swear the rental companies must be in on it too, because their prices always feel like a punch in the gut right when you're down. You're already stressed about the lost product, and then you get to pay a premium just to keep the doors open. That peace of mind from a reliable unit really is priceless after you've been through that mess.