Homeowner cites safety concerns over door sold by Lowe's

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Who knew a mail slot cover could be so much trouble? The front door one San Jose family ordered from Lowe's didn't arrive with a mail slot cover -- and getting one proved to be quite an ordeal.

Steve Sweeney hadn't made a trip to his mailbox in quite a while because until recently the post office just slipped his mail through a slot in his front door. It wasn't an ideal situation.

"Somebody could have easily stuck their hand in and opened the door," Sweeney said.

Sweeney bought his new front door from Lowe's back in May. It came pre-cut with the mail slot but unfortunately, the mail slot cover didn't come with it. The door also didn't come with a lining to protect the inside of the foam door.

Lowe's told Sweeney to wait a few days. "It was one mistake after another that led to a delay after a delay after a delay," he said

Lowe's told the Sweeneys the manufacturer had sent the wrong size. Another time, Lowe's said the kit for the mail slot cover was delivered to them incomplete.

Soon, the initial few days Lowe's had asked Steve to wait had turned into months, six months, to be exact. Sweeney went to Lowe's to talk to a manager and was told to be patient. That set him off.

"We're not talking about 10 days. We are talking about six months of being patient. As soon as I heard that I was furious. I walked out and I was like game on," he said.

Sweeney contacted 7 On Your Side and Michael Finney reached out to Lowe's, who offered a compromise. They installed a new door without a mail slot and gave it to Sweeney for free, along with a full refund for the first door.

"Got it for free. Thank you 7 On Your Side. That was awesome," Steve said.

Lowe's maintains it would have offered the same deal without being contacted by 7 On Your Side, saying in a statement, "Attempts to locate an acceptable replacement mail slot with trim for the door weren't successful. We worked with the customer concerning the door and he has told us he is satisfied with the resolution."

Sweeeney says he originally wanted a door with a mail slot but he is now happy to have a door that's safe. Through it all, he has maintained his sense of humor. He changed up the words a bit, but belted out the tune "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth."

"All I want for Christmas is my two front doors," he sang while laughing.